Born a pagan, he was baptized around the age of 10.
When he succeeded his father, Stephen adopted a policy of Christianization of the country for both political and religious reasons.
and also requested that the pope confer the title of king upon him.
He abolished pagan customs with a certain amount of violence.
Reflection on the saint of the day
God’s gift of holiness is a Christlike love of God and humanity. Love must sometimes bear a stern countenance for the sake of ultimate good. Christ attacked hypocrites among the Pharisees, but died forgiving them. Paul excommunicated the incestuous man at Corinth “that his spirit may be saved.” Some Christians fought the Crusades with noble zeal, in spite of the unworthy motives of others.
Today, after senseless wars, and with a deeper understanding of the complex nature of human motives, we shrink from any use of violence—physical or “silent.” This wholesome development continues as people debate whether it is possible for a Christian to be an absolute pacifist or whether evil must sometimes be repelled by force.
-Franciscan Media
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