Saint Hedwig, Queen of Poland
![[Saint Hedwig holy card]](sainth12.jpg "14kb jpg detail from a Saint Hedwig holy card; swiped off the Kirken i Norge web site; please do not write to ask about the image")
- Memorial
- 28 February
- Profile
- Youngest daughter of King Louis I of Hungary.
Because she was great-niece to King Casimir III of Poland, she became Queen of Poland in 1382 upon her father's death.
She was engaged to William, Duke of Austria, whom she loved, but broke off the relationship in order to marry Jagiello, non-Christian Prince of Lithuania, at age 13 for political reasons.
She offered her misery in this marriage to Christ, and she eventually converted her husband; Jagiello was later known as King Landislaus II of Poland after the unification of the kingdoms, a union that lasted over 400 years.
Noted for her charity to all, but especially the sick and poor, and for a revision of the laws to help the poor.
- Born
- 1371
- Died
-
17 July 1399 during child birth
miracles reported at her tomb
- Beatified
- 31 May 1979 by Pope John Paul II
- Canonized
- 8 June 1997 by Pope John Paul II
- Patronage
- queens
- Additional Information
-
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Online
Kirken i Norge norwegian
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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