Verbum Caro Factum Est

Nativity - Giovanni Battista Tiepolo - 1732

God became man; he came to dwell among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”, God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus.

This message is ever new, ever surprising, for it surpasses even our most daring hope. First of all, because it is not merely a proclamation: it is an event, a happening, which credible witnesses saw, heard and touched in the person of Jesus of Nazareth! Being in his presence, observing his works and hearing his words, they recognized in Jesus the Messiah; and seeing him risen, after his crucifixion, they were certain that he was true man and true God, the only-begotten Son come from the Father, full of grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:14).

“The Word became flesh”. Before this revelation we once more wonder: how can this be? The Word and the flesh are mutually opposed realities; how can the eternal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man? There is only one answer: Love. Those who love desire to share with the beloved, they want to be one with the beloved, and Sacred Scripture shows us the great love story of God for his people which culminated in Jesus Christ.

God in fact does not change: he is faithful to himself. He who created the world is the same one who called Abraham and revealed his name to Moses: “I am who I am … the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob … a God merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (cf. Ex 3:14-15; 34:6). God does not change; he is Love, ever and always. In himself he is communion, unity in Trinity, and all his words and works are directed to communion. The Incarnation is the culmination of creation. When Jesus, the Son of God incarnate, was formed in the womb of Mary by the will of the Father and the working of the Holy Spirit, creation reached its high point. The ordering principle of the universe, the Logos, began to exist in the world, in a certain time and space.

“The Word became flesh”. The light of this truth is revealed to those who receive it in faith, for it is a mystery of love. Only those who are open to love are enveloped in the light of Christmas. So it was on that night in Bethlehem, and so it is today. The Incarnation of the Son of God is an event which occurred within history, while at the same time transcending history. In the night of the world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be seen by the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble hearts of those who await the Saviour. If the truth were a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it calls for faith, for the “yes” of our hearts.

And what do our hearts, in effect, seek, if not a Truth which is also Love? Children seek it with their questions, so disarming and stimulating; young people seek it in their eagerness to discover the deepest meaning of their life; adults seek it in order to guide and sustain their commitments in the family and the workplace; the elderly seek it in order to grant completion to their earthly existence.

“The Word became flesh”. The proclamation of Christmas is also a light for all peoples, for the collective journey of humanity. “Emmanuel”, God-with-us, has come as King of justice and peace. We know that his Kingdom is not of this world, and yet it is more important than all the kingdoms of this world. It is like the leaven of humanity: were it lacking, the energy to work for true development would flag: the impulse to work together for the common good, in the disinterested service of our neighbour, in the peaceful struggle for justice. Belief in the God who desired to share in our history constantly encourages us in our own commitment to that history, for all its contradictions. It is a source of hope for everyone whose dignity is offended and violated, since the one born in Bethlehem came to set every man and woman free from the source of all enslavement.

[...]

“The Word became flesh”; he came to dwell among us; he is Emmanuel, the God who became close to us. Together let us contemplate this great mystery of love; let our hearts be filled with the light which shines in the stable of Bethlehem!

~Pope Benedict XVI

A Winter Day

Hush of Winter - Willard Metcalf - 1911

I

The air is silent save where stirs
A bugling breeze among the firs;
The virgin world in white array
Waits for the bridegroom kiss of day;
All heaven blooms rarely in the east
Where skies are silvery and fleeced,
And o'er the orient hills made glad
The morning comes in wonder clad;
Oh, 'tis a time most fit to see
How beautiful the dawn can be!


II

Wide, sparkling fields snow-vestured lie
Beneath a blue, unshadowed sky;
A glistening splendor crowns the woods
And bosky, whistling solitudes;
In hemlock glen and reedy mere
The tang of frost is sharp and clear;
Life hath a jollity and zest,
A poignancy made manifest;
Laughter and courage have their way
At noontide of a winter's day.


III

Faint music rings in wold and dell,
The tinkling of a distant bell,
Where homestead lights with friendly glow
Glimmer across the drifted snow;
Beyond a valley dim and far
Lit by an occidental star,
Tall pines the marge of day beset
Like many a slender minaret,
Whence priest-like winds on crystal air
Summon the reverent world to prayer. 

