Father Casimir Wyszynski

joined the order of the Dominicans. and spent the last years of his life at the church of St. Hyacinth in Warsaw where he led the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. At the same time, Hedwig’s three brothers, Ignatius, Wacław, andDominic Zawadzki, became members of the Piarist order. Eight children were born from the marriage of John Casimir andHedwig, out of which three sons dedicated themselves to the service of God: Andrew John (1684-1754), joined the Piarists, John (1699-1773) joined the Vincentians, and Januarius Francis, joined the Marians. The latter child, their seventh and the future Father CasimirWyszyński, was born on August 19, 1700. He was baptized Januarius Francis but was commonly called Francis in later years. At the parish church in Jeziora one can still see the water font inwhich hewas baptized and the image of Our Blessed Mother which previously belonged to the Wyszyński family’s house chapel. The parishioners still offer prayers before this image for the beatification of their compatriot. Francis’ parents’ joy over the birth of another offspring was overshadowed by a war raging in Poland at that time. Swedish, Saxon and Russian armies marched through Poland, marking their passage by fires, ruin, plunder and the forcible draft of local farmers. The sweeping devastationwas furthered by armed con- frontations between supporters of Augustus II 1 and Stanislaus Leszczyński 2 , resulting in ravaging epidemics which diminished the number of the Polish population. Anthony, one of Francis’s brothers, served in the Polish army, and the Wyszyńskis, fearing reprisal from the Swedes, sought refuge in the southern part of Poland. It was not until 1708 that 1 Augustus II the Strong (May 12, 1670–February 1, 1733) also known in Sax- ony as Frederick Augustus I, was Elector of Saxony from 1697, Imperial Vicar, and elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in the years 1697- 1706 and from 1709 until his death in 1733. 2 Stanislaus I Leszczyński (October 20, 1677–February 23, 1766) was King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Duke of Lorraine, and a count of the Holy Roman Empire. After the death of Augustus, who died in 1733, Stanislaus sought to regain the Polish throne with the help of French support for his candidacy. 16 Z YGMUNT P ROCZEK , MIC, P H D