Born in 1158 to noble and devout Catholic parents, Hyacinth’s stellar educational upbringing complemented his God-given aptitude for learning. Notably, this future saint went to school in Kraków , Prague, as well as Bologna, where he obtained the title of Doctor of Law and Divinity.
Moreover, Hyacinth met the great Dominic Guzman (future Saint Dominc), founder of the Dominican Order (Order of Preachers). Eventually, Hyacinth decided to join the Dominican Order, and received his habit personally from Dominic in 1220.
Strikingly, Hyacinth’s zeal for the salvation of souls was noticeable, and his superiors dispatched him to Poland to sow the seeds for the Dominican Order there.
As time went on, Hyacinth established communities in Sandomir, Kraków, and at Płock on the Vistula in Moravia. Eventually, Hyacinth’s labors expanded to include Lithuania, Prussia, Pomerania, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and even Russia.
As he was escaping the church, he passed by a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At that moment, he heard a voice say, “Hyacinth, my son, why dost thou leave me behind? Take me with thee and leave me not to my enemies.”
Hyacinth’s reverence for the True Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary could be shown during the famous Miracle of Kiev, when the invading Tartars besieged Kiev and planned to ransack the church in which he had celebrated Holy Mass.
Undaunted at the sight of the invaders, Hyacinth took hold of the ciborium and began to flee.
As he was escaping the church, he passed by a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At that moment, he heard a voice say, “Hyacinth, my son, why dost thou leave me behind? Take me with thee and leave me not to my enemies.”
Notably, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s statue was made of alabaster and thus was very heavy.
Our saint replied: “How can I carry thee? The burden is too heavy.”
“Only try,” Our Lady responded. “My son will assist you to carry me without difficulty.”
Hence, in obedience to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hyacinth wrapped his arms around the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and by God’s grace, lifted the heavy statue and fled the church unscathed, saving both the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary’s statue.
Indeed, Hyacinth’s devotion to the Holy Eucharist and to the Blessed Virgin Mary was evident in that he never did anything before offering his actions to God and imploring the aid of Mary Immaculate.
As the Blessed Virgin Mary is never to be outdone in generosity, She appeared to Hyacinth once on the Vigil of the great feast of her Assumption, disclosing to him: "Be assured, my son, that thou shalt receive everything thou askest from my Son."
As the Blessed Virgin Mary is never to be outdone in generosity, She appeared to Hyacinth once on the Vigil of the great feast of her Assumption, disclosing to him:
"Be assured, my son, that thou shalt receive everything thou askest from my Son."
Also, God granted Hyacinth the power to work miracles, and some have hailed Hyacinth as the the Thaumaturgus, or wonder-worker of his age.
For example, when a merciless hailstorm ravaged the area in which Hyacinth was, decimating all crops in the way and exposing the people to famine, Hyacinth instructed them to pray in faith, an exhortation which the people obeyed. The next day witnessed crops sprouting out, an incident in which the people made pierogi to display thanks. Hence the origin of the long standing Polish saying in apparently desperate situations: “Święty Jacku z pierogami !" (Saint Hyacinth with pierogi!) pray for us.
After painstaking labors and long expeditions to preach the Catholic Faith, Hyacinth spent his last days in a monastery that he had established in Kraków.
Providentially, on the Feast of Saint Dominic in 1257, he fell ill with a fever that would ultimately cause his demise. Although he was debilitated by sickness, Hyacinth remained faithful in serving God, including celebrating Holy Mass on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our saint was anointed at the foot of the altar on August 15, in the year 1257, and died in the odor of sanctity that very same day.
By living out a life in the service of Jesus and Mary Immaculate, this “Apostle of the North” was able to convert many, spiritual victories which he humbly ascribed to God’s mercy and the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession.
Indeed, Saint Hyacinth’s remarkable life dedicated only to God’s glory and the salvation of souls, as well as his unfailing devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, provides us a template for living out our lives today. During the time of Saint Hyacinth, the lands of Eastern Europe were inhabited by a considerable number of pagans.
Yet by living out a life in the service of Jesus and Mary Immaculate, this “Apostle of the North” was able to convert many, spiritual victories which he humbly ascribed to God’s mercy and the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession. Likewise, by imitating Saint Hyacinth’s life, living out a life in union with Jesus Christ and the Holy Virgin Mary, and striving for the salvation of souls, God will act in our lives, be it with tangible miracles or otherwise. If we think that we face an uphill and seemingly impossible task in front of us, we just have to simply recall the Blessed Virgin Mary’s exhortation to Saint Hyacinth during the Miracle of Kiev, that is, we need to “only try”, and let God handle the rest.
Saint Hyacinth of Poland, devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Apostle of the North, pray for us.
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