Father Casimir Wyszynski

forbidden access to the house and church in Balsamão. 344 The be- atification process, therefore, could not be concluded. Although devotion to Venerable Casimir was not extinguished, writing about him was forbidden. This condition perdured for the ap- proximately 100 years of theMarians’ absence fromBalsamão— they returned in 1954—yet the people from Tras os Montes kept alive the memory of Father Casimir. All through that time people believed in his help. Now a new generation continues the tradi- tion. People make pilgrimages to the shrine in Balsamão, hoping to receive graces there. In spite of the effort required, they walk up the mountain tomeet the Lady of Balsamão, who has become known as the Heavenly Nurse, and Venerable Casimir, whose el- evation to the altars they await. To him they turn for intercession in their needs and do not suffer disappointment. In the last hours before Venerable Casimir’s death, a confrere who cared for him during his illness asked him an important question, which, like a gold buckle, closed the book of his life: “Have you ever been exposed to the assaults and temptations of the evil spirit?” Father Casimir’s responsewas clear and decisive: “Not in the slightest! Just as by the mercy of God I never allowed the devil any room in my life, now in this very hour the Lord and His Blessed Mother will defend me before that enemy.” 345 We re- call, however that it was different when he was making his first steps in life: he fell victim to deadly panic when he heard a noise “like that of a huge bird,” which was made by “the infernal devil,” and the time when the sight of someone’s tragic death in the for- est imposed such a shock that he was barely able to recover his senses. But now, as Immaculate Mary’s “slave,” who imitated her virtues all his life long, he was freed from all fear and calmly awaited death. At times, with lips barely moving he kept repeat- ing after his teacher, our holy Father Stanislaus: Immaculata Vir- ginis Mariae Conceptio sit nobis salus et protectio, or after the Psalmist: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I 344 Ibid, 524. 345 A. Fischer, Życie, cnoty i śmierć święta …, 74; PositioWysz , 415, (testimony of Br. John of Saint Mary Rodrigues). 204 W ACŁAW M AKOŚ , MIC