Kinga of Poland
Kinga of Poland ( also Saint Cunegonde of Poland; * 1224 in Esztergom, Hungary, † July 24, 1292 in Old characrterized, Poland) was a Hungarian crown princess from the royal family of the Árpád dynasty. She was by marriage from 1239 Polish Duchess of Lesser Poland, Sandomierz and from 1243 in Lesser Poland -Krakow. She is revered as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
Life
Kinga came from the Hungarian royal family and was the daughter of King Béla IV and Maria Laskarina. Her mother was the daughter of the Byzantine emperor of Nicaea, Theodore I Laskaris and Anna Angelina, from the Byzantine House Angelos. Her family had a very strong connection to God and the Church. Besides Kinga eg St. Stephen also other members of this dynasty were canonized, and two sisters Kinga, the St. Margaret and the Blessed Jolanta Helena.
In her first meeting with her future mother in 1239 in Wojnicz they could very quickly establish close contact with her, because both were characterized by a strong religiosity. This helped her to survive the first difficult years of their stay in Poland, and influenced them sustainable. The thought of a holy example unfolded, and the desire for a " flagship saints" for their new home Poland became stronger. In their opinion, this saint should bring closer the love of country and the Church the people of all countries and in all faiths. That's why she has since worked closely with the Bishop of Krakow Jan Prandota together and supported especially the canonization of Bishop Stanislaus of Krakow.
Kinga married in 1239 the Polish duke Bolesław V, which she had already promised as a five year old. The spouses lived all their lives in complete chastity, which Bolesław the nickname " the Chaste " earned. Both left no descendants.
Discount
Kinga donated the Klarissenkloster Alt- Sandecz in which they occurred after the death of her husband, where she died on July 24, 1292. This day is celebrated as a Catholic memorial and name day.
1999 Kinga was canonized by Pope John Paul II beatification was already done on 11 June 1690 Pope Alexander VIII.
Today it is regarded as the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.