Even though we honor the life of Charles of Austria today, I think his life story also shows the love, perseverance, and care that his wife, Princess Zita showed. She mourned and dressed in black for rest of her life as a widow...67 years.
Charles was born into royalty, received a strong Catholic education, and developed a strong devotion to the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A nun (who had the stigmata) prophesied that he would be the victim of attacks and great suffering. She was right. There was a group of people who were specifically assigned to pray for him at all times and after his death this same group formed the League of Prayer for Emperor Charles for the Peace of the Peoples. This group became ecclesiastically recognized as a prayer group in 1963.
He married Princess Zita of Bourbon and Parma on October 21, 1911 and they had 8 children in 10 years. The day after they were married he said to his new bride: "Now, we must help
each other to get to Heaven." When Emperor Francis Joseph died in 1916, Charles became Emperor of Austria and crowned king of Hungary on December 30, 1916. With this crown, Charles saw it as a way to implement Christian charity and social reform. His life's motto was "I strive always in all things to understand as clearly as possible and follow the will of God, and this in the most perfect way." He worked for peace, to end World War I, and was the only leader to support Pope Benedict XV's peace effort. After the war he was exiled to Switzerland in March 1919 and in 1921 he tried to return to power. He and his family were eventually exiled to the island of Madeira in Portugal. They spend their time there in prayerful poverty. "I can't go on much longer... Thy will be done... Yes... Yes... As you will it... Jesus!" These were the words he muttered days before his death while praying before a crucifix held by his wife. And his last words were to his wife: "I will love you forever." He died on April 1, 1922 of pneumonia. He was beatified on October 3, 2004 by Pope John Paul II and awaits canonization. There was a said miracle of a woman who was cured from breast cancer. God our Father, through the gift of Blessed Emperor Charles You have given us an example to follow. In extremely difficult times he performed his burdensome tasks without ever losing his faith. He always followed Your Son, the true King. He led a humble life, sincerely loving the poor and giving himself heart and soul to the search for peace. Even when his life was in danger he trusted in You, putting his life in Your hands. Almighty and Merciful God, by the intercession of Blessed Emperor Charles, we pray that You may give us his unconditional faith to support us in our most difficult situations, and the courage to always follow the example of Your only Son. Open our hearts to the poor, and strengthen our commitment for peace within our families and among all peoples. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
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