Spiritual Letter to His Son
From admonitions to his son by Saint Stephen, King of Hungary
SAINT STEPHEN, KING OF HUNGARY (969-1038)
Son, listen to your father’s instruction
Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California
My dearest son, if you desire to honor the royal crown, I advise, I counsel, I urge you above all things to maintain the Catholic and apostolic faith with such diligence and care that you may be an example for all those placed under you by God and that all the clergy may rightly call you a man of true Christian profession. Failing to do this, you may be sure that you will not be called a Christian or a son of the Church. Indeed, in the royal palace after the faith itself, the Church holds second place, first propagated as she was by our head, Christ; then transplanted, firmly constituted and spread through the whole world by his members, the apostles and holy fathers. And though she always produced fresh offspring, nevertheless in certain places she is regarded as ancient.
However, dearest son, even now in our kingdom the Church is proclaimed as young and newly planted; and for that reason she needs more prudent and trustworthy guardians lest a benefit which the divine mercy bestowed on us undeservedly should be destroyed and annihilated through your idleness, indolence or neglect.
My beloved son, delight of my heart, hope of your posterity, I pray, I command, that at every time and in everything, strengthened by your devotion to me, you may show favor not only to relations and kin, or to the most eminent, be they leaders or rich men or neighbors or fellow-countrymen, but also to foreigners and to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way you will reach the highest state of happiness. Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. Be patient with everyone, not only with the powerful, but also with the weak.
Finally be strong lest prosperity lift you up too much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.
All these virtues I have noted above make up the royal crown and without them no one is fit to rule here on earth or attain the heavenly kingdom.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
Saint Stephen (969-1038) was born at Pannonia around the year 969. After his baptism he was crowned the first king of Hungary in the year 1000 with a crown sent to him by Pope Sylvester II. This was the famous crown of St. Stephen captured in World War II by the American army and returned to Hungary by the United States in 1978.
Stephen consolidated his country, torn by a series of wars instigated by rival leaders opposing Christianity in his country. He organized a hierarchy under St. Anastasius, who became Hungary’s first archbishop, and he began establishing dioceses, and set about building churches and monasteries throughout the land. He inaugurated widespread reforms, developed a new legal code and reorganized the government of his kingdom.
Stephen was a peaceful and pious king, ruling his subjects wisely with kindness and justice. He was known to be very generous to the poor. He made every effort to exactly observe the laws of the Church and was ever seeking the welfare of his people. He died at Szekesfehervar in 1038 in a hunting accident. The letter above was written to prepare his son to take his place on the throne.