Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Showing posts with label Bl. Emperor Charles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bl. Emperor Charles. Show all posts

Thursday, 24 October 2024

A Shrine for Bl. Charles of Austria in Minnesota


Last Monday, October 21st, was the day appointed in the ecclesiastical calendar for the commemoration of Bl. Charles of Austria. 

Last year the New Liturgical Movement had an article by J.P.Sonnen about a new shrine to the Emperor that had been created in the parish church of St Agnes in St Paul, Minnesota. The parish was founded in 1887, which was coincidentally the year of the future Emperor’s birth, by immigrants from Austria-Hungary. The church as built in 1912 is very much in the Baroque architectural tradition of the Habsburg dominions, and the parish has maintained links with both Austria and the Imperial Family. Indeed the Gebetsliga and its work for the canonisation of the Emperor appears to be very active generally in the US.

The generously illustrated article can be seen at New Shrine Dedicated to Blessed Karl by Canning Liturgical Arts

Bl. Emperor Charles pray for us


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Friday, 21 October 2011

Bl. Emperor Charles


Today is the centenary of the wedding of the Archduke Charles to Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, the future Emperor Charles and Empress Zita, and now the day appointed as that of his commemoration as a beatus.


http://www.emperorcharles.org/images/JPG%20800/cd%201/04--Engagement%20and%20Wedding/Cat%20No%2070--The%20Newlyweds%20at%20the%20Reception--Postcard,%20Mimosa.jpg

The future Empress and Empress on their wedding day October 21 1911

http://www.emperorcharles.org/images/JPG%20800/cd%201/04--Engagement%20and%20Wedding/Cat%20No%2069--Wedding%20Party%20on%20the%20Balcony%20of%20Villa%20Schwarzau-.jpg

The Emperor Francis Joseph with the Archduke and Archduchess and other family members on the balcony at the Villa Schwarzau.
Archduke Francis Ferdinand can be seen to the rear on the left.


In addition to the continuing cause for the Emperor's canonisation the cause of the Empress has also been introduced and the websites for these can be found at Emperor Charles League of Prayer and at Empress Zita cause.

It is worth reflecting that no other head of state from the twentieth century has been raised to the altars of the church, and one has to go back along way to find one, even canonizations centuries later such as that of the thirteenth century King Ferdinand III of Castile in 1671, let alone one within the lifetime of their children.

The story of the Empress and Empress is a tragedy not only in political and international terms for their peoples, but also a personal one, the piecemeal wearing down of a high-minded, devout, decent young man, devoted husband and father leading to a premature death at the age of 34. What redeems it is his personal holiness, as set out in the readings of the Novena for his cause which I have been saying, or in the various biographies of him.

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