St. Casimir
Patron of Poland and Lithuania
1461 - 1484
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
Copyright 1996-2000 Terry Matz. All Rights Reserved.
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St. Cassimir, Please pray for me to remain firm in my faith towards the Lord as you always did.
Dear Saint,
Kindly pray for the conclave to elect a Holy and Christ like Pope who can lead the faithful, especially the youth, to God. Enable the conclave to listen to their conscious and the prompting of the Holy Spirit so that we have a Wise Pope by Easter. Amen.
I am about to apply for a job and decided to look to see who is The Saint of the Day is so that he or she might guide my hand and clear my head as I submit my resume. Imagine my delight to see that March is the month of St. Joseph, whom I have been asking for help in my job search for 2 years!
Truthfully, the story of St. Casmir is new to me, however his tale has hit a raw spot for I applied at and took a job at a nonprofit a month ago with which I had moral questions and quandries as a Catholic. It was a temporary position - 30 days, contract to possible hire. My contract was not renewed last Friday. As I read how St. Casmir's men deserted him, allowing him to leave a confrontation he did not want to start I understood his relief completely. I needed the paycheck at this job and would have stayed in a morally queasy place to ensure my parents and brother worried less, to stop living hand-to-mouth, etc. Thankfully, the decision was made for me. I could not be more at peace spiritually this morning bcs now I can answer to my Father. This is not to say that financially, I am nothing but frantic - but somehow I will find a way.
Even the cold / flu that I have had for a solid month has abated.
What truly made me gasp in wonder at St Casmir's story however is that a job opportunity has presented itself to me with another nonprofit dedicated to curing lung diseases - the very thing that the holy man died from at such a tender age.
I am a long time skeptic, never one to see "sign and wonders" where none belong. But even I feel a sense of blessing and and a sense that the path before me is better than the one left behind. Especially for my soul.
Thank you St, Casmir, Bless you St. Casmir!
God is Good!
Please pray for Jacob that he finds the right path and peace, for his mother that the doctors can slow the progression of her dementia and for all cancer patients that we deal with our disease with grace and dignity. Thank you.
4th mar 2013:st casimir pray for us!
Saint Casimir,
What a joy to read your story, please pray for me to follow the lord and resist all temptations.
Please pray for my human spouse with his material assests that they do not govern his life. Help us to help others. Please pray for the world to do the same. Thank you :) and thank you to all the saints. Please pray that I always make god proud to be my father
oh St. Casimir pray for me to do just wat it is Right? amen
My beloved father, whose first name was Casimir, died recently at the age of 93. A lifelong Catholic, he also lived a life of dignity and possessed charm and character. I was happy to learn about his namesake. But the two articles above did not really "synch" very well in all areas.
Dear St. Casimir, please coninue to pray for me to be loyal and steadfast to Jesus in whatever I do.
St. Casimir, pray for us dear saint of Poland and Lithuania. I am humbled to read of how you could renounce power, position and high earthly office. Pray for Victoria Gonzales today in the presence of the Blessed Trinity, that she may enjoy eternal happiness in the company of the angels and saints. Give me the courage to do what is pleasing to her and fulfill her wishes always. Bless my little gandchildren too. Give them heavenly protection and guidance. Free them from all harm. Amen
Great web site, very interesting, lots of points to move on for further study. More on the history of the Church and how the early 'Vatican' councils shaped current thinking, also details on the significant changes to Catholic dogma in face of 19th Century science, and in particular Charles Darwin. Also I note that the individuality of the people canonised where very Gnostic in there understanding and not quite the children the modern Catholic Church would wish its faithful to be. Aslo more on Aristotle and how the Church still use some of his teachings and Thomas of Aquinas - the Father of modern Catholic philosophy, It would help the Catholic church a lot if a deep and accurate understanding of the history and politics of the Church was known by all the faithful. Remembering that niether Christ Jesus nor his 12 Apostles were of any Christian denomination, they were Christian, denominations came later.
I cannot expect to display the emotions that fill my heart when I enter my church St. Casimir"s in Elmira , NY. I served at Masses from the 6th Grade until told that at 16 years we just didnt show the excitement new altar boy recruits was needed. It was later in life that the need for us oldies to step in and fill the void left by the increase in sports, I-Pads, etc.Yes, I feel a great sense of euphoria when I assist the priest whenever I can (which is not very often). If you still have the urge totry again, you'll love it!
I have been blessed by reading about the Saints. The courage they had to remain faithful to Jesus in extreme sacrifices they had to make compared to me today. Lord help give me the strength and courage from the examples the Saints.
Our priorities in life depend upon where our loyalties lie. Dear St. Casimir, please pray for me to be steadfast in my loyaty towards God in whatever I do!
Saint Cassimir please help me to have the grace to believe and trust in God that all things are possible with him.
Worth repeating:
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
God bless all.
Remind us, St Casimir, that riches and creature comforts are nothing compared to the immense good we can do for our fellow human beings when putting our true King first in our lives. Help us to find again the joy of self-denial that inspired your life and may God bless Poland. Amen
St. Casimir, I know your feastday is March 4th, can I receive good news regarding the change in schedule when to redo my hands on final exam which was scheduled for March 4th. Please help me do a great job and a good job awaits me.
I saw this gold statue at Holy Cross Church, asked the priest who it was and said it was St. Casimir. Ever since then the priest remembers me by calling me Casimir. I grew up in a Lithuanian neighborhood. I,m asking St Casimir to help me pass a hands on final exam test operating a flexo press which will take place March 4th on his feast day. Please help me achieve this task so I can get the job offer.
Even though I Am not christain like he was he inspires me the way he proves his loyalty and stands against everything to keep the law of his god.