Father Casimir Wyszynski

Father Benon Bujalski, the Servant of God Casimir’s compan- ion on the journey to Portugal, testified among other things: “In various difficulties and in times of food shortage and the lack of other goods for the community in Góra, the Servant of God always placed his hope in God. He kept telling his brethren to do the same while suffering these trying shortages of food or clothing. He cared for all with great trust and concern. Even when he and his subordinates lived in poverty, he ensured the magnificence of worship and divine cult and provided food for the assembled faithful to stir up their piety.” Experiencingmany obstacles, perils, and famine on his trip to Portugal, “the Servant of God placed his hope in God’s help and displayed the utmost patience and steadfastness in achieving his goal. This encouragedme, his companion, to be patient and trust- ful” (Father Bujalski). Father Alexis Fisher pointed out Father Casimir’s filial bond withMary Immaculate: “He had such an unbreakable faith in the power of the Immaculate Conception that in various circum- stances, in weaknesses and perils, either his own or somebody else’s, he recited the followingwords, thus achieving the expected result: ‘May the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception be our health and our protection.’” Father Alexis personally experienced the healing power of this prayer when the Servant of God Casimir traced on his forehead the initials of this invocation. The same biographer passed on to us a testimony given by our Portuguese brethren pertaining to the time of the Servant of God’s last illness: “With great love [Father Casimir] wished to al- leviate the strain on the brethrenwaiting on him. He used to pray throughout his entire life that he would not become a burden to his brethren because of a long illness. As long as he was able he tried to get up on his own […] and only shortly before dying did he allow for a night vigil to be kept at his bedside. When he needed something or wished to call the brethren to pray, he tapped his cane.” The first Portuguese Marians perceived Father Casimir as someone dedicated to fulfilling thewill of God and endowedwith 122 Z YGMUNT P ROCZEK , MIC, P H D