Lancaster Cathedral

Born in Andechs, in Bavaria, Hedwig was the daughter of the Duke of Croatia. At the age of 12 she was married to Henry I of Silesia with whom she had seven children. The couple lived very pious lives, and Hedwig, who had lived in a monastery as a child, had great zeal for religion. When Henry died in 1238 he was buried at the Cistercian convent of Trzebnica Abbey which he had established in 1202 at Hedwig's request. His widow then moved into the convent, which was led by her daughter Gertrude. According to legend, she went barefoot even in winter, and when she was urged by the Bishop of Wrocław to wear shoes, she simply carried them in her hand. She spent the remainder of her life helping the poor and gave her great fortune to the Church. She died on October 15th 1242 and her relics are preserved at Andechs Abbey and St Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin. Hedwig was canonized in 1267 by Pope Clement IV, who was a supporter of the Cistercian Order. Legend has it that when she was on pilgrimage to Rome Hedwig visited Zell in Austria where healing waters sprung up at a source which is now named for her. (Patronage: Andechs Abbey, Brandenburg, Berlin, Kraków, Poland, Silesia, Wroclaw, Trzebnica, and orphaned children.)