An example of all virtues, especially worthy to be imitated, is presented to us today, in the life of St. Hedwig. Her father was Berthold, Duke of Carinthia and Count of Meran. Her mother, Agnes, was of equally high birth. Already in Hedwig's childhood it was visible that God had gifted her with a mind far beyond her age. She possessed an innate inclination to all virtues, and nothing of what usually delights the young touched her heart. Just as little pleasure did she evince, in later years, in the honors, riches and amusements of the world. Reading and praying were her only enjoyments. All her books were devout works, and her prayers were said mostly before an image of the Blessed Virgin, whom she loved and honored like a mother. When scarcely twelve years old, she was given in marriage to Henry, Duke of Poland and Silesia. Although married so early in life, her conduct was so sensible and virtuous that every one was greatly astonished at it. Among her maxims was this: "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." She became the mother of three sons and three daughters, all of whom she educated most piously.

She was a little over twenty, and her husband thirty years of age, when their sixth child was born; after which, desiring to serve God more perfectly, she made a vow before the bishop, in which her husband joined, to live in future in perpetual continence. From that hour, St. Hedwig grew daily more and more perfect in all Christian virtues, occupying every moment left her from the cares she bestowed upon her children, in prayers and deeds of charity. She found especial comfort in assisting at Holy Mass; hence, she was not satisfied with one, but went to as many as she could; and the manner in which she conducted herself in church was a proof of her deep devotion. Towards widows and orphans, her kindness was truly motherly, and many of them she fed in her palace, serving them herself, sometimes on bended knees. She frequently visited the sick in the hospitals; encouraged them to be patient, and assisted them by rich alms. She never hesitated to wash the feet of the lepers, or to kiss the sores of the sufferers. She persuaded the Duke, her husband, to build a large convent not far from Breslau, for the Cistercian nuns, which she made a home for poor children, who were educated there, and afterwards provided for according to their station. Nothing could be more modest and plain than the garments of the holy Duchess, and her example in this respect induced others living at court to attire themselves with great simplicity. In the midst of the dissipation of the court, the Saint lived so austere a life, that it was more to be admired than to be followed.

To prove her virtue, God visited her with a great many cares and sorrows. The enemy invaded the dominions of her spouse, who was wounded in a battle and made prisoner. When this news was brought to her, she raised her eyes confidently to heaven, saying: "I hope to see him again soon, well and free." She herself went to Conrad, the Duke who had made her husband prisoner, and spoke so earnestly to him that he restored her husband to liberty. Soon after, Henry became dangerously sick, and Hedwig nursing him most faithfully, did everything to make his death happy. To those who pitied her after his death, she said: "We must adore the decrees of the Almighty, not only in days of happiness, but also in those of sorrow and bereavement." Three years later, she lost her first-born son, who was killed in a battle with the Tartars; and this sad event found her as submissive to the will of Providence as she had been on the death of her husband.

Soon after the burial of the Duke, the Saint had gone into the convent, which, at her request, he had founded, to be further removed from all temporal vanity, and to serve the Lord more peacefully and perfectly. She observed most strictly the regulations of the Order, desiring to do the meanest work and to be considered the least of the Sisters. In her austerity to herself she had now full liberty to satisfy herself. She fasted daily, except on Sundays and festivals; but her fasts were much more rigorous than those of others; for she abstained from all meat and wine, and partook only of herbs, bread and water. She wore, day and night, rough hair-cloth and an iron girdle which she had already worn while at court. She went bare-footed over snow and ice, and slept, when well, on the bare boards, and when sick, on straw covered with a coarse cloth. Her sleep lasted hardly three hours before Matins; the remainder of the night she occupied in prayer, which she only interrupted to scourge herself to blood. So severe a life emaciated her body to a skeleton. While working, she always raised her soul to the Most High by mental prayer, and she was often found in an ecstasy, or raised high above the ground. Her conversation was only of God, virtue and piety. Towards the crucified Saviour, she bore the deepest devotion, and the mysteries of His bitter passion and death were the objects of her daily meditations, during which she frequently shed tears. Mary, the Blessed Virgin, was most ardently loved by her, and her whole countenance glowed at the bare mention of her name.

So holy a life could only be followed by a happy death, of which a severe sickness was the messenger. Before others became aware that her life was in danger, the Saint asked for the last Sacraments, and she received them with a devotion which drew tears from the eyes of all who were present. Before her end, St. Catherine, St. Thecla, St. Ursula, and St. Magdalen appeared to her, all of whom she had greatly honored during her life. These heavenly visitors comforted her and accompanied her to the mansions of everlasting bliss. Twenty-five years after her death, her holy body was exhumed, as so many extraordinary miracles had taken place. On opening the coffin, the whole church was filled with fragrance. The flesh of the whole body was consumed, except that of three fingers on her left hand. With these she had frequently held a picture of the Blessed Virgin, which she constantly carried with her. While dying, she held this picture so fast, that after her death it could not be removed, and it was buried with her. Pope Clement IV. placed the Duchess among the Saints on account of her many great virtues, of the miracles which she had wrought while she lived, and of those which took place after her death, through her intercession. The inhabitants of Poland venerate her as one of their special Patrons.

