Yesterday (4 March) the Church celebrated the memory of Saint Casimir (1858-1884).
A prince of Poland, Casimir was the second son of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria. He had a good teacher, Father John Dlugosz, whose teaching included encouraging a strong set of values. As a teenager, Casimir lived a very disciplined life; this included spending part of the night in prayer, dedicating himself to lifelong celibacy, and even even sleeping on the ground.
In yesterday’s Daily Ignatian Reflection from the Magis Institute, Mr. Timothy Kieras, S.J. wrote:
“Today the entire Church remembers a saint who was also a statesman. Casimir was a member of the royal family who occupied the throne of Poland and several other kingdoms. While he was never king himself, he was the administrator of Poland for several years in the 1480s, and was remembered for his prudence and justice. He is an example, as odd as it may seem, for all lay people, who have the task and burden of directing the affairs of society in accordance with their gifts and responsibilities. In his day, he found himself given the means and the duty to manage the kingdom of Poland, and so he strove eagerly do so in accordance with his faith in Christ and the law of God.
“In our day, many have jobs necessary for the common good. Devoting oneself eagerly for the common good is a noble task, and when done from love of Christ, an act of charity - of the sort that led Casimir to sanctity. His was also a life of asceticism and self-denial, something that undoubtably went against the grain of the lifestyle of a typical heir-apparent, yet he desired treasure in heaven and so was content to live without taking advantage of it on earth.”
Casimir died at age 23 and is considered a patron saint of youth. It appears he could also be considered a patron saint for those holding a public office.
For more information about Saint Casimir, please visit:
For information about the Magis Institute, please visit:
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