Bienheureuse JOLENTA de
HONGRIE
Princesse hongroise, clarisse (+ 1299)
ou Hélène.
Fille du roi Béla IV de Hongrie, elle épousa le duc de Kalisz non loin de Lodz,
tandis que sa sœur, sainte Cunégonde, épousait Boleslas V, roi de Pologne.
Toutes deux devinrent veuves la même année et entrèrent ensemble chez les
clarisses de Gniezno, près de Poznan. Yolande en devint l'abbesse.
Béatifiée en 1827.
Près de Gniezno en Pologne, l’an 1298, la bienheureuse Yolande, abbesse. Après
la mort de son mari, le duc Boleslas le Pieux, elle abandonna tous ses biens
terrestres et, avec sa fille, fit profession de vie monastique dans l’Ordre de
sainte Claire.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1307/Bienheureuse-Yolande.html
Bienheureuse Yolande de Hongrie
12 juin
Religieuse IIème Ordre
Fille de Béla IV, roi de Hongrie, nièce de sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie, Yolande
est née en 1235 et fut formée à la vie chrétienne par sa soeur aînée. En 1256
elle épousa Boleslas le Pieux dont elle eut trois filles. Veuve en 1278, elle
entra avec sa fille cadette chez les Clarisses de Sandec. Malgrè son opposition
elle fut élue abbesse et mourut en 1298.
SOURCE : http://steclaireperpignan.nuxit.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133:bienheureuse-yolande-de-hongrie-12-juin&catid=54:Saints-Franciscains&Itemid=69
Also
known as
Helen of Hungary
Helena
Iolanda
Iolantha
Joheleth
Jolanda
Jolanta
Jolenta
Yolanda
12 June on
some calendars
15 June on
some calendars
3 March on
some calendars
6 March on
some calendars
Profile
Born a princess,
the daughter of King Bela
IV of Hungary and
Maria Laskaris. Niece of Saint Elizabeth
of Hungary, grand-niece of Saint Hedwig
of Andechs, and younger sister of Blessed Cunegund
of Poland, who raised her. Married to Duke Boleslas
V, the devout prince of
Kalishi, Pomerania; mother of
three. Franciscan tertiary.
Founded a Poor
Clare convent in
Gnesen, Poland. Widowed in 1279.
She, one of her daughters, and Cunegund retired
to a Poor
Clare convent Cunegund had
founded in Sandeck. Just before her death,
Helen became superior of the convent she
had founded in Gnesen.
Born
11 June 1298 at
Gnesen, Poland of
natural causes
26
September 1827 by Pope Leo XII (cultus
confirmed)
Gniezno, Poland, archdiocese of
Additional
Information
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
images
video
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
nettsteder
i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Helen of
Poland“. CatholicSaints.Info. 10 June 2024. Web. 3 February 2026. <https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-helen-of-poland/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-helen-of-poland/
Saints
of the Day – Blessed Helen of Poland, Widow
Article
(also known as Jolenta)
Died 1298; cultus approved in 1827; feast day formerly March 6. Daughter of
King Bela IV of Hungary, Jolenta was raised by her elder sister Blessed
Cunegund (Kinga), wife of Boleslaus V of Poland. In 1256, Jolenta married Duke
Boleslaus V of Kalisz. When he died in 1279, she, Cunegund (now widowed), and
one of her daughters retired to the Poor Clare convent that Cunegund founded at
Sandeck. Later Jolenta became superioress of the convent at Gnesen, which she
had founded, and died there (Benedictines, Delaney).
MLA
Citation
Katherine I
Rabenstein. Saints of the Day, 1998. CatholicSaints.Info.
10 June 2024. Web. 3 February 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saints-of-the-day-blessed-helen-of-poland-widow/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-of-the-day-blessed-helen-of-poland-widow/
Blessed Jolenta (Yolanda)
of Poland
Saint of the Day for June
12
(c. 1235 – June 11,1298)
Story
Jolenta was the daughter
of Bela IV, King of Hungary. Her sister, St. Kunigunde, was married to the Duke
of Poland. Jolenta was sent to Poland where her sister was to supervise her
education. Eventually married to Boleslaus, the Duke of Greater Poland, Jolenta
was able to use her material means to assist the poor, the sick, widows, and
orphans. Her husband joined her in building hospitals, convents, and churches
so that he was surnamed “the Pious.”
