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The feast day of St. Stephen of Hungary is celebrated on August 16.
St. Stephen was born in the year 973. His mother was the Duchess Sarolt. She had had a vision in which the first St. Stephen, the first martyr of the church had appeared to her. She was told she would bear a son who would evangelize the land.
St. Stephen’s father was the Duke Geza. Both his mother and father were converted to Christianity by Bishop St. Adalbert of Prague. The Bishop baptized St. Stephen at the age of ten. St. Stephen married Gesela who was a sister to the Duke of Bavaria in 995. Sadly, he survived all his children. Only one child lived to be an adult. This son, Emeric, died in a hunting accident in 1031.
St. Stephen use their wealth to build a monastery and encouraged the people of the land to convert to Christianity. The laws of the land which St. Stephen enacted favored Christianity over paganism. He sent a request to Pope Sylvester II to proclaim him as King of Hungary. Pope Sylvester II was happy to oblige. He sent Stephen a crown and gold processional cross.
As King, St. Stephen was generous to the poor and sick. He was devoted to the Virgin Mary, building several churches in her honor. Mary is crideted with preventing both a war and the assassination of King Stephen. While he was king, St. Stephen also established a monastery in Jerusalem.
St. Stephen died on August 15, 1038 the Feast of the Assumption of Mary after suffering an illness. He was buried next to his son Emerick. They were both canonized saints in 1083.
It is a fact that people are always well aware of what is due them. Unfortunately, they remain oblivious of what they owe to others.
Quote of St. Francis de Sales; Feast day January 24
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary