Stanisław Kazimierczyk

Stanisław Kazimierczyk (engraving by Jan Aleksander Gorczyn , 17th century)

Stanisław Kazimierczyk (born September 27, 1433 in Kazimierz , today Kraków , † March 3, 1489 in Kazimierz), actually Stanisław Sołtys , was a Polish Roman Catholic religious, pastor and preacher. On October 17, 2010 he was welcomed by Pope Benedict XVI. canonized .

Life

Stanisław was born the son of a councilor from Kazimierz named Maciej, who was also called Sołtys (Scoltetus), and his wife Jadwiga. After completing his training at the parish school of the Kraków Corpus Christi parish, he studied theology at the Kraków Academy. He joined the Congregation of Lateran Canons and was ordained in 1456. In 1462 he was ordained a priest . In the Krakow Corpus Christi congregation he exercised the functions of preacher, novice master , prior and confessor . In 1466 he received his master's degree in philosophy, in 1467 in theology. Stanisław was known for his sermons, which he gave in German and Polish. He venerated the sufferings of Christ and the Holy Eucharist . The Virgin Mary was also important to his spirituality. After 33 years of religious affiliation, Stanisław died on May 3rd, 1489, according to legend, while he was kneeling in prayer in the monastery. At his request, he was buried in the entrance area of ​​the Church of the Corpus Christi congregation. He saw this as an expression of his humility and self-renunciation, since he was "trampled underfoot by all visitors" at his burial site.

Worship, beatification and canonization process

Even during his lifetime Stanisław had a reputation for holiness, as his behavior had aroused trust in the faithful, especially the poor and sick, and many had turned to him for advice and help. In a hagiography of him it was said: “ ... it was reported of him that he spoke mildly and gently, but nevertheless aroused the fear of God. He did not always praise, but also courageously named sinful behavior. “The Polish King John I Albrecht attributed his victory over the Tatars on September 8, 1487 to Stanisław's blessing. His grave became a place of worship for the faithful. Shortly after his death, a list was drawn up listing 176 graces attributed to Stanisław's intercession. In 1632 his remains from his grave were transferred to a magnificent sarcophagus under the church floor. Stanisław became the patron saint of Kazimierz and his relics were kept in the town hall tower. Stanisław inspired artists in the 16th and 17th centuries to make paintings and votive pictures . The work of the Polish artist Łukasz Porębski from 1619 ( Imago visionis Servi Dei ) is well known.

Already in 1767 there were the first activities for a beatification of Stanisław. After the Second World War, these efforts were intensified. In 1969 the then Archbishop of Kraków, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła , read Holy Mass in front of Stanisław's altar during his visit to the Corpus Christi congregation . On December 15, 1972, he convened a commission to collect documents speaking for Stanislaw's sanctity. Stanisław was beatified by Wojtyła, now Pope John Paul II, on April 18, 1993 in St. Peter's Square in Rome. He confirmed the cult of Stanisław with the words: “ For many he was a guide on the path of spiritual life. "

On December 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI signed the decree confirming the miracle performed by the intercession of Stanisław for canonization. The canonization by Pope Benedict XVI. took place on October 17, 2010 on St. Peter's Square in Rome in the presence of the Polish President Bronisław Komorowski . Stanislaw's feast day is May 5th .

Web links

Commons : Stanisław Kazimierczyk  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Report on the planned canonization with biographical information in Die Tagespost
• Report on the canonization on October 17th, 2010 in the catholic news portal kath.net