Our St. Stanislaus Kostka is not to be confused with the
other well-known St. Stanislaus who was an 11th century Polish
bishop and martyr. Our church’s patron, St. Stanislaus Kostka
was born in Poland in 1550 and died in Rome on August the
15, 1568 at the age of eighteen. His father was a Polish
senator and his family was a part of the Polish nobility.
Young Stanislaus was very devoted to his studies and to
prayer. At the age of 14 he was sent along with his older
brother Paul and Dr. John Bilinski, a traveling companion, to
study at the Jesuit College in Vienna. At 16 Stanislaus was
struck with a serious illness. During that illness, he received
Holy Communion from a vision of his patron Saint Barbara, who
appeared to him surrounded by a contingent of angels. He also
reported of a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who asked him
to become a Jesuit. Upon his recovery, he began to pursue his
calling to a religious life.
Stanislaus' family did not support his decision to become a
Jesuit, because they saw that way of life as inappropriate for
noble class. Because of this opposition, Stanislaus traveled on
foot from Vienna to Augsburg Germany where he was taken in
by the Jesuit provincial St. Peter Canisuis. When a month had
passed he was sent to Rome to petition the order’s general,
St. Francis Borgia. St. Francis later accepted him into the
Jesuit order in 1567 at the age of 17.
Meanwhile, his brother Paul and Dr. Bilinski were searching
for Stanislaus to try to make him change his mind. In time, the
boys’ father learned where Stanislaus was and wrote him
threatening to have the Jesuits suppressed in Poland, if he did
not come to his senses. Stanislaus held firm, writing his father
that he would obey him in anything except to contradict the will
of God. Soon after, he entered the novitiate, where he
remained for nine months. During this brief time Stanislaus led
a life of continual prayer. Finally his fragile constitution got the
best of him and he died at the age of 18, on August 15, the
feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.
St. Stanislaus is considered to be the patron saint of youth,
young students, and, seminarians. He has also been invoked
for broken bones, heart palpitations and serious illness. His
tomb is to be found in the church of Sant’Andrea del Quirinale
in Rome. Young Fr. Karol Woytiła, later to become Pope John
Paul II, would often stop to pray there during his doctoral
studies in Rome. St. Stanislaus Kostka’s feast day is November
13.
other well-known St. Stanislaus who was an 11th century Polish
bishop and martyr. Our church’s patron, St. Stanislaus Kostka
was born in Poland in 1550 and died in Rome on August the
15, 1568 at the age of eighteen. His father was a Polish
senator and his family was a part of the Polish nobility.
Young Stanislaus was very devoted to his studies and to
prayer. At the age of 14 he was sent along with his older
brother Paul and Dr. John Bilinski, a traveling companion, to
study at the Jesuit College in Vienna. At 16 Stanislaus was
struck with a serious illness. During that illness, he received
Holy Communion from a vision of his patron Saint Barbara, who
appeared to him surrounded by a contingent of angels. He also
reported of a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who asked him
to become a Jesuit. Upon his recovery, he began to pursue his
calling to a religious life.
Stanislaus' family did not support his decision to become a
Jesuit, because they saw that way of life as inappropriate for
noble class. Because of this opposition, Stanislaus traveled on
foot from Vienna to Augsburg Germany where he was taken in
by the Jesuit provincial St. Peter Canisuis. When a month had
passed he was sent to Rome to petition the order’s general,
St. Francis Borgia. St. Francis later accepted him into the
Jesuit order in 1567 at the age of 17.
Meanwhile, his brother Paul and Dr. Bilinski were searching
for Stanislaus to try to make him change his mind. In time, the
boys’ father learned where Stanislaus was and wrote him
threatening to have the Jesuits suppressed in Poland, if he did
not come to his senses. Stanislaus held firm, writing his father
that he would obey him in anything except to contradict the will
of God. Soon after, he entered the novitiate, where he
remained for nine months. During this brief time Stanislaus led
a life of continual prayer. Finally his fragile constitution got the
best of him and he died at the age of 18, on August 15, the
feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.
St. Stanislaus is considered to be the patron saint of youth,
young students, and, seminarians. He has also been invoked
for broken bones, heart palpitations and serious illness. His
tomb is to be found in the church of Sant’Andrea del Quirinale
in Rome. Young Fr. Karol Woytiła, later to become Pope John
Paul II, would often stop to pray there during his doctoral
studies in Rome. St. Stanislaus Kostka’s feast day is November
13.
More Information
about St. Stanislaus Kostka
FOR GREATER THINGS
The Story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
by William T. Kane, S.J.
St. Stanislaus Kostka
Jesuit, Patron of Youth
Saint Stanislaus - Jesuit Saint
about St. Stanislaus Kostka
FOR GREATER THINGS
The Story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
by William T. Kane, S.J.
St. Stanislaus Kostka
Jesuit, Patron of Youth
Saint Stanislaus - Jesuit Saint
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish
"Growing Together in Faith"
