Born to the Polish nobility, the son of a senator. Attended the Viennese Jesuit college from age 14 with his brother Paul, who badly mistreated him. While staying at the home of a Lutheran, he became gravely ill, but was not allowed to call for a priest. He prayed to his personal patron, Saint Barbara, who appeared to him in a vision with two angels, and administered Communion. He was then cured from his disease by Our Lady who told him to become a Jesuit, though it was against his family’s wishes. Attended the Jesuit college in Rome, Italy. Friend of Saint Peter Canisius. Jesuit novice from 28 October 1567. Student of Saint Francis Borgia.

Saint Stanislaus had drawn as his monthly patron for August the glorious martyr Saint Lawrence, and in his honor he performed daily some penance or devotion. On the eve of his feast, he obtained leave to take the discipline; in the morning he went to Communion, and then laid before the image of the saint, a letter addressed to Our Lady, in which he begged that he might die on her Feast of the Assumption, and he prayed to Saint Lawrence to present to her his petition. That night he was seized with a slight fever, which, however, rapidly increased; and on Assumption Eve, he received the last sacraments. Then, as he lay dying, he had brought to him a little book containing a litany in his own writing of his monthly patron saints, whom he constantly invoked. At 3 a.m. on the Feast of the Assumption, he face suddenly lit up with joy, and he breathed forth his soul to the Mother of God, who had come to conduct him to heaven. - from Miniature Lives of the Saints by Bowden

 

Died between 3 and 4 a.m. of 15 August, feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1568 at Rome, Italy from a high fever

Beatified on 19 October 1605 by Pope Paul V

Canonized on 31 December 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

Prayer to St. Stanislaus

Dear Saint Stanislaus, angel of purity and seraph of charity, I rejoice with you at your most happy death, which arose from your desire to contemplate Our Lady in heaven, and was at length caused by the excess of your love for her. I give thanks to Mary because she thus accomplished your desires; and I pray you, by the luster of your 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 yours, yet calm and peaceful, under the protection of Mary, my Mother, and of you, my special patron. Amen.