Tag: Hungary

Celebrating 365 Days of Legends, Folklore & Spirituality for November 18th – St. Elizabeth

GOTHIC

November 18th

St. Elizabeth

 

St. Elizabeth was born in Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary. At the age of 4, she was sent for her education to the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia, to whose infant son she had been betrothed. As she grew in age, her piety increased. in 1221 she married Louis of Thuringia, and, despite her high position, she of Thuringia, and, despite her high position, she led an austere lifestyle and devoted her time to charitable works.

Louis was religiously inclined and much admired his wife’s virtue. They lived an exemplary life and had three children when tragedy struck: Louis was killed fighting the Crusades. Heartbroken, broken, Elizabeth fostered her children and in 1228 renounced the world. She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and devoted herself to caring for the sick. She died at the age of 24 in 1231.

 

Saint of the Day for November 17th is St. Elizabeth of Hungary

St. Elizabeth of Hungary
(1207-1231)

In her short life Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. This choice endeared her in the hearts of the common people throughout Europe.

At the age of 14 Elizabeth was married to Louis of Thuringia (a German principality), whom she deeply loved; she bore three children. Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice and service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest in the land, who came to her gate.

After six years of marriage, her husband died in the Crusades, and she was grief-stricken. Her husband’s family looked upon her as squandering the royal purse, and mistreated her, finally throwing her out of the palace. The return of her husband’s allies from the Crusades resulted in her being reinstated, since her son was legal heir to the throne.

In 1228 Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order, spending the remaining few years of her life caring for the poor in a hospital which she founded in honor of St. Francis. Elizabeth’s health declined, and she died before her 24th birthday in 1231. Her great popularity resulted in her canonization four years later.

 

AmericanCatholic.org