The Blue Scapular Prayer Book

14 • praying for the faithful departed (souls in Purgatory), especially victims of wars and epidemics, as well as those who were not prepared for death, • working apostolically, especially among the spiritually neglected. The holy Fr. Stanislaus was also a zealous apostle of sobriety, which he made one of his Order’s principal characteristics. In its early years, the new community met with many difficulties. There were times when its very existence was in question. However, the Order founded by St. Stanislaus proved stronger than the many obstacles it encountered over the centuries. Thanks to the Venerable Servant of God, Fr. Casimir of St. Joseph Wyszyński (1700-1755), one of the most faithful followers of the Saint Fr. Founder, the Order strengthened and grew during the 18 th century. Under Fr. Casimir’s leadership, new monasteries were set up in Lithuania, Belarus, and even as far away as Portugal. Through his efforts the Marian Order grew in numbers and became an international community. Among its members there were Poles, Lithuanians, Czechs, Hungarians, Italians, the French, and the Portuguese. By the second half