St. Kinga

St. Kinga (sometimes called St. Kunegunda) is credited with discovering a large salt mine near Krakow, Poland. Because of this, she is the patron saint of miners. Within the salt mine, miners have carved a chapel dedicated to her made entirely out of salt. (The altar area, including the statues of her in the center are pictured above.)

St. Kinga was a niece of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and great-niece of Saint Hedwig. Kinga's sisters were St. Margaret of Hungary and Blessed Jolenta of Poland. At age sixteen she was married to Prince Boleslaw V of Poland. After he died, she turned down becoming Queen of Poland in order to join the Poore Clares. Her feast day is July 24th.

Next weekend the Poore Clare sisters in our diocese will visit us as they work to build a new convent.