~Lucy Maude Montgomery

Let what you have said be done to me

Annunciation - Caravaggio - 1608

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38

St. Lucy

Martyrdom of St. Lucy, c.1480-1520

According to the traditional story, Lucy was born of rich and noble parents about the year 283. Her father was of Roman origin, but his early death left her dependent upon her mother, whose name, Eutychia, seems to indicate that she came of Greek stock.

Like so many of the early martyrs, Lucy had consecrated her virginity to God, and she hoped to devote all her worldly goods to the service of the poor. Her mother was not so single-minded, but an occasion offered itself when Lucy could carry out her generous resolutions. The fame of the virgin-martyr Agatha, who had been executed fifty-two years before in the Decian persecution, was attracting numerous visitors to her relics at Catania, not fifty miles from Syracuse, and many miracles had been wrought through her intercession. Eutychia was therefore persuaded to make a pilgrimage to Catania, in the hope of being cured of a hæmorrhage, from which she had been suffering for several years. There she was in fact cured, and Lucy, availing herself of the opportunity, persuaded her mother to allow her to distribute a great part of her riches among the poor.

The largess stirred the greed of the unworthy youth to whom Lucy had been unwillingly betrothed, and he denounced her to Paschasius, the Governor of Sicily. It was in the year 303, during the fierce persecution of Diocletian. She was first of all condemned to suffer the shame of prostitution; but in the strength of God she stood immovable, so that they could not drag her away to the place of shame. Bundles of wood were then heaped about her and set on fire, and again God saved her. Finally, she met her death by the sword. But before she died she foretold the punishment of Paschasius and the speedy termination of the persecution, adding that Diocletian would reign no more, and Maximian would meet his end. So, strengthened with the Bread of Life, she won her crown of virginity and martyrdom.

Source

O Mary Immaculate

Immaculate Conception - Diego Velazquez, 1619

Holy Virgin Mary, among the women born into the world, there is no one like you.
Daughter and servant of the most high and supreme King and of the Father in heaven,
Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us
with Saint Michael the Archangel, all the powers of heaven, and all the saints,
at the side of your most holy beloved Son, our Lord and Teacher. Amen
Source

Post 100

I have reserved my 100th post for the feast of St. Andrew, the patron of this blog.  I am truly awed by the reach of the blog, spanning the globe so to speak, though the possibility of such a vast audience is one of the reasons I have called the blog "Casting into the Net."  As noted in the first post I made a few years back, the purpose of the blog is to cast into the deep. 

Thanks to all those who have stopped by over the past couple years.  There are many blogs with more frequent posts, more interesting commentary and much greater readership.  However, I hope that through the art, readings, or pictures you have found something here to elevate your thoughts.

I'd like to conclude this post with a prayer...

St. Andrew, Leonardo daVinci

St. Andrew, you were among the first to spread the Gospel to all nations.  I humbly submit again, this blog under your patronage.  Through your intercession, I pray that through this blog, many souls may be brought to Christ.  Amen.

Radix Jesse

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
Isaiah 11:1-10

Lord, I am not worthy...

Paolo Veronese - Christ and the Centurion

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."
He said to him, "I will come and cure him."
The centurion said in reply,
"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, "Go," and he goes;
and to another, "Come here," and he comes;
and to my slave, "Do this," and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
"Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 8:5-11

Christus Vincit!

Christ the King, Hubert van Eyck, c. 1426

Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat!    

Hear, O Christ, Salvation of the Holy and Perpetual Church of God. Help her, Redeemer of the World!

 

Saint Mary, help her! 

Saint Joseph, help her! 

Saint Michael, help her! 

Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat! 

Hear, O Christ, Grant Benedict, the Supreme Pontiff and Universal Pope, everlasting peace, life and salvation.  Help him, O Savior of the World. 

Saint Peter, help him!

Saint Paul, help him!

Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat! 

Christ our glory, our mercy, our help and our strength.  Christ our invincible arm, our impenetrable wall and the exaltation of our defense!

Christ our light, our way, and our life!  His alone is the kingdom!  Praise and jubilation through endless ages forever and ever! Amen.

May good times come!  May the peace of God come!  May Christ’s kingdom come! All redeemed by the blood of Christ: Rejoice! Thanks be to God! Amen.

 

Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat!

Adapted from Source

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Grunewald - 1511

Lord God, you taught Saint Elizabeth of Hungary to see and reverence Christ in the poor. May her prayers help us to give constant love and service to the afflicted and the needy.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

Amen.

Source

Hmmm...

Read here...

Read here...

And Read here...

For Laura

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon her.  May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory

From a previous series of posts...
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7 
Day 8
Day 9

For All the Saints

Michelangelo - Last Judgement

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints.  This day has been celebrated in the Church since the 9th century.  I thought it might be good to reflect today on the Communion of Saints - one of the tenets of the Faith found in the Creed.  From the Compendium of the Catechism we find the following.

194. What is the meaning of the “communion of saints”?

This expression indicates first of all the common sharing of all the members of the Church in holy things (sancta): the faith, the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, the charisms, and the other spiritual gifts. At the root of this communion is love which “does not seek its own interests” (1 Corinthians 13:5) but leads the faithful to “hold everything in common” (Acts 4:32), even to put one’s own material goods at the service of the most poor.

195. What else does “the communion of saints” mean?

This expression also refers to the communion between holy persons (sancti); that is, between those who by grace are united to the dead and risen Christ. Some are pilgrims on the earth; others, having passed from this life, are undergoing purification and are helped also by our prayers. Others already enjoy the glory of God and intercede for us. All of these together form in Christ one family, the Church, to the praise and glory of the Trinity.

Source

So when our actions are rooted in love, we are united in Christ with all holy persons: those on earth, in purgatory and those saints in heaven that we celebrate today.

Propositiones - Part 1 - Answer

I presented the problem for Part 1 here.  The answer is as follows.

The merchant would need to buy 1 boar, 9 sows, and 90 piglets.  As there are three variables and only two equations, trial and error must be employed.  My solution is as follows.

X=Number of Boars
Y=Number of Sows
Z=Number of Piglets

[Eq 1]  X+Y+Z = 100
[Eq 2] 10X+5Y+0.5Z = 100

Solving Equation 1 for Z and substituting into Equation 2 and simplifying you get the following equation.

[Eq3] 1.9X + 0.9Y = 10

This is where trial and error comes in and you get X=1, Y=9.  Back substituting into Equation 1, you get that Z=90.

Hope you had fun!

Propositiones - Part 1

Alcuin of York developed a series of mathematical problems for his students.  Many of these remain and are collected in the document entitled: Propositiones ad acuendos juvenes or Problems to sharpen the young.  This collection contains 56 problems, many of which have similar structure, along with corresponding answers.  These problems are presented by Hadley and Singmaster [1].  I thought it would be fun and educational to post some problems from time to time.  I'll modify them slightly for the audience.

Problem 5: The merchant and 100 dollars
A merchant wanted to buy 100 pigs for 100 dollars.  A boar cost 10 dollars, a sow cost 5 dollars, and a pair of piglets cost a dollar.  How many of each did the merchant buy?

Answer will be posted tomorrow.

[1] Hadley, J. and Singmaster, D. "Problems to Sharpen the Young", The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 76, No. 475, The Use of the History of Mathematics in the Teaching of Mathematics (Mar., 1992), pp. 102-126

St. Teresa of Avila

Bernini, Ecstacy of St. Teresa, 1647–1652

Let nothing disturb thee;
Let nothing dismay thee:
All thing pass;
God never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing:
God alone suffices.

