In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Help is in the Name of the Lord,
Who made Heaven and Earth.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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Opening Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, You granted to St. Stanislaus, your faithful bishop and martyr, the grace to stand firm in the truth of the Gospel and to give his life in defence of justice and righteousness. Grant that through his intercession, we may receive the grace we seek during this novena. Strengthen our faith, deepen our hope, and increase our charity, that we may live courageously in the light of Your Gospel till the end. (Add your personal intention). We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scriptural Reading, Life, Examples & Legacies (Part 8)
Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
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Meditation: In an age of moral confusion, the call to purity often seems countercultural, even antiquated. Yet, in the eyes of Christ, it remains one of the highest forms of blessedness. Purity is not merely a matter of external conduct, but a condition of the heart—a clarity of intention, an inner freedom from the disordered loves that cloud our vision of God. To be pure in heart is to desire nothing more than to love and serve God without duplicity, without compromise, and without hidden agendas.
St. Stanislaus stands out in the history of the Church as a bishop who lived this purity of heart. Despite the weight of his office and the demands of governance, he never lost his inner simplicity and detachment from worldly ambition. He neither sought popularity nor manipulated his role for political gain. His purity was not confined to chastity alone, though that too he guarded with discipline; it was the kind of integrity that infused his relationships, his preaching, his administration of sacraments, and his courageous decisions. As a spiritual father to his flock, he was deeply concerned about the moral decline in society, especially in the royal court and among the clergy. He knew that impurity—whether in thought, speech, or deed—disfigures the human soul and blinds it from seeing the beauty of God. This is why he did not hesitate to confront sin wherever it appeared, even when it made him unpopular. His heart was not corrupted by fear or favouritism; he sought only to be faithful.
Today, impurity takes many subtle forms: pornography, dishonesty in relationships, the obsession with pleasure, immodesty in behaviour, and the glorification of vice in entertainment and media. These distort the dignity of the human person and make it difficult for the soul to perceive the presence of God. The battle for purity is real and ongoing, especially among the youth, among those in positions of power, and even within Christian homes where silence often replaces correction.
This day calls us to examine our own hearts: Are we truly pure in our intentions? Are our relationships chaste and respectful? Do we guard our eyes, our thoughts, and our words? Do we take seriously the need for confession and interior renewal? Purity of heart is not an unreachable ideal. It is a grace to be sought, cultivated, and protected, through prayer, regular confession, frequent reception of the Eucharist, spiritual reading, accountability, and acts of charity. It is also a gift that must be humbly asked for, especially in times of weakness or relapse.
Through the intercession of St. Stanislaus, may we not grow weary in this pursuit. May the light of Christ shine within us so clearly that others are drawn not to us, but to God dwelling in us. And may our hearts, cleansed of all that distracts or defiles, become fitting temples of the Holy Spirit—ready to see God, not only in eternity, but already in the hidden moments of each day.
Litany of St. Stanislaus:
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, devoted shepherd, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, fearless witness to truth, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, martyr of the altar, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, defender of justice, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, humble and obedient servant, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, intercessor for the Church, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, protector of the oppressed, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, faithful in prayer, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, patron of Poland, pray for us.
St. Stanislaus, model for bishops, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O glorious St. Stanislaus, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Concluding Prayer
Lord, purify our hearts and minds. Make us instruments of Your holiness. Through the intercession of St. Stanislaus, grant us the grace to walk blamelessly before You. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Through the intercession of St. Stanislaus, may Almighty God bless us + in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. Stanislaus, example of holy living, pray for us!
Shalom!
Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Seminário Padre Pedro Magnone, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?
