HOLY NOBLE

 

BL. AUGUST FRANCISZEK MARIA ANNA JOZEF KAJETAN CZARTORYSKI was a Polish professed member of the Salesians of Don Bosco and a noble prince. He was born in Paris during his house's exile.His constant frail health saw much of his childhood being shuttled to various health spas. (St.) Raphael Kalinowski  (Previous Blog) tutored him. 

Bl. Augustus was born in Paris in 1858, in exile, to the Polish Prince Ladislaw and Princess Mary Amparo, daughter of the Queen of Spain. Thirty years before, this noble family, tied to Polish nobility, had emigrated to France. From his place of exile Prince Ladislaw had sought to restore unity to his country which had fallen apart in 1795.

 When he was six, Augustus lost his mother. He inherited his mother's title upon her death in 1864 a title he held until 1876 when it was made a duke. Taking his mother's place was Margaret d’Orléans. She was the daughter of the Count of Paris, pretender to the French throne. From his earliest years, Augustus showed himself to be a good, thoughtful boy. Although much attached to his beloved Poland, he was never attracted to courtly life.

 Between the ages of 10 and 17 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. Here he began his relationship with (St.) Joseph Kalinowski, who prudently guided him not only in his studies, but especially in the spiritual life. 

The tutor described his pupil as a lad with a stable character, a good soul, perfectly courteous, sincere, intelligent and very religious, but with a simple heart. 

In May 1883  (St.) Don Bosco was in France. He was invited to Lambert Palace by Princess Margaret d’Orléans. Augustus served his Mass, and 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 due to the young man's poor health.  Augustus spoke with Pope Leo XIII, who convinced 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,  but 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.

When he was ordained priest at Saint Remo, on the 2ndApril 1892, his family chose to be absent, having 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. 

Bl. 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. 

(St.) John Paul II declared him Blessed on the 25th April 2004.