The Basics: Born July 7, 1207, in Slovakia; died November 17, 1231, in Germany; canonized May 27, 1235, by Pope Gregory IX; feast day, November 17. Wife, mother, princess, Franciscan tertiary.
The Story: Elizabeth could have been bitter. After all, the Hungarian princess was taken away from her family as a young child to be raised with the prince to whom she was bethrothed. Her mother was murdered when she was six. When she was nine, her fiance died and she was then promised to his younger brother, Ludwig. But Elizabeth’s strong faith would see her through all these challenges and more. The couple married when Elizabeth was fourteen, and their five or so years together were by all accounts happy, producing three children. But Ludwig died while on a crusade to Palestine when Elizabeth was twenty, causing much anguish. She determined to leave the castle and become one of Germany’s first Franciscan tertiaries, continuing the good work she had begun during her marriage, including the establishment of a hospital where she visited patients daily. Pilgrims began flocking to Elizabeth’s grave site at the Franciscan chapel almost immediately, and she was canonized less than four years after her death.
Elizabeth’s Wisdom: “Remember that we too shall one day be but dust.”
What We Can Learn from Elizabeth: Royalty or commoner, rich or poor, our time on earth is limited. Let’s make the most of it in the way we serve the Lord and His people.
To Learn More About Elizabeth: Visit the site for St. Elizabeth’s Church in Marburg, Germany, where the saint’s remains lie. It’s the oldest Gothic church in the country.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my books, Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith or Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
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