|
Fifteenth century Polish prince and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Third in line
for the throne. Lived a highly disciplined, even severe life, sleeping on
the ground, spending a great part of the night in prayer, dedicating
himself to lifelong celibacy. He had a great devotion to Mary, supported
the poor, and lived a virtuous life amid the dissolute court.
Hungarian nobles prevailed upon Casimir's father to send his 15-year-old
son to be their king; Casimir obeyed. His army was outnumbered, his troops
deserting because they were not paid. Casimir returned home, and was a
conscientious objector from that time on.
Returned to prayer and study, maintained his decision to remain celibate
even under pressure to marry the emperor's daughter. Reigned briefly as
king during his father's absence.
Born: 3 October 1458
Died: 4 March 1484 at Grondo, Lithuania of tuberculosis
Patronage: bachelors, kings, Lithuania, Poland, princes
Representation: lily
Reading
By the power of the Holy Spirit, Casimir burned with a sincere and
unpretentious love for almighty God. So rich was his love and so
abundantly did it fill his heart, that it flowed out from his inner spirit
toward his fellow men. As a result, nothing was more pleasant, nothing
more desirable for him, than to share his belongings, and even to dedicate
and give his entire self to Christ's poor, to strangers, to the sick, to
those in captivity, and to all who suffer. To widows, orphans, and the
afflicted, he was not only a guardian and patron but a father, son, and
brother.
He actively took up the cause of the needy and unfortunate and embraced it
as his own; for this reason the people called him the patron of the poor.
Though the son of a king and descendant of a noble line, he was never
haughty in his conversation or dealings with anyone, no matter how humble
or obscure.
He always preferred to be counted among the meek and poor of spirit, among
those who are promised the kingdom of heaven, rather than among the famous
and powerful men of this world.
from a biography of Saint Casimir written by a contemporary
|
