Father Casimir Wyszynski

presentation of Mary as a model of virtue, except when—doing it only partially—they were discussing the topic in the context of Mary’s exceptional holiness, without indicating that her virtues were an example for all Christians. Only a few authors of the pe- riod, such as Anthony Węgrzynowski and Francis Balicki, dedi- cated more attention to the imitation of Mary. In any case, they do not delve into the theological validation of the necessity or the need to imitate Mary. 172 For Venerable Casimir, imitation of Mary was the basis of fi- delity to Christ. This kind of Marian devotion has above all a Christological foundation. True Christian life consists not only in getting to know Christ and talking to Him, but primarily in fol- lowing His way of life. “For He did not come into the world only that Hemight be heard, seen, and read about in the Gospel; rather, He came above all so that He might be imitated,” 173 says Father Casimir. He supports his statement by Jesus’ words: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and followme” (Mt 16:24; cf. 1 Jn 2:6: “Hewho says that he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”) The Venerable Servant of God Casimir believed that—to enable us to do so—Christ “left inMary, Hismost belovedMother, the first and most perfect example of imitation of His life. She—the one most aware of Christ’s ways—shows us the most dependable way of imitating the Lord.” 174 On this Christological basis of imitating Mary, Father Casimir refutes the claims of those who believe “that it is inappropriate to imitate Mary, because the only example for them to follow should be Christ the Lord.” 175 As Saint Paul stated many times in his letters (1 Cor 4:16, 11, 1, Phil 3:17; 1 Thes 1:6, Heb 6:12), Christians are called to imitate not only Mary, but also the Apos- tles. According to Father Casimir, we should imitate thembecause 172 D. Mastalska, Teologiczny obraz Maryi …, 188. 173 C. Wyszyński, Foreword to Morning Star , 19. 174 Ibid. 175 Ibid, 27. 150 J ANUSZ K UMALA , MIC, P H D