Pope Honors All Women through St. Bridget of Sweden

St. Bridget, Example to All Women

  This week the Pope is honoring all women everywhere as he proclaims St. Bridget of Sweden an example for all Christian women to follow, especially mothers and widows.  St. Bridget lived in the 14th century, which was "a time before western Christianity had been wounded by division" and he said that she could
"intercede effectively before God to obtain the much-awaited grace of the full unity of all Christians."

   Bridget was married for 28 years to her husband, Ulf, and together they had 8 children, one of them being St. Catherine of Sweden, a testimony to the care and education they gave to their children.  She endeavored to build a domestic church in her home and had a very special and spiritual marriage with Ulf.  The Pope goes on to say that "not infrequently, as happened in the lives of St. Bridget and Ulf, it is the wife who with her religious sensibility, with delicacy and gentleness, is able to make the husband follow a path of faith.   I am thinking, with recognition, of so many women who, day in day out, still today illumine their families with their testimony of Christian life. May the Spirit of the Lord fuel the sanctity of Christian spouses, to show the world the beauty of marriage lived according to the values of the Gospel: love, tenderness, mutual help, fecundity in generating and educating children, openness and solidarity to the world, participation in the life of the Church.their families with their testimony of Christian life."

The Pope continues, "The second period of Bridget's life began when she became a widow. She renounced further marriage to deepen her union with the Lord through prayer, penance and works of charity. Hence, Christian widows can also find in this saint a model to follow."

  "In fact, the great Christian tradition recognizes the dignity proper to women," the Pope goes on to say, as he honors this woman of great femininity and contribution to Europe and all of Christendom.

  After her husband's death she began the order of Brigittines which included both monks and nuns.  She also experienced a series of divine revelations which are composed in a set of eight books entitled "Revelationes" which can be purchased here or here.

   Pray for us, St. Bridget, to follow in your steps of Christian faith, hope and charity.