Father Casimir Wyszynski

125 The Servant of Mary Immaculate grace of faith received at baptism by practicing conscientiously the pious devotions of the day. He did not follow the clerical ca- reer as his father had wished. Instead, he discerned and unwa- veringly answered, God’s call of a religious vocation in theMarian Order. He joined the Order clearly understanding his mission to mend the wrongs done by his own brother and those inflicted by the weaknesses of his brethren. With exceptional courage he un- dertook the task of bringing order into religious life in accordance with Church regulations and the instructions of the Marian Founder. He accomplished it by setting a good personal example of faithfulness, regardless of insults and even a threat to his life. Instead of indulging in futile criticism, he used acceptablemeans of correction such as religious visitations. His dedication was in- strumental in stimulating the Order’s interior dynamics and out- ward growth. He was the first novice of the recently revived Marian Order. He stayed with his religious family until the end, when Christ through an illness, knocked on his door in Balsamão. Like Saint Stanislaus Papczyński, Father Casimir bore a deep conviction that “This tiny Congregation of the Immaculate Conception has been raised up by God” and therefore it was necessary to take good care of it. In his sermon of 1968, Stephen Cardinal Wyszyński empha- sized Father Casimir’s role in awakening a hope for the nation’s survival, thanks toMary’s special protection: “To a nation of peo- plewhowere losing their freedom, Father Casimir revealed their very Mother. He tied this nation personally to her through the veneration of her Immaculate Conception.” Appreciating the importance of the outward signs of Marian piety, Father Casimir Wyszyński pointed out the need of conver- sion in Christian life. For this reason, he did his best to instill into Marian cult the practice of imitatingMary in her attitude towards God, her love of Christ, and fulfillment of the Gospel precepts. Fa- ther Wyszyński exhorted that it was not enough to just call upon God with one’s lips while failing in the external obligations of faith. One’s salvation may be secured only through the effort of