Legenda maior Sancti Stephani regis
The Vision and the Bishop’s Arrival
After his vision, Prince Stephen gives thanks and entrusts himself to God, then receives word that Bishop Adalbert is coming, and goes out to meet him with joy and obedience.
When the prince awoke, he first reflected on the wondrous vision, then carefully discussed it with Christ's faithful and his own people. Pressing himself to the floor with his hands outstretched, he humbly thanked God, and with tears streaming down, he entrusted himself, his principality, and his soon-to-be-born son to the keeping of the One who never sleeps or slumbers.✦ So while he was still marveling, by divine prompting, at the man who had been foretold, word came to him that Blessed Adalbert, bishop of the Bohemian church, was on his way to him—for the sake of his conversion and the growth of unfeigned faith, and to offer the Lord God a sacrifice of praise.✦✦ Unspeakable joy sprang up among Christ's new soldiers. The prince went out with the faithful to meet this recruit of Christ, received him with honor, and—just as he had been warned in the vision—out of fear and love of God showed himself in every way to be a son of obedience to him.1
The Conversion of Hungary and the Light of Christ
At Stephen’s command, the people are gathered, baptized, and churches founded, fulfilling the prophecy that the people in darkness have seen a great light, which is Christ.
So at the prince's command the untamed people were gathered everywhere; through the holy bishop continuous prayers were offered; the children of the land were converted and baptized; and churches were founded in many places.2 For the Light that enlightens every man, once the darkness was driven out, began to shine in Hungary, and the prophet's words were fulfilled: 'The people of the nations who walked in darkness have seen a great light.'✦✦ That Light of the invisible Light is Christ, whom the nations were then granted to see when, called back from the darkness, they believed that he himself—the true light—is true God and true man.
Read the original Latin
Expergefactus princeps visionem stuporis prius secum, post cum Christi fidelibus et suis pertractans Deo gratias pavimento manibus expansis adherens humiliter egit, se principatumque cum filio nascituro custodie illius, qui non dormit neque dormitat, lacrimis fusis commendavit. Dum ergo miratur divinitus de viro predicto, nunciatur ei Beatus Adalpertus Boemiensis ecclesie pontifex ad se venturus propter conversionem ipsius et 'fidei non ficte' profectum, Domino Deo 'hostiam laudis oblaturus'. Oritur lætitia novis Christi militibus inenarrabilis, dux obviam tyroni Christi cum fidelibus procedit, honorabiliter suscepit et ut per visum monitus est, propter timorem et amorem Dei modis omnibus obedientie filium se ei fore demonstravit. Igitur iubente principe fit ubique congregatio gentis indomite, per Sanctum episcopum fiunt orationes continue, convertuntur et baptizantur alumpni patrie, statuuntur multis in locis ecclesie. 'Lux' quippe, 'que illuminat omnem hominem' tenebris expulsis cepit in Ungaria ænitescere, et impleta sunt verba prophete dicentis: 'Gentium populus, qui ambulabat in tenebris, vidit lucem magnam'. Lux lucis invisibilis Christus est, quem tunc gentes videre meruerunt, quando revocati de tenebris, ipsum verum lumen, Deum et hominem verum æsse crediderunt.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.120.4 — A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of broomwood.
- ↩1Tim.1.5;2Tim.1.5 — But the goal of the commandment is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and sincere faith. 2Tim.1.5 — When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in you also.
- ↩Ps.49.14;Heb.13.15 — This is their path — folly to them — yet after them, with their own mouths, they approve. Selah. Heb.13.15 — Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God—that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
- ↩John.1.9 — The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
- ↩Isa.9.2 — The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in a land of deep shadow, light has shone.
Notes
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