The ‘miraculous’ painting of Saint Casimir, showing the saint with three hands
Today is the feast of Saint Casimir, a prince of Poland, who devoted his life to the service of God. He angered his father by opposing his wishes and was exiled. An ascetic, he slept on a hard floor and wore plain clothes. Dying at the young age of twenty-five, he gave his name to the Hymn of Saint Casimir:
Daily, daily sing to Mary,
Sing, my soul, her praises due:
All her feasts, her actions honor
With the heart’s devotion true.
Lost in wond’ring contemplation,
Be her majesty confessed:
Call her Mother, call her Virgin,
Happy Mother, Virgin blest.
She is mighty in her pleading,
Tender in her loving care;
Ever watchful, understanding,
All our sorrows she will share.
Advocate and loving mother,
Mediatrix of all grace:
Heaven’s blessings she dispenses
On our sinful human race.
All our graces flow through Mary;
All then join her praise to sing:
Fairest work of all creation,
Mother of creation’s King.
Sing in songs of peace unending,
Call upon her lovingly:
Seat of wisdom, Gate of heaven,
Morning star upon the sea.
Omni die dic Mariae
Mea laudes anima:
Ejus festa, ejus gesta
Cole devotissima.
Contemplare et mirare
Ejus celsitudinem:
Dic felicem genitricem,
Dic beatam Virginem.
Ipsam cole, ut de mole
Criminum te liberet,
Hanc appella, ne procella
Vitiorum superet.
Haec persona nobis dona
Contulit coelestia;
Haec regina nos divina
Illustravit gratia.
