Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius (1504-1579)

Today marks the death of the sixteenth century Polish Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius, and the following is adapted from the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia:

Born of German parents at Cracow, he studied canon and civil law at the Universities of Padua and Bologna. He then returned to Poland, where he became royal secretary. In this position he had the entire confidence of King Sigismund, who bestowed various ecclesiastical benefices upon him as reward for his faithful services. In 1549, he was named Bishop of Culm and later Bishop of Ermland, devoting his efforts to maintaining Catholicism in Poland as the Protestant Reformation was making inroads into that country. He became a leader of the Polish episcopate against Protestantism, partially by his apologetic writings. He also drew up a Profession of the Catholic Faith, which was distributed throughout Poland. Hosius did more for the preservation of the Catholic religion in Poland than all the other Polish bishops combined. Hosius’ fame spread throughout Europe, and Pope Paul IV enlist his aid as a member fo the Curia. In 1561 he was named a cardinal. That year he was also named one of the five papal legates to preside over the Council of Trent. There he was a strenuous defender of papal authority, and helped bring the council to a successful close. For the last ten years of his life Hosius managed the affairs of Poland in the Roman Curia, and was one of the most influential advisers of Popes Pius V and Gregory XIII