Saints and Blesseds

Blessed James Kern, O. Praem.

1897 - 1924

James Francis Kern was born in Vienna of poor but devout parents on April 11, 1897.  Under the guidance of a fervent Catholic mother he manifested from an early age an intense desire to serve God in the priesthood together with a great love for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  While still a pupil in the junior seminary he dedicated himself to God by a vow of perpetual chastity at the age of 15.

Serving as a young officer with the Austrian Army in the First World War, he was known by his fellow soldiers as their "Guardian Angel" on account of his remarkable piety.  On 11th September, 1916, while fighting with the 4th Tyrolean Imperial Fusiliers on the Italian front, he was severely wounded in the chest.

After a convalescence that lasted twelve months he entered the theological seminary in Vienna.  At this time there was a serious schism in the Church in Czechoslovakia.  It was clear to the young student that he was called to a life of suffering and expiation for the Czech schismatics in particular, and for sinful mankind in general.  Consequently he entered the Premonstratensian Abbey of Geras in lower Austria in October, 1920, and was ordained priest in July, 1922.  After one year spent in intense priestly apostolate the condition of his war wound began to deteriorate and, from then on, almost continuously until the end of his life, he was confined to a hospital bed.  As one operation succeeded another his spirit of love and sacrifice was truly heroic.  After many sufferings cheerfully born in union with Jesus, and for erring souls everywhere, he died in the operating theatre of a Vienna hospital on October 20, 1924, at 27 years of age.

When the body of this servant of God was exhumed in 1956 it was discovered that the right forearm with which he had blessed so many during his life had been completely preserved, while the rest of the remains had suffered the usual fate.  His body is now interred in the Abbey church at Geras, and visitors to the tomb are increasing daily as veneration of this holy man increases.

PRAYER

O Lord, Jesus Christ, you did call your servant James Kern out of a world of sinful men to offer up his life, work, and suffering in the Order of Premontre for the sins of others.  We ask You, through the intercession of Our Lady of Geras, in whose House your servant James dedicated himself unreservedly to You, grant us the graces we ask of You, so that, made certain of his efficacious intercession with You, we may one day see him raised to the honors of our altars.

AMEN.

Source:  Pamphlet from Geras Abbey, reprinted in part here with their kind permission..