St. Stanislaus of Kotska, Patron of Novice (1550-1568)
by VP
Posted on Thursday November 13, 2025 at 03:00AM in Saints
TRIALS OF THE JUST. Stanislas Kotska, the son of a Polish senator, was born in 1550, and was initiated into virtue by the example and teachings of his mother. Having been sent, together with one of his brothers, under the guardianship of a preceptor, to the College of the Jesuits at Vienna, he became, by reason of his piety, the edification of all his companions. The preceptor and his brother, however, the latter being withdrawn from home influences, compelled him to reside with them in the house of a Protestant, where the youthful Stanislas had to submit to raillery, reproaches, affronts and annoyances of every kind, on account of his devout practices. Having got the better of all these obstacles, he thought of entering the Society of Jesus; but he had to undergo greater difficulties still, for he at first met with a direct refusal, and had eventually to encounter the anger and threats of his father. He was not wanting in courage, however, and had already gone through the first year of his noviciate, distinguished by acts of consummate piety, when God called him to himself at the age of eighteen. The Blessed Virgin appeared to him in a vision, to prepare him for death.
MORAL REFLECTION.-"They who love thee, O God, know thou provest virtue but to reward." -(Tob. iii. 21.) Source: Pictorial half hours with the saints. By Abbe Auguste François Lecanu
LITANY OF SAINT STANISLAUS KOSTKA.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother and patroness of blessed Stanislaus, Pray for us.
Saint Stanislaus Kostka, Pray for us.
True imitator of Christ, Pray for us.
Assiduous client of the holy Virgin, Pray for us.
Called by Mary to the holy Society of Jesus, Pray for us.
Faithful to the grace of your vocation, Pray for us.
Worthy child of Saint Ignatius, Pray for us.
Most fervent adorer of the Eucharist, Pray for us.
Despiser of the world and its riches, Pray for us.
Vanquisher of concupiscence, Pray for us.
Cultivator of religious discipline, Pray for us.
Most devout victim, Pray for us.
Example of obedience and humility, Pray for us.
Lover of evangelical poverty, Pray for us.
Mirror of candor, piety, and modesty, Pray for us.
Angel in life and death, Pray for us.
Martyr in desire to die for Christ, Pray for us.
Confessor in devotion and constancy, Pray for us.
Virgin in body and mind, Pray for us.
Refuge of those who invoke thee, Pray for us.
Succor and support of the sick, Pray for us.
Protector of the dying, Pray for us.
Patron of novices, Pray for us.
Model of youth, Pray for us.
Blessed inhabitant of the heavenly city, Pray for us.
Companion of angels, Pray for us.
Be merciful to us. Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful to us. Hear us, O Lord.
From all sin and imperfection, O Lord, deliver us.
From all tepidity in your service, O Lord, deliver us.
From all inconstancy, O Lord, deliver us.
By the prayer and merits of Saint Stanislaus, O Lord, deliver us.
By the excess of his love, O Lord, deliver us.
By his blessed life and death, O Lord, deliver us.
We sinners beseech thee to hear us. O Lord, deliver us.
Lamb of God, &c.
V. Pray for us, glorious St. Stanislaus.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O God, who in thy wisdom hast infused into the blessed Stanislaus thy holy love, and raised him in tender infancy to the sanctity of riper age; mercifully grant, that, helped by his intercession, we may obtain his virtues, and eternally enjoy with him thy glorious vision, through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. Amen.
