Sainte ÉLISABETH de HONGRIE, reine, veuve et tertiaire franciscaine

Sainte Elisabeth de Thuringe

Élisabeth de Hongrie, duchesse (✝ 1231)

Princesse de Hongrie, elle est fiancée à l'âge de quatre ans et mariée à quatorze au Landgrave de Thuringe. Ce sera une épouse aimante pour ce mari qu'elle n'a pas choisi, se parant pour lui faire honneur, alors qu'elle n'aime que la simplicité.Des franciscains venus d'Allemagne lui font connaître l'esprit de saint François et elle se met au service des pauvres et des familles éprouvées par la guerre. En 1227, son époux tant aimé meurt au moment de s'embarquer pour la croisade. Élisabeth se retrouve veuve à 20 ans, enceinte d'un troisième enfant. Comme on veut la remarier, elle refuse et, pour cette raison, connaît l'injustice de sa famille qui la chasse avec ses trois enfants et l'héberge dans une porcherie. Son oncle l'évêque de Bamberg calme le jeu. Elle peut revêtir l'habit du Tiers-ordre franciscain. La famille ducale se charge des enfants. Elle ne garde pour elle qu'une pauvre demeure et met alors tous ses revenus au service des pauvres. Elle leur fait construire un hôpital. Joyeuse de tout ce qu'elle devait endurer, elle disait: "Je ne veux pas faire peur à Dieu par une mine sinistre. Ne préfère-t-il pas me voir joyeuse puisque je l'aime et qu'il m'aime?" Elle meurt à 24 ans ayant voué sa vie et sa santé à rendre heureux les misérables. 

A lire aussi: Sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie et de Thuringe (1207-1231) est la première patronne de notre paroisse (Paris IIIe)

La catéchèse du 20 octobre 2010 a été consacrée à sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie, dite aussi de Thuringe. Benoît XVI a tout d'abord rappelé qu'elle naquit en 1207 à la cour de Hongrie, où elle vécut quatre ans avant d'être donnée en mariage à Louis de Thuringe. "Bien que leur union ait été décidée pour raison politique, un amour sincère naquit entre les deux promis, animé par la foi et la volonté d'accomplir la volonté divine". Puis le Pape a raconté comment, devenue princesse, "elle agissait envers ses sujets comme envers Dieu... étant ainsi un exemple pour tous ceux qui revêtent des responsabilités de gouvernement. A chaque niveau, l'exercice de l'autorité doit être vécu un service à la justice et à la charité, dans la recherche permanente du bien public".

Rappelant ensuite que la sainte "pratiquait assidûment les œuvres de miséricorde", le Saint-Père a dit que son mariage fut très heureux. "Élisabeth aida son mari à élever ses qualités humaines vers le surnaturel, tandis qu'il la soutenait dans son action en faveur des pauvres et dans ses dévotions... Ce fut un témoignage clair de ce que la foi et l'amour envers Dieu et le prochain renforcent la vie familiale et le lien matrimonial". Élisabeth fut aidée aussi par les frères mineurs, qui accrurent  son désir de suivre le Christ pauvre et crucifié présent parmi les pauvres. Puis le Pape a parlé de son veuvage, survenu en 1227. "Une nouvelle épreuve l'attendait, car son beau-frère usurpa le gouvernement de la Thuringe... accusant Élisabeth d'être pieuse mais incapable de gouverner. Chassée de la Wartburg avec ses trois enfants, la jeune veuve se mit à la recherche d'un refuge... Durant un calvaire supporté avec grande foi, patience et soumission à Dieu, des parents restés fidèles à sa légitimité la défendirent. En 1228, elle reçut une dotation suffisante pour se retirer au château familial de Marburg".

Élisabeth passa ses trois dernières années à l'hôpital qu'elle avait fondé, au service des malades et des moribonds. Elle chercha sans cesse de se consacrer aux plus humbles, assumant les travaux les plus répugnants. Elle devint une femme consacrée au milieu du monde et fonda avec ses amies, vêtues de gris, une communauté religieuse. Elle devint ainsi la patronne du tiers ordre régulier de St.François et de l'ordre franciscain séculier". En novembre 1231 elle mourut des suite d'une fièvre. "Les témoignages de sa sainteté -a conclu Benoît XVI- furent tels et si nombreux que quatre ans plus tard Grégoire IX la proclama sainte. Cette même année 1235 fut consacrée en son honneur la belle église de Marburg. Puisse cette grande sainte de la charité inspirer en nous un amour intense de Dieu et du prochain, du pauvre et du malade, de tout homme ayant besoin d'une assistance matérielle et spirituelle. En eux, nous sommes appelés à voir le Christ crucifié, pauvre et humble". (source: VIS 20101020 490)

Mémoire de sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie. Mariée toute jeune à Louis, comte de Thuringe, elle lui donna trois enfants; devenue veuve, elle supporta avec courage de lourdes épreuves. Portée depuis longtemps à la méditation des réalités du ciel, elle se retira à Marbourg en Hesse, dans un hôpital qu'elle avait fondé, embrassant la pauvreté et se dépensant au soin des malades et des pauvres, jusqu'à son dernier souffle de vie, à l'âge de vingt-quatre ans, en 1231.

Martyrologe romain

SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/5/Sainte-Elisabeth-de-Thuringe.html

Sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie

Veuve, Tertiaire de Saint-François

(1207-1231)

Sainte Élisabeth, fille d'André II, roi de Hongrie, connut toutes les joies et toutes les grandeurs, mais aussi toutes les épreuves de la vie, et Dieu a donné en elle un modèle accompli aux enfants, aux jeunes filles, aux épouses, aux mères, aux veuves et aux religieuses, aux riches et aux pauvres. Après une enfance tout angélique, elle fut fiancée au jeune prince Louis de Thuringe; toutefois le mariage n'eut lieu que quelques années plus tard. Dès lors Élisabeth donnait tout ce qu'elle avait; elle allait sans cesse dans les cuisines du château pour recueillir les restes et les porter aux pauvres. Sa piété, son amour de Dieu la poussait au sacrifice et elle s'élevait vers Dieu à toute occasion avec une facilité extraordinaire.

Les deux jeunes époux, unis par la foi encore plus que par la tendresse, eurent toujours Dieu comme lien de leur affection; peu d'alliances furent mieux assorties et plus saintes que la leur. Louis était un prince éminent par ses vertus et sa sagesse; mais Élisabeth ne lui cédait en rien. Sous ses riches vêtements, elle portait toujours un cilice; tous les vendredis et chaque jour, en Carême, elle se faisait donner la discipline. La dévotion d'Élisabeth n'était ni triste, ni exagérée; au contraire, on ne la voyait jamais qu'avec un visage doux et aimable.

Elle aimait à porter aux pauvres de l'argent et des provisions. Un jour qu'elle descendait par un petit sentier très rude, portant dans son manteau du pain, de la viande, des oeufs et autres mets destinés aux malheureux, elle se trouva tout à coup en face de son mari: "Voyons ce que vous portez" dit-il; et en même temps il ouvre le manteau; mais il n'y avait plus que des roses blanches et rouges, bien qu'on ne fût pas à la saison des fleurs. Parmi les malheureux, elle affectionnait surtout les lépreux; elle lavait leurs plaies et les baisait à genoux. Un jour, elle soigna et plaça dans son propre lit un enfant souillé de la lèpre; son mari, prévenu contre elle, allait se livrer à l'impatience, quand, à la place de l'enfant, il aperçut Jésus crucifié.

