Father Casimir Wyszynski

23 to participate in the ceremony of his profession, yet another vote was hastily organized to decide whether he should be admitted to vows. Nonetheless, Casimir of St. Joseph Wyszyński made his solemn religious profession before Father Joachim Kozłowski in the presence of Frs. Michael Gibler and Ignatius of St. Matthew, who was the confessor of the community and a member of the house council. Then Brother Casimir began his intensive preparations for the priesthood. It should be emphasized that—while preparing for the priesthood—Casimir also assisted othermembers of his com- munity in their education by fulfilling the duties of philosophy in- structor. On Holy Saturday, March 31, 1725, he received the tonsure and four minor orders at St. John’s Collegiate Church in Warsaw. On December 22 of the same year he was ordained a sub-deacon and then, onMarch 16 of the following year, a deacon. OnApril 20, 1726, John JoachimTarło, Bishop of Poznan, ordained Casimir to the priesthood at the Collegiate Church in Warsaw. Mindful of the significance of his priestly obligations, Father Casimir insisted on receiving proper training. He recalled later: “When he [his superior] was reluctant to sendme for further ed- ucation, I spoke up. It is not fitting to be a priest without educa- tion, and it is dangerous to engage in hearing confessionswithout proper experience. Therefore, I had to steer him cleverly into or- ganizing studies for us.” In 1725-28, Father Casimir studied theology under the guid- ance of Marian and Franciscan priests, at the same time filling in as the Philosophy Instructor for his seminarian confreres. Soon after, the Franciscans entrusted him with the offices of Novice Master and Theology Instructor and went back to their monas- teries. The Franciscans noted this young priest’s great spiritual and intellectual gifts, which he gladly shared with his confreres. TheMarian General Chapter of 1728 entrusted Father Casimir with the duties of Assistant House Superior in Korabiew Forest, General Secretary of the Order, andNoviceMaster. Unfortunately, Father Casimir felt hewasn’t able to fulfill his duties properlywith The Servant of Mary Immaculate