Father Casimir Wyszynski

of your humanity! Demand this of yourselves, even if others should not demand it of you!” (Gorzów Wielkopolski, June 2, 1997). He encouraged the youths to never fear adversities be- cause a man can be more powerful than the conditions he lives in: “The human person is strong; he is strong by his understand- ing of goals, awareness of tasks, recognition of his duties, and re- alization of the fact that he is loved. Therefore, in order to succeed one must have the certainty of being loved” (June 10, 1997). Father Casimir Wyszyński possessed such an understanding from his very youth and did not lose it through his last moment on earth. In all of his life’s circumstances he did his best to follow the path of God, seeking help fromMary and imitating the exam- ple of the saints. That is why in the last moments of his life he could repeat the Psalmist’s words: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast” (Ps 57:8). His entire life always pointed to God, just like the compass needle always points north. Hewas ac- customed to repeat frequently the words of the prayer that he composed: “Dearly beloved Lord, howcan I ever repaymy infinite debt to You; how can I showmy gratitude that You savedme from such great evil, and in Your goodness placed Your mercy and ac- tions, words and thoughts inmy heart? I give You thanks for hav- ing created me and redeemed me with Your precious Blood; for having washed me of my sins in the holy baptismal font and for having called me to this Holy Order, thus including me among Your servants who venerate the Blessed VirginMary, our Mother and our Lady”. Opinions of Father Casimir’s Holiness I n 1763-83, the Church tribunals in Portugal, Poland, and Rome collected the testimony of witnesses to Father Casimir’s life and made an evaluation of his writings. Unfortunately, the process was impeded by Poland’s loss of independence and the suppression of religious Orders in Portugal. It was picked up again in themid-20 th century and successfully concludedwith the 120 Z YGMUNT P ROCZEK , MIC, P H D