St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373)
Mystical visionary. Bridget was happily married to the nobleman Ulf Gudmarsson for twenty eight years, and they had eight children together. She served in the Swedeish royal courts as lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche of Namur. In her role in the courts, she sought the moral reform of King Magnus II and Queen Blanche. Upon the death of her husband, Bridget joined the Third Order of St. Francis and devoted herself to a life of penance and asceticism. Inspired by a vision, Bridget founded the Order of the Most Holy Saviour. For the Holy Year of 1350, Bridget left Sweden on pilgrimage to Rome. She ended up staying in Rome, being a prophetic voice of reform in the Church and in the politics of her time. In 1371, Bridget made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Upon her return to Rome, Bridget died on this day in 1373. Her body was taken back to Sweden and entombed in the monastery in Vadstena. During her lifetime, Bridget has received many mystical visions, enough to fill eight volumes.
Prayer
O God, who guided Saint Bridget of Sweden along different paths of life and wondrously taught her the wisdom of the Cross as she contemplated the Passion of your Son, grant us, we pray, that, walking worthily in our vocation, we may seek you in all things.