Roman Catholic Saint. He is Poland's national hero. A predecessor of Pope John Paul II, he headed the diocese of Cracow. His parents were religiously devout nobility. He was educated for the priesthood in Gnesen, Poland, and in Paris. A priest of the Cracow diocese, Stanislaus developed a reputation as a preacher and spiritual director. His words and deeds produced a lay and clerical following which practiced Christian virtue. When Bishop Lampert Zula died in 1072, Catholics of Cracow agreed with Pope Alexander II that Stanislaus should succeed him. At the time, the secular leadership in Cracow diocese was a challenge. King Boleslaus II (1058-1080) had both leadership ability and serious character flaws. Major Polish leaders, including Stanislaus and the King's own brother, Prince Ladislaus, opposed him. In the traditional story of the bishop's death, Boleslaus kidnapped the unwilling wife of a nobleman for his own sexual pleasure. Stanislaus criticized him, and finally excommunicated him. The King retaliated by killing the bishop. Following Stanislaus's murder, it was tradition that Poland's kings-elect come to the Skalka Sanctuary at their coronation to atone for the sins of their predecessors. In 1253 Stanislaus was canonized, becoming the chief patron saint of Poland. Through the later Middle Ages his cult was the rallying point in forming the Polish nation and the country's political culture with its tradition of the accountability of those in power.

Roman Catholic Saint. He is Poland's national hero. A predecessor of Pope John Paul II, he headed the diocese of Cracow. His parents were religiously devout nobility. He was educated for the priesthood in Gnesen, Poland, and in Paris. A priest of the Cracow diocese, Stanislaus developed a reputation as a preacher and spiritual director. His words and deeds produced a lay and clerical following which practiced Christian virtue. When Bishop Lampert Zula died in 1072, Catholics of Cracow agreed with Pope Alexander II that Stanislaus should succeed him. At the time, the secular leadership in Cracow diocese was a challenge. King Boleslaus II (1058-1080) had both leadership ability and serious character flaws. Major Polish leaders, including Stanislaus and the King's own brother, Prince Ladislaus, opposed him. In the traditional story of the bishop's death, Boleslaus kidnapped the unwilling wife of a nobleman for his own sexual pleasure. Stanislaus criticized him, and finally excommunicated him. The King retaliated by killing the bishop. Following Stanislaus's murder, it was tradition that Poland's kings-elect come to the Skalka Sanctuary at their coronation to atone for the sins of their predecessors. In 1253 Stanislaus was canonized, becoming the chief patron saint of Poland. Through the later Middle Ages his cult was the rallying point in forming the Polish nation and the country's political culture with its tradition of the accountability of those in power.

Bio by: rjschatz