Blessed Charles the Good

Count Charles of Flanders, was called "the good" by the people of his kingdom. They named him for what they found him to truly be. He was the son of St. Canute, king of Denmark. Charles was just five years old when his father was murdered in 1086. When Charles grew up, he married a good young woman named Margaret. Charles was a mild and fair ruler. The people trusted him and his laws. He tried to be an example of what he expected the people to be.

Some nobles accused Charles of unjustly favoring the poor over the rich. He answered kindly, "It is because I am so aware of the needs of the poor and the pride of the rich." The poor of his realm were fed daily at his castles.

Charles ordered the abundant planting of crops so that the people would have plenty to eat at reasonable prices. Some wealthy men tried to hoard grain to sell at very high prices. Charles the Good found out and forced them to sell immediately and at fair prices. An influential father and his sons had been reprimanded by Charles for their violent tactics. They joined the little group of enemies who now wanted to kill him.

The count walked every morning barefoot to Mass and arrived early at the Church of St. Donatian. He did this in a spirit of penance. He longed to deepen his own spiritual life with God. His enemies knew that he walked to church and also that he prayed often alone before Mass. Many people who loved Charles feared for his life. They warned him that his walks to St. Donatian could lead to his death. He replied, "We are always in the middle of dangers, but we belong to God." One morning, as he prayed alone before the statue of Mary, his attackers killed him. Charles was martyred in 1127.

Then there is the episode of his brutal death, reflecting the hatred of the sons of darkness for the sons of light. After a life filled with battle, good acts of government, and prayer and meditation, a death abounding with merit came to him. The palm of martyrdom crowned his life while he was praying before the altar of Our Lady.

Let us ask Blessed Charles the Good to make us strong to bear the hatred, persecution, calumnies, tricks, and silence that the enemies of the Church – who have infiltrated into her very bosom – employ against us today. Let us ask him to prepare us, through the intercession of Our Lady, to follow the will of God for each one of us – in battle, work, command, prayer, obedience or even martyrdom.  

"We are always in the middle of dangers, but we belong to God." 

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