Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr. Saint Stanislaus was born in the town of Szczepanow in Poland around the year 1030. He studied in Paris and was ordained to the priesthood. In 1071 he succeeded Bishop Lambert at Krakow. In this post he ruled as a good shepherd by helping the poor and reforming the clergy in his diocese. He courageously rebuked King Boleslaus who put him to death in 1097. He is patron saint of Kracow and all of Poland.
In the first reading today from the book of revelation we see how heaven rejoices at the death of the martyrs: love for life did not deter them from death – they gave their lives completely for the love of God and of his Christ. Now they await the great and glorious victory that awaits them on the Last Day when Jesus himself will avenge their deaths!
In the gospel passage Jesus tells us how he prayed for his apostles and future bishops of the world so that they may be protected from the evil one in the world. He did this because he gave to them a very important gift: a consecration in truth. He entrusted truth about God, truth about life, truth about afterlife with them – to be preached, to be taught and to be carried on by them and their successors. The world will hate them for it – Jesus forewarns them – for being guardians of such two-edged information – but they will be given the strength to endure what may come – even death – as Jesus himself endured death for delivering the same information and life!
May we pray for the spirit of martyrdom for ourselves. May we appreciate the great gift of truth that has been communicated to us by the Church – and may we be prepared even to give our lives to uphold and defend it!
And the Lord will deliver us from all of our fears! His word/truth brings joy!
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