Stary Sącz

Stary Sącz is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, founded in the 13th century. In 1257 Bolesław the Shy gave his Hungarian wife, Princess Kinga, “the Sądecki district” (Ziemia Sądecka) with its centre in Sącz. Here Kinga founded a Poor Clares convent and the Franciscan order. The year of our Lord, 1279 Kinga renounced her princely power and she moved to “her” convent. In 1292 Princess Kinga died. Sisters of Saint Clare prayed for her beatification. The process lasted almost 300 years. Finally, there was the beatification of Kinga in 1690. After so many years an extremely noble event was in 1999. Pope John Paul II canonized Kinga in Stary Sącz.