Father Casimir Wyszynski

Father Casimir testified repeatedly and with confidence, that he had avoidedmany dangers and hadmanaged to carry out very difficult matters successfully, because when he lifted his prayers to God for help he also pleaded for the assistance of Immaculate Mary through the intercession of Father Stanislaus. To identify the other “occurrences” properly, which Father Casimirmentions in his Diariusz czynnoci (e.g., the case of a rabid dog, of the undiminishedmoney of alms, of the collapsing ceiling, etc.), it is not necessary to retrace our steps. For that purpose it will be sufficient to recall Father Casimir’s trip to Portugal and his “adventures” encountered during the sea passage. On May 31, 1753, as he and Father Zenon Bujalki sailed on a small boat (felucca) bound for Portugal, a hurricane arose around midnight. “The wind was tilting the boat so much that water poured in, while the mast began to crack. The women onboard cried loudly, as we were in great peril. But as soon as we com- mended ourselves to the protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and our Father Stanislaus, the wind abated. The next day about noon, another storm arose, but it too soon ceased thanks to the protection of the Blessed Mother.” 322 More severe storms arose on June 1 st , causing despair among the passengers. Father Casimir and his companion resigned themselves to the thought of drowning, for they were ready to give up their lives for the glory of Mary Immaculate. In his des- peration, the felucca owner kept throwing sidelong glances at the lifeboat, hoping to escape unnoticed if the felucca should begin to sink. “We were sure the boat would capsize if not for the order to lower the sails. After we fervently commended ourselves to the protection of the Blessed Mother and our holy Founder, the tem- pest ceased and a favorablewind arrived […]. As formyself, I was not invoking any other kind of help but the one towhom I usually this disobedience with a very serious illness and much suffering. His illness— for which there was no remedy—passed, but only after the likeness of Father Stanislaus was appropriately altered. K. Wyszyński, Żywot Czcigodnego Sługi Bożego Ojca Stanisława Papczyńskiego ..., 140-141. 322 K. Wyszyński, Diariusz czynności … , 387. 199 A Man of Prayer and Love of the Eucharist