Quelle douleur pour Élisabeth, quand son royal mari partit pour la croisade! Elle souffrit avec un grand courage cette séparation, qui devait être définitive, car on apprit bientôt la nouvelle de la mort du prince Louis. Élisabeth restait veuve avec quatre enfants. Alors commença sa vie d'incroyables épreuves. Chassée du château, réduite à la pauvreté la plus entière, méprisée, foulée aux pieds, elle sut se complaire en ses souffrances, et mourut à l'âge de vingt-quatre ans, sous l'habit du Tiers Ordre de Saint-François.

Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950

SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/sainte_elisabeth_de_hongrie.html

Bartholomäus Bruyn l'Ancien (Allemand, v.1493-1555). Sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie donnant l'aumône, 

v. 1530, huile et tempéra sur panneau, 39,4 x 18,4

Sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie

Sainte Elisabeth, naquit à Presbourg1 en 1207 ; elle était le troisième enfant du roi André II de Hongrie, descendant du saint roi Etienne, et de Gertrude, fille du duc Berthold IV de Méranie.  Elle quitta la Hongrie à quatre ans, promise en mariage au fils du landgrave Hermann I° de Thuringe (mort en 1217), Louis (né en 1200) qu'elle épousa en 1221.

Elisabeth avait une âme de feu : « Elisabeth, dit sa dame de compagnie, Guta, rappelle fréquemment la présence de Dieu, dans toutes ses actions elle invoque le Seigneur et rapporte tout à lui. » L'influence de son mari, qu'elle aima d'un grand amour, lui apporta un équilibre humain et spirituel durant les années heureuses de leur vie commune dont naquirent deux enfants (Hermann en 1222 et Sophie en 1224) : « Seigneur Jésus-Christ, je vous offre, ainsi qu'à votre chère mère Marie, ce nouveau né, fruit chéri de mon sein. Je vous le rends de tout coeur, tel que vous me l'avez donné. Recevez ce bébé, tout baigné de mes larmes, au nombre de vos serviteurs et amis. Bénissez-le à jamais. » Une lumière éclatante brillait alors dans l'Eglise, celle de François d'Assise. Elisabeth rêvait de vivre en foyer l'idéal franciscain et Louis était apte à partager les aspirations de sa femme. Mais, le 24 juin 1227, Louis de Thuringe dut partir pour la cinquième croisade. Au bout de trois mois, il mourait sur un bateau, en rade d'Otrante, en s'écriant : « Voyez donc toutes ces colombes blanches ! Je vais partir avec elles vers mon Dieu ! »

Encore qu'elle l'avait pressenti (« Malheur à moi, pauvre femme, sur terre je ne reverrai plus mon bien-aimé ! »), le coup fut terrible pour Elisabeth, qui attendait son troisième enfant, Gertrude (née vingt-sept jours après la mort de son père) : « Désormais, j'ai tout perdu sur la terre. O cher ami de mon coeur, mon excellent et pieux époux, tu es mort et tu me laisses dans la misère. Comment vais-je vivre sans toi ? Pauvre veuve abandonnée, faible femme ! Que le Dieu d'amour, celui qui n'abandonne pas la veuve et l'orphelin, me console ! O Mon Dieu ! O mon Jésus, fortifiez-moi dans ma faiblesse ! »

Elle aurait eu besoin alors d'un François de Sales à ses côtés ; or elle avait pour directeur un maître qui la terrorisait et n'hésitait même pas à la frapper. Spoliée de ses biens, elle enfermée par son oncle, l'évêque de Bamberg qui la veut remarier, jusqu'au retour de la dépouille de son mari (1228) : « Mon Dieu, merci de me consoler miséricordieusement par ces restes mortuaires de mon mari. Si grand que soit mon amour envers Louis, vous savez, Seigneur, que je ne me repens nullement de notre commun sacrifice pour le secours de la Terre-Sainte. Si je pouvais ramener à la vie mon cher époux, je donnerais le monde en échange. Pourtant, contre votre volonté sainte, je ne saurais racheter sa vie, ne serait-ce que pour un seul de mes cheveux ! Que la volonté du Seigneur soit faite ! »

Cédant à une recherche fiévreuse de l'abjection et de la pénitence, elle rompit avec sa famille, qui la prenait pour folle, et elle confia à d'autres le soin de ses enfants, tandis qu'elle revêtait l'habit du Tiers-Ordre, à Marburg sur le Lahn, pour se donner au service des pauvres et des malades les plus abandonnés, en qui elle reconnaissait le Christ : « Quelle joie pour moi de servir Notre-Seigneur en ses membres souffrants les plus éprouvés ! » Sa santé ne put résister à toutes ces austérités. Elle mourut le 16 novembre 1231, à minuit, âgée de vingt-quatre ans : « C'est l'heure où Jésus vient racheter le monde. il me rachètera aussi. Quelle faiblesse j'éprouve donc ! Pourtant, je ne ressens pas de douleur. O Marie, venez à mon secours ! Le moment arrive où Dieu m'appelle à l'éternelle noce. L'époux vient chercher son épouse ... Silence ! Silence ! »

Grégoire IX canonisa Elisabeth en 1235 ; elle est, avec saint Louis, patronne du Tiers-Ordre franciscain et, en 1885, Léon XIII la proclama patronne des femmes et des jeunes filles allemandes.

1 Presbourg est le nom allemand de Bratislava. Il se peut que saint Elisabeth soit née à Etzelborg ou à Saros-Patak.

SOURCE : http://missel.free.fr/Sanctoral/11/17.php

Svätá Alžbeta umýva žobráka, scéna z hlavného oltára Dómu svätej Alžbety v Košiciach, 2. polovica 15. storočia

St Elisabeht washing a beggar, a scene from the main altar of St Elisabeth Cathedral in Košice, Slovakia, 2nd half of the 15th century

BENOÎT XVI

AUDIENCE GÉNÉRALE

Place Saint-Pierre

Mercredi 20 octobre 2010

Elisabeth de Hongrie

Chers frères et sœurs,

Aujourd’hui, je voudrais vous parler de l’une des femmes du Moyen Age ayant suscité le plus d’admiration; il s’agit de sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie, appelée également Elisabeth de Thuringe.

Elle naquit en 1207; les historiens débattent sur son lieu de naissance. Son père était André II, riche et puissant roi de Hongrie qui, pour renforcer les liens politiques, avait épousé la comtesse allemande Gertrude d’Andechs-Merania, sœur de sainte Edwige, elle-même épouse du duc de Silésie. Elisabeth vécut à la cour de Hongrie les quatre premières années de son enfance uniquement, avec sa sœur et ses trois frères. Elle aimait le jeu, la musique et la danse; elle récitait fidèlement ses prières, et manifestait déjà une attention particulière pour les pauvres, qu’elle aidait au moyen d’une bonne parole ou d’un geste affectueux.

