Stanislaus was born at at Szczepanówin the diocese of Cracow, Poland, in 1030 to the pious Catholic couple Belislaus and Bogna. His parents (who were of a noble family) after being 30 years without children, obtained him from God by prayer. He gave promise, even from his infancy, of future sanctity. While young he applied hard to study, and made great progress in Canon Law and Theology. After the death of his parents he wished to embrace the monastic life and therefore distributed his rich fortune among the poor. But divine Providence willing otherwise, he was made a Canon and Preacher of the Cathedral of Cracow by Bishop Lampert, whose successor he afterwards became. In the duties thus imposed upon him, he shone in every pastoral virtue, especially in that of charity to the poor.
Boleslaus was the then King of Poland. The Saint incurred his grave displeasure for having publicly reprimanded his notorious immorality. In a solemn meeting of the grandees of his kingdom the King summoned him to appear in judgement, to answer the accusation of his having appropriated to himself some land purchased in the name of his Cathedral. The bishop not being able to produce the deeds of sale and the witnesses being afraid to speak the truth, he promised to bring before the court within three days the seller of the land (Peter) who had died three years previously. His proposition excited laughter but was accepted. For three days did the man of God apply himself to fasting and prayer. And on the day appointed, after offering up the sacrifice of the Mass, he commanded Peter to rise from his grave who, there and then, returned to life and followed the Bishop to the King’s tribunal. There, to the bewilderment of the King and the audience, he gave his testimony regarding the sale of the land, and the price duly paid him by the Bishop. This done, he again slept in the Lord.
After several times admonishing Boleslaus, but all to no purpose, Stanislaus separated him from communion with the Faithful. Maddened with anger, the King sent soldiers into the Church that they might put the holy Bishop to death. They thrice endeavoured to do so but were each time repelled by the hidden power of God. The impious King himself then went, and finding the priest of God offering the unspotted victim at the Altar, he beheaded him with his own hand in 1079. The corpse was then cut in pieces and thrown into a field, but it was miraculously defended from wild beasts by eagles. During the night the Canons of Cracow, aided by a heavenly light, collected the scattered members, and having placed them in their natural position, they found that they were immediately joined to each other so as that not a single mark of a wound was traceable. God manifested the sanctity of his servant by many other miracles which occurred after his death, and which induced Pope Innocent IV to proceed to his canonisation in 1253.
Dom Prosper Gueranger:
At Terracina in Campania, the birthday of blessed Flavia Domitilla, virgin and martyr, niece of the Consul Flavius Clemens. She received the religious veil at the hands of St. Clement, and in the persecution of Domitian was exiled with many others to the island of Pontia where she endured a long martyrdom for Christ. Taken afterwards to Terracina, she converted many to the faith of Christ by her teaching and miracles. The judge ordered the chamber in which she was with the virgins Euphrosina and Theodora to be set on fire, and she thus consummated her glorious martyrdom. She is also mentioned with the holy martyrs Nereus ad Achilleus on the twelfth of this month.
The same day, St. Juvenal, martyr.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Flavius, Augustus, and Augustine, brothers.
In the same city, St. Quadratus, martyr, who was frequently tortured in the persecution of Decius, and at last decapitated.
At Rome, St. Benedict, pope and confessor.
At York in England, St. John, bishop renowned for his saintly life and miracles.
At Pavia, the bishop St. Peter.
At Rome, the translation of the body of St. Stephen, the first martyr, which was brought from Constantinople to Rome and laid in the sepulchre of the martyr St. Lawrence in the Campo Verano, where it is honoured with great devotion by the pious faithful.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
Boleslaus was the then King of Poland. The Saint incurred his grave displeasure for having publicly reprimanded his notorious immorality. In a solemn meeting of the grandees of his kingdom the King summoned him to appear in judgement, to answer the accusation of his having appropriated to himself some land purchased in the name of his Cathedral. The bishop not being able to produce the deeds of sale and the witnesses being afraid to speak the truth, he promised to bring before the court within three days the seller of the land (Peter) who had died three years previously. His proposition excited laughter but was accepted. For three days did the man of God apply himself to fasting and prayer. And on the day appointed, after offering up the sacrifice of the Mass, he commanded Peter to rise from his grave who, there and then, returned to life and followed the Bishop to the King’s tribunal. There, to the bewilderment of the King and the audience, he gave his testimony regarding the sale of the land, and the price duly paid him by the Bishop. This done, he again slept in the Lord.
