Born in 1887, Karl of Austria was from the family of nobles that governed the Holy Roman Empire. His parents were very devout but Karl didn’t just learn the faith, he embraced it. The assassination of his uncle, Archduke Ferdinand, started World War I, and Karl led troops on the front lines. When his grand-uncle died in 1916, Karl ascended to the throne and tried unsuccessfully to bring a peaceful end to the war. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown”, and on the homefront, Emperor Karl embodied everything a king should be. He was humble and kind, loved his people, and he created social programs to help the poor and protect families and children. After the end of the war, he was forced into exile, where he lived in poverty and died of pneumonia at the age of only 34.
CHALLENGE
In 1911, Blessed Karl of Austria married Princess Zita, whom he had known since his childhood, and he told his bride, “Now we must help each other to get to heaven.” Marriages fail when husband and wife forget this, and now more than ever marriage and the family are under attack. Whom do you know whose marriage is going through rough times? Today, lovingly remind them of this grave responsibility.
In France in 1572, Jane Frances Frémyot was born to the president of the local parliament. Her mother died when Jane was only 18 months old, and her devout father ensured Jane was well-raised and educated. When she was 21 he arranged for her to be married to the Baron de Chantal, a son of one of his friends. Jane had four children before the Baron was killed in a hunting accident, and widowed at 28, she moved in with her father-in-law to secure her children’s inheritance. Under the spiritual direction of St. Francis de Sales she founded the Congregation of the Visitation, an order for women whose health or age prevented them from joining other orders. Jane was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and grew her order to 86 houses before her death at age 69.
CHALLENGE
St. Jane de Chantal faced many adversities in her life, but she found ways to turn adversity into fruits for God. Adversity comes in many forms. What matters isn’t the adversity you face, but how you face it. What adversity is a part of your life? Bring it to your spiritual director, and figure out how you can turn your adversity into fruits for God.
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