Father Casimir Wyszynski

tions in circular letters to the confreres, in which he announced the specific goals of his inspection of themonasteries: “Strength- ened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we set out on the road of canonical visitation, asking ourselves: did anyone of us depart from the way of love, truth, and peace? Are we all following the same course in spreading the glory of God and the Most Blessed VirginMary, conceivedwithout Original Sin? Didwe depart from abiding by our laws and Roman Statutes, as well as the approved and practiced recommendations of our Chapters? I order you: prior to my arrival, make sure that your churches, sacristies, and monasteries are orderly, neat, and adorned” (1748). “I will check to see if we are realizing all that the Holy Spirit has placed in us. Shall I find the Marians truly following the ex- ample of Mary and diligently observing the Rule and the Consti- tutions? Do they act in love and fraternal peace? Do they properly observe poverty, chastity and obedience? Is praise being properly given to God day and night, as per regulations? And finally, are the principles of religious discipline being strictly followed?” (1749). Father Casimir also endeavored to obtain new foundations for theMarians. He did not spare efforts to put in order the legal sta- tus of both existing monasteries and new foundations. A friend of Father Casimir, Adalbert [Polish: Wojciech, which will be used in the text because of footnote references – note of the translator] Magnuszewski, a Wojski 3 of Czersk, who presented him to the presidiumof the Diet, recalled that theMPs “recognized his great holiness, seriousness, and humility—values that they highly ap- preciated. They promised their willing assistance in securing the approval when the memorandum would be submitted for de- bate.” Father Casimir’s personal zeal and concern for the quality of the Marians’ spiritual life made the Order noted by the public, which resulted in the founding of newmonasteries. 3 A Wojski [pronounced: voyski] was an officer inmedieval Poland, responsible for the security of voivodeships or districts at times when voivods and castel- lans had accompanied the szlachta (nobility) to war. 34 Z YGMUNT P ROCZEK , MIC, P H D