After several times admonishing Boleslaus, but all to no purpose, Stanislaus separated him from communion with the Faithful. Maddened with anger, the King sent soldiers into the Church that they might put the holy Bishop to death. They thrice endeavoured to do so but were each time repelled by the hidden power of God. The impious King himself then went, and finding the priest of God offering the unspotted victim at the Altar, he beheaded him with his own hand in 1079. The corpse was then cut in pieces and thrown into a field, but it was miraculously defended from wild beasts by eagles. During the night the Canons of Cracow, aided by a heavenly light, collected the scattered members, and having placed them in their natural position, they found that they were immediately joined to each other so as that not a single mark of a wound was traceable. God manifested the sanctity of his servant by many other miracles which occurred after his death, and which induced Pope Innocent IV to proceed to his canonisation in 1253.
Dom Prosper Gueranger:
The eleventh century — the century of contest between the priests of the Church and barbarism — deputes today another martyr to our Risen Jesus. It is Stanislaus, loved by noble Poland as one of her chief protectors. He was slain at the altar by a Christian prince whom he had reproved for his crimes. The blood of the courageous pontiff was mingled, and in the same sacrifice, with that of our Redeemer. What an invincible energy there is in these lambs whom Jesus has sent amid the wolves! They seem to be changed, all at once, into lions, like Jesus Himself was, at His Resurrection. There is not a century that has not had its martyrs: some for the faith, others for the unity of the Church, others for her liberty, others for justice, others for charity, and others, like our great saint of today, for the maintenance of morals.
*****
You were powerful in word and work, Stanislaus, and our Lord rewarded you with a martyr’s crown. From your throne of glory, cast a look of pity on us. Obtain for us from God that gift of fortitude, which was so prominent in you, and which we so much need in order to surmount the obstacles which impede our progress. Our Risen Lord must have no cowards among his soldiers. The kingdom into which He is about to enter — He took it by assault, and He tells us plainly that if we would follow Him there, we must prepare to use violence. Brave soldier of the living God, get us brave hearts. We need them for our combat, whether that be one of open violence for the faith or unity of the Church, or one which is to be fought with the invisible enemies of our salvation. You were indeed a good shepherd, for the presence of the world neither made you flee nor fear. Ask our Heavenly Father to send us shepherds like you. Succour Holy Church, for she has to contend with enemies in every part of the world. Convert her persecutors, as you converted Boleslaus. He was your murderer, but your martyrdom won mercy for him.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Terracina in Campania, the birthday of blessed Flavia Domitilla, virgin and martyr, niece of the Consul Flavius Clemens. She received the religious veil at the hands of St. Clement, and in the persecution of Domitian was exiled with many others to the island of Pontia where she endured a long martyrdom for Christ. Taken afterwards to Terracina, she converted many to the faith of Christ by her teaching and miracles. The judge ordered the chamber in which she was with the virgins Euphrosina and Theodora to be set on fire, and she thus consummated her glorious martyrdom. She is also mentioned with the holy martyrs Nereus ad Achilleus on the twelfth of this month.
The same day, St. Juvenal, martyr.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Flavius, Augustus, and Augustine, brothers.
In the same city, St. Quadratus, martyr, who was frequently tortured in the persecution of Decius, and at last decapitated.
At Rome, St. Benedict, pope and confessor.
At York in England, St. John, bishop renowned for his saintly life and miracles.
At Pavia, the bishop St. Peter.
At Rome, the translation of the body of St. Stephen, the first martyr, which was brought from Constantinople to Rome and laid in the sepulchre of the martyr St. Lawrence in the Campo Verano, where it is honoured with great devotion by the pious faithful.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