Alcuin of York

Alcuin was an eminent educator, scholar, and theologian born about 735; died 19 May, 804. He came of noble Northumbrian parentage, but the place of his birth is a matter of dispute. It was probably in or near York. While still a mere child, he entered the cathedral school founded at that place by Archbishop Egbert. His aptitude, and piety early attracted the attention of Aelbert, master of the school, as well as of the Archbishop, both of whom devoted special attention to his instruction. In company with his master, he made several visits to the continent while a youth, and when, in 767, Aelbert succeeded to the Archbishopric of York, the duty of directing the school naturally devolved upon Alcuin. During the fifteen years that followed, he devoted himself to the work of instruction at York, attracting numerous students and enriching the already valuable library. While returning from Rome in March, 781, he met Charlemagne at Parma, and was induced by that prince, whom he greatly admired, to remove to France and take up residence at the royal court as "Master of the Palace School". The school was kept at Aachen most of the time, but was removed from place to place, according as the royal residence was changed. In 786 he returned to England, in connection, apparently, with important ecclesiastical affairs, and again in 790, on a mission from Charlemagne. Alcuin attended the Synod of Frankfort in 794, and took an important part in the framing of the decrees condemning Adoptionism as well as in the efforts made subsequently to effect the submission of the recalcitrant Spanish prelates. In 796, when past his sixtieth year, being anxious to withdraw from the world, he was appointed by Charlemagne Abbot of St. Martin's at tours. Here, in his declining years, but with undiminished zeal, he set himself to build up a model monastic school, gathering books and drawing students, as before, at Aachen and York, from far and near. He died 19 May, 804. Source

Jerome

St. Jerome Writing, Caravaggio, 1607

Jerome was born about the year 340 A.D.  He went to Rome, probably about 360, where he was baptized, and became interested in ecclesiastical matters. From Rome he went to Trier, famous for its schools, and there began his theological studies. Later he went to Aquileia, and towards 373 he set out on a journey to the East. He settled first in Antioch, where he heard Apollinaris of Laodicea, one of the first exegetes of that time and not yet separated from the Church. From 374-9 Jerome led an ascetical life in the desert of Chalcis, south-west of Antioch. Ordained priest at Antioch, he went to Constantinople (380-81), where a friendship sprang up between him and St. Gregory of Nazianzus. From 382 to August 385 he made another sojourn in Rome, not far from Pope Damasus. When the latter died (11 December, 384) his position became a very difficult one. His harsh criticisms had made him bitter enemies, who tried to ruin him. After a few months he was compelled to leave Rome. By way of Antioch and Alexandria he reached Bethlehem, in 386. He settled there in a monastery near a convent founded by two Roman ladies, Paula and Eustochium, who followed him to Palestine. Henceforth he led a life of asceticism and study. Jerome died in Bethlehem, September 30, 420.
Source

Good Saint Wenceslaus

Wenceslaus was born around 903 A.D.  His parents were Duke Wratislaw, a Christian, and Dragomir, a heathen. He received a good Christian education from his grandmother (St. Ludmilla) and at Budweis. After the death of Wratislaw, Dragomir, acting as regent, opposed Christianity, and Wenceslaus, being urged by the people, took the reins of government. He placed his duchy under the protection of Germany, introduced German priests, and favoured the Latin rite instead of the old Slavic, which had gone into disuse in many places for want of priests. Wenceslaus had taken the vow of virginity and was known for his virtues. The Emperor Otto I conferred on him the regal dignity and title. For religious and national motives, and at the instigation of Dragomir, Wenceslaus was murdered by his brother Boleslaw. The body, hacked to pieces, was buried at the place of murder, but three years later Boleslaw, having repented of his deed, ordered its translation to the Church of St. Vitus in Prague. The gathering of his relics is noted in the calendars on 27 June, their translation on 4 March; his feast is celebrated on 28 September. 

Source

St. Wenceslaus

Wenceslaus is also the subject of the Christmas Carol bearing his name.  Since, stores are already getting ready for Christmas, why not a carol to get us all in the spirit.

Good King Wenceslas looked out

On the feast of Stephen

When the snow lay round about

Deep and crisp and even

Brightly shone the moon that night

Though the frost was cruel

When a poor man came in sight

Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me

If thou know'st it, telling

Yonder peasant, who is he?

Where and what his dwelling?"

"Sire, he lives a good league hence

Underneath the mountain

Right against the forest fence

By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine

Bring me pine logs hither

Thou and I will see him dine

When we bear him thither."

Page and monarch forth they went

Forth they went together

Through the rude wind's wild lament

And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now

And the wind blows stronger

Fails my heart, I know not how,

I can go no longer."

