St. Bridget of Sweden

We have discussed several martyrs in the past several posts - so today I want to share the story of a Saint who lived a long life and died a natural death. St. Bridget of Sweden lived a full life as a wife, mother, widow and the founder of a religious order.

Bridget was born in 1303, the daughter of a chieftain of the Uppland region of Sweden. When she was 13 years old she thought of devoting her life to God as a consecrated virgin, but her father had other plans. For political reasons, Bridget was married to Ulf Gudmarsson, the son of her father's colleague. Later, Bridget would tell her daughter, St. Catherine of Sweden, that at the time she would have rather died than be married. Never the less, the marriage turned out to be a happy one, lasting 28 years. The couple was blessed with eight children, six of whom survived infancy (which was rare at that time). Bridget became known for her charity, particularly towards unwed mothers and their children.

After the death of her husband, Bridget became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and devoted herself to a life of prayer and caring for the poor. It was about this time that she developed the idea of forming a new religious community, which was to become the Order of the Most Holy Saviour, or the Brigittines. One distinctive feature of the pre-Reformation houses of the Order was that they were double monasteries, with both men and women forming a joint community, though with separate cloisters.

In 1350, Bridget braved plague ridden Europe to take a pilgrimage to Rome accompanied by her daughter, Catherine. This was done in part to gain authorization from the Pope for the new Order. It was not until 1370 that Pope Urban V finally confirmed the rule of the Oder. By this time, Bridget was well known in Rome for her kindness and good works. Except for occasional pilgrimages, Bridget remained in Rome urging ecclesiastical reform until her death in 1373.

St. Bridget's feast day is July 23. She is one of the patron Saints of Europe, Patroness of Sweden and patroness of widows.