Today, July 23, the Church celebrates the feast day of
St. Bridget of
Daughter of Birger Persson, the governor and provincial
judge of Uppland, and of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter, Bridget was born in Sweden
in 1303. From the time she was a child, she was greatly devoted to the passion
of Jesus.
When she was only ten, it is recorded that she had a vision
of Jesus on the cross and heard him say, “Look at me, my daughter." "Who has treated you like this?" cried little
Bridget. Jesus answered, "Those who despise me and refuse my
love for them.” From that moment on, Bridget tried to stop people from
offending Jesus.
When she was 14, Bridget married an 18-year old man
named Ulf. Like Bridget, Ulf had set his heart on serving God. They had eight
children, of whom one was St. Catherine of Sweden .
Bridget and Ulf also served the Swedish court, Bridget as the queen's
personal maid. Bridget tried to help King Magnus and Queen Blanche lead better
lives, however for the most part, they did not listen to her.
All her life, Bridget had marvelous visions and received
special messages from God. In obedience to them, she visited many rulers and
important people in the Church. She explained humbly what God expected of them.
After her husband died, Bridget put away her rich clothes
and lived as a poor nun. Later, in 1346, she began the order of the Most Holy
Savior, also known as Bridgettines. She still kept up her own busy life,
traveling about doing good everywhere she went. And through all this activity,
Jesus continued to reveal many secrets to her, which she received without the
least bit of pride. Shortly before she died, the saint went on a pilgrimage to
the Holy Land . At the shrines there, she had visions of
what Jesus had said and done in each place.
All St. Bridget's revelations on the sufferings of Jesus
were published after her death.
St. Bridget died in Rome
on July 23, 1373 . She was
proclaimed a saint by Pope Boniface IX in 1391.
"True wisdom, then, consists in works, not in great
talents, which the world admires; for the wise in the world's estimation . . .
are the foolish who set at naught the will of God, and know not how to control
their passions." --Saint Bridget of Sweden .
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