napoleon

The beautiful altar above is located at Josef Ketzer’s Austrian secondary school, a Jesuit institution for boys ages 10-18 when he attended. The significance of the altar is that it was in Napoleon’s home on St. Helena, a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic.

On June 18, 1815, Napoleon was defeated by the British at the Battle of Waterloo (Belgium). On July 31, he learned that he would be exiled to St. Helena. He embarked on August 7 and arrived on October 15.

“After his mother sent two priests to St Helena, the dining room was transformed into a chapel. At first, Napoleon attended Sunday mass inside the room; later, he watched from his adjoining study. He said it was proper for him at his death to return to the Catholic Church since he had been born within it. Years before, when questioned on his faith, he had replied that he ‘took on the religion of whatever country he was in, because that was the best policy.’”

https://mrodenberg.com/2011/07/06/longwood-house-part-5/#:~:text=After%20his%20mother%20sent%20two,had%20been%20born%20within%20it.

On May 5, 1821, he died on St. Helena. He was 51.