The Basics: Born June 17, 1610, Italy; died September 3, 1679, in Italy; beatified March 3, 1998, by John Paul II; feast day, September 3. Wife and woman religious.
The Story: It was perhaps not the life Brigida expected as a child. Born in the middle of a family of eleven children, she assumed caregiver roles when her mother became ill. She married at twenty-three, moved away from her hometown with her husband, only to be widowed by the time she was twenty-seven.
Brigida felt a tug at her soul to become a woman religious, but her efforts to join a Capuchin community was rejected because she was widowed. Undeterred, she began getting together with women in her home to pray and assist in particular uneducated girls. The new community, the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate, was established in 1649. Brigida served as superior from 1665 until shortly before her death. The UMI sisters today continue to help the poor, in particular women and children, in Italy, India, and Brazil.
What We Can Learn from Brigida: When we feel disappointed in where our lives are going, it’s a good idea to pray to discern whether seems to be “no” is actually “not now” or “not there.”
Brigida’s Wisdom: “I trust in God; I will never doubt His divine mercy, which never forsakes those who trust in Him.”
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
