When the Divine Conductor calls me home ...
The barefoot duchess in St Hedwig
Photo by Ðлла ЛÑлюшко on Unsplash
St Hedwig (1174–1243)
is the patron of brides, widows, duchesses, and
parents whose children have died.
Canonized in 1267, her feast is October 16.
Difficult Shoes to Fill. St Hedwig was born in the Holy Roman Empire duchy of Bavaria, Germany. Her noble, piously-raised silblings became influential in the government or Church. Her family's strong faith contributed to her devoutness at an early age. Her siblings include:
- Queen Agnes of France
- Bishop Ekbert of Bamberg
- Queen Gertrude of Hungary (mother of St Elizabeth of Hungary) and
- Little Hedwig, whose nobility entitled her to an excellent education.
A Disposable Income. In a political arrangement, 12-year-old Hedwig married the Duke of Silesia, Henry I, the Bearded. This made her the Duchess of Silesia. Henry's duchy lay in modern-day Poland, about 500 miles from Hedwig’s childhood home. The couple had at least 7-children, 4-surviving into adulthood. The couple shared a belief that their authority and wealth were given to advance the Gospel, through charitable works. With their holdings, Henry and Hedwig governed their lands effectively, built hospitals. monasteries, cared for the poor and lived a life of daily prayer.
"The greater one is by birth, the greater one must be in virtue,
and the more distinguished we are in station,
the more we must distinguish ourselves by our conduct,
in order to be a bright example to others.
~Maxim attributed to Saint Hedwig
The Bride of Christ. After their 7th child was born, Henry and Hedwig took mutual chastity vows, witnessed by their local bishop. The purpose was to fully devote themselves to God. Hedwig moved near the convent they had founded in Poland and her charity blossomed. She engaged in severe penances, cared for the poor, visited prisoners and washed lepers' feet every Holy Thursday. She attended Holy Mass daily, supplying the bread and wine for the Holy Eucharist. One of her greatest joys was supporting monasteries with food and clothing. In 1238, when Henry died, he was buried at the Cistercian monastery of nuns they established. Its Abbess was their daughter. Hedwig accepted the death of her beloved husband with docility saying,
"Would you have me oppose the will of God?
Our lives are His."
The Coat of Arms. With St Hedwig's support, Henry the Bearded was a prominent force during Poland's feuds and fragmentations. Sadly, all their work was destroyed 3-years after his death by Mongolian invaders. Historians say that without it and its side disasters; Poland would have been united in the 13th century. As capable and pious politicians, this power-couple made Silesia a power-state where peace was maintained. One peer and chronicaler called Henry," An honest man whose only thought was. to be useful to his people." Today, his personal coat of arms remains the emblem of Silesia.
The Barefoot Duchess. St Hedwig continued her great zeal for her faith. She donated the Augustinian provost and the commandery of the Knights Templar. She helped the poor, widows, orphans, founded hospitals for the sick and lepers. Over time, she donated their fortune to the Church and allowed no one to leave her presence--in an uncomforted state. One time she spent 10-weeks teaching the Our Father to a poor woman. According to legend, she went barefoot even in winter. When urged by the bishop to wear shoes, she wore them on her hands. On October 15, Hedwig died and was buried where her daughter was the Abbess. She lies with her husband, Henry the Bearded. Her relics are preserved at Andechs Abbey and St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin.
The Barefoot Pilgrim. In 1267, Hedwig was canonized by Pope Clement IV, a supporter of the Cistercian order. She is the patron saint of Silesia, Andechs and the Archdioceses of Wroclaw and Görlitz. A 17th-century legend states that St Hedwig, while on pilgrimage to Rome, stopped in Austria, where healing waters spring-up for her soothing use. This source still bears her name.
St Hedwig, you never allowed nobility or wealth to deter your holiness.
Instead, you gave all for the glory of God and His bride, the Church.
Please pray that we will use all our means for God’s glory.
St Hedwig, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You.
Source:
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About the Author
Science cannot explain suffering. As Lay Passionist and nurse, she challenges modern health care assumptions; contraception, abortion, euthanasia, herd immunity and more. Behind every health dilemma, God asks us to abide in Him. Author of 7 books & >20 peer-reviewed nursing journal articles; she also writes as "The Catholic Nurse" on Substack, see "Archives." She is a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps. Her primary charism is mercy through which she explores redemptive suffering, spiritual healing and the joy of bringing of souls to God.
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