St Bridget of Sweden

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Bridget. Ever since the very young age of 7, St. Bridget was able to have many visions of Christ crucified. St. Bridget’s visions formed the basis for her activity, she always did acts of charity.

St. Bridget had lived her married life in the court of the Swedish king Magnus II. St. Bridget was the mother of eight children, her second eldest was Saint Catherine of Sweden. St. Bridget was able to live a strict life of a penitent after her husband’s death.

St. Bridget’s husband gave her land and buildings to found a monastery for men and women. This group she founded was able to eventually expand into an Order known as the Bridgetines.

During the year 1350, which was a year of jubilee, St. Bridget overcame a plague that had struck Europe and made a pilgrimage to Rome. Although she was never able to return to Sweden, her years in Rome were far from happy, St. Bridget was in trouble by debts and by opposition to her work.

St. Bridget’s final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, was impacted by a shipwreck which led to the death of her son, Charles, which eventually led to her death during the year 1373. During the year 1999, St. Bridget, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, were named co-patronesses of Europe.

Prayer to St. Bridget

St. Bridget intercede that we may be able to accomplish the Lord’s will even when it may seem impossible or difficult to do so. Be with us in hard times and help us to pray to Christ for guidance and protection.

Amen

St. Bridget pray for us

St. Joseph pray for us

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

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Works cited:

Information (read from, not taken):

Franciscan media. “Saint Bridget of Sweden. ”Saint Bridget of Sweden | Franciscan Media. Accessed July 23, 2021.

Images:

Saint Bridget of Sweden. July 23, 2021. Saint Bridget of Sweden - Google Search.