Casimir He gave away his possessions, lived simply, devoted hours to prayer and study and helping the poor and imprisoned. Despite pressure to marry the Emperor’s daughter, Casimir vowed to remain celibate. He died of tuberculosis in 1483 at the young age of 23. Casimir is the patron saint of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia.
The Collect Prayer this morning began with a powerful phrase: “Almighty God, to serve you is to reign”. Casimir could have ruled a kingdom, had his every whim satisfied. But he recognized this truth, to serve God is to reign. This echoes Paul’s words to Timothy: “If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him”
And what does it mean that to serve God is to reign? It’s an apparent paradox: in our worldly thinking, we associate “reigning” with having control, issuing commands, and enjoying every comfort. Yet in the Gospel, we find that true power is expressed through self-giving love, humility, and service. Christ the King Himself washes the feet of His disciples—turning our assumptions upside down. When we serve God by placing our lives, our talents, and our hearts completely at His disposal, we share in the dominion of His love and the glory of His Kingdom.
This is precisely what we witness in the life of St. Casimir. Though he was a prince and heir to an earthly crown, he chose the path of service: prayer, charity, and chastity. He relinquished a throne but gained far more. He discovered that giving everything to God sets us free from the demands of worldly greatness and grants a deeper authority—the authority of a disciple firmly rooted in Christ.
That’s the real invitation of Lent, which we begin tomorrow too: by stripping away our attachments, by fasting and praying, by loving the poor, we begin to see that the only kingdom worth possessing is the one Christ offers. It is in humble service that we truly reign, for in serving God we already share in the victory of Christ. May we live our lives in this spirit, convinced—like St. Casimir—that we are never more royal than when we bend our knee to serve the Lord, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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Confident that God hears our prayers, let us offer our petitions to the Lord:
For the Holy Father, Pope Francis in this time of serious illness, that he may know the grace, strength, consolation of our merciful Savior.
For leaders of nations and communities: That they may govern with integrity, justice, and compassion, placing the needs of the poor and marginalized before their own interests.
For young people discerning their vocation: That through St. Casimir’s intercession and example of celibacy, prayer, and self-giving, they may have the courage to follow God’s will wholeheartedly, whatever their calling may be.
That the poor, sick, downtrodden and marginalized may know the closeness of the Lord through the charity of the Church.
As we prepare to embark on the great campaign of Lent, may our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving may draw us closer to Christ, helping us recognize that to serve God is to reign, and leading us to deeper conversion.
For all who have died: That they may share fully in the eternal kingdom where Christ reigns, especially...
Almighty God, you called St. Casimir to forsake earthly crowns and discover the true greatness of serving you. Grant us the grace to follow his example by offering our whole lives in service to your will. Hear these prayers we bring before you and graciously answer them, through Christ our Lord.
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