Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

181 of its acceptance, it had a special impact on the spirituality of the Marians and the shape of Marian devotion, which they lived out and preached. Father Wyszyński greatly desired to see all Marians faithfully observing this Rule and the idea of imitation and thus striving for holiness. Not only did he not bar lay people from practicing imitatio Mariae , but instead, he fervently encouraged them to adopt it, because, as he stated in his main [written] work, it was meant for people of all walks in life. In creating the biography of our holy Father Founder, Fr. Casimir follows the key of imitatio Mariae , which found expression, for example, in his narration of Fr. Stanislaus’s death: “Since the Venerable Servant of God has been a life-long venerator of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and a fervent defender of devotion to her, Christ the Lord wished to be- stow a double privilege upon His Most Beloved Mother’s servant, namely: before he died, he [was able] to make his profession upon the Rule of the imitation of the Mother of God and he died at a place similar to her place of death. Like the Mother of God, who died in Jerusalem, Fr. Stanislaus died at [the monastery of ] Our Lord’s Cenacle in New Jerusalem, having lived to be 70 years of age.” 16 Father Casimir also emphasizes the joy of Fr. Stani- slaus and the other Marians at accepting the Rule of imitating Mary, which he compares to the precious evangelical pearl: “The Venerable Servant of God, Fr. Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary has seen what he desired and, hold- ing [in his hand] this Rule of the Virgin Mary as a precious evangelical pearl found anew, he rejoiced with the confreres as they wished each other well.” 17 In his Circular Letter of June 10, 1740, Fr. Casimir reminded all that the evangelical virtues of Our Lady should be imitated not in words or thoughts, but above all in actions. In another Circular Letter of June 3, 1749, announcing the next General Visitation, Fr. Wyszyński indicated the topics and areas of the religious life that the Visitation would touch upon: “... I would want to learn: Are we implementing in our lives what the Holy Spirit has worked in us? Are there Marians who truly imitate Mary ( cum inveniam Marianos vere Mariam imitantes ) and diligently observe the Rule and the Constitutions? Do they grow in charity and fraternal peace? Do they properly practice poverty, chastity, and obedience? Do they glorify 16 K. Wyszyński, Żywot Czcigodnego Sługi Bożego Ojca Stanisława od Jezusa Maryi Papczyńskiego, w: Stróż duchowego dziedzictwa marianów. Wybór pism o. KazimierzaWyszyńsk- iego , transl. and ed. by Z. Proczek, Warszawa–Stockbridge 2004, p. 129. 17 Ibid, p. 128.