Father Casimir Wyszynski

“they too imitated Christ” 176 , and thus, reasons the Servant of God, why shouldwe not imitate the Blessed VirginMarywhowas clos- est to Christ and knew His work in the most intimate way?” 177 The path of imitating Mary is linked to our salvation. Encour- aging this practice of Marian devotion, Father Casimir sees it also in a soteriological context. By imitatingMary’s evangelical virtues, the faithful enter the road to salvation. Moreover, “The faithful who practice these virtues will never stray from the road of sal- vation because they receive the help and assistance of their Lady.” 178 Mary’s virtues, practiced by her venerators, will “lead us to salvationmore effectively.” 179 Father Casimir argues that “How- ever deeply a personmay be pulled by Satan into sin, if he begins to imitate sincerely the virtues of Mary, he certainly will be able to break free from all the snares and traps of the hellish serpent, and by practicing these virtues will reach eternal salvation.” 180 For Father Casimir, the path of imitating Mary’s virtues is not an alternative, independent from Christ’s path to heaven, but is decisive in one’s bond with Christ as our only Savior. Accepting the grace of conversion and entering the path of fidelity to Christ, expressed by the effort to imitate the virtues of Mary, indicates the inner rebirth that the Gospel advises “to all who desire salva- tion.” 181 On this path, Mary is present as the One who leads and guides. 182 Where shall we seek the roots of the practice of imitating Mary’s ten virtues? Father Casimir indicates: “The Holy Spirit de- sired that the Gospels describe the ten virtues that can be ac- quired not only by Mary, but also by us.” 183 176 Ibid. 177 Ibid. 178 Ibid, 26. 179 Ibid, 27. 180 Ibid. 181 Ibid, 32. 182 Cf. Ibid, 32, 33. 183 Ibid, 25. 151 Apostle of the Immaculate Mary