MIRACULOUS MIRACLES™

Prayer — Prayers of the Saints

Three Prayers to St. Stanislaus Kostka

Indulgenced by Pius IX, 21 March 1847

To the boy who walked six hundred miles from Vienna to Rome to enter the Jesuits, and died at eighteen of longing to see our Lady in heaven on the feast of her Assumption.

The Prayer
English · Original
Each is followed by an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

I. St. Stanislaus, my most pure patron, angel of purity, I rejoice with thee at the extraordinary gift of virginal purity which graced thy spotless heart; I humbly pray thee, obtain for me strength to overcome all impure temptations, and inspire me with constant watchfulness in guarding the virtue of holy purity.

II. St. Stanislaus, my most loving patron, Seraph of charity, I rejoice with thee at the ardent fire of charity which kept thy pure and innocent heart always at peace and united to God; I humbly pray thee, obtain for me such ardour of divine love that it may consume away every other earthly affection, and kindle in me the flame of His love alone.

III. St. Stanislaus, my most tender and most mighty patron, Angel of purity and Seraph of charity, I rejoice with thee at thy most happy death, which arose from thy desire to contemplate our Lady in heaven, and was at length caused by the excess of thy love for her. I give thanks to Mary because she thus accomplished thy desires; and I pray thee, by the lustre of thy happy death, to be my advocate and patron in my death. Intercede with Mary for me, to obtain for me a death, if not all happiness like thine, yet calm and peaceful, under the protection of Mary my advocate, and thee, my special patron.
When the Prayer is Said

On 13 November; by students and novices; for a happy death; on the Assumption.

History & Background

Stanislaus Kostka was a Polish nobleman's son sent to school in Vienna, where his elder brother beat him for piety. Refused entry to the Jesuits there because his father would object, he set out on foot, in disguise, and walked to Augsburg and then to Rome — some six hundred miles — and was received by St. Francis Borgia in October 1567. He was dead within ten months, in August 1568, aged eighteen.

The manner of it is the point of the third prayer. He had told his companions he would die on the Assumption, and he wrote a letter to our Lady asking for it. On 10 August he fell ill; on 15 August 1568 he died. The prayer says it plainly: a death 'which arose from thy desire to contemplate our Lady in heaven, and was at length caused by the excess of thy love for her'.

Pius IX indulgenced the three prayers in 1847. The text is the Raccolta's of 1910.

Indulgences Attached

Three hundred days once a day, and plenary once a month — Pius IX, 21 March 1847 and 10 July 1854 (Raccolta, 1910, no. 374).

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