The Great Saints of Poland
Below is a list of the Great Saints of Poland whose large images adorn the walls behind our altar. Going from left to right, they are:
St. Stanislaus Kostka (1550-68) Feast Day: Nov. 13. Jesuit novice, born of a politically significant family at Rostkovo, Poland. He was canonized in 1726.
Blessed Kunegunda (1234-92) Feast Day: July 24. Also known as St. Kinga, she was a Princess of Poland, a niece of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and a great niece of St. Hedwig. In 1690 Pope Alexander VIII confirmed her cult, the equivalent of beatification.
St. John Cantius (1397-1473) Feast Day: Dec. 23. Born in the Polish town of Kanty (that's where he gets his surname). He was canonized in 1767.
St. Adalbert (956-97) Feast Day: April 23. Missionary bishop from Hungary, Bohemia and Prussia, who contributed greatly to the Christianizing of eastern and central Europe.
St. Stanislaus (1030-79) Feast Day: April 11. St. Stanislaus is chiefly remembered as patron of the Polish city of Cracow, whose bishop he was, and where his relics are kept in the cathedral. St. Stanislaus, a martyr, was canonized in 1253.
St. Casimir (1458-84) Feast Day: March 4. As a prince of Poland, the second son of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria. He died at the age of 26 from tuberculosis. He's the patron saint of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia.
St. Hedwig (1174-1263) Feast Day: Oct. 16. Duchess and widow, the patroness of Silesia, a region of eastern Europe. Also called Jadwiga.
St. Andrew Bobola (1591-1657) May 16. Jesuit missionary and martyr. Born a member of a noble Polish family.