St. Casimir

Though royalty, Casimir chose to lead a life of austerity. He was the third child born to Casimir IV, King of Poland, and his wife Elizabeth of Austria. It is said that he wore a hair-shirt (a penitential garb) under his vestments, and that he would often sleep on the ground instead of his bed. He had a great devotion to our Blessed Mother, reciting the hymn “Omni die dic Mariae” (which we see partly in the English hymn “Daily, daily, sing to Mary) so often that it became known to some as the Hymn of St. Casimir. Petitioned by the Hungarian nobles, King Casimir IV sent Casimir to take over the country. Though just fifteen years old, and not enthralled by the idea, he embarked on the exhibition in obedience to his father. However, seeing the quest was not likely to succeed, and on the advice of officers, he turned back before engaging in war. For this his father banished him to confinement for three months. Casimir was resolved to never engage in warfare again, and he did not. Thus, giving credit to his title “The Peace-Maker.” At the age of 25, he died from tuberculosis.