Father Casimir Wyszynski

“servant.” He did not reject “Mary’s bondage,” but wanted to sup- plement it in a proper, deeper, more evangelical manner. Hence, he searched for a book that could become the best help for “all venerators of Mary,” teaching them “true devotion to the Blessed VirginMary” 166 . He came across thework of a Jesuit, Francis Arias (1533-1605), entitled De Virgo imitanda sive de ImitationeMariae Virginis , 167 and decided to translate it and introduce it to read- ers, 168 so that “by reading and pondering its contents you may grow in trust and love of the Immaculate Virgin.” 169 Three basic tasks—recognition, service and imitation—constitute authentic “Marian slavery,” which consists of a most deep desire to serve God by following the example of Mary. This kind of imitation of Mary is described by the theological expression “Marian slav- ery.” 170 Venerable Casimir accepted various pious practices in honor of Mary and advised against abandoning them, but he em- phasized that “imitation of Mary’s life and virtues" is the “best portion” and “themost perfect expression of true devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.” 171 . How does Father Casimir substantiate the excellence of this formof piety?Wemust remember that this particular formof de- votion was not discussed much in the Marian literature of the time. Themajority of Polish authors from the turn of the 17 th and 18 th centuries did not leave much room in their works for the 166 C. Wyszyński, Foreword to Morning Star , 16. 167 Latin translation (Cologne, 1622) of the Spanish original entitled De la im- itacion de Nuestra Senora , Valencia 1588. 168 Gwiazda Zaranna na Horyzoncie Polskim nowo wschodząca Naybe- spiecznieyszą drogą Prawowiernego Chrześcianina do pożądanego portu szczęśliwey wieczności prowadząca to jest Ksiąszka Naśladowania Życia Maryi Panny w dziesięciu Cnotach Ewangelicznych Jey upodobanych […], Warszawa 1749. 169 C. Wyszyński, Foreword to Morning Star, 16. 170 Cf. B. Cortinovis, Sviluppo storico-dottrinale della schiavitù d’amore nel se- colo XVII , Roma 1968-1969; G. Calvo Moralejo, Fray Melchor de Cetina, O.F.M., el primer teologo de la „esclavitud mariana” (1618) , in: De cultu mariano sae- culis XVII-XVIII , vol. 4, Roma 1987, 51-79; J. De los Angeles, M. De Cetina, Es- ortazione alla devozione della Vergine Madre di Dio. Alle origini della “schiavitù mariana” (Studi Mariologici, 2), Città del Vaticano 2003. 171 C. Wyszyński, Foreword to Morning Star, 17. 149 Apostle of the Immaculate Mary