Son enfance heureuse fut brusquement interrompue lorsque, de la lointaine Thuringe, arrivèrent des chevaliers pour la conduire à son nouveau domicile, en Allemagne centrale. Selon la coutume de l’époque, en effet, son père avait établi qu’Elisabeth devienne princesse de Thuringe. Le Landgrave ou comte de cette région était l’un des souverains les plus riches et influents d’Europe au début du XIIIe siècle, et son château était un centre de splendeur et de culture. Mais derrière les fêtes et la gloire apparente se cachaient les ambitions des princes féodaux, souvent en guerre entre eux, et en conflit avec les autorités royales et impériales. Dans ce contexte, le Landgrave Herman accueillit bien volontiers les fiançailles entre son fils Ludovic et la princesse hongroise. Elisabeth quitta sa patrie pourvue d’une riche dot et d’une importante suite, composée notamment de ses demoiselles de compagnie personnelles, dont deux demeureront ses amies fidèles jusqu’à la fin. Ce sont elles qui nous ont laissé de précieuses informations sur l’enfance et la vie de la sainte.

Après un long voyage, ils arrivèrent à Eisenach, pour monter ensuite vers la forteresse de Wartburg, l’imposant château dominant la ville. C’est là que furent célébrées les fiançailles de Ludovic et Elisabeth. Au cours des années qui suivirent, tandis que Ludovic apprenait le métier de chevalier, Elisabeth et ses compagnes étudiaient l’allemand, le français, le latin, la musique, la littérature et la broderie. Bien que les fiançailles aient été décidées pour des raisons politiques, entre les deux jeunes gens naquit un amour sincère, animé par la foi et le désir d’accomplir la volonté de Dieu. A l’âge de 18 ans, Ludovic, après la mort de son père, commença à régner sur la Thuringe. Mais Elisabeth devint l’objet de critiques voilées, car sa façon de se comporter ne correspondait pas à la vie de la cour. Ainsi, la célébration du mariage se déroula elle aussi sans faste, et les dépenses pour le banquet furent en partie dévolues aux pauvres. Dans sa profonde sensibilité, Elisabeth voyait les contradictions entre la foi professée et la pratique chrétienne. Elle ne supportait pas les compromis. Un jour, en entrant dans l’église en la fête de l’Assomption, elle enleva sa couronne, la déposa devant la croix et demeura prostrée au sol, le visage couvert. Lorsque sa belle-mère lui reprocha son geste, elle répondit: «Comment moi, misérable créature, puis-je continuer de porter une couronne de dignité terrestre, lorsque je vois mon Roi Jésus Christ couronné d’épines?». Elle se comportait devant Dieu comme envers ses sujets. Dans les Dépositions des quatre demoiselles de compagnie, nous trouvons ce témoignage: «Elle ne consommait aucune nourriture sans s’assurer auparavant qu’elle provenait des propriétés et des biens légitimes de son époux. Tout en s’abstenant des biens procurés de façon illicite, elle se prodiguait pour dédommager ceux qui avaient subi une violence» (nn. 25 et 37). Un véritable exemple pour tous ceux qui occupent des rôles de guide: l’exercice de l’autorité, à tous les niveaux, doit être vécu comme un service à la justice et à la charité, dans la recherche constante du bien commun.

Elisabeth pratiquait assidûment les œuvres de miséricorde: elle donnait à boire et à manger à ceux qui frappaient à sa porte, elle procurait des vêtements, elle payait les dettes, elle prenait soin des malades et enterrait les morts. En descendant de son château, elle se rendait souvent avec ses servantes dans les maisons des pauvres, apportant du pain, de la viande, de la farine et d’autres aliments. Elle remettait la nourriture personnellement et contrôlait avec attention les vêtements et les lits des pauvres. Ce comportement fut rapporté à son mari, qui non seulement n’en fut pas ennuyé, mais qui répondit aux accusateurs: «Tant qu’elle ne vend pas le château, j’en suis content!». C’est dans ce contexte que se situe le miracle du pain transformé en roses: alors qu’Elisabeth marchait sur la route avec son tablier rempli de pain pour les pauvres, elle rencontra son mari qui lui demanda ce qu’elle portait. Elle ouvrit son tablier et, au lieu du pain, apparurent des roses magnifiques. Ce symbole de charité est présent de nombreuses fois dans les représentations de sainte Elisabeth.

Son mariage fut profondément heureux: Elisabeth aidait son mari à élever ses qualités humaines à un niveau surnaturel, et lui, en échange, protégeait sa femme dans sa générosité envers les pauvres et dans ses pratiques religieuses. Toujours plus admiratif en raison de la foi profonde de son épouse, Ludovic, se référant à son attention envers les pauvres, lui dit: «Chère Elisabeth, c’est le Christ que tu as lavé, nourri et dont tu as pris soin». Un témoignage clair de la façon dont la foi et l’amour envers Dieu et envers le prochain renforcent la vie familiale et rendent l’union matrimoniale encore plus profonde.

Le jeune couple trouva un soutien spirituel chez les frères mineurs, qui, à partir de 1222, se diffusèrent en Thuringe. Parmi eux, Elisabeth choisit le frère Roger (Rüdiger) comme directeur spirituel. Lorsqu’il lui raconta l’épisode de la conversion du jeune et riche marchand François d’Assise, Elisabeth s’enthousiasma encore plus sur son chemin de vie chrétienne. A partir de ce moment-là, elle fut encore davantage décidée à suivre le Christ pauvre et crucifié, présent chez les pauvres. Même lorsque son premier fils naquit, suivi de deux autres, notre sainte ne négligea jamais ses œuvres de charité. En outre, elle aida les frères mineurs à construire à Halberstadt un couvent, dont frère Roger devint le supérieur. La direction spirituelle d’Elisabeth passa, ainsi, à Conrad de Marbourg.

Une dure épreuve fut l’adieu à son mari, à la fin de juin 1227, lorsque Ludovic iv s’associa à la croisade de l’empereur Frédéric II, rappelant à sa femme qu’il s’agissait d’une tradition pour les souverains de Thuringe. Elisabeth répondit: «Je ne te retiendrai pas. Je me suis entièrement donnée à Dieu et à présent je dois aussi te donner». Mais la fièvre décima les troupes et Ludovic tomba malade et mourut à Otrante, avant même d’embarquer, en septembre 1227, à l’âge de vingt-sept ans. Elisabeth, ayant appris la nouvelle, ressentit une telle souffrance qu’elle se retira dans la solitude, mais ensuite, fortifiée par la prière et réconfortée par l’espérance de le revoir au Ciel, elle recommença à s’intéresser aux affaires du royaume. Mais une autre épreuve l’attendait: son beau-frère usurpa le gouvernement de la Thuringe, se déclarant le véritable héritier de Ludovic et accusant Elisabeth d’être une femme pieuse incompétente pour gouverner. La jeune veuve, avec ses trois enfants, fut chassée du château de Wartburg et se mit à la recherche d'un lieu où trouver refuge. Seules deux de ses servantes demeurèrent à ses côtés, l'accompagnèrent et confièrent les trois enfants aux soins des amis de Ludovic. En voyageant de village en village, Elisabeth travaillait là où elle était accueillie, elle assistait les malades, elle filait et elle cousait. Au cours de ce calvaire supporté avec beaucoup de foi, avec patience et dévouement à Dieu, certains parents qui lui étaient restés fidèles et considéraient comme illégitimes le gouvernement de son beau-frère, réhabilitèrent son nom. Ainsi Elisabeth, au début de l'année 1228, put recevoir un revenu approprié pour se retirer dans le château de famille à Marbourg, où habitait aussi son directeur spirituel Conrad. C'est lui qui rapporta au Pape Grégoire IX le fait suivant: «Le Vendredi saint de 1228, les mains posées sur l'autel dans la chapelle de sa ville de Eisenach, où elle avait accueilli les frères mineurs, en présence de plusieurs frères et de parents, Elisabeth renonça à sa propre volonté et à toutes les vanités du monde. Elle voulait renoncer aussi à toutes ses possessions, mais je l'en dissuadais par amour des pauvres. Peu après, elle construisit un hôpital, elle recueillit les malades et les invalides et elle servit à sa table les plus misérables et les plus abandonnés. L’ayant moi-même réprimandée à ce propos, Elisabeth répondit qu'elle recevait des pauvres une grâce spéciale et l’humilité» (Epistula magistri Conradi, 14-17).

