St. Casimir grew up in a world where his life was not his own. As a prince of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, his life was meant to keep his father's authority and increase Poland’s power. However at an early age, he believed that his life belonged to someone else, to a much higher King than his father. Despite pressure, humiliation, and rejection, he stood by that loyalty through his whole life. The third of thirteen children of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, he was committed to God from childhood. It may be hard for us to imagine of royal luxury as a pressure, but for Casimir, the riches around him were temptations to forget his true loyalties. Rebelling against riches, fashionable clothes, robes and a crown; he wore the plainest of clothes. Rejecting even ordinary comforts, he slept little, spending his nights in prayer. And when he did sleep, he would lay on the floor and not on a royal bed. Even though he was a prince, many of those around him must have laughed and joked at his choices. Yet, in the face of any pressure, he was always friendly and calm. Though his father must have wondered about him, he must have seen and admired Casimir's strength. The king misunderstood this strength when he sent him as head of an army to take over the throne of Hungary. Casimir felt the whole expedition was wrong but was convinced to go in obedience to his father. So when soldiers started deserting, he was only too glad to listen to the advice of his officers and turn back home. His feelings were confirmed when he discovered that Pope Sixtus IV had opposed the move. King Casimir IV was furious at being deterred from his plans and sent his son to a castle in Dobzki, hoping that imprisonment would change the son's mind. St. Casimir stood to what he believed was right and even grew stronger during exile. He persistently refused to cooperate with his father's plans no more despite the pressure to give in. He even rejected a marriage his father tried to fix, instead fervently participated in his true King's plans wholeheartedly praying, studying, and helping the poor. He died at the age of 23 in 1484 from lung disease. A devotee of the Blessed Mother, he was buried with his favorite hymn "Omni die dic Mariae" or "Daily, Daily Sing to Mary." His remains are buried at special chapel in the Vilnius Cathedral and many of those who visit believe to have received miracles. For many years, Poland and Lithuania faded into the gray prison on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Despite repression from Russia, the Poles and Lithuanians remained firm in faith. Their youthful patron Casimir reminds us: Peace is not won by war; sometimes a comfortable peace is not even won by virtue, but Christ’s peace can penetrate every government repression of religion.

After Advent and Christmas, Lent is the third season of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year which begins with Ash Wednesday, a six-week period of penance before Easter. This year, it falls on March 5. It marks the first day of Lent, when every Christian is asked to begin a time of reflection and penitence. In the Old Testament, Job repented for his sins in dust and ashes. (Job 42:5-6). On this day, people flock churches to have ashes imposed on their foreheads in a form of the cross, with the priest saying: “Remember, man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return. (Genesis 3:19). The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.” (Gen. 2:7). The ashes signify our mortality, inner fragility and poverty, while the cross indicates our salvation in the mercy of God. We are redeemed by Christ with his crucifixion on Good Friday. During these 40 days of Lent we join Jesus in sacrifice and withdrawal into the dessert. We practice fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. The law of abstinence requires those 14 years of age and above, abstaining from eating meat. Meat is considered to be flesh and organs of mammals and fowl including soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal-derived products such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste.