Saint Stanislaw Kostka (1550-1568) was a Polish novice of the Society of Jesus. He was born at Rostkowo in Poland on 28 October 1550. He entered the Society of Jesus in Rome on his 17th birthday and is said to have foretold his death a few days before it occurred. His father was a senator of the Kingdom of Poland. Godly devotion was seen in him at an early age. It hurt his mind that someone was making ani-Christian conversations.
At the age of 14, Stanislaw and his brother Paul were sent to Vienna to study. They lived there in a monastery of Jesuits. Later, his brother Paul, moved to a nearby Luther family, citing limited facilities. This shift made the saint very sad.
Paul who was arrogant and interested in luxuries slowly began to hate his brother. Pual always making trouble and giving mental agonies to his brother Stanislaw. But he forgave all this with equanimity. Later he became sick due to his brother’s persecution. The Blessed Virgin Mary miraculously healed the saint from the disease that was fatal. And asked to join the Jesuit Congregation.
However, his father strongly opposed the saint’s entry into the Jesuits. But one day after writing a letter to his father Stanislaw moved to Augsburg. After walking 720 km from Vienna, he came to St. Peter Canisius, a priest. Satisfied with the saint’s humility and obedience, the priest gladly accepted him. The saint was sent to Rome and he walked to 1280 km to reach Rome.
The authorities accepted Stanislaw as a monk. Although the saint’s health did not improve, he was at the forefront of the work of atonement. But slowly his health began to decline. Finally, at the age of 17, his soul ascended to heaven on 15 August 1568, on the feast of the ascension of his Mother Mary. He was canonized on 31 December 1726.