Today's Saint of the Day 😇 is remembered with Thomas More and Thomas Becket for vigorous opposition to the evils of an unjust government.
April 11, 2024
Dear John,
Today’s meditation from God’s Love Song is an honest look at the complex nature of forgiveness and the long-lasting effects of being mistreated. Francis may have felt alone and confused about his future, but in his conversion before the San Damiano cross, he saw a Savior who not only entered into our world to humbly suffer with us but also one who was simultaneously rising again. It is a painful experience to feel “small” or overlooked, but as we gaze upon the Cross, as Francis and Clare did, we are reminded that Christ continues to suffer with us, in us, and through us.
We are reminded that God will always meet us where we are, that we are not alone after all, and that we, too, will rise again. I hope you enjoy this copy of God’s Love Song as you are comforted today by the death-and-resurrection cycle that is at the heart of the Christian experience.
Anyone who reads the history of Eastern Europe cannot help but chance on the name of Stanislaus, the saintly but tragic bishop of Kraków, patron of Poland. He is remembered with Saints Thomas More and Thomas Becket for vigorous opposition to the evils of an unjust government.
Born in Szczepanow near Kraków on July 26, 1030, he was ordained a priest after being educated in the cathedral schools of Gniezno, then capital of Poland, and at Paris. He was appointed preacher and archdeacon to the bishop of Kraków, where his eloquence and example brought about real conversion in many of his penitents, both clergy and laity. He became bishop of Kraków in 1072.
During an expedition against the Grand Duchy of Kiev, Stanislaus became involved in the political situation of Poland. Known for his outspokenness, he aimed his attacks at the evils of the peasantry and the king, especially the unjust wars and immoral acts of King Boleslaus II.
The king first excused himself, then made a show of penance, then relapsed into his old ways. Stanislaus continued his open opposition in spite of charges of treason and threats of death, finally excommunicating the king. Enraged, the latter ordered soldiers to kill the bishop. When they refused, the king killed Stanislaus with his own hands.
Forced to flee to Hungary, Boleslaus supposedly spent the rest of his life as a penitent in the Benedictine abbey in Osiak.
Reflection
Saints John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, Thomas More, and Stanislaus are a few of the prophets who dared to denounce corruption in high places. They followed in the footsteps of Jesus himself, who pointed out the moral corruption in the religious leadership of his day. It is a risky business.
Saint Stanislaus is the Patron Saint of:
Poland
"So, to learn to pray, we, like St. Francis, need to find our own sacred place of solitude and silence. Then, once we’ve come to that oasis, we need only enter and wait in silence. We often don’t really know what we’re waiting for, but we trust that something will come; and when it does, it will be a surprise, both in when it comes and what it is."
—from God's Love Song: The Vision of Francis and Clare.
Forgiveness is a tricky thing. What if you offer it, as I have, offering a fresh starting point, moving forward anew—and it is refused? No response? No answer? Then what? Pray some. more, I guess. Put the situation in God’s hands and leave it there. No easy task, to be sure.
The beauty of Francis’s world after his experience of the San Damiano cross is that it largely shielded him. To me, he has always seemed frail—like a little one—and that is perhaps why I identified with him. I felt born afraid, little and frail, left out, overlooked. Perfect joy was not a perspective I appreciated because the need for it was constantly in my mind all day, every day. So, I have turned away from the dark eyes that seek to put me down or try to put me in my place. It still hurts, but I cling to the historical, sacred moment of Francis’s realization.
Adults need stories of heroic faith as much as children do. Exposing ourselves to excellent literature and beautiful stories can play the role of extra companions in our journeys, encouraging us until the end. Is there a classic book you’ve always wanted to read, but never got around to?
Pray
God, you wrote the ultimate story of beauty. Encourage us through storytellers that you have graced with your gift. Help us to be unafraid to tell our own stories. May we be open to hearing and learning from the stories of others, especially from those whose stories challenge our beliefs and understanding of the world. Those are the storytellers we can most learn from, if we would only let down our guard. Weaken our stubbornness and close-mindedness, Lord. They are roadblocks to hearing a good tale well told. Amen.
Act
Commit to reading one page a day from a book you’ve always wanted to read. If you never read any more than that, you will have finished 365 pages of it in one year.
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Bond Strong. Learn more here!
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