Upon the death of her
husband and the marriage of two of her daughters, Jolenta and her third
daughter entered the convent of the Poor Clares. War forced Jolenta to move to
another convent where despite her reluctance, she was made abbess.
So well did Jolenta serve
her Franciscan sisters by word and example, that her fame and good works
continued to spread beyond the walls of the cloister. Her favorite devotion was
the Passion of Christ. Indeed, Jesus appeared to her, telling her of her coming
death. Many miracles, down to our own day, are said to have occurred at her
grave.
Reflection
Jolenta’s story begins
like a fairy tale. But fairy tales seldom include the death of the prince
and never end with the princess living out her days in a convent.
Nonetheless, Jolenta’s story has a happy ending. Her life of charity toward the
poor and devotion to her Franciscan sisters indeed brought her to a “happily
ever after.” Our lives may be short on fairy tale elements, but our generosity
and our willingness to serve well the people we live with lead us toward an
ending happier than we can imagine.
Blessed Jolenta
Jolenta was the daughter of Bela IV, King of Hungary. Her sister, St. Kunigunde, was married to the Duke of Poland. Jolenta was sent to Poland where her sister was to supervise her education. Eventually married to Boleslaus, the Duke of Greater Poland, Jolenta was able to use her material means to assist the poor, the sick, widows and orphans. Her husband joined her in building hospitals, convents and churches so that he was surnamed "the Pious."
Upon the death of her husband and the marriage of two of her daughters, Jolenta and her third daughter entered the convent of the Poor Clares. War forced Jolenta to move to another convent where, despite her reluctance, she was made abbess.
So well did she serve her Franciscan sisters by word and example that her fame and good works continued to spread beyond the walls of the cloister. Her favorite devotion was the Passion of Christ. Indeed, Jesus appeared to her, telling her of her coming death. Many miracles, down to our own day, are said to have occurred at her grave.
Comment :
Jolenta’s story begins like a fairy tale. But fairy tales seldom include the death of the prince and never end with the princess living out her days in a convent. Nonetheless, Jolenta’s story has a happy ending. Her life of charity toward the poor and devotion to her Franciscan sisters indeed brought her to a “happily ever after.” Our lives may be short on fairy-tale elements, but our generosity and our willingness to serve well the people we live with lead us toward an ending happier than we can imagine.
SOURCE : http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1412
Blessed Jolenta,
of the Second Order
Article
The twelfth and the
thirteenth centuries, during which the Church exercised the greatest influence
on Christian Europe, have been justly styled by some writers “Ages of Faith.”
For during this period, state, society, classes, institutions, labor, schools, science
and art, trade and commerce, in short, all conditions and aspirations of
European life, were imbued with and sustained by a thorough Christian spirit.
Hence, we meet with edifying, even heroic examples of virtue and sanctity in
remarkably numerous cases among all classes and conditions of life: in the
cloister and sanctuary, and amid the distractions and unrest of a busy world;
and among the rich, the learned, and powerful, as well as among the poor and
lowly. We find a large number of royal families that could boast one or more
members distinguished by their pious and saintly lives. This is especially true
of the reigning dynasties of Hungary and Poland. One of the saints of these
families was Blessed Jolenta, the patroness of this month.
Jolenta was the daughter
of Bela IV, King of Hungary, the sister of Blessed Cunigunde and Blessed
Margaret, the niece of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, Blessed Agnes of Bohemia,
Blessed Salome, and Saint Hedwig, and closely related to Saint Louis of
Toulouse and Saint Elisabeth of Portugal. From her very childhood, her father,
a fervent Tertiary, strove with tender solicitude to implant into her heart
sentiments of piety and virtue. He surrounded her with virtuous attendants;
and, in order to draw down upon her the special protection of Heaven and to
direct her thoughts more effectively to heavenly things, obtained permission to
have the holy sacrifice of Mass offered daily in her apartments.
Though the palace of her
father was for her a school of virtue and piety, Jolenta, when scarcely five
years of age, was entrusted to the care of her elder sister Blessed Cunigunde,
Queen of Poland. She now had before her a living model of virtue; and who can
say with what readiness she responded to her tender care; with what holy eagerness
her innocent soul not only drank in the enlightened instructions of her saintly
guide, but also endeavored to put them into practice! Her young heart, detached
as it was from earthly things, yielded without reserve to the influence of
grace, and gave itself up more and more to the love of God and heavenly things.
Thus did the young princess grow in age, as well as in virtue and grace before
God and man, distinguished especially by her love of prayer and mortification,
by her charity, and angelic modesty.
In 1256, when she was
nineteen years of age, Jolenta was married to Boleslas the Pious, Duke of
Greater Poland. She prepared for this important step by fasting, prayer, and
the reception of the sacraments; and after the solemn nuptial ceremonies, sold
the costly garments and jewels which she had worn on the occasion, and
distributed the proceeds among the poor. The pious “duchess found little
pleasure in the splendor and amusements of the court; it was rather her delight
to make use of her high position to promote the interests of religion, to
remove abuses in the administration of justice, to safeguard the rights of the
oppressed, and to assist the poor and afflicted. Her charity towards the poor,
the widows and orphans knew no bounds; these not only had access to her at all
times, but she also visited them in their homes and rendered them every
service. Together with her husband, she built many churches, hospitals, and
convents, and contributed much to the spread of the Seraphic Order in Poland.
After the death of her
husband in 1279, Jolenta determined to forsake the splendor and riches of the
world and to consecrate herself entirely to God. She distributed her
possessions among the poor, and with her youngest daughter entered the convent
of the Poor Clares at Sandec, which had been founded by her sister, Blessed
Cunegunde. With the greatest fervor did she observe the Rule in all its rigor.
She edified the Sisters by her humility, obedience, spirit of recollection, and
charity, and practiced self-denial and mortification to such a degree that she
was obliged by her superiors to moderate her severities.
The invasion of Poland by
foreign enemies forced Jolenta and the Sisters, in 1292, to take refuge in
another convent of the Order, at Gnesen, which she had founded together with
her husband. After some time, she was obliged, in spite of her tears and
protestations, to accept the office of abbess. She at once strove by word and
example to guide her subjects in the practice of all religious virtues. At the same
time, her secluded life did not prevent her in assisting the poor and
afflicted, and the fame of the saintly abbess spread far and wide. In her love
of poverty and humility, she chose for herself the smallest and poorest cell
and the most disagreeable labors of the community. Her ordinary food was bread
and water, taken but once a day; her bed, the bare floor. She spent many hours
in prayer, meditating especially on the passion of our divine Savior. To reward
her love and compassion, our Lord one day appeared to her covered with wounds,
accompanied by his Blessed Mother and Blessed Salome, and filled her with
heavenly joy and consolation.
Her beautiful life spent
in the perfect imitation of Christ Crucified now drew to its close. In 1298,
she was seized with a severe illness, which she knew by divine inspiration
would be her last. Having received the last sacraments with the greatest
devotion, she exhorted the weeping Sisters to persevere in the faithful
observance of their vows and of the Rule, and peacefully passed away to her
heavenly reward. After her death, she appeared shining in glory, together with
Saint Stanislas, Bishop of Cracow, to an abbess of the Order who was seriously
ill, and restored her to health. Many miracles were wrought at her tomb in the
church of the convent at Gnesen. Leo XII, in 1827, approved the veneration
shown her since the time of her death.
Reflection
Blessed Jolenta sought
true happiness where alone it can be found – in the service of God. All the
pleasures and riches of this world could not have procured this happiness for
her. Solomon, the wisest and richest of kings, says of himself: “I surpassed in
riches all that were before me in Jerusalem, and I withheld not my heart from
enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had
prepared, and I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun
are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Ecclesiasticus 2:10,17) The
things of this world are vain and deceitful; the happiness which they afford is
only apparent, and lasts but a short time. The honors for which men strive so
earnestly are often lost by an unforeseen event; riches are the source of
numberless anxieties and fears; and the greatest pleasures the world can offer
us, pass away and leave the heart empty and dissatisfied. “I saw in all things
vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun.”
(Ecclesiasticus 2:11) The human heart seeks true happiness; it is not created
for the deceitful and transitory things of this world. The Christian must
therefore seek his happiness in the things that are above.
“Seek the things that are
above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: mind the things that
are above, not the things that are upon the earth.” (Colossians 3:1,2) Doing
this, we shall not be led astray by deceitful pleasures, honors, and riches of
the world, and thus be unhappy for time and eternity, but be able one day to
say with Saint Peter: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who – has regenerated us – unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefined,
and that can not fade, reserved in heaven. (I Peter 1:3,4)
MLA
Citation
Franciscan
Herald, June 1913. CatholicSaints.Info.
5 October 2022. Web. 3 February 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jolenta-of-the-second-order/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jolenta-of-the-second-order/
June 15
BD JOLENTA OF
HUNGARY, WIDOW (A.D. 1299)
JOLENTA, or Helena as she
is called by the Poles, was one of four sisters who are honoured with the title
of Blessed. They were the daughters of Bela IV, King of Hungary, the nieces of
St Elizabeth, the great-nieces of St Hedwig, and lineal descendants of the
Hungarian kings St Stephen and St Ladislaus. When she was five years old,
Jolenta was committed to the care of her elder sister, Bd Cunegund, or Kinga,
who had married Boleslaus II, King of Poland. Under their fostering care, the
little girl grew up a pattern of virtue. She became the wife of Duke Boleslaus
of Kalisz, with whom she spent a happy married life. Both of them were addicted
to good works, and together they made various religious foundations. Jolenta
was beloved by all, but especially by the poor, for whom she had a tender love.
After the death of her husband, as soon as she had settled two of her
daughters, she retired with the third and with Bd Cunegund, now, like herself,
a widow, into the convent of Poor Clares which Cunegund had established at
Sandeck. Jolenta's later years, however, were spent at Gnesen as superior of
the convent of which she had been the foundress. She died there in 1299.
See 1. B.
Prileszky, Acta Sanctorum Hungariae, vol. ii, Appendix pp. 54-55;
Hueber, Menologium Franciscanum, p. 918; and cf. the bibliography attached
to Bd Cunegund on July 24.
SOURCE : http://www.katolikus.hu/hun-saints/jolenta.html
Beata Iolanda
d'Ungheria Duchessa di Polonia e badessa
Festa: 11 giugno
Ungheria, 1235 - Gniezno,
Polonia, 11 giugno 1298
Principessa, figlia del
re Bela IV d'Ungheria e nipote di Santa Elisabetta d'Ungheria, nacque nel
1235. Ricevette la sua formazione cristiana dalla sorella maggiore, Santa
Kinga (Cunegonda). Unita in matrimonio al duca polacco Bodeslaus, principe di
Kalishi in Pomerania. Terziaria francescana, unì ai doveri di sposa e madre,
l'esercizio della carità nell'assistenza agli infermi e ai poveri. Nel 1279
rimase vedova e successivamente entrò nelle Clarisse del convento di Sandeck
ove si distinse per la sua profonda umiltà. Resse come badessa il convento di
Gniezno in Polonia. Morì nel 1298.
Fu beatificata nel 1827.
Etimologia: Iolanda
= viola, dal greco
Martirologio
Romano: Presso Gniezno in Polonia, beata Iolanda, badessa, che, dopo la
morte del marito, il duca Boleslao il Pio, lasciati i beni terreni, professò
insieme alla figlia la vita monastica nell’Ordine di Santa Chiara.
La Beata Jolanda, principessa di Polonia, naque nel 1235 da Bela IV, re d’Ungheria, e da Maria Lascaris della casa imperiale greca. Fu sorella di Cunegonda, venerata anch’essa come Beata. Terziario francescano era anche il padre Bela IV. Lan sua famiglia affondava le radici nella santità di San’ Edvige, di Santo Stefano re e di San Ladislao. Attraverso rami laterali, era imparentata con Santa Margherita, regina di Scozia.
