Father Casimir Wyszynski

Congregation.” Father Casimir was deeply convinced that he sur- vived that incident in Vienna thanks to the intercession of Father Founder and that the matter could be brought forth as a proof of Father Stanislaus’s holiness. The travelers from Poland reached Rome on April 30, 1751, and took up residence at the Franciscan monastery of Ara Coeli. Shortly after, Father John Cantius returned to Poland, while Fa- ther Casimir, although frequently suffering frompoor health, fer- vently carried out all the tasks entrusted to him. His first taskwas to resolve theMarians’ dispute over their title and habit with Rev. Turczynowicz. The latter had endeavored in Vilnius to convert Jews to Christianity. From1744, hewas the pas- tor of St. Stephen Parish in Vilnius and chaplain at the hospital as- sociated with that church. He founded an association of about 30 newly converted Jews, bothmen andwomen, and placed them in this hospital. He supported them with his own means and with solicited donations. Members of that association, called “Mariæ vitæ,” whomTurczynowicz clothed in awhite habit similar to that worn by theMarians, were sent out to collect alms. However, their immoral behavior and religious views astonished, scandalized and confused the public who took the new converts to be Marians. Father Casimir had to travel to Vilnius twice, in 1748 and 1749, in an attempt to peacefully resolve this matter which was so very detrimental and unpleasant for theMarians. When all ef- forts failed, the General Chapter delegated him to the Holy See to decide the matter in Rome. This step was necessary because Fa- ther Turczynowicz applied for approval of his association under the title of the Marians. Father Wyszyński’s intervening on behalf of the Marian Fa- thers with the Roman Congregation took from May of 1751 to July 15, 1752. After he obtained a statement on November 12, 1751 from the Bishop of Vilnius denying that he had ever given consent to this association, the Congregation for Bishops and Re- ligious issued a decree instructing the Ordinary of Vilnius “to order them [the Mariavites, as the association members were 43 The Servant of Mary Immaculate