July 23 2019 - St. Bridget of Sweden - Holiness in all walks 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.

Throughout the stages of her life, Bridget exemplified considerable holiness. At the age of ten, Bridget had a vision; she saw Our Lord as He was on the Cross. She meditated constantly on the mysteries of the Passion even in her youth. Throughout her marriage a Prince of Sweden, she was dedicated to the works of mercy. She even had a monastery built for the good sisters which she later joined after the death of her husband, when she renounced her wealth in order to live as the ascetical life as a Third Order Franciscan.

She went on to found the Religious Order of the Precious Blood, which is known familiarly as the Bridgettines, which still exist to this day. I would often see them in Rome. You can tell them by their very unique head guard to their religious habit. Her daughter joined the Bridgettines as well, and went on to become a saint. Saint Catherine of Sweden.

Pope John Paul II declared St. Bridget co-patroness of Europe. And In his declaration the Pope said, “In naming her a Co-Patroness of Europe”, she 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”

“Who is my mother, who are my brothers and sisters?” Asks the Lord in the Gospel today. “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father” St. Bridget sought to do the will of God, and is a model for us all. Like St. Bridget, we are each to seek opportunities within our individual vocations to grow in holiness, opportunities to build the kingdom.

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 and happiness in the life to come 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, for the glory of God and 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, that our 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.