[Salvation]

 

Catholic Online Saints

St. Casimir
d. b: 1461 d: 1484 Feastday: March 4

Patron of Poland and Lithuania

Casimir grew up in a world where his life was not his own. As a prince of Poland, the second son of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, his life was scheduled to cement his father's authority and increase Poland's power.

Casimir realized from an early age that his life belonged to someone else, but to a much higher King than his father. Despite pressure, humiliation, and rejection, he stood by that loyalty through his whole life.

Born the third of thirteen children in 1461, Casimir was committed to God from childhood. Some of that commitment was the result of a tutor, John Dlugosz, whose holiness encouraged Casimir on his own journey.

It may be hard for us to imagine royal luxury as a pressure. But for Casimir, the riches around him were temptations to forget his true loyalties. Rebelling against the rich, fashionable clothes he was expected to enjoy, he wore the plainest of clothes.

Rejecting even ordinary comforts, he slept little, spending his nights in prayer. And when he did sleep, he lay on the floor not on a royal bed. Even though he was a prince, many of those around him must have laughed and joked at his choices. Yet, in the face of any pressure, Casimir was always friendly and calm.

Though his father must have wondered about him, he must have seen and admired Casimir's strength. He showed that he misunderstood this strength when he sent Casimir as head of an army to take over the throne of Hungary at the request of some nobles there. Casimir felt the whole expedition was wrong but was convinced to go out of obedience to his father. He could not help but feel at every step that it was disobedient to his other Father. So when soldiers started deserting, he was only too glad to listen to the advice of his officers and turn back home. His feelings were confirmed when he discovered that Pope Sixtus IV had opposed the move.

His father, however, was furious at being deterred from his plans and banished Casimir to a castle in Dobzki, hoping that imprisonment would change Casimir's mind. Casimir's commitment to what he believed was right only grew stronger in his exile and he refused to cooperate with his father's plans any more despite the pressure to give in. He even rejected a marriage alliance his father tried to form. He participated in his true King's plans wholeheartedly by praying, studying, and helping the poor.

He died at the age of 23 in 1484 from lung disease. He was buried with his favorite song, a Latin hymn to Mary called "Omni die dic Mariae" which we know as "Daily, Daily Sing to Mary." Because of his love for the song, it is known as the Hymn of St. Casimir though he didn't write it.

Casimir is patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.

In His Footsteps:
Where do your loyalties lie? Is there a part of your life where you feel your loyalties divided and feel pressure to follow worldly commitment? Today choose the action that best serves Christ the King.

Prayer:
Saint Casimir, help us to remember that our true King is Jesus Christ and always serve him with joy and love. Help us to turn to our true Father for guidance and protection. Amen

[Salvation]

From domestic Church link above:

Saint Casimir
Feast Day: March 4
Patron of: Poland, homeland of our Pope! Also Lithuania.
Symbol: Lily (for purity)

Young Families

Saint Casimir was born Prince Casimir on October 5, 1458. He was the third child of thirteen children in the family of King Casimir III of Poland. His mother was named Elizabeth, she was a princess of Austria.

Even when Casimir was a young boy, he preferred prayer and good works to the luxury and comfort of the court life. He practiced many mortifications in secret. A mortification is something you do to make yourself a little bit uncomfortable all the time. It helps to remind you to be aware of God, to pray all the time, and offer the discomfort to God for the suffering of souls.

Casimir was educated by John Dugloss, a holy man called the Canon of Cracow. He was also very good friends with John, and asked his advice on many things. He was especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin, and sang a hymn to Mary so often it became known as the 'Hymn of Saint Casimir.' Some people say that he composed the hymn himself.

When Saint Casimir was almost fifteen years old, his father ordered him to lead an army into Hungary. The people there were dissatified with their king and had asked King Casimir III for Saint Casimir to become their king. Casimir didn't want to go, but in obedience to his king and father, he went to Hungary.

By the time he got there, the people of Hungary had settled their disagreements with their king, Matthias. King Casimir wanted Saint Casimir to take over Hungary anyway, but the saint refused to replace a lawful monarch. He returned to Poland and went to the castle of Dobzki, where he stayed for the rest of his life, praying, fasting, and helping the poor.

