Saint Bridget of Sweden

I would like to present Saint Bridget, her message and the reasons why — still today — this holy woman has much to teach the Church and the world.  We can distinguish two periods in this Saint's life.

The first was characterized by her happily married state. Her husband was called Ulf and he was Governor of an important district of the Kingdom of Sweden. The marriage lasted for 28 years, until Ulf's death. Eight children were born, the second of whom, Karin (Catherine), is venerated as a Saint. This is an eloquent sign of Bridget's dedication to her children's education....  Bridget, who was given spiritual guidance by a learned religious who initiated her into the study of the Scriptures, exercised a very positive influence on her family which, thanks to her presence, became a true “domestic church”….

The second period of Bridget's life began when she was widowed. She did not consider another marriage in order to deepen her union with the Lord through prayer, penance and charitable works. Therefore Christian widows too may find in this Saint a model to follow. In fact, upon the death of her husband, after distributing her possessions to the poor — although she never became a consecrated religious — Bridget settled near the Cistercian Monastery of Alvastra. Here began the divine revelations that were to accompany her for the rest of her life….

In 1349 Bridget left Sweden for good and went on pilgrimage to Rome. She was not only intending to take part in the Jubilee of the Year 1350 but also wished to obtain from the Pope approval for the Rule of a Religious Order that she was intending to found….  In Rome, in the company of her daughter Karin, Bridget dedicated herself to a life of intense apostolate and prayer. And from Rome she went on pilgrimage to various Italian Shrines, in particular to Assisi, the homeland of St Francis for whom Bridget had always had great devotion. Finally, in 1371, her deepest desire was crowned: to travel to the Holy Land, to which she went accompanied by her spiritual children, a group that Bridget called “the friends of God”. In those years the Pontiffs lived at Avignon, a long way from Rome: Bridget addressed a heartfelt plea to them to return to the See of Peter, in the Eternal City. She died in 1373, before Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome definitively….

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

General Audience, 27 October 2010

For the complete text, please visit:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20101027_en.html

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Prayer to Saint Bridget

With hearts full of con­fidence, we turn to you, O Blessed Birgitta, in these times of darkness and unbelief, to invoke your powerful intercession on behalf of those who are separated from the true Church of Jesus Christ. Conscious of your deep knowledge of the cruel sufferings of our crucified Saviour, we beseech you to obtain the gift of Faith for all those who are outside the one fold, so that all the scattered sheep may return to the one true Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

St. Birgitta, fearless in the service of God, pray for us.

St. Birgitta, patient in suffer­ing and humiliation, pray for us.

St. Birgitta, marvellous in thy love towards Jesus and Mary, pray for us.

Pater, Ave, Gloria.
 

For more information, please visit:

http://www.brigidine.org/en-EN/Default.aspx

http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/B/stbridgetofsweden.asp

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Several years ago I had the privilege to accompany some dear friends on a “mini-pilgrimage” to the Casa di Santa Brigida, General House of the Sisters of Saint Bridget, located in Piazza Farnese in Rome.  Despite our arriving after normal visiting hours, the sisters graciously welcomed a few members of the Board of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) to visit their chapel as well as the three rooms where Saint Bridget lived and died.  You immediately feel that you are entering an oasis of peace and prayer as you step through the door of the convent from the bustling city square.  Consider the House of Saint Bridget as a holy place to pray and/or stay while in Rome.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.brigidine.org/en-EN/default.aspx?idt=139              

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For the latest updates to the website of the Pontifical Council for the Laity Women’s Section please be sure to visit http://www.laici.va/content/laici/en/sezioni/donna.html.

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