Ancora bambina, Jolanda venne affidata alla sorella Cunegonda, che aveva sposato il re di Polonia, degnoin tutto della sua sposa, tanto da essere chiamato Boleslao il Casto. Anche Jolanda, cresciuta in età, trovò marito nel paese di adozione della sorella. Si trattava si un altro Boleslao, duca di Kalisz, chiamato Boleslao il Pio. Cosi la figlia del re d’Ungheria, cresciuta in Boemia e sposata ad un nobile polacco, fu considerata ed amata in quel paese, come nella sua patria.
Il regno di Jolanda e di Boleslao il Pio non ebbe lunga durata. Presto il marito di Jolanda morì. Ella aveva avuto tre figlie: ne sistemò due con convenienti matrimoni, e insieme con la terza figlia, che aspirava a vita religiosa, si ritirò presso le clarisse di Sandeck. In quel modesto convento viveva già la sorella, la vedova regina Cunegonda. Il silenzio del chiostro nascose così per molti anni le virtù delle tre donne, eccezionali per nascita e per vocazione. Nel 1292 Cunegonda morì. Jolanda, per sfuggire alle incursioni barbariche, lasciò quel monastero e riparò più ad occidente, nel convento delle clarisse di Gniezno. Era un convento fondato dal marito Boleslao il Pio, senza che questo certo immaginasse che tra quelle figlie di Santa Chiara, sotto il bigio saio francescano si sarebbe un girono nascosta anche la sua sposa. Benchè superiora, agiva come se fosse inferiore a tutte: praticò intensamente le virtù cristiane e religiose, specialmente l’umiltà, la preghiera e la meditazione della passione di Cristo. Si dice pure che abbia avuto rivelazioni e apparizioni di Gesù crocifisso.
Seppe condurre le consorelle sulla via delle più eroiche virtù, precedendole nella pratica della penitenza e della contemplazione con generosità costante che era alimentata dalla meditazione quotidiana della Passione di Cristo. Lo sposo celeste la ricompensò mostrandosi a lei più volte e inebriandola delle delizie del suo amore. La solitudine non le impedì di occuparsi dei poveri, ai quali dava lietamente cibo e generose offerte.
Nel 1298 si ammalò gravemente e predisse l’ora della sua morte. Mentre le
consorelle piangevano attorno al suo letto di dolore, le esortò alla fedeltà
nell’osservanza della regola e alla perseveranza nel disprezzo delle cose
terrene. Quindi parlò loro della magnifica ricompensa che l’attendeva in cielo.
Fortificata con gli ultimi sacramenti, si addormentò dolcemente nel
Signore. Era l’11 giugno 1298. Contava 63 anni d’età. Il suo culto venne
approvato da Leone XII il 26 settembre 1827.
Autore: Don Luca Roveda
La beata principessa Iolanda, figlia del re Bela IV di Ungheria, nacque nel 1235. Le sue due sorelle, decisamente più famose, furono Santa Margherita d'Ungheria, canonizzata nel 1943 da Pio XII, e Santa Kinga (Cunegonda), canonizzata da Giovanni Paolo II nel 1999. Loro zia fu Santa Elisabetta d'Ungheria, langravia di Turingia e terziaria francescana. Terziario era del resto anche il padre, Bela IV. La sua famiglia affondava le radici nella santità di Sant'Edvige e dei santi sovrani ungheresi Stefano e Ladislao.
Ancora in tenera età Iolanda venne affidata alla sorella Cunegonda dalla quale ricevette la sua formazione cristiana. Cunegonda aveva sposato il re polacco Boleslao il Casto, degno dunque in tutto della sua sposa. Anche Iolanda, una volta cresciuta, trovò marito nel paese adottivo. Si trattava del duca di Kalisz Boleslao il Pio, non indegno quindi del cognato.
Iolanda, principessa ungherese cresciuta in Boemia e sposata con un nobile polacco, fu così amata al punto di poter tranquillamente considerare la Polonia quale sua nuova patria.
