757 chrystus cierpiący The horns of the crescent moon shine with two stars; but its center is held fast by an arrow. The crescent moon means a pious, wise [person], and the two stars indicate strength of character. The straight arrow depicts an ardent heart. Since the crown shines by triple virtue, why would not the Bishop also shine by it? Letter of Dedication Having come out of my hermitage in hiding from the world together with The Suffering Christ, I immediately admired the wanderers’ friendly star. For at the forefront of your coat-ofarms, most noble and most venerable Bishop,3 I find the crescent. [You were] placed in the firmament of the Church and the Polish Parliament to lead [us during] the night. Those who refuse to accept whatever is true and honest wander in the deepest darkness of night. You, noblest and most venerable Bishop, supply them with the light of firm wisdom, authentic virtue, and unblemished life. [You were] born with dignity into the old and glory-covered Witwicki family that takes pride in the triple star dispersing the darkness. Oh, if only all those who must would always look to you with attentiveness and openness of mind, there would not be any erring sheep in your flock! You radiate forth as many bright 3 Stanislaus Jan Witwicki (ca. 1630-1698), of the Sas coat-of-arms, was in turn the bishop of Kiev, Luck, and Poznań . He was also a writer on moral theology and ascetics. At the onset of his priestly life, he served as a secretary at the court of King John Casimir, becoming later the regent of the royal chancellery. In 1665, he became a member of the Gniezno Chapter. In 1671, he was made the mitered Superior of the collegiate church in Olyca, and in 1676, the commendatory abbot in Plock and the canon of Warsaw. At the royal chancellery, he consecutively served kings John Casimir, Michael Korybut, and John III Sobieski. The latter named him the bishop of Kiev. Bishop Witwicki combined his fervent devotion to diocesan matters with political involvement. In 1681, he became the bishop of Luck, where he undertook administrative measures aimed at improving the clergy. In 1688, he was transferred to Poznań. Bishop Witwicki died in Warsaw, which was his usual place of residence. (Cf. Wyszawski, H.E.; Witwicki, Jan Stanislaw, in: Slownik Polskich Teogogow Katolickich, t. 4, Ed. H.E. Wyszawski, OFM, Warszawa 1983, pp. 449-451.)
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