St. Stanislaus

St. Stanislaus - Patron of Poland - May 7th

St. Stanislaus was born in Poland. His parents had prayed for thirty years for a child, and at his birth, they offered him to God in gratitude. When he grew up, he studied in Paris. After his parents died, he gave all their wealth to the poor. Then he became a priest, and later on he was made a bishop.

As bishop, Stanislaus won the love of all, because of the way he took care of poor people, of widows and orphans. Often he served them himself.

The King of Poland at that time was Boleslaus II. He was so cruel and so impure that all the people were disgusted. Stanislaus first corrected him privately. The king seemed sorry, but soon started again and he committed more shameful sins. The Bishop then had to put him out of the Church. Boleslaus flew into a rage at that. To get revenge, he ordered two of his guards to kill St. Stanislaus. Three times they tired and failed. Then the king himself, in mad rage, rushed in and murdered St. Stanislaus right in the chapel, as he was saying Mass.

God worked many miracles after his death, and all the people called him a martyr.

When we are corrected for doing wrong, let us accept the correction humbly and let us put into practice the good advice we are given.