Servant of Mary new file

talk his son out of the idea of such a pilgrimage. But Francis would not be dissuaded. He did not want to reveal the reason for his vow, either. At that point his father turned to Father W"?yk, a Warsaw official, for help. After a conversation with Francis, Father W"?yk recommended that the young man should make a retreat at the Vincentians. When Francis presented a statement from them that his vow was irrevocable, his father gave permis- sion for the pilgrimage. Francis put on pilgrim’s clothing and was to make his way to Spain via Rome. He was 21 years old at that time. He arrived in Rome in October of 1721, most likely with a group of Polish pilgrims. There are documents indicating that around that time 28 people from Poland, among them Francis and his older brother Joseph, were staying at the Eternal City. On November 1st, they went to confession to Father Sebastian Mulinowicz at St. Peter’s Basilica. Perhaps at least a few from the group intended to make a pilgrimage to Compostella. Francis, however, did not fulfill his original vow. He did reach Spain, but he became so seriously ill that the doctors strongly objected to his continuing the journey. The unfortunate pilgrim had to return to Rome where he obtained permission to change his vow to the visiting of Roman churches and performing acts of mercy. Therefore, he remained in Rome for a while. He performed pious practices and earned his living by copying records in a lawyer’s office. 11 THE SERVANT OF MARY IMMACULATE