Saturday, May 15
Austriae Est Imperare Orbi Universo
According to fellow Hapsburg enthusiast Don Jim, the Venerable Karl, last Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary, is to be beatified on 3 October 2004. While he was launched into the cockpit of European politics in the midst of the First World War, he nonetheless sought peace for his subjects and lived a heroically virtuous life, dying in humble obscurity in Madeira in 1922, four years after the collapse of his family's 400-year-old empire. Upon opening his tomb, his body was discovered to have not suffered decay. In the sainted ruler's honor, I have composed a new stanza for Horatio Bolton Nelson's Catholic classic From All Thy Saints in Warfare:
Hymn Verse in honor of the future beatus Charles of Austria
Tune: Ewing, 1853
For Thy lordly vassal Charles, we praise Thee, Heaven's King,
With toil he reign'd beneath Thee, his subjects peace to bring.
Laid long in crownless exile, in sweetness incorrupt;
Now enroll'd among the blessed, the Lamb's feast he has supp'd.
![[SMMMHDH]](http://www.mgilleland.com/music/smmmhdh.png){kind=small}