Nous pouvons percevoir dans cette affirmation une certaine expérience mystique semblable à celle vécue par saint François: le Poverello d'Assise déclara en effet dans son testament, qu'en servant les lépreux, ce qui auparavant lui était amer fut transmué en douceur de l'âme et du corps (Testamentum, 1-3). Elisabeth passa les trois dernières années de sa vie dans l'hôpital qu'elle avait fondé, servant les malades, veillant avec les mourants. Elle essayait toujours d'accomplir les services les plus humbles et les travaux répugnants. Elle devint ce que nous pourrions appeler aujourd'hui une femme consacrée dans le monde (soror in saeculo) et forma, avec d'autres amies, vêtues de gris, une communauté religieuse. Ce n'est pas par hasard qu'elle est la patronne du Tiers Ordre régulier de saint François et de l'Ordre franciscain séculier.

En novembre 1231, elle fut frappée par de fortes fièvres. Lorsque la nouvelle de sa maladie se propagea, une foule de gens accourut lui rendre visite. Après une dizaine de jours, elle demanda que les portes fussent fermées, pour demeurer seule avec Dieu. Dans la nuit du 17 novembre, elle s'endormit doucement dans le Seigneur. Les témoignages sur sa sainteté furent si nombreux qu’à peine quatre ans plus tard, le Pape Grégoire IX la proclama sainte et, la même année, fut consacrée la belle église construite en son honneur à Marbourg.

Chers frères et sœurs, dans la figure de sainte Elisabeth, nous voyons que la foi et l'amitié avec le Christ créent le sens de la justice, de l'égalité entre tous, des droits des autres et créent l'amour, la charité. Et de cette charité naît aussi l'espérance, la certitude que nous sommes aimés par le Christ et que l'amour du Christ nous attend et ainsi nous rend capables d'imiter le Christ et de voir le Christ dans les autres. Sainte Elisabeth nous invite à redécouvrir le Christ, à l'aimer, à avoir la foi et trouver ainsi la vraie justice et l'amour, ainsi que la joie d'être un jour plongés dans l'amour divin, dans la joie de l'éternité avec Dieu, Merci.

* * *

Je salue les pèlerins francophones, en particulier, les jeunes, les collégiens et les étudiants présents venus d’Alsace, de Bretagne, du Languedoc et de Paris. Je salue cordialement les pèlerins venus de loin, de l’Île de la Réunion et du Canada qui vient de célébrer la canonisation de l’admirable Frère André, plein de foi et de simplicité. Je n’oublie pas les confirmés de Fribourg en Suisse. Que Dieu vous bénisse et bon pèlerinage à tous!

* * *

ANNONCE D'UN CONSISTOIRE POUR LA CRÉATION DE NOUVEAUX CARDINAUX

J'annonce maintenant avec joie que, le 20 novembre prochain, se tiendra un Consistoire au cours duquel je nommerai de nouveaux membres du Collège cardinalice. Les cardinaux ont la tâche d’aider le Successeur de l'Apôtre Pierre dans l'accomplissement de sa mission de principe et de fondement perpétuel et visible de l'unité de la foi et de la communion dans l'Eglise (cf. Lumen gentium, n. 18).

Voici les noms des nouveaux cardinaux:

1. Mgr Angelo Amato, S.D.B., préfet de la Congrégation pour les causes des saints;

2. S.B. Antonios Naguib, patriarche d'Alexandrie des Coptes (Egypte);

3. Mgr Robert Sarah, président du Conseil pontifical «Cor Unum»;

4. Mgr Francesco Monterisi, archiprêtre de la Basilique pontificale Saint-Paul-hors-les-Murs;

5. Mgr Fortunato Baldelli, pénitentier majeur;

6. Mgr Raymond Leo Burke, préfet du Tribunal suprême de la signature apostolique;

7. Mgr Kurt Koch, président du Conseil pontifical pour la promotion de l'unité des chrétiens;

8. Mgr Paolo Sardi, vice camerlingue de la Sainte Eglise romaine;

9. Mgr Mauro Piacenza, préfet de la Congrégation pour le clergé;

10. Mgr Velasio De Paolis, C.S., président de la Préfecture des affaires économiques du Saint-Siège;

11. Mgr Gianfranco Ravasi, président du Conseil pontifical de la culture;

12. Mgr Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, archevêque émérite de Lusaka (Zambie);

13. Mgr Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, archevêque émérite de Quito (Equateur);

14. Mgr Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archevêque de Kinshasa (Rép. démocratique du Congo);

15. Mgr Paolo Romeo, archevêque de Palerme (Italie);

16. Mgr Donald William Wuerl, archevêque de Washington (Etats-Unis d'Amérique);

17. Mgr Raymundo Damasceno Assis, archevêque d’Aparecida (Brésil);

18. Mgr Kazimierz Nycz, archevêque de Varsovie (Pologne);

19. Mgr Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, archevêque de Colombo (Sri Lanka);

20. Mgr Reinhard Marx, archevêque de Munich et Freising (Allemagne).

J’ai en outre décidé d'élever à la dignité cardinalice deux prélats et deux ecclésiastiques, qui se sont distingués par leur générosité et leur dévouement au service de l'Eglise.

Il s’agit de:

1. Mgr José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, archevêque émérite aux armées (Espagne);

2. Mgr Elio Sgreccia, ancien président de l'Académie pontificale pour la vie (Italie);

3. Mgr Walter Brandmüller, ancien président du Comité pontifical des sciences historiques (Allemagne);

4. Mgr Domenico Bartolucci, ancien maître directeur de la Chapelle musicale pontificale (Italie).

Dans la liste des nouveaux cardinaux se reflète l'universalité de l'Eglise; en effet, ils proviennent de diverses régions du monde et ils accomplissent diverses tâches et services pour le Saint-Siège ou au contact direct avec le Peuple de Dieu en tant que pères et pasteurs d'Eglises particulières.

Je vous invite à prier pour les nouveaux cardinaux, en demandant l'intercession particulière de la Très Sainte Mère de Dieu, afin qu'ils accomplissent de manière féconde leur ministère dans l'Eglise.

© Copyright 2010 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

SOURCE : http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20101020_fr.html

Marianne Stokes  (1855–1927). St Elizabeth of Hungary Spinning for the Poor, 1895, 96,5 X 61, Private collection

Sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie

Veuve à 20 ans du Roi Louis IV de Thuringe, elle mourut tertiaire franciscaine à 24 ans le 16 novembre 1231. Canonisée par Grégoire IX en 1235. On trouve sa fête dans le Missel de la Curie Romaine de 1474 mais saint Pie V la supprima en 1568.

Elle fut rétablie comme semidouble ad libitum en 1670, puis l’année suivante comme double par Clément X qui introduisit alors dans le missel romain la collecte composée dès sa canonisation.

