SAINT OF THE DAY -- April 11 - Saint Stanislaus
April 11
St. StanislausPatron Saint of Poland, Kraków, and Moral Order(1030 - 1079)
St. Stanislaus, the Bishop of Krakow, excommunicated King Boleslaus II
of Poland for his injustices, cruelty, and immoral life style. The King
saw this as treason and on April 11, 1079, while the Bishop was
celebrating Mass, he entered the church and killed him with a sword.
Anyone who reads the history of Eastern Europe cannot help but chance
on the name of Stanislaus, the saintly but tragic bishop of Kraków,
patron of Poland. He is remembered with Saints Thomas More and Thomas
Becket for vigorous opposition to the evils of an unjust government.
Born
in Szczepanow near Kraków on July 26, 1030, he was ordained a priest
after being educated in the cathedral schools of Gniezno, then capital
of Poland, and at Paris. He was appointed preacher and archdeacon to
the bishop of Kraków, where his eloquence and example brought about
real conversion in many of his penitents, both clergy and laity. He
became bishop of Kraków in 1072.
During an expedition against the
Grand Duchy of Kiev, Stanislaus became involved in the political
situation of Poland. Known for his outspokenness, he aimed his attacks
at the evils of the peasantry and the king, especially the unjust wars
and immoral acts of King Boleslaus II.
The king first excused
himself, then made a show of penance, then relapsed into his old ways.
Stanislaus continued his open opposition in spite of charges of treason
and threats of death, finally excommunicating the king. The latter,
enraged, ordered soldiers to kill the bishop. When they refused, the
king killed him with his own hands.
Forced to flee to Hungary, Boleslaus supposedly spent the rest of his life as a penitent in the Benedictine abbey in Osiak.
Comment:
John
the Baptist, Thomas Becket, Thomas More and Stanislaus are a few of the
prophets who dared to denounce corruption in high places. They follow
in the footsteps of Jesus himself, who pointed out the moral corruption
in the religious leadership of his day. It is a risky business: "Let
the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone..."
(John 8:7b).
Quote:"Men desire
authority for its own sake that they may bear a rule, command and
control other men, and live uncommanded and uncontrolled themselves"
(St. Thomas More, A Dialogue of Comfort).
Prayer:
O God, for Whose honor the glorious bishop Stanislaus fell under the
swords of the wicked; grant, we beseech Thee, that all who implore his
aid, may obtain alutary answer to their prayers. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Source: American Catholic Organization
Many great miracles have been associated with
the Rosary throughout history. The tremendous power of the Rosary can
overcome any problem, be it small or large, personal or worldwide.
Miracles continue to the present day.
The Rosary is a powerful prayer!
Each lesson is only 10¢
God bless you!
Learn to pray the Rosary--The Joyful Mysteries
Learn to pray the Rosary--The Sorrowful Mysteries
Learn to pray the Rosary--The Glorious Mysteries
Learn to pray the Rosary--The Luminous Mysteries
If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?