Casimir died in 1482 , of tuberculosis when he was 24 years old, having spend his life serving a King higher than his father.

Practiced Families

What would you do if your King (or President) ordered you to do something you didn't want to do? What if you thought it might be the wrong thing to do? Many people have faced these dilemmas, and solved them in different ways. Even right now, with another war in the Gulf area a possibility, people are talking and thinking about this problem.

Saint Casimir solved it this way. He was the third child of the thirteen children of King Casimir III of Poland. As he grew up, and under the tutoring of the Canon of Cracow, John Dugloss, Casimir was devout in his faith. His love for Jesus Christ was expressed in many private mortifications, and his concern for the poor of his country.

When Casimir was only fourteen years old, and already well educated in both his faith, and the responsibilities of royalty, when his father ordered him to lead an army to Hungary. The nobles of Hungary were dissatisfied with their King, Matthias and had petitioned King Casimir III to send them Saint Casimir for the throne of Hungary. Unwilling but obedient, Casimir lead an army of 20,000 men to the borders of Hungary.

There, he learned that not only had the nobles of Hungary settled their differences with King Matthias, but the the King had formed an army which was marching to defend the borders. It was no longer lawful for Saint Casimir to attempt to take the throne of Hungary, so he returned to Poland.

King Casimir was displeased with his son and ordered him to return to Hungary. Saint Casimir refused, and instead, went into seclusion in the castle of Dobzki. He remained there for the rest of his life, in spite of his father's requests and orders. Having nearly committed an unjust and improper act in obedience to his father once, Saint Casimir was determined not to do so again.

He returned to his practices of piety and good works, sanctifying himself and drawing closer to God. He devoted his chastity to the Lord, and refused to marry. He foretold the hour of his death and died happy to obey His Lord on the 4th of March, 1482 at the age of 24 years. He is buried in the church of Saint Stanislaus. Saint Casimir is the patron of Poland and an example of purity to youth.

Experienced Families

Saint Casimir was the third among the thirteen children of Casimir III, King of Poland and Elizabeth of Austria. From his childhood, he was remarkably pious and devout. His tutor and spiritual advisor was John Duglass, known as Longinus, Canon of Cracow; and holy man of great learning. Casimir and his brothers were extremely fond of their teacher and begged him never to leave them for any other position.

Casimir gained the most from John Dugloss's example and teaching. He consecrated his purity and youth to study and devotion to the Lord, and practiced many mortifications and prayerful acts. This, in part, was out of a distaste for the softness and excesses of court life. His love for Jesus Christ was shown most prominently in his concern for the poor. He gave them all he had and frequently he turned to his brother and father for additional aid and support.

The Palantines and other nobles of Hungary approached King Casimir in 1471, to allow them to place young Casimir on their throne. The saint was very unwilling to comply with his father's orders. But in obedience to his father and King, he marched at the head of an army of 20,000 men to the borders of Hungary. There, hearing that Matthias had formed an army to defend himself, and had settled his dispute with the nobles of Hungary, Casimir joyfully set out to return to Poland.

However, since abandoning this project was in direct contradiction to his father's orders, Casimir did not return to Cracow, but instead went to the castle of Dobzki, three miles away. He stayed there for three months in penance. Having realised the injustice of the attempts against the King of Hungary that his obedience to his father's command had placed him, he could never again be persuaded or convinced to resume it.

He lived for some twelve years after this, sanctifying himself in the same manner as before. He was chaste to the end of his life, refusing the advice of physicians who advised him to marry, suggesting that this would improve his health and possibly prolong his life. Suffering for years from tuberculosis, he foretold his last hour and died at Vilna, the capital of Luthuanian on the 4th of March, 1482.

He was buried in the church of Saint Stanislaus, and is the patron of Poland. Saint Casimir is also presented to youth as an example of purity and piety.

Hymn of Saint Casimir: I have been unable to find the lyrics to this hymn which is titled in English, 'Daily, Daily Sing to Mary'. If anyone knows them please send them our way and I'll post them with this article.