March 4 – St. Casimir of Poland
Born: 1458
Died: 1484
Nationality: Polish
Attributes: lily, royal vestments
Vocation: lay
Patronage: Poland, Lithuania, and young people
Canonization: 1522 by Pope Adrian VI
“I would rather die than not live as a virgin. If I had a thousand lives, I would sacrifice them all to remain a virgin.”
Born in Poland to King Casimir IV and his wife Queen Elizabeth of Austria, Casimir was the third of 13 children.
Casimir preferred a life of asceticism and devotion to a life of nobility, wearing a hair shirt, sleeping on the ground, and spending the night in meditation on the Passion of Christ. He was known for his love for the poor and compassionate nature.
At the age of 13, Casimir was called upon to lead the Hungarian nation as their king against the Turks. The plan failed to come to fruition, and he continued his studies with the wise and pious priest and historian John Dlugosz.
In 1479, the king departed to Lithuania on state business and gave charge of Poland to Casimir. The prince’s advisors told him he should marry, but he insisted on remaining celibate in order to fully orient his life toward the service of God and his people.
Casimir died at the age of 25 of tuberculosis. Known for his love of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he was buried with his favorite Marian hymn.
St. Casimir of Poland, pray for us.