Saint of the day August 3: Blessed Augustine Kazotic. Catholic Saints

Every August 3 the Church remembers Blessed Augustine Kazotic, a Dominican bishop born in Trogir, Dalmatia (Croatia) in 1260. He is also known as Blessed Agostino Casotti or Augustine of Dalmatia.

Patient Preacher

Before the age of 20, Augustine entered the Order of Preachers (Dominicans); he first studied in Spalato, his native region; and later at the University of Paris (France), around 1286. After finishing his studies he traveled to Hungary, where he established a deep friendship with Cardinal Nicholas Boccasini, who later became Pope Benedict XI.

In 1303, Cardinal Boccasini consecrated Augustine as bishop of Zagreb, capital of Croatia. At that time, Zagreb was a territory characterized by conflicts between factions aspiring to the throne. The nobility was divided and the diocese suffered the ravages caused by political and social instability. In this context, Bishop Agustín became the great promoter of virtue and peace among citizens, standing out for his prudence and tenacity. He had to wait nearly 20 years for these confrontations to disappear definitively. In that long period the blessed did not spare any effort or prayer.

Treatise against divination, witchcraft and superstition

In 1318, Augustine met with Pope John XXII – one of the popes of the Avignon period – to request his intervention to resolve the conflict between the king of Croatia and the king of Hungary, Charles I. Fortunately, that effort gave the expected fruits and Croatia was able to remain at peace.

During Kazotic’s time in Avignon he wrote a pastoral treatise condemning divination, superstition and witchcraft; and where he recommended that the pastors of the Church educate the people about the dangers of these matters and that they not simply limit themselves to stipulating sanctions or punishments.

Defender of the Christian faith in Lucera

Some years later, in 1322, the same Pope John XXII sent Bishop Augustine to the diocese of Lucera, Puglia (Italy), where he carried out great work in favor of the poor and needy, as well as the promotion of religious life. He founded several convents, some of which would be run by members of his Order, the Dominicans.

Lucera was a city known to have been home to thousands of Saracen Muslims deported from Sicily. These, at a certain point, had managed to expel the Christians, so the Pope’s will was for the city to be recovered. In the years of occupation, the Saracens called the city The light of the Muslims (Lucera de los Saracenes) so when the triumph of the Christian resistance occurred, the Catholics renamed it City of Santa Maria (City of Santa María).

Bishop Agustín Kazotic was then entrusted with the task of rebuilding the presence of the Church in the place. It took one year for his efforts, away from any type of violent imposition, to begin to bear fruit, which led to enmities among the leaders of the Arab remnants. It was, precisely, a Saracen who made an attempt on his life, beating him and leaving him badly injured. He died from that attack on August 3, 1323.

Cult

Singular episodes are related about the blessed. It is said, for example, that while he was bishop in Zagreb there was a great drought, and that thanks to his prayers, water sprang up in front of the cathedral that was in the process of construction, forming a great fountain.

On the other hand, a famous canvas depicts the blessed performing a miracle during a storm that occurred in Lucera in the 18th century. The painting is based on a story according to which the saint appeared among the black clouds, moving them away from the place with his hands until he returned to calm. The tradition that recognizes him as protector of the city is based on that ancient history.

Centuries after his death, Pope Clement XI proclaimed him blessed on April 4, 1702, ratifying what was written in the Apostolic Brief of Pope John XXII published in 1326.

His relics are in the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Assumption in Lucera, Italy.