Saint Kinga of Poland
Saint Kinga of Poland (born 1224 AD in Esztergom, Hungary; died July 24, 1292 AD in Stary Sącz, Poland) was a Hungarian princess who became Queen of Poland through her marriage to King Bolesław V the Chaste, and later a Poor Clare nun. She is the patron saint of Poland, Hungary, and Lithuania. She is famous for her legendary founding of the Wieliczka salt mines near Kraków — the greatest salt mines in medieval Europe — and for her extraordinary personal holiness. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1999. Her feast day is July 24.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Kinga of Poland
| Saint Kinga of Poland | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | July 24 |
| Profession | Queen of Poland; Poor Clare nun; foundress |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Poor Clares; patron of Poland, Hungary, and Lithuania; Queen of Poland |
| Patronage | Poland; Hungary; Lithuania; Kraków; salt miners; the Wieliczka salt mines; queens; widows; those who take vows of chastity; Poor Clares; Stary Sącz |
| Attributes | Crown and Poor Clare habit (queen turned nun); salt crystals or salt mine; ring (the Wieliczka legend); lily (chastity) |
| Birthplace | Esztergom, Hungary |
| Death Place | Stary Sącz, Małopolska (Lesser Poland), Poland |
| Cause of Death | Natural death after many years as a Poor Clare nun and foundress; died July 24, 1292 at Stary Sącz |
| Primary Shrine | Poor Clare Monastery, Stary Sącz, Poland — her body is preserved here; the monastery is still active; a major pilgrimage site; Pope John Paul II visited here twice (1979 and 1999 for her canonization); accessible to pilgrims daily |
| Liturgical Class | Feast in Poland and Hungary; July 24 |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar (canonized 1999) |
Biography
Kinga (also Kunigunde; Hungarian: Kinga; Polish: Kunigunda) was born in 1224 in Esztergom, Hungary, daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary and Maria Laskarina. She was betrothed from an early age to Bolesław V ("the Chaste"), Duke and later Prince of Kraków.
Before departing for Poland she asked her father for a salt mine as her dowry — salt was enormously valuable and Poland lacked it. He gave her the Hungarian mines of Máramaros. According to tradition, she dropped her engagement ring into a mine shaft, then directed workers to dig at Wieliczka near Kraków, where her ring was found inside the first piece of salt unearthed. The vast Wieliczka salt mines, which supplied Poland for centuries, bear her name.
She married Bolesław in 1239. They took a mutual vow of chastity. She was known throughout her life as queen for her generosity to the poor, the sick, and refugees. She founded the Poor Clare monastery at Stary Sącz in 1280, shortly after her husband's death.
She took the habit of a Poor Clare and lived in the monastery as an ordinary nun, serving the community in humility. She died on July 24, 1292.
Pope Alexander VIII beatified her in 1690. Pope John Paul II — himself a son of Poland — canonized her at Stary Sącz on June 16, 1999, one of the most deeply personal canonizations of his pontificate.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Esztergom, Hungary
Death location: Stary Sącz, Małopolska (Lesser Poland), Poland
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Poor Clare Monastery, Stary Sącz, Poland — her body; primary pilgrimage shrine.
- Saint Kinga's Chapel (Kaplica Świętej Kingi), Wieliczka Salt Mine — entire chapel carved from rock salt; UNESCO World Heritage site; Masses celebrated underground.
Feast day
July 24
Veneration
Saint Kinga is the patron of Poland, Hungary, and Lithuania. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II at Stary Sącz, Poland, on June 16, 1999.
Prayers
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