Blessed Karl of Austria

Feast Day: October 21

  • Karl I of the House of Austria was born in Persenbeug in 1887.
  • He was married to Zita of Bourbon-Parma on October 21, 1911. He lived a model family life, a true domestic church with his family, influenced by his deep love for the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
  • He was crowned King of Hungary and Emperor of Austria in 1916, in the midst of the First World War.
  • After attaining authority, he worked to lessen the atrocities of war he witnessed and took decisive action to establish peace. He believed that maintaining peace was his solemn, kingly duty as emperor.
  • Karl regarded his position as a divine appointment. This was not intended to be a license for the arbitrary exercise of power, but rather a mandate to follow and imitate Christ in His exalted role as the only true King.
  • Karl did not make any significant decisions as a result without praying. The emperor's purpose and direction were provided by his fervent regard for the Eucharist and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, both of which are images and manifestations of God's love.
  • He was exiled following the revolution of the Provisional National Assembly in 1919, lived in poverty, and bravely endured his illness. On April 1, 1922, he passed away at Funchal, on the island of Madeira, while praising Jesus.
  • Like few others of his era, Emperor Karl of Austria's upright character has been corrupted in the eyes of the public by propaganda and slander. These manipulative distortions have been found and corrected thanks to the extraordinarily meticulous work of academic historical investigations, which were conducted in connection with the beatification process.
  • Emperor Karl's family life and husbandly behavior were carefully examined as part of the beatification process, which established that his conduct was entirely morally pure and perfect.
  • Karl I, the last Emperor of Austria, was declared Blessed Karl of Austria by Pope John Paul II on October 3, 2004.

Blessed Karl of Austria, Pray for Us!