Bilinski, too, the tutor of Stanislaus, showed in after life the
fruit of Stanislaus' prayers. He became Canon of Pultowa and Plock
and lived holily. It was his privilege to bear testimony to many
events in the life of Stanislaus, and he was a very valuable witness
in the "processes" for his pupil's beatification. When death came,
Stanislaus appeared to him in vision, consoling and encouraging him,
and he died in great peace.

All this time the people of Poland had been eager in their
devotion to the Blessed Stanislaus. Many cures and miracles had
been wrought through his intercession. In 1621, under the Polish
king, Sigismund III, and again in 1676, under Yan Sobieski, the
Poles won pronounced victories over Turkish armies which far
outnumbered their own, and attributed these preternatural successes
to the prayers of Stanislaus.

The whole nation, through its kings, repeatedly petitioned that
Stanislaus might be declared their Patron. This was at first
refused, as only canonized saints were given the title of Patron
of a nation. But Clement x granted the request in 1671, setting
aside the decree which forbade it.

The Church is slow in declaring any one a saint. It was not until
December 13, 1726, one hundred and fifty-eight years after the
death of Stanislaus, that Benedict XIII solemnly celebrated his
canonization in the Basilica of St. Peter. It was a double
ceremony, for it was also the occasion of the canonization of
Saint Aloysius, who had been born in March of the same year in
which Stanislaus died.