The article describes the issue of the box for the storage of the Blessed Sacrament, donated by Alexander Przezdziecki to the Bishop of Nismes to commemorate the birth of Bolesław the Wrymouth. The box was to be solemnly consecrated on 28 March 1852 in the church in Nismes. Przezdziecki was to find proof that the Wrymouth had made a pilgrimage to Saint-Gilles. As Bolesław's name was 'forgotten', the researcher donated a tin made by the goldsmith Froment-Meurice to hold the holy sacrament. (Source: Tygodnik Illustrowany, Warsaw 1860, T:2, p. 393., after: Digital Library of the University of Łódź).

A modernised reading of the text

Tin for the safekeeping of the Holy Sacrament, presented by Count Alexander Przezdziecki to the Bishop of Nismes, in commemoration of the birth of Bolesław the Wrymouth.

A respected researcher of our history and antiquity, Count Aleksander Przezdziecki, while looking for Polish historical mementoes in foreign countries, came across, among others, traces of Bolesław the Wrymouth's presence in the town of St. Gilles, in southern France, where there was once a monastery of St. Idzi, famous for his miracles. In his search, Mr Przezdziecki followed the advice of our most ancient chronicler Gall, who mentions that Bolesław, around the year 1129, made a pious pilgrimage to St. Gilles, as his miraculous cradle.

It is known that Ladislaus Herman and his wife Judith, daughter of Vratislaus, King of Bohemia, lived together in a childless marriage for a long time, and were eagerly desirous of having children. According to the chronicle of Gallus, a certain Frank, the Polish bishop (sic), consoling the two princes, is supposed to have said these words to them:

"There is a saint at the end of Gallia, towards the south, near Marseilles, where the Rhone flows into the sea, in the land of Provence, and his name is St Idzi. This one has such merit with God that anyone who takes up devotion to him and venerates his memory will obtain whatever he asks for. So, at once, have the golden statue of the child cast, prepare the royal gifts and send St. Ida without delay".

The bishop's advice was heeded by the distressed spouses, and the statue of the child and the chalice were poured, and other gifts of gold and silver, of tyres and of ecclesiastical robes were prepared, all of which were sent back to Provence by the faithful messengers of 1084, with a letter from Duke Ladislaus to the abbot and to the monks (*). After reading this letter and receiving the rich gifts, the abbot ordered a three-day fast, with the singing of litanies and prayers to God to show his glory to unknown peoples. When the envoys returned to Poland via Burgundy, they found Princess Judith already in a blessed state. Thus, through the intercession of St Idzi, Bolesław was born on the day of St Stephen, King (2 September 1085), and 44 years later, as mentioned above, made a pious pilgrimage to Saint-Gilles, of which Mr Przezdziecki found written evidence in the archives of the City of Nismes.

But the local legend was silent about this fact, and Bolesław's name was forgotten. Our researcher, therefore, decided to refresh and preserve this memory in Saint-Gilles, and in order to do so, he had the famous Parisian goldsmith, Mr Froment-Meurice, make a box for the safekeeping of the Blessed Sacrament (a woodcut of which is attached here), offering it to the Bishop of Nismes, together with extracts from Gall's chronicle concerning this historical event. On 28 March 1852, it was solemnly consecrated in church and the legend of the birth of Boleslav III was told to the people from the pulpit. The shape of the vessel is Byzantine. St Idzi is kneeling under the cross, and a child, representing Bolesław, is stretching out his folded hands to the Saviour.

At the base there are three medallions depicting the Polish patron saints: St Stanislaus, St Salomea and St Casimir. On the base the following inscription: Intercedente B. Aegidio patrono coelesti, Boleslaus III dux Poloniae patri populoque natus est, a. D. MLXXXV. On the lid: Alexander Przezdziecki Polonus, ad renovandam veteris beneficii memoriam, V Cal. Sept. a. D. MDCCCLI aedem B. Aegidii, in valle Flaviana ingressus, D. O. M. calicem, monumentum pietatis, ex voto D. D. D.