St. Elizabeth Of Hungary

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Why this Saint?

Our good friend, Andrew Burghardt, parents were born in Hungary. I am also part Hungarian – my late mothers’ parents were born there. In fact, my Grandmother’s name was Elizabeth. So, it just seemed right to choose this Saint.

The Facts

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, (born 1207, in Pressburg, Hungary [now Bratislava, Slovakia]—died November 17, 1231, Marburg, Thuringia [now Hesse, Germany]; canonized 1235; feast day November 17).

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is the Patron Saint of:

• Bakers

• Catholic Charities

• Secular Franciscan Order

Her Story

Taken from Catholic Online

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also known as St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, was born in Hungary on July 7, 1207 to the Hungarian King Andrew II and Gertrude of Merania.

As soon as her life began, she had responsibilities from being a royal pressed upon her. While Elizabeth was very young, her father arranged for her to be married to Ludwig IV of Thuringia, a German nobleman. Because of this plan, Elizabeth was sent away at the age of four for education at the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia.

Elizabeth's mother, Gertrude, was murdered in 1213, when Elizabeth was just six-years-old. According to history, the murder was carried out by Hungarian noblemen due to the conflict between Germans and the Hungarian nobles. From this point on, Elizabeth's perspective on life and death dramatically changed and she sought peace with prayer.

Happiness was returned to her young life in 1221 when she was formally married to Ludwig, whom she deeply loved. Together the couple had three beautiful children, two of whom became members of nobility and the third entering the religious life, becoming abbess of a German convent.

Elizabeth continued to live a life full of prayer and a service to the poor. Ludwig, who was now one of the rulers of Thuringia, supported all of Elizabeth's religious endeavors even though she was a part of the royal court. She began to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity. She used her royal position to advance her mission for charity.

In 1223, Franciscan friars arrived in Thuringia and taught 16-year-old Elizabeth all about Francis of Assisi's ideals. She then forth decided to live her life mirroring his.

She wore simple clothing and set aside time every day to take bread to hundreds of poor people in her land. Ludwig and Elizabeth were politically powerful and lived with a remarkable generosity toward the poor.

In 1226, when disease and floods struck Thuringia, Elizabeth took to caring for the victims. It is said she even gave away the royal's clothing and goods to the afflicted people. Elizabeth had a hospital built and provided for almost a thousand poor people daily.

Elizabeth's life was full of love and faith. However, tragedy struck when Ludwig passed away from illness in 1227. It is said upon hearing the news, she said, "He is dead. He is dead. It is to me as if the whole world died today." His remains were entombed at the Abbey of Reinhardsbrunn.

Elizabeth vowed to never remarry and to live a life similar to a nun, despite pressure from relatives.

Her vows included celibacy and an agreement of complete obedience to her confessor and spiritual director, Master Conrad of Marburg. His treatment of Elizabeth was very strict and often harsh. He held her to a standard that many saw as impossible to meet. He provided physical beatings and sent away her children. However, she continued to keep her vow, even offering to cut off her own nose, so she woud be too ugly for any man to want.

In 1228, Elizabeth joined the Third Order of St. Francis. Elizabeth, having received her dowry, founded a hospital in honor of St. Francis, where she personally attended to the ill. She ministered to the sick and provided support to the poor.

Elizabeth's life was consumed deeply by her devotion to God and her charitable labor. She passed away at the age of 24, on November 17, 1231 in Marburg, Hesse.

One of her greatest known miracles occurred when she was still alive, the miracle of roses. It is said that during one of her many trips delivering bread to the poor in secret, Ludwig met with her and asked her questions to erase everyone's suspicions that she was stealing treasures from the castle. He asked her to reveal the contents under her cloak, and as she did a vision of white and red roses was seen. To Ludwig, this meant God's protection was evident. In other versions, it was her brother-in-law who found her. Elizabeth's story is one of the first of many that associates Christian saints with roses.

Another living miracle involved a leper lying in the bed she shared with her husband. Her mother-in-law discovered Elizabeth had placed a leper in the bed, and feeling enraged, she informed Ludwig. Annoyed with the situation, Ludwig removed the bedclothes and instantly the "Almighty God opened the eyes of his soul, and instead of a leper he saw the figure of Christ crucified stretched upon the bed."

After her death, miraculous healings began to occur at her graveside near her hospital. Examinations were held for those who had been healed from 1232 to 1235. The investigations, along with testimony from Elizabeth's handmaidens and companions and the immense popularity surrounding her, provided enough reason for her canonization.

Pope Gregory IX canonized her on May 27, 1235.

My Own Reflection:

How did St. Elizabeth of Hungary view the world? Not from the eyes of privilege but from the eyes of Jesus. This is remarkable and inspiring. She used all of her gifts – and her position in life – to advance her works of charity.

When tragedy struck early in her life, she knew that she could seek peace through prayer. This became the fuel for her life and positioned her well to live a life of service to others…no matter the personal challenges she faced.

Her life was filled with love and faith. This is all she needed. She did not need the riches of the material world even though they were available to her. She knew that building her faith would draw her closer to God. She understood that putting love at the centre of her life would allow her to follow in Christ’s footsteps.

Think of all she accomplished in 24 years. By living a life of devotion and good works, she was able to touch the lives of so many within her own community. Her sainthood has inspired millions over the years and will continue to do so. It begs the question for us: What can we accomplish in the next hour, day or month by completely filling our life with love and faith?

Finally, what really resonated with me was her humility. She carried out her works of charity quietly - not wanting to draw attention to herself. Her motivation was simple – love. How can we deliver bread, as St. Elizabeth of Hungary did, in secret?

David Weber