Bl. Karl of Austria

 Members of the communion of Saints come from all eras of Church history and all walks of life, from peasant to Pope and from beggar to King. Today, we will visit with royalty.

Karl I of Austria (also known as Charles I), was born on August 17, 1887, in the castle of Persenbeug in lower Austria. At the time, his Grand Uncle, Franz Joseph was Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Karl was brought up as a devout Catholic and, as a member of the royal family, was privately educated. He entered the army as a young man and studied law and political science concurrently with his military duties. He was several degrees removed from the throne and was not close to the emperor, but he lived the life of a prince destined for a high-ranking political career. He married Princess He was several degrees removed from the throne and was not close to the emperor. Zita of Bourbon-Parma in 1911. She shared Karl's devout Catholic Faith and was of impeccable royal linage.

Upon the death of his father in 1906, Karl had become the second in line to Franz Joseph's throne. When the Heir Presumptive, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914 (starting WWI) Karl became the Heir Presumptive. Only now did the elderly emperor begin to initiate him into the affairs of state, but the outbreak of the war interfered with his political education. He succeeded to the throne on November 21, 2016, upon the death of Emperor Franz Joseph. On December 2, he assumed the title of Supreme Commander of the Austro-Hungarian Army. Karl secretly entered into peace negotiations with France in 1917 but was unsuccessful. His Empire was wracked by internal turmoil during the last years of the war due to escalating tension between ethnic groups. On Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, Karl issued a carefully worded proclamation in which he recognized the Austrian people's right to determine the form of the state and "relinquish[ed] every participation in the administration of the State."

After the war, Karl was dethroned and banished. He and his wife and children were exceled to Maderia, Portugal. He died of respiratory failure in 1922 in the presence of his wife (pregnant with their 8th child) and their son Otto.

Leaders of the Catholic Church have praised Karl for putting his faith first in making political decision, and for acting as peacemaker during the war. From the beginning, Emperor Karl conceived of his office as a holy service to his people. His chief concern was to follow the Christian vocation to holiness in all of his political actions.

Emperor Karl was beatified in 2004. His feast day is October 21. He is patron of prayers for World Peace. Blessed Karl, pray for us.