This renowned Saint Hedwig is the protector of different states and peoples in Germany and in the world. Many people turn to it through different types of prayers related to housing, family, among others. Now, who was this saint? And why is her image so important? In this article you will know everything about this relevant holy character of the Christian church.
Biography of Saint Eduviges
She came into this world on October 15, 1174 in Bavaria, a town in southern Germany. She was Duchess of Silesia from 1201 and later after becoming engaged to a nobleman, she would be known as the consort of the Grand Duke of Poland from 1232 to 1238.
Saint Hedwig was the Duchess of Silesia, today Poland. She is the daughter of the German Emperor Prince Bertoldo IV Count of Andech and the Duchess of Merania. She was married from a young age to Henry, Duke of Silesia, with whom she had seven children. She led a life of piety and devotion to the relief of the poor and sick and founded places of asylum for them.
It is unfortunate to know that a person as devout as she was, had to go to heaven just like any human being. Her death is said to have occurred in a monastery at Cistercain in October 1243, after making promises. She was buried in the church attached to the Cistercian monastery in Treblinz. Some time later, she would be canonized by Pope Clement IV on March 26, 1267, and in August of that year her remains were raised in honor of the altar.
History
Like any good story of a great character, we must begin with a brief mention of his birth and some details of his first years of life in this wonderful world. Born into nobility in the late 1100s, she married at a young age Henry, Duke of Silesia, now Poland. Thanks to her persuasion and her personal efforts, she established several monastic institutions for men and women in said dukedom. Several hospitals were also founded, including one for lepers.
She went from a personal point of view and thanks to her actions, others saw her as a great force to bring about a peaceful and progress-filled environment in the surrounding areas during a power struggle. To her great regret, she was unable to prevent a battle between the forces of two of her sons, one of whom was dissatisfied with the distribution of the property that her husband the German Duke had left between them.
After she and her husband made mutual promises of celibacy, she lived mainly in the Trebnitz monastery where, although not a formal member of the religious institute, she participated in religious exercises in the community. Saint Hedwig, patron saint of Bavaria, brides and difficult marriages. She was mostly known for her generosity and she gave all she could to the sick, the weak, the poor and the prisoners. It was this generous gift that was felt the most.
Legend
When she was alive, Saint Hedwig received the gift of miracles and healed a nun who was blind by making the sign of the cross on her. She is credited with other miraculous cures. She is also said to be the patron saint of the bride. Her relics rest in the relic chapel of the basilica. Her children gave the couple many problems. Some of them fought bitterly for land rights. She tried to intervene, but finally gave up and moved to one of the monasteries she had founded.
There she dedicated herself to prayer and manual labor in the community, in turn, she was known for her austerities that helped her sharpen her will. For example, she often traveled to nearby towns to attend the fair without wearing shoes, in any type of weather. She helped her husband and asked for peace on every occasion. She fought in several important battles and at one point, Santa Eduviges had to hold ransom for him when she was captured.
What is asked of Santa Eduviges?
Millions of things can be requested from her, however, the most common are requests to obtain their own home, a job, money to pay debts and for all the homeless people who need help, since they always give their unconditional support. to the less fortunate. This can be understood because in life, she distributed all her wealth among the less favored. Here is a prayer to pray for her:
When is Santa Eduviges celebrated?
Like any character of certain relevance in the church, she has a specific day to be commemorated by all her most faithful followers of her actions and devotees of her beautiful image. In different locations around the world, every October 16, this saint is honored and they usually pray, deliver a few flowers, as well as carry out masses and endless leisure activities, to thank each of the favors granted through their intercession.
Details of the life of Santa Eduviges
With everything that the Duke and his wife Santa Eduviges had to go through, she took it as a reflection and caused her to deviate a little from the vanity and the material things of the world and thus, she will free herself a lot from them. In 1209, she established her residence at Trebnitz Abbey, where she always retired after a long day of community and religious work.
She only wore a coat and a cloak, for her winter was the same as summer, she always wore the same dress, she only covered herself with a sleeved shirt and therefore went unnoticed. Santa Eduviges always went to church without shoes, for which her feet were destroyed, when winter came she preferred to take off her shoes and give them to anyone who will need them and even helped her put them on.
In 1227 there was a very important meeting between the dukes of Silesia and Lasdilao, who ended up organizing a defense against Swatopluk's attack, but it didn't work, since their enemies knew about this plan and fell on them, exactly when the attack took place. meeting. Enrique, one of the dukes at the time, was cleaning his body and managed to escape with his life. When Saint Hedwig found out what was happening, it was to help her beloved husband, however, he had gone to fight to defend Ladislaus's territories.
The victory favored Duke Enrique, but shortly after a surprise attack came on his life and when Count Conrado imprisoned him, Santa Eduviges was the one who intervened to improve this situation, the dukes had to reach a mutual agreement, doing everything possible to prevent the bloodshed of these families.
Saint Hedwig's husband died in 1238 and was replaced by his son, who had the same name as him but had a nickname that was good. This news bothered the nuns of the first monastery founded by this duke, they were so sorry that they cried a lot. Santa Eduviges was the only woman who always kept calm and encouraged everyone else. When asked why she didn't complain about God's decision, she said that our lives are in the Lord's hands and that everything God does is right.
Saint Hedwig takes the robes of the Trenbnitz monastery, but she did not decide to promise herself that she will continue giving her goods for the benefit of the poor. God was kind and always had mercy on Santa Eduviges, who gave her the gift of healing, it is said that a religious man who was blind recovered her vision thanks to her.
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