Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/July 24 2007

Saint Kinga of Poland (also known as Cunegunda, Kunegunda, Cunegundes, Kioga, Zinga; Polish: Święta Kinga) (1224 - July 24, 1292) is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and patroness of Poland and Lithuania.

She is the daughter of King Bela IV, niece of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and great-niece of Saint Hedwig. Kinga's sisters were Saint Margaret of Hungary and Jolenta of Poland (Yolanda, Helen).

She reluctantly married Bolesław V the Chaste. Kinga later became queen when her husband ascended the throne as King of Poland. Despite the marriage, the devout couple took up a vow of chastity. During her reign Kinga got involved in charitable works such as visiting the poor and helping the lepers. When her husband died in 1279, she sold all her material possessions and gave the money to the poor. She soon did not want any part in governing the kingdom which was left to her and decided to join the Poor Clares monastery at Sandeck. She would spend the rest of her life in contemplative prayer and did not allow anyone to refer to her past role as queen of Poland. She died on July 24, 1292.

Attributes: depicted as an abbess; crown
Patronage: Poland, Lithuania
Prayer: