On 21 October 1911, Charles married Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma at Schwarzau Castle in Austria. Their marriage was founded upon a shared Catholic faith and a profound understanding of their responsibilities before God. Charles is remembered as having told Zita before their wedding, “Now we must help each other get to Heaven.” These words expressed the spiritual purpose of their marriage: they were to help one another grow in holiness and remain faithful to God in whatever circumstances Providence might place before them.
Their marriage would be tested in ways neither could have imagined. They had eight children, and during the years they shared together, Zita remained a devoted companion and support to her husband. Their married life was relatively brief, lasting just over ten years before Charles's death in 1922. Yet it provides a compelling example of Christian marriage, in which love, fidelity, prayer, and the responsibilities of family life were placed at the service of God.
In 1914, an event occurred that would change the course of world history. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated, precipitating the crisis that led to the First World War. Charles unexpectedly became heir to the throne. When Emperor Franz Joseph died in November 1916, Charles succeeded him as Emperor of Austria. On 30 December of that year, he was crowned Apostolic King of Hungary.
Charles took his responsibilities as sovereign with the utmost seriousness. He understood kingship not as a privilege to be enjoyed, but as a sacred trust received from God. His duty was to follow Christ more closely through the love and care of the peoples entrusted to him. He believed that authority must be exercised in the service of others, especially those who were poor, vulnerable, and suffering.
He also considered the pursuit of peace to be among a ruler's most sacred responsibilities. If a sovereign could not work for the peaceful life of his people, Charles believed, he had failed in an essential part of his vocation. With the terrible First World War raging across Europe, he became the only head of state to give active support to the peace efforts of Pope Benedict XV. Charles sought ways to bring the conflict to an end, even when his efforts encountered opposition and political obstacles.
At home, despite the widespread suffering caused by the war, he pursued social reforms inspired by Catholic social teaching. He sought to improve the conditions of workers and families and to establish a more just social order. His political decisions were guided by his conviction that the dignity of every human person must be respected.
Yet the end of the war brought the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1918, Charles relinquished participation in the government of Austria but did not formally abdicate his sovereign rights. He and his family were eventually forced into exile. His refusal to regard his responsibilities as king as merely a matter of political convenience reflected his understanding that his vocation carried a moral obligation before God.
Charles and Zita were eventually sent to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where they endured financial hardship and difficult living conditions. Far removed from the splendour of the imperial court, they continued to live as a family, sustained by prayer and their Catholic faith. Charles became seriously ill with pneumonia. During his final illness, he accepted his sufferings with remarkable patience, forgiving those who had worked against him. He died on 1 April 1922, with Zita at his side, entrusting himself to God.
At the beatification of Charles on 3 October 2004, Pope St. John Paul II praised his witness to Christian holiness in public life. The Pope declared:
“The decisive task of Christians consists in seeking, recognizing and following God's will in all things. The Christian statesman, Charles of Austria, confronted this challenge every day. To his eyes, war appeared as ‘something appalling’. Amid the tumult of the First World War, he strove to promote the peace initiative of my Predecessor, Benedict XV.”
The Pope continued:
“From the beginning, the Emperor Charles conceived of his office as a holy service to his people. His chief concern was to follow the Christian vocation to holiness also in his political actions. For this reason, his thoughts turned to social assistance. May he be an example for all of us, especially for those who have political responsibilities in Europe today!”
There is particular significance in the date chosen for the liturgical commemoration of Blessed Charles. His feast is celebrated on 21 October, the anniversary of his marriage to Zita. Rather than selecting the anniversary of his birth or death, the Church chose the day on which he entered into the vocation of marriage. This choice draws attention to an essential dimension of his holiness: he was not only a Christian ruler who sought peace and justice, but also a faithful husband and father.
The date recalls the words he is remembered as having spoken to Zita before their wedding: “Now we must help each other get to Heaven.” Their marriage reminds us that holiness is not reserved for those who withdraw from the world. It can be pursued in the daily duties of family life, in public service, in suffering, and in fidelity to the responsibilities God entrusts to us.
The cause for the canonization of Zita is also underway. Her life, like that of her husband, bears witness to the enduring strength of faith and fidelity amid trials. Together, Charles and Zita offer married couples a particularly beautiful example of the Christian understanding of marriage: husband and wife are called not merely to share their earthly lives, but to help one another attain eternal life.
O God, who didst call thy servant Blessed Charles of Austria to an earthly throne that he might advance thy heavenly kingdom, and didst give him zeal for thy Church and love for thy people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.