Charles followed Catholic teaching in all areas of his life, including his political activities. Though he had been well prepared for the Imperial throne, Charles’s political life was fraught with extreme difficulties and danger.
As a soldier, Charles witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the war. When he ascended the throne, his most ardent desire was for peace, earning him the nickname, “the peace emperor.” However, there were few who shared Charles’ vision, and this isolation cost him dearly. His advisers blocked his efforts and even, in some cases, betrayed him. In addition to his quest to end the war, Charles, inspired by the papal encyclical Rerum Novarum, put into practice many innovative social reforms to help his people, such as social security and social welfare systems.
Zita worked in tandem with her husband, frequently visiting nursing homes and hospitals, volunteering for the Red Cross and traveling with him when possible. As rulers, the imperial couple always put service to their people above everything else, in accordance with their coronation oaths and the principle of Catholic kingship. This adherence to service endured long after their exile following the war and remains an important aspect of the family’s life today.
Charles died in exile on the island of Madeira in 1922. Shortly before his death, Charles promised Zita, “We will always be together in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
The last words Charles ever spoke were, “Jesus, my Jesus,” as he kissed his crucifix.
The courage that Charles demonstrated in accepting his death and that Zita displayed in assuming a future without her husband reflected their profound trust in God’s providence. Even when faced with widowhood, the education of her children and the protection of the Hapsburg legacy, the empress never wavered in her confidence in Christ. Zita remained devoted to her family, her people and her Faith for rest of her life.
Zita lived to be almost 100 years old; she died on 14 March 1989. Today, the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Emperor Charles and Servant of God Empress Zita of Austria is only the next stage in the journey of this holy couple.
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About the author: Meghan Ferrara lives in St. Louis, MO with her family. She has a BA in in French and a MA in Teaching, with a concentration in French and foreign language pedagogy. Meghan spent a year studying abroad in Dijon and Avignon, France and is passionate about history and the Catholic faith. Recently elected Registrar of her chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her mission is to tell the unknown stories of history, and she is grateful to Regina Magazine for affording her the opportunity to do so.