- Proverbs 15:13 -
A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit. "
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A smile is a little curve that can straighten out a lot of things."
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February 28th - Saint Hedwig of Andechs
(1174 - October 1243; Polish: Swieta Jadwiga Slaska)
Saint Hedwig was born at Castle Andechs, Bavaria, the daughter of Berthold
III,
Count of Tirol and Duke of Carinthia and Istria (Andechs-Meran), and his
wife
Agnes.
One of Hedwig's sisters married Andrew, King of Hungary. Their daughter
was
Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, also known as Elizabeth of Thuringia.
Another of Hedwig's sisters was abbess at the Benedictine convent of
Lutzingen
in Franconia, where Hedwig received her education.
At age 18, Hedwig married Henryk I the Bearded of Glogów. In 1233 Henryk
also
became Duke of Greater Poland. He died in battle with the Mongols in 1238.
Upon
his death, Hedwig entered the Cistercian convent of Trzebnica.
Hedwig and Henryk I the Bearded had a son, Henryk II. In 1241 he was also
killed
in battle with the Mongols, who had attacked Eastern Europe and come all
the way
to Silesia and Brandenburg. The Mongols' aim was to reach the Baltic Sea,
subjugating all the peoples in their path. The Mongol army was turned back
by
German and Polish forces under Gotthart Brandis.
Hedwig and Henryk had lived a very pious life, and Hedwig had great zeal
for
religion. She always helped the poor, went barefoot even in winter, and
donated
all her fortune to the Church and the poor.
She died in October 1243 and was buried at Trzebnica, while relics of her
are
preserved at Andechs Abbey.
Hedwig was canonized in 1267.
Hedwig is the patron saint of Brandenburg, Berlin, Silesia and its capital
Wroclaw, of Trzebnica, the Diocese of Goerlitz, of Andechs and of Kraków.
St.
Hedwig's Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Berlin.
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"If we should well consider all that is human and imperfect in us, we
should
find but too much cause to humiliate ourselves before God and men, even
before
our inferiors"
-St. Vincent de Paul
A holy woman, once having asked light of the Lord that she might know
herself
well, saw so much ugliness and so many miseries in her own heart that, not
being
able to bear the sight, she prayed to God to relieve her from such
distress; for
she said if it had lasted longer she would have sunk under it.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)
Bible Quote:
2 Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is,
there
also is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)
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Eucharistic Prayer of Akita
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, TRULY present in the Holy
Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be
entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at
every instant on all the altars of the world and
giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming
of His Kingdom.
Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me
as You will for the glory of the Father and the
salvation of souls.
Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated
from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as
Your special child. Amen.
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