Saint Hedwig of Silesia

Saint Hedwig of Silesia, also known as Hedwig the Widow or Jadwiga of Silesia, was born around 1174 at the castle of Andechs and died on October 15, 1243, at Trebnitz. As the Duchess of Silesia, and later Greater Poland, she became known for her piety and extensive charitable works. One of eight children born to Berthold IV, Count of Andechs and Duke of Croatia and Dalmatia, she married Duke Henry I of Silesia at the age of 12.

After her husband's death, Hedwig dedicated her life to religious activities and aiding the poor. She and her husband founded several hospitals to care for the sick and lepers, including a notable hospital in Wroclaw. Hedwig supported various religious orders, inviting the Dominicans to Poland to help spread Christianity, and founded the Cistercian monastery of Trzebnica and the monastic city of Trebnitz. She always helped the poor, widows, and orphans, donating all her fortune to the Church.

Hedwig is recognized as the patron saint of Silesia, Poland, and orphans. She used her position to improve the lives of others, founding institutions to support the less fortunate in her community. Canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, her feast day is observed on October 16. Hedwig's dedication to charitable works and her unwavering devotion to God made her a beloved figure in her time and a revered saint in the Catholic Church.