Today, October 21, is the memorial of Blessed Charles of Austria.
Emperor and King.
Charles was the last Emperor of Austria and the last King of Hungary. He was the husband of the Servant of God Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma, whose own cause for beatification is already underway.
Charles received a strong Catholic education, and developed a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
For him, the crown was a way to practice Christian charity and social reform, as he considered his throne a mandate from God.
He put his faith first always, especially when he was making political decisions. He is best remembered as a peacemaker: he worked for peace for an end to World War 1 and was the only leader to support Pope Benedict XV‘s peace effort.
After World War 1, Charles was exiled to Switzerland in March 1919. He did not want Communism to succeed in Central Europe, so he tried twice in 1921 to return to power. In the end, he refused to be the cause of civil war, so he gave up.
Since he considered his office a command from God, he never abandoned his throne or title. He was exiled to the island of Madeira, Portugal where he spent his remaining days in prayerful poverty.
He died of respiratory failure in 1922 with his wife and his son Crown Prince Otto by his side.
King Charles was beatified in 2004 by Pope St. John Paul II, who declared as his memorial October 21, the date of his marriage to the Servant of God Zita.