Charles was born in 1083 to the King of Denmark, St. Canute and a pious mother, Adele. After his father was murdered, Adele took Charles to her father's court in Flanders. Here he was raised in a noble fashion and trained in the precepts of the Catholic Faith. As a youth, he embarked with his uncle on the Second Crusade to capture the Holy Land from the Moors.
When he returned from this venture, his cousin, Baldwin, gave him the reign of the county of Flanders. Charles distinguished himself for his profound love for justice. Loving God with all his heart and understanding the honor due to our Creator, Charles forbade any of his subjects to blaspheme or to mention the name of God in vain.
For those who transgressed this command, the punishment was very severe. Therefore, Charles' love for God and consequent love of justice made him hated by the evildoers and revered by the innocent. He was known to have particular protection for the poor, the widows and the orphans, in short, those who were defenseless.
In meting out justice punishment for evil and in defending the good, he was called "Charles the Good", a title that not only recognized his charity in giving but his charity in punishing, because the punishment of evil helps all mankind to control the effects of original sin.
In 1127, Blessed Charles was attacked and beheaded while praying before the altar of Our Lady in the Church of St. Donatian. The sons of darkness could not tolerate the "good" of a son of the light. In imitation of his Savior, Blessed Charles died BECAUSE he did good.
Let us ask Blessed Charles, through the intercession of Our Lady, to always seek God's will in all we do and to defend Our Blessed Savior against the horrific blasphemies that are so prevalent today.
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