Stephen was the son of Geza, Duke of Hungary. In 985 the entire family was converted to Christianity by St. Albert of Prague, a Bohemian Bishop. Twelve years later, Stephen succeeded to the dukedom of his father. His first priority was the consolidation of the country and the establishment of national unity. His next step was to Christianize the pagan nation. Pope Sylvester II strengthened Stephen’s hand by having him anointed King of Hungary in 1001 with a crown that he personally sent to him from Rome. The new monarch abolished paganism, established Christianity as the state religion, constructed Churches and monasteries, and set up organizations to assist the poor and the needy.
Often King Stephen personally went in disguise through the streets to extend financial support to the sick and the needy. On one occasion a group of disorderly beggars knocked him down, manhandled him and forcefully stole his moneybag. He is said to have taken it in good humour and gently complained to the Blessed Virgin saying: “See, Queen of heaven, how your people have treated him whom you made King!” The secret of the amazing success of Stephen in leading the nation to the Faith was his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under whose protection he had placed his whole kingdom. The final days of this successful monarch were clouded with sorrow due to the untimely death of his son Emeric, painful illnesses, and shameless struggle among his relatives for the throne and even assassination attempts by his nephews. However, this holy king’s vibrant faith energized him to put these traumatic evens behind his back and welcome sister death gracefully in 1038. He was canonized in1083.
Reflection: Neither personal holiness nor virtuous life nor social position nor political might can guarantee respect from relatives and exemption from personal and family tragedies. When a saintly person undertakes a major step for the glory of God, there are dozens of ungodly individuals up in arms to sabotage it. A man’s enemies are often those of his own household.
For this very reason, you must make very effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. (II Pet. 1:5-7)
