Homily: November 17 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Today we celebrate the feast of Elizabeth of Hungary patroness of the Franciscan third order.  Elizabeth was born in the year 1207, right about the time St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscans.

She was the daughter of Andrew II, King of Hungary.  As was the custom at the time, she was betrothed, soon after her birth, and was sent, at the age of 3 years, to be reared in the castle of her betrothed, who was about the same age—Louis, the Landgrave of Thuringia.  St. Elizabeth grew up very devout.  And, even at a young age she loved to give things to the sick and poor, especially lepers. 

Elizabeth and Louis grew up together, they loved each other, and they were both devout.  After their marriage, when she was 18, Louis encouraged her to continue her works of charity. 

In a wonderful description of their marriage, it is written that they had an “unusually happy marriage”.  So often,  vice and sin, selfishness and hard hearts lead to unhappiness in marriage; but God made marriage to help spouses to grow in holiness.  A marriage with God at the center becomes charged and changed by his presence.

St. Elizabeth, as part of her charitable works, built a hospital next to their castle.  She, herself, would personally tend to the sick and the poor, feeding over 900 people daily. 

As all of the saints of the Church, she shared in the cross of Christ.  Her husband died on his way to fight in the crusades.  His four brothers, who weren’t as holy as he, rose up against her, and drove her out of the castle.  She was forced to flee with her 4 children, one of those children being only 2 months old.  She was cast out, like the Holy Family, she could find no place to enter, for people were afraid to take her in out of fear of her husband’s brothers.  Like the Holy family she was granted asylum in a stable. 

The amazing thing, she didn’t complain, she didn’t curse God, she saw this as a sign of God’s favor, and she gave thanks to God for permitting her a share in the savior’s cross and be conformed to the Holy Family.  She continued to work odd jobs, spinning garments and selling them.  She was allowed to come back to the castle under the new emperor, and even built a second hospital.

She died at the age of 24.  Yet, because of the great number of miracles at her grave, Pope Gregory canonized her, only four years after her death.

Here was a holy woman, more concerned about the nobility of her soul, than her noble status in the world—more concerned with clothing her soul with virtue, than with the fine garments of a queen—a holy, virtuous woman, industrious in doing good works. 

Because her eyes were set on heaven, when she met the cross, she did not despair; rather, she saw the sufferings of her life as an opportunity to conform herself to Our Lord.  So let us follow in Elizabeth’s footsteps, in performing many good works and accepting all of the trials that God deigns to send us, and learn to accept the cross with gratitude that we may partake in the cross of His son, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.