Father Casimir Wyszynski

childhood period, the aforesaid events speak for themselveswith- out need to explain them further. This manifestation of evil, which Francis faced so early in life, no doubt left its mark. It must have honed his sensitivity and shaped his response to the outside world. All this became appar- ent after the family returned home. Francis was about eight at the time. 276 The boy was sent without delay to the Piarist school in Góra Kalwaria. He did not do well in class. He was not properly prepared for learning and no doubt still bore the trauma of war. Instead of applying himself to secular disciplines, he took refuge in prayer andmeditation. WojciechMagnuszewski, his classmate at the time, who had a chance to observe him, later composed a long list of Francis Wyszyński’s favorite habits, pious practices and prayers. One of themwas frequent, even daily, participation in holy Mass, along with the recitation of litanies, pious songs, and meditations. In addition to his fervent devotion to God, es- pecially to the Eucharistic Jesus, he also manifested an excep- tional love and devotion to the BlessedMother, whichmanifested itself in the recitation of various prayers, the rosary and Chaplet, and in his singing the Little Hours of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed VirginMary. So, the presence of a lily in the family’s coat-of-arms was perhaps not so coincidental. The aforesaid classmate also draws attention to Francis’s exceptional, strikingly mature, attitude of reflection and solemnity that defined his be- havior in church and in prayer. If the occasion called for it, Francis was apt to call other boys to order. 277 The boy’s lack of interest for secular disciplines gave himcon- siderable trouble and even caused his father’s displeasure and anger. Michael, Francis’s brother, writes: “John, only a year older, advanced in learning. Francis, cowed from early childhood, did poorly at school and thus brought upon himself his father’s dis- dain and was treated worse than the servants.” 278 276 Ibid. 277 W. Magnuszewski, Żywot… , 30. Cf. PositioWysz , 493-494 (Rev. Rychter’s tes- timony). 278 M. Wyszyński, Chcę naprawić… , 21. Cf. PositioWysz , 994 (Rev. Rychter’s 185 A Man of Prayer and Love of the Eucharist