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Saint Casimir
Saint Casimir

Saint Casimir

Feast Day
Mar 04, 2013
Patronage
Youth, Lithuania, Poland
<p>St. Casimir was born at Wawel, the royal Palace in Krakow, and was a member of the Jagiellon Dynasty.&nbsp; St. Casimir was the third child and the second son of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Casimir IV, and Queen Elizabeth Habsburg of Hungary.&nbsp; A Polish Priest, Fr. Jan Dlugosz educated Casimir and his brother Vladislaus II.&nbsp; He was a strict and conservative teacher who emphasized ethics, morality, and religious devotion.&nbsp; The young princes were subject to corporal punishment, which was approved by their father.&nbsp; Casimir had great oratory skills. When Casimir&rsquo;s uncle died, the King of Hungry and Bohemia, his father took that post.&nbsp; His father decided to install his son, future saint Casimir in Hungary.&nbsp; After a war effort that took several years in Hungary, resulting in failure, he moved back to Krakow to resume his studies with Fr. Dlugosz. &nbsp;</p> <p>Fr. Dlugosz remarked that Prince Casimir felt &ldquo;Great sorrow and shame&rdquo; regarding the failure in Hungary.&nbsp; Polish propaganda portrayed him as a savior, that he was sent by divine providence, to protect the people from a godless tyrant and pagans.&nbsp; This seems to have pushed Casimir into a more religious life in his morals.&nbsp; As his brother Vladislaus II ruled Bohemia, Prince Casimir became crown prince and heir apparent to the throne of Poland and Lithuania. &nbsp;</p> <p>Casimir&rsquo;s father tried to arrange a marriage with Kunigunde of Austria, daughter of Emperor Frederick III.&nbsp; It is claimed that Prince Casimir refused the arrangement, and chose to remain celibate, sensing his approaching death.&nbsp; He developed tuberculosis, and in May 1483, and he joined his father in Vilnius.&nbsp; There, after the death of the Bishop and Vice-Chancellor of the Crown, Prince Casimir took over some of his duties in the Chancellery.&nbsp; However, his health deteriorated while rumors about his piousness and good deeds spread further.&nbsp; He was well known for his charitable work and help to the needy.&nbsp; In February 1484, King Casimir IV rushed back to Lithuania to be with his ill son.&nbsp; Prince Casimir died on March 4, 1484 in Hrodna, at the age of 25.&nbsp; His remains were interred in Vilnius Cathedral, where a dedicated Saint Casimir&rsquo;s Chapel was built in 1636. &nbsp; He was canonized by Pope Adrian VI in 1522, and is the Patron Saint of Poland and Lithuania.&nbsp; On June 11<sup>th</sup>, 1948, Pope Pius XII named Saint Casimir the special patron of all youth. &nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></p> <p>St. Casimir was born on October 3, 1485.&nbsp; He was a Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Poland, and of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.&nbsp; He was noted for his charity and help with the needy, and turned down the hand of marriage to a Princess.&nbsp; Some say it was because he wanted to remain celibate, and also, he knew his passing would come at a young age.&nbsp; At the age of 24, he came down with tuberculosis.&nbsp; He became more ill, and passed away at the age of 25.&nbsp; He was declared the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.&nbsp; In 1948, Pope Pius XII named St. Casimir the special patron of all youth. &nbsp;</p>