+ St. Stephen of Hungary lived between the years 975 and 1038. He united and Christianized the Magyars, who had settled in Hungary at the end of the ninth century. He was baptized Stephen at the age of ten when his father became a Christian. He married at the age of twenty and succeeded his father as leader of the Magyar people two years later, in 997. He consolidated his political power over rival leaders and established Christianity as the religion of his country. Pope Sylvester II gave him the title of king and a crown in 1000, when Hungary became a nation. By then he had already founded various dioceses and monasteries, the most famous of which was the primatial see of Eszterhom and the monastery of Pannonhalma. He reduced the power of nobles, abolished tribal divisions and reorganized political structures, thereby forming the Hungarians into a single kingdom. He imposed a narrow and strict form of Christianity on the nation as well. He was devoted to the poor and often distributed alms to them in disguise. After his death in 1038, miracles were attributed to him at his tomb.
Our readings today speak well of Stephen's Christian life. As Moses governed the people of Israel and urged them strongly to love God with all their might – so did Stephen to the people of Hungary. Just as the parable Jesus told in the gospel passage shows the reward of those who take the gifts that God gives them and uses them for his glory and the welfare of his people – so too did Stephen use his talents as political and religious leader for the glory of God and the welfare of the people of Hungary.
Blessed indeed is the man who fears the Lord, and does what is pleasing in his sight for the glory of God – and the good of all people!
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