Si fece anch'essa terziaria francescana ed unì ai doveri di sposa e madre l'esercizio della carità, concretizzandolo nell'assistenza ai poveri ed agli infermi. Il regno veramente esemplare di Boleslao il Casto, di sua moglie Santa Kinga e dei cognati Beata Iolanda e Boleslao il Pio, non ebbe purtroppo una lunga durata. Le due sorelle rimasero entrambe vedove molto presto, prima Cunegonda e poi nel 1279 anche Iolanda. Quest'ultima, che aveva avuto tre figlie, riuscì a combinare dei felici matrimoni per due di esse, mentre la terza, attratta dalla vita religiosa, si ritirò presso il modesto convento delle clarisse di Sandeck, dove si era già ritirata la zia vedova. In seguito la raggiunse anche la madre Iolanda, distinguendosi per la sua profonda umiltà.
Il silenzio del chiostro nascose così per molti anni le virtù delle tre donne, eccezionali non solo per le loro nobili origini, ma soprattutto per la fedeltà alla loro vocazione. Nel 1292, quando Cunegonda morì, Iolanda lasciò quel monastero e si rifugiò più ad occidente nel convento delle clarisse di Gniezno, onde sfuggire alle incursioni barbariche. Qui fu eletta badessa, forse come sorta di ringraziamento al defunto marito che aveva fondato tale monastero.
Prima che si chiudesse questo secolo caratterizzato dalla mistica, nel 1299 Iolanda morì nell'umiltà che l'aveva sempre contraddistinta.
La devozione per la Beata Iolanda è sopravvissuta prevalentemente in Polonia, dove aveva trascorso gran parte del suo pellegrinaggio terreno. Il suo nome è stato curiosamente alterato dal popolo polacco in Elena oppure talvolta Iolenta.
Nel 1631 fu iniziato il processo per la beatificazione; il 22 settembre 1827 Leone XII ne confermò il culto e permise all'Ordine dei Frati Minori Conventuali e alle Clarisse di celebrare l'Ufficio e la Messa il 15 giugno; Leone XIII ne estese la festa a tutte le altre diocesi della Polonia.
Autore: Fabio Arduino
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90383
Den salige Jolenta av
Ungarn (~1235-1298)
Minnedag:
11. juni
Den salige Jolenta
(Jolanda, Helena; ung: Jolánta; lat: Iolenta) ble født rundt 1235 (noen kilder
sier 1239) i Esztergom i Ungarn. Hun var datter av kong Béla IV av Ungarn
(1235-70) og hans hustru Maria Laskaris, og dermed niese av kongens søster, den
hellige Elisabeth av
Ungarn, og grandniese av den hellige Hedvig av Schlesien. Kong
Béla IV hadde seks døtre, og to av Jolentas søstre er helligkåret: de
hellige Margareta av
Ungarn (1242-1270) (hellig 1943) og Kunigunde av Polen (1224-1292)
(hellig 1999). En fjerde søster, Elisabeth, ble gift med Otto av Bayern. Deres
bror Stefan ble senere kong Stefan V av Ungarn (1270-72). Til den ungarske
kongelige Arpád-ætten hører også den hellige kong Stefan I av Ungarn, hans
sønn, den hellige Emerik
av Ungarn, den hellige kong Ladislas av Ungarn og
den hellige Margareta
av Skottland.
Jolentas storesøster
Kunigunde dro som femåring til det polske hoffet i Kraków, og i 1239 giftet hun
seg med hertug Boleslas V den kyske av Polen (pl: Bolesław Wstydliwy) (f. 1226;
1243-79) fra det regjerende dynastiet Piast. Jolenta tilhørte i likhet med sin
tante Elisabeth fransiskanernes tredjeorden. Derfor stolte kong Béla på det
polske hoffet og sendte den lille Jolenta dit for å oppdras av sin søster
Kunigunde.
Under deres omsorg vokste
den lille jenta opp til et dydsmønster. Senere fant også hun seg en
standsmessig ektemann i Polen, nemlig hertug Boleslas VI av Kalisz (Halyc), som
var yngre bror av Przemysl, hersker over Stor-Polen fra 1239. Hertug Boleslas
giftet seg med Jolenta i Kraków i 1256, da hun var 21 år gammel. Han var en
from og fredselskende hersker og hadde tilnavnet Pobożny («den fromme»). Han
grunnla klarisseklosteret i Gniezno (ty: Gnesen), og sto bak Privilegiet fra
Kalisz i 1264, som stilte jødene under hertugens beskyttelse og innrømmet dem
frihet til å handle. Polen ble Jolentas nye hjemland, og det var der hun
skiftet navn fra Jolanda til Jolenta. Det polske folket så på de to søstrene
som sine egne, og elsket og æret både dronningen og hertuginnen av Kalisz.
