Wednesday, April 11, Octave of Easter
ST. STANISLAW SZCZEPANOWSKI [Stanislaus of Szczepanow] (Poland, 1039-1079)
Bishop and Martyr, Patron of Poland
Born near Cracow, Stanislaw was appointed preacher and archdeacon for the Bishop of Cracow upon his ordination.
When he became bishop himself, he quickly became influential in the politics of the time (Cracow was the capital
of Poland then). He started opposing King Boleslaw II for waging unjust wars and for his personal immoral acts.
The king appeared to relent and become penitent for a time, but soon returned to his old ways. This time, Stanislaw
excommunicated him. The enraged king ordered him killed, and when his ministers refused to do so, he killed the
bishop himself, then had him hacked to pieces and thrown into a lake. Tradition says that the body miraculously
reintegrated; his remains are kept in Cracow's Wawel Cathedral. The king was forced to flee Poland after the murder,
and some say he retired in penance to a Benedictine abbey. The cult of Stanislaw began immediately upon his death.
He was canonized in 1253. In the following centuries, he became a symbol of Polish unity. Starting in the 13th
century, all the Kings of Poland were crowned before his tomb, and in periods of crisis and dismemberment, Poles
like to say they will be reintegrated again just as Stanislaw's body was.
Readings for today's Mass:
usccb.org/bible/readings/041012.cfm
WITH THE POPE TODAY
The Holy Father today flew back to the Vatican to hold the General Audience in St. Peter's Square,
where he dedicated his catechesis to the significance of Christ's Resurrection. After the GA, he flew
back to Castel Gandolfo where he has been resting after his trip to Mexico and Cuba and the Holy Week
events that followed shortly afterwards.
Pope mourns the death
of Puerto Rican cardinal
Luis Aponte Martinez, 89
Translated from
April 11, 2012
The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolence for the death yesterday of Cardinal Luis Aponte Martínez, emeritus Archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The telegram (in Spanish) was sent to the current Archbishop of San Juan, Mons. Roberto Octavio González Nieves, O.F.M. Here is a translation of the telegram:
MONS. ROBERTO OCTAVIO GONZÀLEZ NIEVES, O.F.M.
Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico
I am profoundly saddened by the death of the beloved Cardinal Luis Aponte Martines, emeritus Archbishop of your archdiocese after an illness that he lived through with great serenity.
I express my heartfelt condolence to you, to the family of the departed, and to all the beloved people of Puerto Rico. I join you all in imploring the mercy of the heavenly Father for this zealous Pastor who served his people with such charity and simplicity.
He carried out a generous and intense episcopal ministry in Pnce, adn then as Archbishop of San Juan. He took part in the Second Vaticna Council, and implanted in his Church the Council's dispositions, in witness of his great love for God and the Church, as well as his great dedication to proclaiming the Gospel.
In these time of sorrow, I impart with affection to you all the comfort of an Apostolic Blessing as a sign of faith and hope in the Risen Lord.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 11/04/2012 16:41]