Kinga of Poland

Saint Kinga of Poland
Born	March 5, 1224 Esztergom, Kingdom of Hungary
Died	July 24, 1292(1292-07-24)
Honored in	Catholic Church
Beatified	June 11, 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII
Canonized	June 16, 1999 by Pope John Paul II
Feast	July 24
Attributes	depicted as an abbess; crown
Patronage	Poland, Lithuania

Saint Kinga of Poland (also known as Cunegunda, Kunigunda, Kunegunda, Cunegundes, Kioga, Zinga; Polish: Święta Kinga, Hungarian: Szent Kinga) (March 5, 1224 – July 24, 1292) is a saint in the Catholic Church and patroness of Poland and Lithuania.

She was born in Esztergom, Kingdom of Hungary, the daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary and Maria Laskarina. She was a niece of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and great-niece of Saint Hedwig. Kinga's sisters were Saint Margaret of Hungary and Jolenta of Poland (Yolanda, Helen).

She reluctantly married Bolesław V the Chaste. Kinga later became princess when her husband ascended the throne as Prince of Cracov. Despite the marriage, the devout couple took up a vow of chastity. The marriage was largely arranged by and the vow of chastity patterned after that of Boleslaw's sister Salome of Cracow.

During her reign Kinga got involved in charitable works such as visiting the poor and helping the lepers. When her husband died in 1279, she sold all her material possessions and gave the money to the poor. She soon did not want any part in governing the kingdom which was left to her and decided to join the Poor Clares monastery at Sandec (Stary Sącz). She would spend the rest of her life in contemplative prayer and did not allow anyone to refer to her past role as Grand Duchess of Poland. She died on July 24, 1292.

Veneration

Pope Alexander VIII beatified Kinga in 1690. In 1695, she was made chief patroness of Poland and Lithuania. On June 16, 1999, she was canonized by Pope John Paul II.

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  Monument to St. Kinga at the monastery of Stary Sącz

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  Statue of Saint Kinga near Trzy Korony

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  Statue of St. Kinga (1820) in Nowy Korczyn

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  St Kinga Icon near Rochester, New York

External links

• Catholic Forum
• New Advent

Kinga of Poland House of Árpád Born: 5 March 1224 Died: 24 July 1292
Royal titles
Preceded by Agafia of Rus	High Duchess consort of Poland 1243–1279	Succeeded by Agrippina of Kiev