Office

Quatrième leçon. Élisabeth, fille d’André, roi de Hongrie, commença dès son enfance à craindre Dieu ; croissant en âge, elle croissait aussi en piété. Ayant été mariée à Louis, Landgrave de Hesse et de Thuringe, elle ne mit pas moins de zèle à remplir ses devoirs envers Dieu, que ses devoirs envers son mari. Se levant la nuit, elle vaquait longuement à l’oraison ; elle s’appliquait à diverses œuvres de charité, se dépensant au service des veuves, des orphelins, des malades, des indigents ; on la vit, durant une famine cruelle, distribuer libéralement le blé de sa maison. Elle donnait asile aux lépreux, leur baisait les mains et les pieds, et fit construire un grand hôpital, destiné à soigner et à nourrir les pauvres.

Cinquième leçon. A la mort de son époux, voulant servir Dieu avec plus de liberté, Élisabeth déposa toutes les parures du siècle, se revêtit d’une robe grossière et entra dans l’Ordre des Pénitents de saint François, où elle se fit particulièrement remarquer par les vertus de patience et d’humilité. Car, dépouillée de tous ses biens, chassée de son propre palais, délaissée de tout le monde, elle supporta avec un courage invincible, les injures, les sarcasmes et les médisances, ressentant même une très grande joie de souffrir ainsi pour Dieu, s’abaissant jusqu’aux plus vils offices auprès des pauvres et des malades, leur procurant les soulagements nécessaires, et se contentant d’herbes et de légumes pour sa nourriture.

Sixième leçon. Après avoir passé très religieusement sa vie dans l’accomplissement de ces œuvres de piété et de beaucoup d’autres non moins saintes, le terme de son pèlerinage arriva enfin ; elle l’avait déjà prédit à ceux qui l’entouraient. Ce fut pendant qu’elle se livrait à la contemplation divine, les yeux fixés au ciel, qu’elle s’endormit dans le Seigneur, après avoir été merveilleusement assistée de Dieu et fortifiée par la réception des sacrements. Il se fit aussitôt plusieurs miracles à son tombeau ; en ayant eu connaissance et les ayant constatés, Grégoire IX l’inscrivit au nombre des Saints.

Dom Guéranger, l’Année Liturgique

Bien que tous les élus resplendissent au ciel d’un éclat propre à chacun d’eux, Dieu se complaît à les grouper par familles, comme il le fait dans la nature pour les astres du firmament. C’est la grâce qui préside à ce groupement des constellations dans le ciel des Saints ; mais parfois Dieu semble vouloir nous rappeler ici que nature et grâce l’ont pour commun auteur ; et les conviant malgré la chute à l’honorer ensemble dans ses élus, il fait de la sainteté comme un patrimoine auguste que se transmettent de générations en générations les membres d’une même famille de la terre [1]. Parmi ces races bénies ne le cède à aucune la royale lignée qui, de l’antique Pannonie, étendit sur le monde aux meilleurs temps de la chrétienté l’ombre de ses rameaux ; riche en vertu, éprise du beau, comme parle l’Écriture, portant la paix dans ces maisons couronnées de la vieille Europe que tant d’alliances avaient rendues siennes [2], les noms qu’elle inscrivit au livre d’or des bienheureux perpétuent sa gloire.

Mais, de ces noms illustres, entouré d’eux comme un diamant serti d’une couronne de perles, le plus grand pour l’Église et les peuples est celui de l’aimable Sainte, mûre pour le ciel à vingt-quatre ans, qui rejoint aujourd’hui les Etienne, les Emeric et les Ladislas. Élisabeth ne demeura pas au-dessous de leurs mâles vertus ; mais la simplicité de son âme aimante imprégna l’héroïsme de sa race comme d’une huile parfumée dont la senteur, se répandant sous tous les cieux, entraîne dans la voie des Bienheureux et des Saints, avec sa fille Gertrude de Thuringe, sa tante Hedwige de Silésie, et ses cousines ou nièces et petites-nièces Agnès de Bohême, Marguerite de Hongrie, Cunégonde de Pologne, Élisabeth de Portugal.

Le Dieu des humbles sembla vouloir rivaliser avec toute la poésie de ces temps chevaleresques, pour idéaliser dans la mémoire des hommes la douce enfant qui, transplantée, fleur à peine éclose, de la cour de Hongrie à celle de Thuringe, ne sut qu’aimer et se dévouer pour lui. Quelle fraîcheur d’idylle, mais d’une idylle du ciel, en ces pages des contemporains où nous est racontée la vie de la chère Sainte avec l’époux si tendrement aimé qui fut le digne témoin des extases de sa piété sublime et naïve, le défenseur envers et contre tous de ses héroïques et candides vertus ! Aux intendants qui se plaignent que, dans une absence du duc Louis, elle a malgré eux épuisé le trésor pour les pauvres : « J’entends, dit-il, qu’on laisse mon Élisabeth agir à sa guise ; qu’elle donne tout ce qu’elle voudra, pourvu qu’elle me laisse la Wartbourg et Naumbourg. »

Aussi le Seigneur, ouvrant les yeux du landgrave, lui montrait sous la forme de roses, dignes déjà des parterres du ciel, les provisions qu’Élisabeth portait aux malheureux dans son manteau.

Jésus lui-même apparaissait en croix dans le lépreux qu’elle recueillait en ses appartements pour le soigner plus à l’aise. S’il arrivait que d’illustres hôtes survenant à l’improviste, la duchesse dont les bijoux passaient comme le reste en aumônes se trouvât dépourvue de la parure qui eût convenu pour leur faire honneur, les Anges y suppléaient si bien qu’aux yeux émerveillés des visiteurs, selon le dire des chroniqueurs allemands de l’époque, la reine de France n’eût pas été plus admirablement belle, plus richement parée.

C’est qu’en effet Élisabeth entendait ne se dérober à aucune des obligations ni convenances de sa situation de princesse souveraine ou d’épouse. Aussi gracieusement simple en ses vertus qu’affable pour tous, elle s’étonnait de l’attitude sombre et morose que plusieurs affectaient dans leurs prières ou leurs austérités : « Ils ont l’air de vouloir épouvanter le Bon Dieu [3], disait-elle, tandis qu’il aime celui qui donne joyeusement [4]. »

Le temps, hélas ! vint vite pour elle de donner sans compter. Ce fut d’abord le départ en croisade du duc Louis, son époux, dont il sembla qu’elle ne se pourrait jamais séparer ; puis la scène déchirante où lui fut annoncée sa mort, au moment où pour la quatrième fois elle venait d’être mère ; enfin l’acte d’odieuse félonie par lequel Henri Raspon, l’indigne frère du landgrave, trouvant l’occasion bonne pour s’emparer des états du défunt, chassa ses enfants et sa veuve, avec défense à qui que ce fût de les recevoir. Dans ce pays où toute misère avait éprouvé ses bontés, Élisabeth dut mendier, en butte à mille rebuts, le pain des pauvres enfants, réduits comme elle à se contenter pour gîte d’une étable à pourceaux.

L’heure des réparations devait sonner avec le retour des chevaliers partis en la compagnie du duc Louis. Mais Élisabeth, devenue l’amante passionnée de la sainte pauvreté, resta parmi les pauvres. Première professe du Tiers-Ordre séraphique, le manteau que saint François lui avait envoyé comme à sa très chère fille demeura son unique trésor. Bientôt les sentiers du renoncement absolu l’eurent conduite au terme. Celle que, vingt ans auparavant, on apportait dans un berceau d’argent à son fiancé vêtue de soie et d’or, s’envolait à Dieu d’une masure de terre glaise, n’ayant pour vêtement qu’une robe rapiécetée ; les ménestrels dont les assauts de gai savoir avaient rendu fameuse l’année de sa naissance n’étaient plus là, mais on entendit les Anges qui chantaient, montant vers les cieux : Regnum mundi contempsi, propter amorem Domini mei Jesu Christi, quem vidi, quem amavi, in quem credidi,quem dilexi [5].

