St. Stanislaus

St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów was born on 26 July 1030 at Szczepanów in Poland, and died a martyr in 1079 at Kraków. Ordained a priest and later chosen bishop of Kraków, he was esteemed as a zealous pastor, a generous helper of the poor, and a fearless preacher who did not shrink from correcting the powerful when they strayed from justice and the moral law.

He came into grave conflict with King Bolesław II the Bold, whose cruelty and misconduct he rebuked, finally excommunicating the king. In fury the king had Stanislaus killed — according to tradition, cut down by the king's own hand while the bishop was celebrating Mass. Venerated as a martyr for the faith and for the freedom of the Church against tyranny, he was canonized in 1253 and is honored as a principal patron saint of Poland.