I. "We must adore the decrees of the Almighty not only in happy days, but also in those of sorrow and bereavement," said St. Hedwig, when God deprived her of her beloved spouse, by an early death. Equally heroic was she, when by the will of Divine Providence, she lost her first-born son. How do you act in similar painful circumstances? You will never possess peace of mind, if you do not submit to the will of the Most High. And why should you not do this? The decrees of God are all just, although they are incomprehensible. Nothing that happens to you is unknown to the Almighty, or has not been permitted by His wisdom. All that God permits or ordains, is intended for your welfare. The true faith teaches you this. It also teaches you that you should not, under any circumstances, oppose the will of God. Hence, there remains nothing to do, but to make a virtue of necessity, to adore humbly the decrees of Providence, to submit to them willingly, and to unite your will with that of your God. In this manner you will be calm and contented in all adverse circumstances of life, and, at the same time, you will gather a treasure of merits for heaven. "Make of necessity a virtue," writes St. James of Nisibis, "and as you cannot escape the hand of the Almighty, but must submit to so great a Lord, humble yourself voluntarily under His overwhelming power.''

II. Honor, riches, and the dissipation of this world, were no objects of desire to the holy duchess, who strove only after heavenly joys. To obtain these, she practised heroical charity to the poor and mortified herself most austerely. O how wisely she acted! If she had done the contrary, what profit would it be to her now? The temporal honors, riches and enjoyments would long since have passed, and the heavenly ones would have been lost to her. Take care that you do not become too much attached to what is worldly and perishable, but endeavor, through the practice of good works, to obtain that which is eternal. Remember the words of St. Augustine: " No fortune can be considered real fortune, but that which is eternal; no evil can be thought real evil, but that which never ends." If you, therefore, desire real fortune, honors and joys, strive to obtain those which last for evermore, and be unwearied in endeavoring to escape those evils which never end. It is to this end that St. Gregory admonishes you when he says: "At the last day of our life, where will be all that we now seek with so much care, and which we gather so diligently? Therefore, let us not strive after such honors and possessions as we must so soon leave, but let us seek such as we shall have for ever. And among, the evils we fear, let us fear and avoid those which the wicked suffer for all eternity." "For what does it profit you," says St. Peter Damian, "if you glitter today in gold, silver and precious stones, or if, clothed in purple, you have superfluity in all sensual enjoyments, and to-morrow are cast poor and naked into hell?" what does it profit you?

Prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Daughter of Abraham according to faith, thou didst imitate his heroism. Thy first reward was to find a worthy son in him thou offeredst to the Lord. Thy example is most welcome in this month, wherein the Church sets before us the death of Judas Machabeus. As glorious as his was the death of thy Henry; but it was also a fruitful death. Of thy six children he alone, the Isaac offered and immolated to God, was permitted to propagate thy race. And yet what a posterity is thine, since all the royal families of Europe can claim to be of thy lineage! I will make thee increase exceedingly, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. This promise, made to the Father of the faithful, is fulfilled once more on thy behalf, O Hedwige. God never changes; he has no need to make a new engagement; a like fidelity in any age, earns from him a like reward. Mayst thou be blest by all, O Mother of nations! Extend over all thy powerful protection ; but above all others, by God's permission, may unfortunate Poland find by experience that thy patronage is never invoked in vain!

God! Thou surrounded Poland for so many centuries
With the grandeur of might and glory,
And with the shield of Your almighty protection
From ill fortunes that were to oppress her.

Refrain: Before Your altars we carry our imploration:
Bless our free Fatherland, O Lord!


God! Thou withdrew Poland that was covered for
So many centuries with the grandeur of might and glory,
Suddenly from Your care
And raised these peoples who were supposed to serve her.

Refrain: Before Your altars we carry our imploration:
Bless our free Fatherland, O Lord!


Thou, who then were affected by its downfall,
Thou supported her struggle for the holy cause
And as Thou wanted the whole world to testify her courage,
Among ill fortunes Thou only multiplied her glory.

Refrain: Before Your altars we carry our imploration:
Bless our free Fatherland, O Lord!


Not long ago you've taken freedom away from Polish territory
And rivers of our tears and blood were shed;
How terrible it must be for those,
Whom Thou take freedom away for centuries.

Refrain: Before Your altars we carry our imploration:
Bless our free Fatherland, O Lord!


One of Your words, great Lord of thunders!
Thou'll be able to raise us from the dead,
When we should ever again deserve Your punishment,
Then turn us to ashes, but into free ashes!