Father Casimir Wyszynski

vent, so that, imbued with mercy, they might bring assistance to the souls suffering in Purgatory by obtaining the indulgences granted by the Holy See, and also by doing apostolic work among the destitute and miserable sinners, and by restoring the devo- tions to Divine Providence 294 and the Eucharist to their rightful place. 295 These tasks had priority in his plan of action when he became Superior General. Of this we find confirmation in letters and decrees passed by Chapters in paragraphs of protocols of the annual general meetings. 296 The incident he described in the letter to his brother Valerian, not only radically transformed Father Casimir’s attitude toward the Marians and brought forth a desire to repair the damages done to them, but was also a call for a deep revision of his own piety. The BlessedMother’s rebukemust havemoved the deepest stratum of his soul, for he had felt sure of being her great vener- ator since his youth. His conviction was now strengthened by those occurrences, as Magnuszewski has told us. Young Francis had been used to reciting so many prayers, singing songs, fulfill- ing various pious practices, and doing it all with the utmost solemnity and love, and yet he heard: “Francis, why do you per- secute me?” This must have caused a shock which drove him to reflect on his Marian spirituality. The need for reflection was also caused by the fact that he joined a religious Order under the title of the Immaculate Con- ception of the Most B.V.M., which had the Rule of her evangelical virtues as the basis of its lifestyle and the promotion of her honor as its main objective. The reading of Father Founder’s Prodro- mus , 297 and especially his Mystical Temple of God turned out to be essential and most helpful to Casimir. He absorbed the positions 294 PositioWysz , 151-152. 431. 495. 295 Ibid, 432. 296 Protocollum Ordinis , 237-242; Protocollum Goźlinense , f. 11v-12v; Proto- collum Rasnense , 60-66; Protocollum Corabieviense , 45-50. 297 Laus Deiparae Mariae Virginis , in: S. Papczyński, Prodromus reginae ar- tium , Varsaviae 2001, 65-73. 191 A Man of Prayer and Love of the Eucharist