Father Casimir Wyszynski

T he entire life of Father Casimir of St. Joseph (baptized Januarius Francis Wyszyński) was filled with arduous undertak- ings of one sort or another. Difficulties in early childhood and schooling, followed by years of work under severe and unusual conditions, provided challenges which might have deterred a lesser man, but which seem to have honed Casimir’s ability to conquer difficulties and obstacles which he turned into stepping stones. In addition to a most serious and conscientious pursuit of holinesss as a priest and religious, he fulfilled in an exemplary manner many special offices in the Marian community such as: novicemaster, superior of themonastery, general procurator, and twice the superior general of the Order. Casimir’s Catholic family upbringing prepared himwell for a life of prayer, abettedwith various pious practices, devotions and the holy Sacraments. His family roots were of Bohemian origin, and their coat-of-arms contained the image of a rake and lily. 272 Little Francis grewup in this religious and patriotic environment to become not just an everyday good Christian, but a true man of God. Much has been already written about Venerable Casimir’s piety infused by hismother, his nanny, and other familymembers, aswell as about his virtues, emphasizing additionally his patience and the cardinal virtues along with his dedication to God and his fervent devotion to the Blessed Mother, all initiated in child- hood. 273 The above statements, however, pose an embarrassing ques- tion: Why does Poland not have a spontaneous public worship of this great candidate for the altars? If suchworship does exist, why is it so minimal and unnoticed? These questions, rising from an observation of reality, force us to consider whether the authors properly portrayed the person of Father Casimir. Has he been ad- 272 PositioWysz , 12-13. 273 Ibid, XXV-LXXXV. The most valuable are testimonies given by direct wit- nesses such as Fathers Isidore Taudt, Hyacinth Wasilewski, John Czermak, Adrian Ignatowski, Benon Bujalski, Narcissus Rychter, and particularly Alexis Fischer, Father Casimir’s friend.