| Blessed Ceslaus, O.P. | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1184 Kamien, Silesia, Poland |
| Died | 1242 Breslau, Poland |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1713 by Pope Clement XI |
| Feast | 16 July |
Blessed Ceslaus, O.P., (Polish: Czesław) (c. 1184 – c. 1242) was born in Kamień Śląski (Gross Stein) in Silesia, Poland, of the noble family of Odrowąż, and was a relative, possibly the brother, of Saint Hyacinth. Having studied philosophy at Prague, he pursued his theological and juridical studies at the University of Bologna, after which he returned to Cracow, where he held the office of canon and custodian of the church of Sandomir.
About 1218 he accompanied his uncle Ivo, Bishop of Cracow, to Rome. Hearing of the great sanctity of Saint Dominic, who had recently been attributed the miracle of resuscitating the nephew of Cardinal Stefano di Fossa Nova who had been killed in a fall from his horse[1][2], Ceslaus, together with St. Hyacinth, sought admission into the Order of Friars Preachers. They received the religious habit from the hands of St. Dominic in the Convent of Santa Sabina. Their novitiate completed, St. Dominic sent the two young friars back as missionaries to their own country. Establishing a friary at Friesach in Austria, they proceeded to Cracow whence Ceslaus was sent by St. Hyacinth to Prague, the metropolis of Bohemia.
Labouring with much fruit throughout the Diocese of Prague, Ceslaus went to Wrocław, where he founded a large priory, and then extended his apostolic labours over a vast territory, embracing Bohemia, Poland, Pomerania, and Saxony.
Sometime after the death of St. Hyacinth he was chosen the Provincial Superior for Poland. Whilst he was superior of the convent of Wrocław all Poland was threatened by the Mongols. The city of Wrocław being besieged, the people sought the aid of Blessed Ceslaus, who by his prayers miraculously averted the impending calamity. Four persons are said to have been raised to life by him. He died at Wrocław.
Having always been venerated as a blessed, his cult was finally confirmed by Pope Clement XI in 1713. His feast is celebrated throughout the Dominican Order on 16 July.
His head has been recently reconstructed from his (alleged) skull.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.