Saint Casimir (1458-1484)
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(Franciscan Media) Saint Casimir was the third among thirteen children of King Casimir IV of Poland and of Queen Elizabeth of Austria a most virtuous woman.
Casimir was filled with exceptional values and learning from great teacher Fr. John (Jan) Dlugosz a man of extraordinary learning and devotion, who constantly refused all offers to become Bishop and other offices of the Church and state which were pressed upon him.
As a teenager Casimir lived a highly disciplined life according to Franciscan Media spending a great part of the night in prayer and meditation, chiefly on the passion of our Savior writes EWTN by living always under the sense of the divine presence, that he remained perpetually united to and absorbed in, Casimir maintained an uninterrupted cheerfulness of temper and was mild and affable to all, dedicating himself to lifelong chastity.
When nobles in Hungary became dissatisfied with their King, they prevailed on Casimir’s father King Casimir IV of Poland to send his young son to take over the country–Casimir obeyed his father, as many young men over the centuries obeyed their government. The army that Casimir was supposed to lead was clearly outnumbered by the enemy, with some of the troops deserting as they were not being paid, at the advice of Casimir’s officers, he decided to return home.
Casimir’s father was angered at the failure of his plans and confined his young son for 3 months according to Franciscan Media from that time on, Casimir decided never to again become involved in the wars of his day and no amount of persuasion could change his mind. Casimir returned to prayer and study, maintaining his decision to remain chastity, even under pressure to marry the Emperor’s daughter.
The twelve years he lived after this, Casimir spent sanctifying himself in the same manner as he had done before, he reigned briefly as King of Poland during his father’s absence.
Following years of lung disease and observing to his last his vow of chastity despite the advice of his physicians to marry, imagining upon some false principle this may be helpful to sustain his life, Casimir died at the age of 23 in Lithuania on this date in 1484 and was buried in the Church of St. Stanislas and subsequently Canonized in 1522 by Pope Adrian VI in Rome.
On the 500 Anniversary of the death of Casimir, Pope Saint John Paul II recalled how Saint Casimir embraced a ‘life of purity and prayer…rejecting the deceptive attractions of modern permissive society,’ living with convictions of ‘fearless confidence and joy,’ while embracing a life of celibacy and submitting ‘himself humbly to God’s will in all things.’
Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Casimir, Visit: -USCCB
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