Father Casimir Wyszynski

even those priests that continue theirministry are burdenedwith taxes that exceed their means.” 20 In Father Wyszyński’s time, some of the Polish clergymen, es- pecially those serving in the countryside, did not always properly discharge their duties. For example, some pastors continued to re- ceive an income from their parish without even residing there, having transferred their obligations to their vicars. Their income was derived from landed property, tithes and sacramental serv- ices. 21 There were instances—on the occasion of Easter confes- sions—when peasants were made to work on the presbytery farmbefore being allowed to receive the sacraments. Thosewere times when laborers were in highest demand due to their re- duced numbers desiccated by wars and plague. Father Casimir was aware of such abusive practices and dur- ing his residency in Rome he took the opportunity to intercede before Pope Benedict XIV. This has been recorded in a document preserved at the Vatican Archives and Father Casimir’s handwrit- ten entries in his Diariusz [Diary]. In the entry of November 29, 1751, Venerable Casimir de- scribed in detail his meeting with Pope Benedict XIV, during which he delivered a few petitions, including the following: “[…] a petition against malpractices in Poland in relation to Easter con- fession. Certain priests have the habit of taking people to work their lands prior to administering Holy Communion to them, thereby delaying the distribution of Communion. Meanwhile, peopleworn out andwearied byworking at the presbytery farms would leave church without due piety, which caused scandal among non-believers and heretics.” 22 20 ASV—S.C. del Concilio, Relationes ad Limina , Posnaniensis (1612-1819), N. 6. Bartholomeus Tarło (1712) ; per canonicumGasper Ruggia. Cf. B. Jakimowicz, Czcigodny Sługa B ży KazimierzWyszyński , in: Polscy święci , vol. 9, Ed. J. R. Bar, OFMConv, Warszawa 1986, 131-132. 21 See M. Zgórniak, Wieś małopolska a plebania , in: Studia z dziejów wsi mało- polskiej wdrugiej połowie XVIII wieku , Ed. C. Bobińska, Warszawa 1957, 444-445. 22 K. Wyszyński, Diariusz czynności wRzymie i w Portugalii , in: Stróż duchowego 57 The Servant of Mary Immaculate