Believing in God, trusting in Him, loving Him and His greater glory, Father Beyzym subjected himself to the holy and good will of God with faith, hope and love. We often meet the phrase: “Fiat voluntas Dei” (God’s will be done). “Let God’s will take place” in his letters.
For better or worse let God’s will take place
In everything, in good and bad times, in troubles, difficulties and hardships, when everything went with a great effort, when he sometimes had to go upstream, when, because of other people’s fault, the construction was delayed for years - fiat voluntas Dei.
With regard to God’s will, Father Beyzym was ready for everything with no desire to follow his own will. He strongly suffered from the necessity to wait for the construction start as he saw the physical and spiritual poverty of people entrusted to him. He longed to do more for the greater glory of God, but: “Our Lord tells to wait. Let God’s will take place”. He complained to the Prioress of Lobzow Carmel that the construction was delayed, the souls perished, material losses grew, but let God’s will take place.
Father Beyzym also experienced worries of another type. The French Government intended to remove the missionaries from the colony, Madagascar inclusive. Our Lord’s will was the only protection. The Government wanted to remove the missionaries, but they “will do as much as Our Lord Jesus let them. Let God’s will take place”. In every risky situation, in every case of uncertainty - fiat voluntas Dei.
Everybody and everything is in God’s hands. He knows what we need for our salvation, so “let Your will take place”. One should not lose one’s heart. “My duty is to do God’s will always and everywhere”. The love for God’s will and absolute reliance on it was the source of Father’s inner peace and holy indifference, i.e. readiness for everything. He wanted to have Polish Daughters of Charity to serve at his hospital. It was impossible. The proposition was for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny instead – let God’s will take place. Father Beyzym spent lonely Christmas Eve and Christmas of 1903, but as it was God’s will, “I was happy”.
With Our Holy Mother’s help
Father Beyzym often referred to the Holy Mother, who knew what for the greater glory of God was. Father confidently conformed himself to His will with Her help. Father conformed to God’s will not only submissively, but prayed for its fulfillment, because he longed for it. God’s will for him was the same as it was for Jesus – his food. (John 4:34).
He deeply believed that nothing happened in this world without the will of God. That was why it made no matter to him, whether it was extreme poverty or the rain leaked through the roof onto the altar during the Mass, or the situation of his or his protégées was hopeless, he always stated that he “did not pity himself, God wants so and allows that. Let His will take place”. He faced a lot of difficulties with regard to his Sakhalin mission, but he trusted and conformed to God’s will and “the Holy Mother’s orders”, as he was convinced that it was Her will for him to go on the mission to Madagascar and Sakhalin.
If there were not for God’s will, he “would go mad or crazy” because of the hardships he accounted. She gave him strength, courage and piece. If he did not trust in Mary and did not love God’s will, he would have asked for the recall. Yet, he had to persist to the end - fiat voluntas Dei.
In his submission to God’s will Father Beyzym followed the example of St. Joseph, who could wait for the Angel’s sign in Egypt: “Esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi” (Stay there until I tell you).
As for the route for his anticipated trip to Sakhalin, whether through Krakow, where he would have loved to visit his beloved Carmel in Lobzow, or bypassing the city, Father submitted to the will of God and His Holy Mother.
Father Beyzym earnestly wished for the lepers to fulfil God’s will. His desire and hope he would connect with their devotion to Our Lady. If they loved her, “I would be satisfied; everything would be all right and in accordance with the sacred will of Our Lord Jesus”.
He was eager to die as he longed to see Mary in Heaven, but let God’s will take place. The will of God and the glory of God were the love of his life and death. All his springs were in God. His glory is great and will is good (Ps 87:7).
Father Mieczyslaw Bednarz SJ
