Father Casimir Wyszynski

come for no reason other than obedience to God’s will, resisting which would be more than disobedience and persisting in stub- bornness would be more than ingratitude. “I come to serve, not to govern. I am not a hired worker indif- ferent to the fruits of his labor, but a true shepherd led by sincere love. Dearly beloved Fathers and Brothers, may your hearts be at rest. Just as by the will of heaven Joseph was once made the gov- ernor of all of Egypt in order to save his brothers, so am I the Su- perior of this holy Congregation for no other reason than by Divine Providence. I shall use Joseph’s words spoken at themeet- ing with his brothers: ‘Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by thewill of God’” (Gen 45:8, Vulgate). Godmademe your father as it were; He appointed me the steward over you, not as one of you, but just as I am: a gentle Father, loving Brother, managing Superior, caring and watchful Shepherd. “Therefore, sheep of the little flock, heed my voice. This is the voice of your Shepherd speaking from the seclusion of theMarian hermitage in Korabiew Forest. Pave the way for the Lord with your worthy deeds of spiritual living. Make straight pathways for God by staying on the road of the vocation towhich you have been found worthy. May any erroneous and unlawful deviations from the Rules and Statutes, any irregularities in upholding religious discipline, turn into straight paths of God’s commandments. All this is so that you may find yourselves in the pasture with your Shepherd, towhich you are called by the Lamb that grazes amidst lilies” (July 27, 1747). During this second term as the Superior General, Father Casimir demonstrated truly great commitment to the matters of his Order. Above all, hemade sure that the novices were provided with proper conditions for their spiritual life and were prepared for carrying out their future duties, since he fully realized that “the entirewell-being of our wretched little Order depends upon it.” Placing his trust in God, he encouraged the brethren to fight evil and to opt for good. He pointed out the role of the Holy Spirit in nurturing fraternal love and urged everyone to follow the Im- maculate Mary, patroness of the Order. He expressed his inten- 33 The Servant of Mary Immaculate