"Mark my footsteps, my good page

Tread thou in them boldly

Thou shalt find the winter's rage

Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod

Where the snow lay dinted

Heat was in the very sod

Which the Saint had printed

Therefore, Christian men, be sure

Wealth or rank possessing

Ye who now will bless the poor

Shall yourselves find blessing

Our Lady of Sorrows

And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed. Luke 2:34-35

Exaltation of the Cross

Exaltation of the Cross - Adam Elsheimer

Emperor Constantine appointed his mother Helen as Augusta Imperatrix, and gave her unlimited access to the imperial treasury in order to locate the relics of Judeo-Christian tradition. In 326-28 Helena undertook a trip to the Holy Places in Palestine. […] According to the legend that arose at the end of the 4th century, […] Helen chose a site to begin excavating, which led to the recovery of three different crosses. Then, refusing to be swayed by anything but solid proof, the empress (perhaps through Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem) had a woman who was already at the point of death brought from Jerusalem. When the woman touched the first and second crosses, her condition did not change, but when she touched the third and final cross she suddenly recovered, and Helena declared the cross with which the woman had been touched to be the True Cross. On the site of discovery, Constantine ordered built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Source

9/11

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And may the perpetual light
shine upon them.

Happy Birthday

Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Peter Paul Rubens

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Monica and Augustine

     St. Monica was born at Thagaste in Africa of a Christian family. She was married young, to Patricius, and among her children was Augustine. He had a brilliant intellect but had uncertain morals led a wild and dissolute youth.  Additionally Augustine and a wayward spiritual career. Though brought up a Christian, Augustine had a wayward spiritual career and left the Church, embracing different heresies. Augustine had a brilliant legal and academic career.  Eventually he came under the tutelage of St. Ambrose of Milan.  With many tears Monica prayed unceasingly to God for his conversion and her prayers were answered.  Augustine was baptized in 387, shortly before his mother’s death.  She had a deep faith and outstanding virtue and is a wonderful example of a Christian mother. 

     After his mother's death, Augustine returned home to Africa and led an ascetic life. He was elected Bishop of Hippo and spent 34 years looking after his flock, teaching them, strengthening them in the faith and protecting them strenuously against the errors of the time. He wrote an enormous number of works. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1308. 
Source

Queenship of Mary

Coronation of the Virgin, Paolo Veronese, 1555

From early times Christians have believed, and not without reason, that she of whom was born the Son of the Most High received privileges of grace above all other beings created by God. He "will reign in the house of Jacob forever," "the Prince of Peace," the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." And when Christians reflected upon the intimate connection that obtains between a mother and a son, they readily acknowledged the supreme royal dignity of the Mother of God.  Pope Pius XII

St. Stephen of Hungary

Stephen was born in the town of Esztergom and was originally named "Vajk". His father was Grand Prince Géza of Hungary. According to his legends, Vajk was baptized a Christian by Saint Adalbert of Prague. He was given the baptismal name Stephen (István) in honor of the original early Christian Saint Stephen. 

Crown of St. Stephen

According to Hungarian tradition Pope Silvester II, with the consent of Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, sent a magnificent jeweled gold crown to Stephen along with an apostolic cross and a letter of blessing officially recognizing Stephen as the Christian king of Hungary. Later this tradition was interpreted as the papal recognition of the independence of Hungary from the Holy Roman Empire. The date of Stephen's coronation is variously given as Christmas Day, 1000 or 1 January 1001.

Stephen discouraged pagan customs and strengthened Christianity with various laws. In his first decree, issued in the beginning of his rule, he ordered that each ten villages would be obliged to build a church. He invited foreign priests to Hungary to evangelize his kingdom; Saint Astricus served as his adviser, and Stephen also employed Saint Gerard Sagredo as the tutor for his son Emeric. 

Stephen intended to retire to a life of holy contemplation and hand the kingdom over to his son Emeric.  In a letter to Emeric he wrote:

"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 never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness that so resembles 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 to the heavenly Kingdom."

But Emeric was wounded in a hunting accident and died in 1031. Stephen mourned for a very long time over the loss of his son, which took a great toll on his health. Having no children left, he could not find anyone among his remaining relatives who was able to rule the country competently and willing to maintain the Christian faith of the nation. Without a living heir, on his deathbed, Stephen raised with his right hand the Holy Crown of Hungary, , and prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking Her to take the Hungarian people as Her subjects and become their Queen. As though the first of many Signs that She did accept this offer and position, King Stephen died on the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) in the year 1038.

Source