August Czartoryski
Encyclopedia
Blessed August Franciszek Maria Anna Józef Kajetan Czartoryski, Duke of Vista Alegre (1858–1893) was a Prince of the Polish Czartoryski
family, born in Paris during the family's exile. A sickly child, he spent much of his youth being shuttled to various health spas. He was accompanied and tutored by a Polish patriot, Father Raphael Kalinowski
, a man who was later canonized. Prince August also turned to the priesthood, and after dying at a relatively young age of tuberculosis
, was himself beatified, on the path towards becoming a saint.
(daughter of Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Queen of Spain, and her secret husband Augustín Fernández Muñoz, Duke of Riansares
).
The Czartoryski magnate was one of the most powerful families in Poland
during the 18th century, but in the 19th century they were exiled from Poland by the Russians, and had their base of operations at the Hôtel Lambert
in Paris.
To his family, the young prince was known as "Gucio". He was a sickly child, having contracted tuberculosis from his mother at the age of 6 (she later died of the disease, leaving him her title of Count of Vista Alegre). Much of his life was spent being shuttled to different health spas in mountains and along beaches that had "good air" for the afflicted. From the age of 10 to 17 he studied in Paris and Kraków
.
was hired for Gucio in 1874—Joseph Kalinowski, a Polish patriot who had just returned to Poland from a ten-year sentence in Siberia
. Joseph also suffered from respiratory ailments, and accompanied Gucio to many of his destinations. In a letter to his sister Mary, Joseph wrote that he was "father, mother, nurse, brother, companion and caretaker" for the boy. Joseph and August remained close companions until 1877, when Joseph joined the religious order of the Discalced Carmelites and took the name "Raphael of St. Joseph". He was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2004.
In 1887, after meeting Don Bosco, Gucio joined that order in Turin
, with the ailing Bosco's blessing. He studied theology
and philosophy
but his health continued to decline. On April 2, 1892 he was ordained as a priest by the Bishop of Ventimiglia, though his family discouraged this, and refused to attend the ceremony. He died only a year later, on April 8, 1893, in Alassio
, Italy, of tuberculosis, at the age of 34.
He had been created Duke of Vista Alegre in 1876. The title was inherited by his eldest sister's son.
On February 14, 1921 the process for his beatification began, and on the 24 of April 2004, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II, the next step towards becoming a Saint
. His remains are currently in Przemyśl
, Poland.
Czartoryski
Czartoryski is the surname of a Polish-Ukrainian-Lithuanian magnate family also known as the Familia. They used the Czartoryski Coat of arms and were the leading noble family of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century.-History:The Czartoryski is a family of a Grand Ducal...
family, born in Paris during the family's exile. A sickly child, he spent much of his youth being shuttled to various health spas. He was accompanied and tutored by a Polish patriot, Father Raphael Kalinowski
Raphael Kalinowski
Rafał Kalinowski, O.C.D. was a Polish Discalced Carmelite friar born as Józef Kalinowski inside the Russian partition of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in the city of Vilnius...
, a man who was later canonized. Prince August also turned to the priesthood, and after dying at a relatively young age of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, was himself beatified, on the path towards becoming a saint.
Biography
Prince August was born in Paris, the only child of Prince Ladislaus (Władysław) Czartoryski and Princess Maria Amparo, Countess of Vista AlegreMaria Amparo, Countess of Vista Alegre
Doña Maria Amparo Muñoz y Borbón, 1st Countess of Vista Alegre, was born in Madrid, Spain, the daughter of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, regent and queen dowager of Spain, and her secret husband Augustín Fernández Muñoz, Duke of Riansares...
(daughter of Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Queen of Spain, and her secret husband Augustín Fernández Muñoz, Duke of Riansares
Augustín Fernández Muñoz, Duke of Riansares
Don Agustin Fernando Muñoz y Sánchez, 1st Duke of Riánsares, Grandee of Spain was the second but morganatic husband of Maria Christina, Regent of Spain....
).
The Czartoryski magnate was one of the most powerful families in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
during the 18th century, but in the 19th century they were exiled from Poland by the Russians, and had their base of operations at the Hôtel Lambert
Hôtel Lambert
Hôtel Lambert is a hôtel particulier, a grand mansion townhouse, on the Quai Anjou on the eastern tip of the Île Saint-Louis, Paris IVème; the name, Hôtel Lambert, was a sobriquet that designated a 19th-century political faction of Polish exiles, who gathered there.-Architectural history:The house...
in Paris.
To his family, the young prince was known as "Gucio". He was a sickly child, having contracted tuberculosis from his mother at the age of 6 (she later died of the disease, leaving him her title of Count of Vista Alegre). Much of his life was spent being shuttled to different health spas in mountains and along beaches that had "good air" for the afflicted. From the age of 10 to 17 he studied in Paris and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
.
Tutored by the future Saint Raphael Kalinowski
In 1872, when Gucio was 14, his father Prince Ladislaus remarried to Marguerite Adelaide, and had two more sons in 1872 and 1876. A tutorTutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
was hired for Gucio in 1874—Joseph Kalinowski, a Polish patriot who had just returned to Poland from a ten-year sentence in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. Joseph also suffered from respiratory ailments, and accompanied Gucio to many of his destinations. In a letter to his sister Mary, Joseph wrote that he was "father, mother, nurse, brother, companion and caretaker" for the boy. Joseph and August remained close companions until 1877, when Joseph joined the religious order of the Discalced Carmelites and took the name "Raphael of St. Joseph". He was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2004.
Career
It was Prince Ladislaus's desire that his son Gucio pursue a diplomatic career, but the young prince felt a different calling. He was encouraged by Pope Leo XIII to follow Don Bosco (later Saint Don Bosco) of the Salesians.In 1887, after meeting Don Bosco, Gucio joined that order in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, with the ailing Bosco's blessing. He studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
but his health continued to decline. On April 2, 1892 he was ordained as a priest by the Bishop of Ventimiglia, though his family discouraged this, and refused to attend the ceremony. He died only a year later, on April 8, 1893, in Alassio
Alassio
Alassio is a town and "comune" of 11.312 inhabitants in the province of Savona situated in the North West of Italy and approximately 80 km from the French border.Alassio is known for its natural beauty and scenic views...
, Italy, of tuberculosis, at the age of 34.
He had been created Duke of Vista Alegre in 1876. The title was inherited by his eldest sister's son.
Veneration
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. His remains are currently in Przemyśl
Przemysl
Przemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
, Poland.