Pope to beatify Emperor Karl of Austria

[Marcus]

Pope John Paul II will declare two controversial Roman Catholic figures blessed at a Vatican ceremony on Sunday.
Beatification is the last step on the road to sainthood.
The present Pope has created more new saints and blesseds than all his predecessors combined.
An emperor and a 19th Century nun are the latest to be added to the list of long-dead Catholics whom he believes are worthy of public veneration.
...
Emperor Karl of Austria was a devout Catholic who died in exile in 1922, the last of the Hapsburgs, enthroned during World War I.
Praised by the Vatican for his Christian life, he has also been criticised for authorising the use of poison gas by the army under his command which fought alongside Germany.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3710810.stm

/Marcus

[Marcus]

Pope John Paul II has declared five Roman Catholics blessed, including the last Austro-Hungarian emperor and a nun who inspired a Hollywood film.
About 30,000 people turned up to watch the ceremony and images of the five being unfurled on St Peter's Basilica.
Beatification is the penultimate step on the path to full sainthood.
However, the beatification of Emperor Charles I has been criticised by some as he authorised the use of poison gas by his army in World War I.
Charles I sat on the throne of the now defunct empire between 1916 and 1918.
The Austrian press has also questioned the miracle he allegedly worked to merit beatification.
According to the Vatican, he cured a Brazilian nun of varicose veins.
About 1,000 descendants of the Habsburg dynasty attended Sunday's ceremony.
"I hope Emperor Charles will serve as an example, especially for those with political responsibilities in Europe today," the Pope said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3710810.stm

/Marcus

[maxxx]

as a austrian and catholic i can only wonder if there is no more urgent agenda for the pope today when scandals like sexual abuse by priests, hundreds of thousands catholics leaving the church each year, the problem of coelebatary, only to mention some, are tearing the church apart.
emperor karl broke his promise to the swiss gouvernment to refrain from political adventures in exchance for his exile when he tried his restoration twice. (a very honest man...). He died a poor poor man in madeira- all his twelve servants were very sad....(a very humble man...) His peace efforts were in vain- not his orders to use poison gas (a very peaceful man...). Well, if they have no throne any more, now the habsburgs have at least some sort of saint. Maybe another fifty years of praying will make turn WW1 into their victory in the end....

[Karl]

Apparently, the casket was opened some time after death and the corpse was still intact. The meat was still on the bones…so this was another ‘trial’ Charles withstood on his path to sainthood.

Though I still think it is puzzling. Who would push for something like this…

[beauregard61]

There is a side on the net: http://www.beatificationempereorcharles.info
It seems that the infamous former bishop of St. Pölten has something to do with it. The catholic church and the erzhaus had a special relationship since the reformation and charle's V loyality regarding the pope.
Perhaps there are some supporters left...

[maxxx]

Ex-Bishop Krenn of St.Pölten was the head of the "Prayer Society for the Beatifaction of Emperor Charles". After the mess (pun intended!) in his diacoese he was kindly asked not to come to the beatification ceremony in Rome.

[Karl]

Ex-Bishop Krenn of St.Pölten was the head of the "Prayer Society for the Beatifaction of Emperor Charles". After the mess (pun intended!) in his diacoese he was kindly asked not to come to the beatification ceremony in Rome.

Heh.

A nice ironic ending to the chapter.

I like it.

[maxxx]

News from our beatified Emperor!

At a memorial service for the soldiers of a Landwehrregiment (if i remember the notice right) there will be a RIB OF THE EMPEROR present to celebrate the event.....

Sometimes it is doubtful if we are really living in 21st century.....

[PF]

Curious-if he does become a Saint-will he be reburied beside his widow in
Austria?

A Hapsburg cousin (connection about 400 years ago!!!)

[maxxx]

during the dark ages men living a saintlike life were sometimes just killed by the simple townfolk to get a martyrs shrine at the local church-

do you really think they will let charley leave madeira and strip their tourist industry of another attraction?

no kapuzinergruft for k1! (But Zita still has enough company....)

[PF]

Good Point-Prehaps they should follow an old Royal Hapsburg tradition and
place KArl's Heart in his wife's tomb

[maxxx]

did they? I always believed the hearts go to the "Herzerlgruft" at St.Stephens Cathedral.

[PF]

See the "What if commets on the Hapsburg family feuding" query and answears on Franz Ferdianrd & Sophia marraige-the answear by Karl that Emperor Maxamillian heart is buried with his first wife Maria of Burgundy-if Max Heart with MAria why not KArl's heart with Zita's?

[Karl]

It was his first wife, she died young by falling off a horse while pregnant I think and it was his express wish that his heart by buried like that. This does not make it a tradition at all. He was merely ahem, heartbroken.

Zita died in Switzerland. Where is she buried?

[PF]

Imperiel Burial Vault, Capuchin Church, Vienna Austria