July 23 2025 - St. Bridget of Sweden - Union with the Cross and Abundance of Life

 

The Opening Prayer mentions how God guided Saint Bridget of Sweden “along different paths of life.”  Bridget was a wife, a mother, a lady-in-waiting in the royal court, a mystic, a third Order Franciscan, and finally a foundress of a religious order.  

At ten years of age young Bridget had a mystic vision of Jesus on the cross, covered with fresh blood and speaking to her about his Passion.  She received many such revelations which fill 8 volumes. 

Through all those different paths of life, she sought to unite herself ever more closely to the suffering Christ.

She and her husband, the Prince of Sweden, had 8 children, for whom she set the powerful Christian example of faith and charity. After her husband’s death, she renounced her wealth and joined the Franciscans, at a monastery which she and her husband had built. 

In 1999, Pope John Paul II declared St. Bridget a Co-Patroness of Europe, along with Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross.

In his declaration naming Bridget a Co-Patroness of Europe, the Pope said, that Bridget of Sweden is not just a model for those in consecrated religious life, but especially for married people—that those who have “the high and demanding vocation of forming a Christian family will feel that she is close to them.”  

The Pope emphasized how “she and her husband enjoyed a married life in which conjugal love was joined to intense prayer, the study of Sacred Scripture, mortification and charitable works. Together they founded a small hospital, where they often attended the sick. Bridget was in the habit of serving the poor personally. At the same time, she was appreciated for her gifts as a teacher”

We see in the Saints what life is supposed to look like.  The Lord guides us along many different paths and desires to teach us, like St. Bridget, the wisdom of the cross: that fulfillment in this life is found, not in wealth and possessions and making a name for ourselves, but seeking the Lord’s will in all things, particularly in accepting the cross for the sake of the kingdom.

There is a famous mosaic in the ancient basilica of St. Clement in Rome of the crucified Christ, and from the cross come an abundance of vines and branches, spoken of in our gospel today. When we are united to Christ, there is an abundance of life. Just like we see in saints like St. Bridget, union with Christ brings life in the spirit, an abundance of spiritual gifts and good works which are to be used for the building up of the church, for the spread of the Gospel, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That members of the Church, priests, religious, married, and single, may seek the kingdom of God His and righteousness and the Divine Will above all.

For an increase in vocations to the religious life, for the spiritual good of the Bridgettine Order, for third Order Franciscans, and that consecrated religious may continue to bless the Church by their faithful living of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Through the intercession of St. Bridget, co-patroness of Europe, for the conversion of the people of Europe from all that keeps them from following Christ.

That the sick, suffering, and sorrowful may know the consolation and peace of the living God.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Hear Our Prayers, O Lord, and through the intercession of St. Bridget of Sweden, help us, as we walk the many paths of life, to serve you in all things and come to the eternal kingdom of heaven. Through Christ. Our Lord.

November 17 2023 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Charity without expectation of repayment

 “What good is it if we only show charity to those who show charity to us” we hear in the Gospel today. 

The Christian life is to be marked by charity. Our love for God is to be seen in our charitable works—our patience, kindness, and generosity toward our fellow man and our attentiveness to the needs of the poor. But that charity isn’t to be shown simply to those who show charity to us, rather, true charity is to be shown to all, especially those who have no ability or no intention of repaying us. “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.”

To be honest, it is easier to love the grateful than the ungrateful. The grateful give us that instant gratification of a positive response for our good deeds. It’s easier to lend to someone as a favor. Not only do you know you are going to be repaid, but now they owe you a favor. The lender profits from the favor. That’s not really charity, that’s self-interest. 

Rather, t Jesus teaches us that his followers are to be motivated by more than self-interest and instant gratification. The Christian is not simply to be motivate by natural inclinations, but by supernatural grace, and the teaching of the one who embraced the cross. We are to give, not just to those who can repay, but to those who are unable to repay, to the helpless. We are to improve our own standing, but that of others, at the cost of ourselves.

At first, our self-interested selves recoil from this sort of behavior, but do it enough, and you begin to develop the virtue of real charity—which is a share in the very life of God.

Today we honor St. Elizabeth of Hungary. During a severe famine, the noblewoman Elizabeth exhausted her family treasure to feed the poor and sick. She built a hospital from her family funds, tending to the sick, feeding them, often by hand—sometimes 900 patients every day. She provided for the welfare of orphans and helpless children. 

Many criticized her material benefactions as excessive, but can one be excessive in caring for Christ? “That which you did for the least of my brethren, you did for me.”

St. Elizabeth is revered as the patron saint of third order Franciscans, but no doubt, she has something to teach us all about the Lord’s invitation to conversion and true holiness, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

For blessings upon the Bishops as they conclude their meeting in Baltimore, that their conversations, prayers, and deliberations may be for the good of the Church and the mission of the Gospel. 

For our consecrated religious, and all third order Franciscans under the patronage of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, may they be strengthened in their works of charity and sustained in their witness to Christ’s saving Gospel.

That families experiencing division may know the peace and reconciliation that comes from Christ.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, or for those who will die today: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special favor and consolation.  

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

November 17 2020 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Patron Saint of Third Order Franciscans

 

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, and was very devout from a young age.  She would often give away her possessions to the poor and sick, and had a special love for lepers. 

She was placed in an arranged marriage, and, as providence would have it, she was married to another devout soul: Louis, the Landgrave of Thuringia. Her husband encouraged her in the works of charity and they were said to have had an “unusually happy marriage”.  

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

Sadly, her husband died on his way to fight in the crusades, and Louis’ brothers, 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. She is invoked as patron saint of third order Franciscans. 

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.

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For our consecrated religious, particularly those under the patronage of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, may they be strengthened and supported in their witness to Christ’s saving Gospel.

That families experiencing division may know the peace and reconciliation that comes from Christ.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, or for those who will die today: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special favor and consolation.  

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.