Lumen 2018

105 At the Piarist Fathers continued to be fiercely defended by Stephan Czarniecki and his troops. As Czarniecki was preparing to fight from behind the city walls, he ordered that the suburbs be set on fire in order to clear the fore- ground. The king watched this fire from a stone gazebo, which has survived to this day, at the Camaldolese monastery at Bielany. After having waited idly at Podgorze for a little while, John Casimir left the country and fled to Silesia, stopping at first in Glogowek and then in Opole. As he was fleeing from the invaders, he took the Polish coro- nation insignia and two crowns, the Swedish and the Muscovite one, with him. Cracow capitulated on October 19, 1655, but Czarniecki left the city with flying colors, still bearing his arms, riding on a beau- tiful horse that was a gift from the King of Sweden. How generous could some of those monarchs be! The agreement stipulated that Czarniecki would take his army to the border of the empire and remain neutral for a month. Then he was to decide which king he wanted to serve. After Czarniecki’s departure, Charles Gustavus went to visit the Wawel castle where Canon Simon Starowolski was his guide. It was at that time that the wise Canon uttered those famous words: ”Fortuna variabilis, Deus mirabilis” (Fortune changes, God is wonderful) re- minding the Swedish king about the constancy of God and the capri- cious nature of fortune. The Swedes took all liturgical vessels from the Wawel Cathedral but did not touch the chasubles. 48 At the same time, Christopher Grodzicki managed to protect Lvov from the Cossacks and Muscovites. They did burn Lublin, 49 however, as they were retreating to the east. Readiness for Martyrdom When the Swedes took control of Warsaw on September 8, 1655, it was only with great difficulty that studies could be continued. Still, the two Piarist novices continued to attend lectures. 50 It can be sur- mised that during this difficult year Stanislaus studied for about eight months, i.e., till the beginning of May 1656. 51