Saint Hedwig of Silesia

Saint Hedwig of Silesia – Saint Hedwig of Andechs

Born: 1174 in Andechs, Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire

Died: October 15, 1243 at Trzebnica Abbey, Silesia, Kingdom of Poland

Canonized: 26 March 1267 by Pope Clement IV

Major shrines: Andechs Abbey and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral in Berlin

Feast day: October 16

Patronage: Orphans, Andechs Abbey, Brandenburg, Berlin, Kraków, Poland, Silesia, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Görlitz

Saint Hedwig of Silesia was born in Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) in 1174.

She was born into nobility, her father was the Count of Andechs. Before entering religious service she also held various noble titles, including the Duchess of Silesia and Greater Poland, and the High Duchess consort of Poland.

One of her brothers was a bishop, another an archbishop, and her sister Gertrude was the mother of Elizabeth of Hungary.

She lived a pious life with her husband, Henry. After he died in 1238, Hedwig entered the Cistercian monastery (which was led by her daughter Gertrude). She took the habit of a lay sister but never took the vows of a nun.

Hedwig is remembered as someone who lived modestly and always cared for the poor and others who needed assistance, especially orphans and widows. She established several hospitals (including some for lepers) and donated all her wealth to the Church.

Saint Hedwig of Silesia died on October 15, 1243 at the age of 69. She was buried by her husband in the cemetery of the Trzebnica Abbey at the Cistercian nuns monastery. Some of her relics are in the Abbey at Andechs, Germany and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral in Berlin.  Hedwig was canonized a saint in 1267 by Pope Clement IV.

Source: Wikipedia