Jolenta fikk tre døtre
med mannen Boleslas. 1) Elisabeth av Kalisz (1263-1304), som giftet seg med
hertug Henrik V den tykke (ca 1248-96) av Jawor (Jauer) fra 1273, av Legnica
(Liegnitz) fra 1278 og av Breslau (nå: Wrocław) fra 1290. 2) Hedvig av Kalisz
(1266-1339), som giftet seg med Ladislas I den korte (pl: Władysław I Łokietek)
(1260-1333), som var hertug frem til 1300 og seniorhertug av Kraków fra 1306
til 1320 og konge av Polen fra 1320. 3) Anna av Kalisz (f. 1278, død ukjent),
som ble nonne i Gniezno.
Mens Jolenta var gift,
var hun kjent for sin store innsats for de fattige og trengende i landet. I
tillegg var hun en betydelig velynder for klostrene og de hospitalene som var
knyttet til dem. Hennes mann ga henne så mye støtte i hennes karitative arbeid
at han fikk kjælenavnet «den fromme». Da mannen døde den 7. april 1279, fikk
Jolenta giftet bort to av døtrene. Men den tredje, Anna, delte sin mors lengsel
etter klosterlivet, så Jolenta og datteren trådte sammen inn hos klarissene (Ordo
Sanctae Clarae – OSC), i Sandez (Sandeck, Gamle Sandecz, Stary Sacz). Der
hadde allerede hennes søster Kunigunde påbegynt sitt novisiat, etter at også
hennes mann Boleslas døde den 7. desember 1279. Den 24. juli 1292 døde
Kunigunde i Stary Sacz.
Kort tid etter måtte hele
klosteret flytte vestover for å unngå de mange barbariske overfallene østfra.
Nonnene bosatte seg det allerede eksisterende klarisseklosteret i Gniezno, som
Jolentas mann hadde grunnlagt. Han kunne ikke vite at hans hustru og datter en
dag skulle være blant de fattige søstrene der. I 1292 ble Jolenta valgt til
abbedisse i klosteret i Gniezno, selv om datteren til Ungarns konge og søsteren
til Polens dronning aldri hadde strevet etter å herske over andre.
Jolenta døde i hellighets
ry den 11. juni 1298 i Gniezno. I 1631 startet hennes saligkåringsprosess. Hun
ble saligkåret den 26. september 1827 ved at hennes kult ble stadfestet av pave
Leo XII (1823-29). I Polen kalles hun den salige Helena av Polen. Hennes
minnedag har vært angitt som 15. juni, men 12. juni og 3. og 6. mars nevnes
også. I den nyeste utgaven av Martyrologium Romanum (2004) er hennes minnedag
dødsdagen 11. juni:
Apud Gnesnam in Polónia,
beátæ Ioléntæ, abbatíssæ, quæ, post viri Boleslái Pii ducis óbitum, terrénis
ópibus abdicátis, monásticam vitam cum fília in Ordine Sanctæ Claræ proféssa
est.
Ved Gniezno i Polen, den
salige Jolenta, abbedisse, som etter dødsfallet til hennes mann, hertug
Boleslas den fromme, ga bort sitt jordiske gods og trådte inn i klosterlivet
sammen med sin datter i den hellige Klaras orden.
Kilder: Attwater/Cumming,
Butler (VI), Benedictines, Delaney, Engelhart, Schauber/Schindler, Holzapfel,
Index99, MR2004, KIR, CatholicSaints.Info, Infocatho, Bautz, Heiligenlexikon,
santiebeati.it, en.wikipedia.org, pl.wikipedia.org, katolikus.hu,
kincseslada.hu - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden
Opprettet: 25. juni 2000
– Oppdatert: 24. mars 2016
SOURCE : https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/jungarn
