Father Casimir Wyszynski

known that the Synagogue did not have as much power as our Holy Mother the Church to apply the merits of Christ the Lord to the faithful departed. What is appropriate for us to do, we who can obtainmuch from Jesus and have such frequent incentives to bring assistance to the souls of the faithful who are destined for temporary torture? Therefore, I amgreatly amazed how it is pos- sible that a Christian does not begin to feel deeply the entreaty of those souls who cry aloud in these words: “Pity me, pity me, O you my friends!” (Jb 19:21). What about the fact that we shall have in heaven asmany patrons and helpers as the souls we have brought there, thanks to our help, from the furnace of purgatory! I do not relate many things on this subject; let it suffice to con- sider and follow what the Holy Spirit declared: ‘It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be delivered from their sins’ ” (Mc 12:45-46). Therefore, a few days after his arrival in Rome in May, 1751, Father Casimir started efforts for having the community of her- mits from Saint Egidio Church near Porta Angelica, associated with theMarianOrder, because that communitywas linked to the Archconfraternity of Souls in Purgatory, founded in 1687, and en- dowedwith indulgences and privileges by Popes Innocent XI and Benedict XIII. Although his efforts failed, he obtained a bookwith a list of privileges, such as permission to have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the octave of the memorial of All the Faithful Departed and to impart indulgences for the dead on spec- ified liturgical feast days. Venerable Casimir felt a great joy from personally meeting Pope Benedict XIV on November 29, 1751. On that day he re- ceived a blessing for himself and for the entire Congregation. He informed the Holy Father that the Congregation had been found- ed “for the greater glory of Mary Immaculately Conceived” and “for bringing help to the souls suffering in purgatory, especially the victims of wars, epidemic diseases, famine, and forgotten per- sons.” Among petitions submitted to the pope, there was also the one related to that goal. The Holy Father accepted the petition and said: “Good, we shall try to give you these indulgences.” He 73 The Servant of Mary Immaculate