St. Stephen of Hungary

St. Stephen of Hungary - Patron of Hungary - September 2nd

This Saint’s name was Vaik, but when he became a Christian at the age of ten, he was given the name of Stephen. At the same time, his father, the Duke of Hungary, and many nobles also became Christians. However, when Stephen himself became King, the country was still quite pagan and the people violent and fierce. So he set himself to establish the Church solidly in Hungary, and he was very successful.

The secret of St. Stephen’s amazing success in making his people Christian was his great devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. He placed his whole kingdom under her protection and built a magnificent church in her honor.

Stephen was a strong, fearless ruler who punished criminals and made his laws obeyed, but he was also very gentle and kind to the poor, very humble, and anxious to avoid wars as much as he could. He loved to give gifts of money to beggars without letting them know who he was.

Once, however, while he was giving these gifts in disguise, a crowd of rough beggars knocked him down, struck him, pulled his hair and his bread, and stole his purse. St. Stephen took this insult humbly and even happily. Turning his thoughts to the Blessed Mother, he said: “See, Queen of Heaven, how your soldiers have treated him whom you made King. If they were enemies of the Faith, I would know what to do with them. But since they are your Son’s subjects, I will take this joyfully and thank you for it.” In fact, the holy King made a resolution then and there to give more than ever to the beggars.

I, too, will make a resolution now: always forgive injuries, and even repay with acts of kindness those who offend me.