Father Casimir Wyszynski

rienced Father Casimir’s “singularissimam paupertatem” 111 (most singular poverty). According to the testimonies given by witnesses in the beati- fication process, Father Casimir practiced the vow of poverty in a “totally faultlessmanner,” “exactly” and “strictly.” 112 Fortified by his faith, he lived out religious poverty, entrusting to Divine Prov- idence all the material needs of his monastery in Góra Kalwaria and encouraging his brethren to do the same. 113 Inspired by the virtue or the spirit of poverty, the Venerable Casimir “…kept his cell in a state of utmost poverty, did not have any other furnishings except for a crucifix and necessary pious books” and had only one image—that of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. He slept on a bed unworthy of the name, having just a bag of straw for bedding. He wore an exceptionally poor and thin garb; his habit was made out of some very stiff fabric. He con- sumed frugal meals that looked as if they came from alms. 114 During his stay in Rome, the Venerable Casimir “…was happy to give alms and used to do so frequently, although he himself was always poor.” 115 Divine Providence always helped him in amirac- ulous manner so that he was never short of strict necessities. When Father Casimir arrived in Lisbon, he stayed in the poor- est conditions in the house of Salazar. Witnesses attest that throughout that time he endured even more than evangelical poverty without complaint. Similarly, living conditions in the monastery of St. Peter of Alcantara were extremely poor and he had to rely on the alms of friends to subsist. 116 111 PositioWysz , 485. 112 Ibid, 437, 439, 442, 468. 113 W. Magnuszewski, Żywot… , 44. 114 PositioWysz , 442, 466, 468, 480. 115 Ibid, 390. 116 Ibid, 242, 339-340, 423, 425. 133 Faithful to the Road of Religious Profession of Vows