Stanislaus of Szczepanów

Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów was born on 26 July 1030 in Szczepanów, a village in Lesser Poland, the only son of the noble and devout Wielisław and Bogna. Educated at Gniezno and likely in Paris, he returned home to be ordained a priest by the Bishop of Kraków. His preaching and pastoral zeal soon made him a trusted leader in the Church, and after the bishop’s death he was chosen as successor, accepting the office only at the command of Pope Alexander II. As Bishop of Kraków, Stanislaus strengthened the Church in Poland, welcomed papal legates, supported the restoration of the metropolitan see of Gniezno, and encouraged Benedictine monasteries to deepen the nation’s Christian life. His courageous defense of moral and ecclesial order brought him into bitter conflict with King Bolesław II. After the bishop excommunicated the king, Stanislaus was condemned and, according to tradition, slain by the king while celebrating Mass. Honored as a martyr and the patron saint of Poland, he is celebrated on April 11.