Polish Prince becomes Salesian

Last updated on: April 8, 2009 at 5:58 am by Pat McNamara

Polish Prince becomes Salesian 2009-04-08T05:58:00-06:00 Pat McNamara

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Today marks the death of Blessed Augustus Czartoryski (1858-1893). The following is from the Salesian website:

Born in Paris, he was the son of the Polish Prince (in exile) Ladislaw and Princess Mary Amparo, daughter of the Queen of Spain. Between the age of ten and seventeen he studied in Paris and Krakow, but his health forced him to interrupt his studies and go to the south of Europe frequently in search of a better climate. In May 1883 Don Bosco was in France, and Augustus served his Mass. The saint said to him: “I have wanted to meet you for quite some time!” The prince was struck by his encounter. Following this he went several times to Turin to meet Don Bosco. He insisted with him that he be allowed to enter the Salesians, but the Founder was not convinced. Augustus spoke with Pope Leo XIII, who invited Don Bosco to accept him.

In July 1887, after having renounced his earthly goods and all possibility of the throne, he entered the novitiate against his family’s wishes. He was 29 years of age. In his efforts to adapt himself to the Oratory and its lifestyle, he became the humblest of novices. Don Bosco, almost on his deathbed, blessed his religious habit. He began his philosophy studies. He soon took ill with tuberculosis. In the house at Valsalice, Turin, he met Venerable Andrea Beltrami. The two developed a deep spiritual friendship, while Andrea looked after Augustus during his illness. Meanwhile Don Rua let him study theology and admitted him to Holy Orders. When he was ordained priest at Saint Remo, on the 2ndApril 1892, his family chose to be absent: they had made many efforts to get him to leave the Congregation. Augustus fully took on Salesian spirituality, especially its element of sacrifice and offered his life and sufferings for the good of the young and the Congregation just as Don Bosco did. Fr Augustus died at Alassio on the 8th April 1893, on the Saturday of the Octave of Easter: “What a wonderful Easter!” he had said. He was 35 years old. John Paul II, the Polish Pope, had the joy of declaring him Blessed on the 25th April 2004. His body is venerated in Przemysl Poland.

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