Blessed Tommaso Reggio

Biography

Blessed Augustus Czartoryski, also known as Prince August Franciszek Maria Anna Józef Kajetan Czartoryski, was born on 2 August 1858 in Paris, France. He was the oldest child of Prince Ladislaus and Princess Maria Amparo, daughter of the Queen of Spain. However, the family faced great adversity as they lost all their property and were exiled during the 1830 revolution. They settled in Paris and it was there that young Augustus spent his early years.

Tragedy struck the Czartoryski family when both Augustus and his mother contracted tuberculosis. Sadly, his mother passed away when he was just six years old. Augustus’s own battle with the disease then began and he was sent to doctors in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Egypt in a desperate search for a cure. Throughout this challenging time, the young boy felt a calling to religious vocation, despite being forced to attend court functions and amusements due to his princely status.

Augustus pursued his education in Paris and Krakow, Poland, although his schooling was often interrupted due to his poor health. During this time, one of his tutors happened to be Saint Jozef Kalinowski, who later became an inspiration in his spiritual journey.

However, it was in May 1883 that a significant turning point occurred in Augustus’s life. He had the opportunity to meet Saint John Bosco, founder of the Salesian Congregation. Don Bosco celebrated Mass in the family chapel of Lambert Palace in Paris, where Augustus, then 25 years old, served as an altar boy. This encounter deeply impacted him, and he made arrangements to transfer his rights, privileges, and inheritance as the first-born to his brothers.

In June 1887, Augustus joined the Salesian Congregation, even though Don Bosco initially had doubts about his health, fearing that he may not be able to withstand the life of a novice and seminarian. However, Pope Leo XIII intervened and convinced Don Bosco otherwise. Augustus then pursued his studies in Turin, Italy, and on 24 November 1887, he received his cassock. In early 1888, he made his Salesian vows at the grave of Don Bosco.

Continuing his studies, Augustus spent time in Liguria, Italy, where he developed a close friendship with Venerable Andrea Beltrami. On 2 April 1892, Blessed Tommaso Reggio ordained him as a priest in Sanremo, within the diocese of Ventimiglia, Italy. Following his ordination, he served as a parish priest in Alassio, Savona, situated in the diocese of Albenga, Italy, for approximately a year. Unfortunately, his battle with tuberculosis eventually took its toll, leading to his passing on the evening of 8 April 1893.

Blessed Augustus Czartoryski was interred in the family mausoleum in the parish crypt in Sieniawa, Poland. However, he was later re-interred in the Salesian church in Przemysl, Poland. His holiness and exceptional virtues led to his veneration, with Pope John Paul II declaring his heroic virtue on 1 December 1978. On 25 April 2004, Pope John Paul II beatified Augustus in Rome, Italy, acknowledging his sanctity and the impact of his life on others.

Blessed Augustus Czartoryski serves as an inspiring example of faith and perseverance, particularly in the face of adversity and illness. His commitment to his religious vocation and his dedication to the teachings of Saint John Bosco continue to inspire and guide believers to this day.