The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-07-29
FAMOUS CATHOLIC EMPRESS
MARIA TERESA OF AUSTRIA WHO
REIGNED FOR FORTY YEARS
WAS A WISE RULER AND AN
ESTIMARLE WOMAN.

Three dominant female characters
stand out in the history of Europe:
Queen Elizabeth of England; Queen
Catherine of Russia and the En-
press Maria Teresa Queen Eliza
beth was shreWd and calculating, and
her character lacked the womanli-
ness that commands respect and ad-
miration. Queen Catherine was cruel
and INSCRIPTIONS and has gone down
in history as a despotic ruler who
lacked all the personal elements that
constitute righteousness. In the Cath
Ollie Empress Maria Teresa of Austria,
however, were combined the most
estimable qualities of a ruler and the
richest virtues and charms of woman.
On the death of her father, Charles
VI, their being no male successor,
she became Empress of the Austrian
crownlands. Her right of succession
was disputed by force of arms on
the part of France, Spain, Saxony
and Bavaria, while Frederick II.
awaited himself of the distress of the
young Empress by invading Silesia.
All seemed doomed, when the EN-
press hurried to. Pressburg, Hun
gary, with her baby boy. She i'm
plored the Hungarians to come to her
rescue. More effective than her spoken
words was the dramatic incident that
ensued when in the course Of her
address she held up her: baby boy
and adjured them to maintain his
future right of succession to the
Austrian throne. The chivalrous
Hungarians nobly responded and de-
clared themselves ready to shed their
blood in her behalf. The troops that
were subsequently levied saved the
throne for Maria Teresa.
From 174O-1780 this noble woman
reigned. Though devoted to her hus-
band, Stephen of Lothringen, she her.
self administered affairs of State.
Though harrassed on all sides by
rival nations, she kept them in check.
She was mistress of diplomacy and
statecraft and her reign was one of
the most eventful in the history of
Austria.
This great feminine character is no
less renowned for her quality as a
mother than for her singular ability
as Empress. She had sixteen chill
dren, whom she loved devotedly. One
of her daughters was Mary Antoinette,
Queen of France, who lost her life in
the French Revolution. -..--.,.-- -. -
Several years ago, DIR. Otto Krack
of Berlin published collection of
letters written by Maria Teresa.
Many of these letters contain the out
pourings of a loving motherly heart.
In letter to the beautiful and some
what vain Mary Antoinette, then al
ready Queen of France, she wrote as
follows:
Il must also touch point which
find referreI. repeatedly to in SO
many papers, namely, your manner of
dressing the hair; 1 understand that
you wear it three feet high from the
scalp, with flowers and ribbons. You
know that / am of the opinion that
one should follow the fashions with
jndicious moderation, never going to
extremes. A young, beautiful and
fascinating queen need not resort to
such folly; on the contrary, simplicity
of adornment improves appearance
and is more In keeping with the
dignity Of queen. She sets the
standard and all the world follows
even her alterations. But love my
little queer and follow her every step,
and precisely for this reason must
warn her against such petty vanities."
Also the Grapd Duke Ferdinand,
Governor of Milan, was the object
Dc her tender solicitude. On one oc-
casion she wrote him a letter in
which she took him to task for open
ling a parcel which she had sent to
his wife, the Arch-Duchess Mary
Beatrice.
You should never open parcel"
the Empress chided her SON, which
lis intended for another. even IL he
be only valet. That must be held