Quatre ans après, Élisabeth, déclarée Sainte par le Vicaire de Jésus-Christ, voyait tous les peuples du Saint-Empire, empereur en tête, affluer à Marbourg où elle reposait au milieu de ces pauvres dont elle avait ambitionné la vie. Son corps sacré fut remis à la garde des chevaliers Teutoniques, qui reconnurent l’honneur en faisant de Marbourg un chef-lieu de l’Ordre, et en élevant à la Sainte la première église ogivale que l’Allemagne ait possédée. De nombreux miracles y attirèrent longtemps l’univers chrétien.

Et maintenant, bien que toujours debout, toujours belle en son deuil, Sainte-Élisabeth de Marbourg ne connaît plus que de nom celle qui fut sa gloire. A la Wartbourg embaumée des grâces de la chère Sainte, où s’écoula au milieu des plus suaves épisodes sa vie d’enfant et d’épouse, le grand souvenir qu’on montre au voyageur est la chaire d’un moine en rupture de ban, et la tache d’encre dont, en un jour de démence ou d’ivresse, il salit les murs, comme il devait de sa plume tenter de tout profaner et souiller dans l’Église de Dieu.

L’Allemagne chantait au XIVe siècle l’Hymne qui suit en l’honneur de sainte Élisabeth.

HYMNE.

L’Église en accents mélodieux offre à Dieu la louange ; Sion est dans la joie ; la mère fait fête à son illustre fille s’élevant du fond de la vallée de misère.

De royale descendance, enfant encore elle est fiancée ; les plus beaux dons l’ornent pour l’époux auquel elle est unie : union dont la pureté répond à ses vœux.

Fidélité, fécondité, grâce du sacrement consacrent ce mariage ; qu’il la conduise au ciel où sont ses pères, la preuve en est dans sa sainteté croissante.

Bien donc que soumise à la loi de la chair, l’esprit en elle ne s’y éteignit pas ; fidèle à des engagements sacrés, elle ne négligea pas les inspirations qu’elle recevait de Dieu dans son cœur.

Des pauvres elle se fit la bienheureuse et noble nourricière , n’ayant aux pompes du monde nul égard, non plus qu’à la gloire des aïeux, crucifiant les vices en sa chair mortifiée.

Comme à Jahel Sisara [6], l’ennemi de l’innocence lui demande un peu d’eau ; mais trompé par le lait qu’elle lui donne en breuvage, elle le transperce avec le clou de la pénitence, sauvant ainsi son renoncement et sa vertu.

Son époux mort, elle dépouille sans jamais en avoir été souillée la mondanité : celle qui depuis longtemps a revêtu le Christ en son âme, donne un sac à son corps pour vêtement ; comme une lampe ardente elle resplendit au milieu de ce siècle.

Elle se procure au prix de la pauvreté les véritables richesses ; elle répand du trésor de sa piété des flots d’or : de combien de malheureux n’a-t-elle pas secouru l’indigence !

Pour elle, elle gagne son pain en travaillant et en filant ; vile à ses propres yeux, elle dédaigne de se voir abaissée, n’ignorant pas qu’à vous seul, Christ, est due légitimement la gloire.

Gloire soit à vous, ô bon Jésus, maintenant et toujours vous qui fidèlement aidez les combattants du bon combat, et donnez en récompense au vainqueur vaillant la couronne.

Amen.

Quelle leçon vous laissez à la terre en montant au ciel, ô bienheureuse Elisabeth ! Nous le demandons avec l’Église pour nous et tous nos frères dans la foi : puissent vos prières glorieuses obtenir de Dieu miséricordieux que nos cœurs s’ouvrent à la lumière des enseignements de votre vie, et méprisent le bonheur du monde pour n’estimer que les consolations célestes [7]. L’Évangile nous le dit aujourd’hui même à votre honneur : Le royaume des cieux est semblable à un trésor caché, à une perle sans prix ; l’homme sage et entendu en affaires vend tout ce qu’il a pour s’assurer le trésor ou la perle [8]. Bon négoce dont vous eûtes l’intelligence, atteste l’Épître [9], et qui fit autour de vous la fortune de tous : de vos heureux sujets, dont il secourut les corps et releva les âmes ; de votre noble époux siégeant, grâce à vous, en bon lieu parmi les princes qui surent échanger un diadème périssable pour la couronne éternelle ; de tous les vôtres enfin, dont vous êtes la plus douce gloire, dont plusieurs vous suivirent de si près sur le chemin du renoncement qui conduit aux cieux. Pourquoi faut-il que d’autres, en un siècle de ruine, aient abdiqué leur titre de fils des Saints, entraînant après eux les peuples à faire litière des plus suaves souvenirs comme des plus nobles traditions ? Daigne le Seigneur rendre à son Église et à vous-même le pays qui fut pour vous celui de son amour ; puissent vos supplications se joindre aux nôtres en ce jour, et ramener l’antique foi dans ces rameaux de votre descendance que ne parcourt plus la sève du salut ; puisse la glorieuse tige, en ses branches fidèles, nous donner toujours des Saints.

[1] Eccli. XLIV.

[2] Ibid. 6.

[3] Montalembert. Histoire de sainte Élisabeth de Hongrie, Ch. VII.

[4] II Cor. IX, 7.

[5] J’ai méprisé les trônes du monde en considération du Seigneur Jésus-Christ, l’attrait de mes yeux et de mon cœur, qui eut ma foi et mon amour.

[6] Judic. IV.

[7] Collecte de la fête.

[8] Évangile, ex Matth. XII.

[9] Épître, ex Prov. XXXI.

Bhx Cardinal Schuster, Liber Sacramentorum

Cette douce et angélique créature, fille du roi de Hongrie et épouse du landgrave de Thuringe, a des points de contact avec le pape Pontien. Élisabeth elle aussi, du sommet de son trône, fut traînée dans la poussière après la mort de son mari ; mais la vertu de la Sainte, membre du Tiers Ordre séraphique, fut supérieure à l’adversité. Ses miracles, après sa mort, propagèrent son culte de toutes parts, aussi fut-elle canonisée en 1235.

La messe Cognóvi est du commun, mais la première collecte est propre.

II y avait à Rome plusieurs églises dédiées à cette illustre fille spirituelle de l’Ordre des Mineurs : Sainte-Élisabeth des boulangers allemands, sur la voie papale ; Sainte-Élisabeth alle Muratte ; Sainte-Élisabeth a Pozzo bianco ; Sainte-Élisabeth in Banchi ; Sainte-Élisabeth au -Transtévère. Comme on le voit, les tertiaires franciscains avaient largement répandu le culte de leur insigne patronne.

