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Hedwig was born in the year of Our Lord 1174 to a noble family in the Duchy of Bavaria. Queen St. Elizabeth of Hungary was her niece. At a young age, Hedwig married the young Duke Henry I of Silesia, who eventually became High Duke of Poland, though he failed to restore the country to the rank of kingdom. After several children, while Henry and Hedwig were still young, the couple vowed before a bishop to live continently for the rest of their marriage. As duchess, Hedwig assisted Henry in administration and diplomacy, and the two were great patrons of the Church and the poor, often feeding the hungry from their own hands. At Hedwig’s request, Henry founded the first female religious house in Silesia, a Cistercian convent, with his own personal funds. After Henry’s death, Hedwig retired to this convent, taking the habit of a lay sister. She did not take vows, however, which allowed her to continue receiving her noble revenues and then spend them on the poor. She practiced strict mortifications her whole life, and serenely accepted as the will of God the early deaths of many of her children. Renowned as a saint during her own lifetime, Hedwig was canonized soon after her death in the year of Our Lord 1243.
IN Africa, two hundred and seventy holy martyrs crowned together.
In the same country, the Saints Martinian and Saturnian with their two brothers. In the reign of the Arian king Genseric, while the persecution of the Vandals was raging, they were slaves belonging to a man of that race, and being converted to the faith of Christ by Maxima, a slave like themselves, they manifested their attachment to the truth with such courage, that they were beaten with rough clubs and lacerated in all parts of their bodies to the very bone. Although this barbarous treatment was continued for a considerable period, their wounds were each time healed over night, wherefore they were at length sent into exile. There they converted many barbarians to the faith, and obtained from the Roman Pontiff a priest and other ministers to baptize them. Finally they were condemned to die by being dragged through thorns, with their feet tied behind running chariots. Maxima being miraculously delivered after enduring many tribulations, became the Superioress of a large monastery of virgins, where she ended her days in peace.
Also, the Saints Saturninus, Nereus, and three hundred and sixty-five other martyrs.
At Cologne, St. Eliphius, martyr, under Julian the Apostate.
Also, St. Bercharius, abbot and martyr.
Near Bourges, St. Ambrose, bishop of Cahors.
At Mayence, St. Lullus, bishop and confessor.
At Treves, St. Florentinus, bishop.
At Arbon, in Switzerland, St. Gall, abbot, disciple of blessed Columban.
On Mount Cassino, blessed Victor III, who succeeded Gregory VII in the papal chair and threw new lustre round the Holy See by the signal triumph he gained over the Saracens through the divine assistance. The veneration paid to him from time immemorial Pope Leo XIII approved and confirmed.
At Muro, in Lucania, St. Gerard Majella, a professed lay brother in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Pius X, on account of his reputation for miracles ranked him among the saints.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.