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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
1303–July 23, 1373
Patron Saint of Europe, Sweden, widows, mothers, pilgrims, and difficult marriages
St. Bridget of Sweden was a wife, mother, mystic, and founder of a religious order whose life combined a life of holiness with a strong concern for the renewal of the Church.
Born to a noble Swedish family in 1303, she was married to Ulf Gudmarsson at a young age, and together they had eight children. Despite her responsibilities in family life, Bridget was known for her intense prayer life, devotion to the Passion of Christ, and commitment to works of charity.
After her husband’s death, Bridget joined a Third Order Franciscan community and served the Church. Throughout her life, she experienced profound mystical visions focused on Christ’s suffering and the need for reform within Christian society. These revelations were carefully recorded and later compiled under spiritual direction, becoming a key part of her spiritual legacy.
Bridget moved to Rome and lived as a pilgrim for 24 years. She sought papal approval for the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Bridgettines), a community dedicated to prayer, penance, and devotion to the Passion of Christ.
In Rome, she advised the pope, urging deeper faith and Church renewal through prayer and reform. Later, she made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
St. Bridget died in 1373 shortly after completing the journey. Canonized in 1391, she was later declared one of the patron saints of Europe, recognized for her spiritual influence, her role in Church reform, and her ability to bridge geographical, social, and ecclesial divides, underscoring the universality of the Christian Faith.
St. Bridget of Sweden’s mystical revelations, called the Revelations of St. Bridget (or Revelationes Celestes), were writings that recorded her visions of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. Her revelations, which she received from age ten until her death, focused on the Passion of Christ, the Nativity, and the need for Church reform. Her experiences were carefully documented by her spiritual advisors to ensure accuracy and orthodoxy. Bridget dictated her visions in Swedish to her confessors, who then translated them into Latin. They were later compiled into books and became widely read in the Middle Ages, influencing the Church’s devotional practices.
St. Bridget established the Order of the Most Holy Savior, commonly known as the Bridgettines, in the 14th century. The order was unique in that it involved both nuns and priests who lived in separate cloistered communities, but shared spiritual and intellectual pursuits. It was established to promote devotion to the Passion of Christ, foster monastic reform, and advance Christian unity. Dedicated to prayer and contemplation, the order provided hospitality, education, and social services, often supporting the poor and sick. Bridget envisioned the order as a path toward spiritual renewal within the Church.
Pope St. John Paul II named Bridget of Sweden a patron saint of Europe in 1999, alongside St. Catherine of Siena and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She is honored in this role because of her spiritual influence across national boundaries. She is a crucial figure in prayer for the reunification of European Christians and a vital link between northern and southern Europe. Her calls for reform, unity in the Church, and deeper devotion to Christ reflect themes that are central to Europe’s Christian heritage. Her life also symbolizes the integration of family life. As a wife, mother of eight, widow, and later founder of the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Bridgettines), she navigated many aspects of human experience. St. Bridget’s holiness, influence, and advocacy for unity and moral reform brought change to 14th-century Europe.
Jesus is the essence of humility, and He called us to be humble. In fact, humility is a virtue that’s common to the saints. But how can we grow in humility?
This eBook sheds light on this virtue and helps you to reflect on areas where pride may have crept into your life. Inside, you’ll find the Litany of Humility, reflections from Sacred Scripture, and meditations from the saints.
Please sign up today for this free eBook, and deepen your walk with Christ by growing in humility.
An EWTN original movie presenting the life and mystical revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden, known for her great charity and prayer.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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