Az Árpád-házi Szent Erzsébet-plébániatemplom Budapesten

The St Elisabeth Church in Budapest

Dom Pius Parsch, le Guide dans l’année liturgique

« Le rossignol de Dieu »

Sainte Élisabeth. — Jour de mort : 17 novembre 1231, à l’âge de 24 ans. Tombeau : Ses reliques, qui subirent divers destins, reposent dans l’église Sainte Élisabeth à Marbourg ; son chef est à Vienne (église Sainte Élisabeth) Image : On la représente en princesse, distribuant des aumônes. Vie : Sainte Élisabeth, un bijou parmi les saints allemands, patronne des œuvres de charité chrétienne à l’égard du prochain, se distingue par son courage joyeux dans la souffrance. Elle était fille (née en 1207) du roi de Hongrie, André. Dès l’âge de quatre ans, elle vint à la cour de son futur époux, et fut mariée (1221) à Louis, landgrave de Thuringe. Elle remplit avec une fidélité consciencieuse aussi bien ses devoirs d’épouse que ceux de servante de Dieu. Elle quittait son lit durant la nuit et demeurait longtemps en prière ; elle exerçait avec zèle les œuvres de charité chrétienne ; elle se faisait la servante des veuves, des orphelins, des malades et des indigents ; au cours d’une grande famine, elle distribua généreusement tout le blé de ses greniers ; elle recueillait les lépreux dans un hôpital fondé par elle et leur baisait les mains et les pieds. Elle fit construire aussi un vaste hospice pour recevoir et soigner les nécessiteux. Après la mort prématurée de son époux (en 1227, à Otrante, en Basse-Italie, au cours de la croisade que l’empereur Frédéric II fit traîner en longueur), elle quitta tous ses ornements princiers pour pouvoir servir Dieu plus facilement, revêtit un costume simple, devint tertiaire de Saint François et se signala par sa patience et son humilité. Son domaine fut saisi, et on l’obligea à quitter le château de la Wartbourg. Cependant, à Eisenach, personne n’osait lui offrir un abri par crainte du souverain. Ce n’est qu’après bien des prières qu’un aubergiste compatissant lui céda une écurie abandonnée. Mais la cour lui renvoya ses enfants qu’elle avait d’abord laissés au château et interdit à tous les habitants d’héberger la veuve du landgrave, de sorte qu’elle dut errer en plein froid de l’hiver avec ses trois enfants dont le plus jeune avait à peine quelques mois. En 1228, elle prit le voile des sœurs du tiers-ordre de Saint François et se rendit à Marbourg où elle fit construire un hôpital avec son pécule de veuve, ne se réservant qu’une pauvre maisonnette de torchis. Toutes ses forces et tous ses soins étaient pour les pauvres et les malades ; quant à elle, elle gagnait sa vie en filant. Encore jeune par l’âge, mais riche en bonnes œuvres de noble charité, elle mourut là le 17 novembre 1231 ; elle n’avait que 24 ans. — La Messe est du commun des saintes femmes (Cognóvi).

SOURCE : http://www.introibo.fr/19-11-Ste-Elisabeth-de-Hongrie

Élisabeth de Hongrie, une princesse au service des pauvres

 Margot Giraud | 16 novembre 2018

Les Journées Mondiales des pauvres auront lieu du 16 au 18 novembre à Paris. Elles commenceront fort à propos le jour de la sainte Élisabeth de Thuringe, princesse de Hongrie et contemporaine de saint François d'Assise qui offre un royal exemple de miséricorde et de charité.

En la cour hongroise du XIIIe siècle naquit Élisabeth, pieuse princesse qui dès sa plus tendre enfance récitait ses prières et manifestait sa tendresse envers les pauvres. Mais âgée seulement de quatre ans, elle part vivre à Thuringe, en Allemagne, où elle doit devenir duchesse. C’est là qu’elle fait la rencontre des franciscains et se met entièrement au service des pauvres.

Un mariage dans la charité

Alors que le parti régnant veut la chasser de la cour de Thuringe suite aux erreurs politiques de son père, son promis ne s’en laisse pas conter : Louis de Thuringe épouse Élisabeth, à laquelle il était lié aussi bien par une alliance diplomatique qu’un amour sincère. Ceux qui devinrent respectivement bienheureux et sainte s’élevèrent l’un l’autre dans la foi : la femme offrait à son mari un exemple de dévotion et de charité, le mari protégeait et soutenait sa femme dans ses œuvres de générosité.

Lire aussi :

Saint Martin, l’exemple de la Charité

Car l’abnégation de la princesse avait de quoi surprendre et faisait jaser autour d’elle, comme le montrent les anecdotes rappelées par Benoît XVI dans son audience générale du 20 octobre 2010. Comme elle donnait à boire et à manger aux pauvres, vendant ses parures et le blé du château pour subvenir à leurs besoins, les conseillers du roi l’alertèrent sur ces excessives prodigualités : «Tant qu’elle ne vend pas le château, j’en suis content !», répondit-il, en réalité admiratif de la générosité de sa femme. Il aurait même été témoin d’un miracle en présence d’Élisabeth : alors que celle-ci marchait sur la route avec son tablier rempli de pain pour les pauvres, le roi croisa sa route et lui demanda ce qu’elle portait. En ouvrant son tablier, les pains ne s’étaient non pas multipliés mais changés en de magnifiques roses, symbole de charité.

Un jour encore, en entrant dans une église le jour de l’Assomption, elle retira sa couronne et la déposa devant la croix, se prostrant sur le sol. Aux reproches que lui fit sa belle-mère, elle répondit: « Comment moi, misérable créature, puis-je continuer de porter une couronne de dignité terrestre, lorsque je vois mon Roi Jésus Christ couronné d’épines ? »

Un veuvage dans la pauvreté et la sainteté

Les époux qui avaient trouvé un soutien spirituel chez les frères mineurs furent séparé par la mort de Louis, parti en croisade. La jeune veuve de 20 ans est alors chassée du château par son beau-frère qui, voyant en sa piété le signe de son incompétence, s’arroge le trône de Thuringe. Les perles furent jetées aux pourceaux : forcée de dormir dans une porcherie, la princesse déchue mena une vie précaire avec ses trois enfants jusqu’à ce que certains parents les réhabilitent à la cour. Refusant de se remarier, elle se pare de la robe grise des franciscains et offre la totalité de ses biens aux pauvres et leur resta dévouée jusqu’à sa mort, à l’âge de 24 ans.

Lire aussi :

Sainte Marguerite-Marie Alacoque, une histoire de cœur

Les témoignages de sa charité abondèrent tant qu’elle fut canonisée seulement quatre ans après sa mort par le pape Grégoire IX. La même année se dressa en son honneur l’église Sainte-Élisabeth à Marburg. Depuis, Élisabeth est la sainte patronne du Tiers Ordre franciscain, incarnant avec majesté l’idéal de pauvreté prônée par saint François dont elle était l’illustre contemporaine.

SOURCE : https://fr.aleteia.org/2018/11/16/elisabeth-de-hongrie-une-princesse-au-service-des-pauvres/?utm_campaign=NL_fr&utm_source=daily_newsletter&utm_medium=mail&utm_content=NL_fr

Francisco de Zurbarán  (1598–1664). Santa Isabel de Turingia (1207-1231), más conocida como Santa Isabel de Hungría, vers 1635-1640, 125 X 100, Bilbao Fine Arts Museum  

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Also called St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, born in Hungary, probably at Pressburg, 1207; died at Marburg, Hesse, 17 November (not 19 November), 1231.

She was a daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary (1205-35) and his wife Gertrude, a member of the family of the Counts of Andechs-Meran; Elizabeth's brother succeeded his father on the throne of Hungary as Bela IV; the sister of her mother, Gertrude, was St. Hedwig, wife of Duke Heinrich I, the Bearded, of Silesia, while anothersaint, St. Elizabeth (Isabel) of Portugal (d. 1336), the wife of the tyrannical King Diniz of that country, was hergreat-niece.

