St. Casimir

Saint Casimir

Confessor

Casimir was born in Krakow in the year of Our Lord 1458, the second son of King Casimir IV and Queen Elisabeth von Habsburg. He was tutored by Poland’s first historian, Fr. Johannes Longinus, and from an early age was a beacon of piety in the Polish court. Casimir’s deep devotion to the Blessed Mother is exemplified by the hymn Omni die dic Mariae, or “Daily, Daily Sing To Mary”, a copy of which was buried with him at his request. Though likely composed earlier, it is known to this day as the Hymn of St. Casimir. When the prince was fifteen, his father attempted to place him on the throne of Hungary, aided by discontented Hungarian nobles. Casimir assented, but reluctantly, and gladly turned back when it was learned that the Pope opposed the plan and the Hungarian claimant had amassed greater support. Prince Casimir lived out the rest of his life in fervent practice of the faith, maintaining perfect chastity and refusing marriage. He died of a lung affliction at the young age of twenty-three, and was soon hailed as a saint and a patron of Poland, Lithuania, and the youth.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for March 4th

AT Wilna, in Lithuania, blessed Casimir, son of king Casimir, whom the Roman Pontiff, Leo X, placed in the number of the Saints.

At Rome, on the Appian way, during the persecution of Valerian, the birthday of St. Lucius, pope and martyr, who was first exiled for the faith of Christ; but being permitted by divine Providence to return to his church, he suffered martyrdom by decapitation, after having combated the Novatians. His praises have been published by St. Cyprian.

Also, at Rome, on the Appian road, nine hundred holy martyrs, who were buried in the same cemetery as St. Cecilia.

The same day, St. Caius, a member of the imperial household, who was drowned in the sea with twenty-seven others.

At Nicomedia, in the reign of the emperor Diocletian, the holy martyr Adrian and twenty-three others, who endured martyrdom by having their limbs crushed. St. Adrian is especially commemorated on the 8th of September, when his body was conveyed to Rome.

Also, the martyrdom of the Saints Archelaus, Cyril, and Photius.

In Chersonesus, the passion of the saintly bishops Basil, Eugenius, Agathodorus, Elpidius, Aetherius, Capito, Ephrem, Nestor, and Arcadius.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.