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Thursday, April 10, 2014

He excommunicated the king, who murdered him as he celebrated Mass

Saint Stanislaus of Cracow

Martyrdom of St. Stanislaus of Cracow from Anjou legendarium of the Kings of Hungary (XIV century)
Martyrdom of St. Stanislaus of Cracow from Anjou legendarium of the Kings of Hungary (XIV century)
In pictures he is given the episcopal insignia and the sword. Larger paintings represent him in a court or kneeling before the altar and receiving the fatal blow. His parents, Belislaus and Bogna, pious and noble Catholics, gave him a religious education. After the death of his parents he distributed his ample inheritance among the poor. Lambert Zula, Bishop of Cracow, ordained him priest and made him pastor of Czembocz near Cracow, canon and preacher at the cathedral, and later, vicar-general. After the death of Lambert he was elected bishop, but accepted only on explicit command of Pope Alexander II.
Miniature painted by Stanisław Samostrzelnik of Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów as the patron saint of Poland, venerated by King Sigismund I and Tomicki himself together with church and secular dignitaries.
He worked with his wonted energy for his diocese, and inveighed against vices among high and low, regardless of consequences. Boleslaw II had become King of Poland. the renown he had gained by his successful wars he now sullied by atrocious cruelty and unbridled lust. Moreover the bishop had several serious disputes with the king about a piece of land belonging to the Church which was unjustly claimed by Boleslaw, and about some nobles, who had left their homes to ward off various evils threatening their families and who were in consequence cruelly treated by the king.

 Stanislaus spared neither tears nor prayers and admonitions to bring the king to lead a more Christian life. All being in vain, Boleslaw was excommunicated and the canons of the cathedral were instructed to discontinue the Divine Offices in case the king should attempt to enter. Stanislaus retired to the Chapel of St. Michael in a suburb of Cracow. The king was furious and followed the bishop with his guards, some of whom he sent to kill the saint. These dared not obey, so Boleslaw slew him during the Holy Sacrifice. The body was at first buried in the chapel, but in 1088 it was transferred to the cathedral by Bishop Lambert II. St. Stanislaus was canonized 1253 by Innocent IV at Assisi.
Tomb of St. Stanislaus in the Wawel Cathedral, photo by Bogitor.
Tomb of St. Stanislaus in the Wawel Cathedral, photo by Bogitor.
(cfr. FRANCIS MERSHMAN, Catholic Encyclopedia)
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1 comment:

  1. Sancta CeceliaApril 19, 2014 at 1:46 PM

    My short life of St. Stanislaus describes Boleslaus as accusing the saint of having cheated a man of his property. No witness was allowed to be heard, so Stanislaus has recourse to prayer, and after 3 days, called the owner, now dead, to appear at the trial. The dead man appeared in his shroud and fully vindicated the Bishop. Unimpressed, Boleslaus continued his evil ways and was excommunicated. When he defiantly sought to enter the cathedral, Stanislaus ordered the services to be stopped. Boleslaus sent soldiers to slay the Bishop who was saying Mass in the Chapel of St. Michael; they returned, saying they were thrown back by a blinding light surrounding the saint. Boleslaus then rushed into the chapel and split the Bishop's head with his sword. After the people rose up against him, Boleslaus fled the country and died in exile. No mention is made whether he repented. Another of the glories of Holy Church - the holy Bishop, Saint Stanislaus!

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