Monastery of the Poor Claresin Stary Sącz

“We, Kunegunda, widow of the late Lord Bolesław, formerly Duke of Kraków, Lady and Duchess of Sącz, pondering deeply in our heart and with sincere piety that nothing will avail at the Last Judgement and nothing so appeases the Just Judge, who gives life to the righteous and death to the wicked, as works of mercy, which by themselves lead those who show mercy to the doors of blessed eternity, have resolved, to the glory of God, in honour of the holy Mother of God Mary and of blessed Francis…, to endow and build a monastery for the nuns of St. Clare…, so that, having renounced their own will, they may serve the Lord in fear day and night and walk before Him in holiness and truth, choosing entry into life by the narrow path and the strait gate; wherefore it is right that they should be supported in all the needs of temporal life, so that the more peacefully they live, the more fervently they may serve the Lord and be of use to themselves by the merit of their life, and to others by the help of their prayers and their example…”

From St. Kinga’s foundation charter of the Stary Sącz monastery, 6 July 1280 (translated from the Polish version)