Father Casimir Wyszynski

Wyszyński mentioned some of these factors in his letter to Father Wetycki: “I explained to the lawyer that we did not have oppor- tune time for conducting the process on the holy life of our Founder. There were various obstacles and persecutions of our Order. We had to attend first to the approval of the Order and safeguard it from persecutions, plus enduring numerous epi- demic illnesses and wars.” 258 A year later, Venerable Casimir reported: “Father Budrioli ad- vised explaining to the judges the reasons for our delay in open- ing the process. These reasons included persecution of the Order by various individuals, including its own members, similar to what happened in the case of Blessed Joseph Calasanz; also the wars and recurring epidemic deceases; finally, negligence on the part of our forefathers, for which they received punishment from God. These obstacles were amplified by our Order’s poverty; thus the failure to accomplish something which should have been done right after the glorious death of our Venerable Father Founder.” 259 As to the matter of negligence in forwarding the process, Fa- ther Casimir blamed himself as well. He wrote to Father Wetycki that he always tried—since joining the Order—to persuade his superiors of the necessity to attend to the Founder’s beatification cause, but they maintained that such matters could be started only 100 years after the person’s death. After learning in Rome that such a matter should be started without delay, Father Casimir regretted not knowing this during his time in the office of Superior General. Thus, he asked the Superior General to rem- edy his ignorance and negligence as soon as possible. 260 Finally, the fervent appeals which Father Wyszyński kept sending from Rome to Poland, moved hearts and the Marians took steps towards the beatification of their Founder. In 1752-57, 258 Letter of October 16, 1751, in: Stróż duchowego dziedzictwa marianów …, 207. 259 Letter to Father General Wetycki of July 29, 1752, in: Ibid, 317. 260 Letter to Father General Wetycki of February 17, 1753, in: Ibid, 374. 173 Faithful Venerator of the Marian Founder