In 1211 a formal embassy was sent by Landgrave Hermann I of Thuringia to Hungary to arrange, as was customary in that age, a marriage between his eldest son Hermann and Elizabeth, who was then four years old. This plan of a marriage was the result of political considerations and was intended to be the ratification of a great alliance which in the political schemes of the time it was sought to form against the German Emperor Otto IV, a member of the house of Guelph, who had quarrelled with the Church. Not long after this the little girl was taken to the Thuringian court to be brought up with her future husband and, in the course of time, to be betrothed to him.

The court of Thuringia was at this period famous for its magnificence. Its centre was the stately castle of the Wartburg, splendidly placed on a hill in the Thuringian Forest near Eisenach, where the Landgrave Hermann lived surrounded by poets and minnesingers, to whom he was a generous patron. Notwithstanding the turbulence and purely secular life of the court and the pomp of her surroundings, the little girl grew up a very religious child with an evident inclination to prayer and pious observances and small acts of self-mortification. These religiousimpulses were undoubtedly strengthened by the sorrowful experiences of her life.

In 1213 Elizabeth's mother, Gertrude, was murdered by Hungarian nobles, probably out of hatred of theGermans. On 31 December, 1216, the oldest son of the landgrave, Hermann, who Elizabeth was to marry, died; after this she was betrothed to Ludwig, the second son. It was probably in these years that Elizabeth had to suffer the hostility of the more frivolous members of the Thuringian court, to whom the contemplative and piouschild was a constant rebuke. Ludwig, however, must have soon come to her protection against any ill-treatment. The legend that arose later is incorrect in making Elizabeth's mother-in-law, the Landgravine Sophia, a member of the reigning family of Bavaria, the leader of this court party. On the contrary, Sophia was a very religious andcharitable woman and a kindly mother to the little Elizabeth.

The political plans of the old Landgrave Hermann involved him in great difficulties and reverses; he wasexcommunicated, lost his mind towards the end of his life, and died, 25 April, 1217, unreconciled with theChurch. He was succeeded by his son Ludwig IV, who, in 1221, was also made regent of Meissen and the East Mark. The same year (1221) Ludwig and Elizabeth were married, the groom being twenty-one years old and the bride fourteen. The marriage was in every regard a happy and exemplary one, and the couple were devotedly attached to each other. Ludwig proved himself worthy of his wife. He gave his protection to her acts of charity,penance, and her vigils, and often held Elizabeth's hands as she knelt praying at night beside his bed. He was also a capable ruler and brave soldier. The Germans call him St. Ludwig, an appellation given to him as one of the best men of his age and the pious husband of St. Elizabeth.

They had three children: Hermann II (1222-41), who died young; Sophia (1224-84), who married Henry II, Duke of Brabant, and was the ancestress of the Landgraves of Hesse, as in the war of the Thuringian succession she won Hesse for her son Heinrich I, called the Child; Gertrude (1227-97), Elizabeth's third child, was born several weeks after the death of her father; in after-life she became abbess of the convent of Altenberg near Wetzlar.

Shortly after their marriage, Elizabeth and Ludwig made a journey to Hungary; Ludwig was often after this employed by the Emperor Frederick II, to whom he was much attached, in the affairs of the empire. In the spring of 1226, when floods, famine, and the pest wrought havoc in Thuringia, Ludwig was in Italy attending the Diet atCremona on behalf of the emperor and the empire. Under these circumstances Elizabeth assumed control of affairs, distributed alms in all parts of the territory of her husband, giving even state robes and ornaments to thepoor. In order to care personally for the unfortunate she built below the Wartburg a hospital with twenty-eight beds and visited the inmates daily to attend to their wants; at the same time she aided nine hundred poor daily. It is this period of her life that has preserved Elizabeth's fame to posterity as the gentle and charitable chételaine of the Wartburg. Ludwig on his return confirmed all she had done. The next year (1227) he started with the Emperor Frederick II on a crusade to Palestine but died, 11 September of the same year at Otranto, from the pest. The news did not reach Elizabeth until October, just after she had given birth to her third child. On hearing the tidings Elizabeth, who was only twenty years old, cried out: "The world with all its joys is now dead to me."

The fact that in 1221 the followers of St. Francis of Assisi (d. 1226) made their first permanent settlement inGermany was one of great importance in the later career of Elizabeth. Brother Rodeger, one of the first Germanswhom the provincial for Germany, Caesarius of Speier, received into the order, was for a time the spiritual instructor of Elizabeth at the Wartburg; in his teachings he unfolded to her the ideals of St. Francis, and these strongly appealed to her. With the aid of Elizabeth the Franciscans in 1225 founded a monastery in Eisenach; Brother Rodeger, as his fellow-companion in the order, Jordanus, reports, instructed Elizabeth, to observe, according to her state of life, chastity, humility, patience, the exercise of prayer, and charity. Her position prevented the attainment of the other ideal of St. Francis, voluntary and complete poverty. Various remarks of Elizabeth to her female attendants make it clear how ardently she desired the life of poverty.

After a while the post Brother Rodeger had filled was assumed by Master Conrad of Marburg, who belonged to no order, but was a very ascetic and, it must be acknowledged, a somewhat rough and very severe man. He was well known as a preacher of the crusade and also as an inquisitor or judge in cases of heresy. On account of the latter activity he has been more severely judged than is just; at the present day, however, the estimate of him is a fairer one. Pope Gregory IX, who wrote at times to Elizabeth, recommended her himself to the God-fearing preacher. Conrad treated Elizabeth with inexorable severity, even using corporal means of correction; nevertheless, he brought her with a firm hand by the road of self-mortification to sanctity, and after her death was very active in her canonization. Although he forbade her to follow St. Francis in complete poverty as a beggar, yet, on the other hand, by the command to keep her dower she was enabled to perform works of charityand tenderness.

Up to 1888 it was believed, on account of the testimony of one of Elizabeth's servants in the process ofcanonization, that Elizabeth was driven from the Wartburg in the winter of 1227 by her brother-in-law, Heinrich Raspe, who acted as regent for her son, then only five years old. About 1888 various investigators (Börner, Mielke, Wenck, E. Michael, etc.) asserted that Elizabeth left the Wartburg voluntarily, the only compulsion being amoral one. She was not able at the castle to follow Conrad's command to eat only food obtained in a way that was certainly right and proper. Lately, however, Huyskens (1907) tried to prove that Elizabeth was driven from the castle at Marburg in Hesse, which was hers by dower right. Consequently, the Te Deum that she directed theFranciscans to sing on the night of her expulsion would have been sung in the Franciscan monastery at Marburg. Accompanied by two female attendants, Elizabeth left the castle that stands on a height commanding Marburg. The next day her children were brought to her, but they were soon taken elsewhere to be cared for.

Elizabeth's aunt, Matilda, Abbess of the Benedictine nunnery of Kitzingen near Würzburg, took charge of the unfortunate landgravine and sent her to her uncle Eckbert, Bishop of Bamberg. The bishop, however, was intent on arranging another marriage for her, although during the lifetime of her husband Elizabeth had made a vow ofcontinence in case of his death; the same vow had also been taken by her attendants.

While Elizabeth was maintaining her position against her uncle the remains of her husband were brought toBamberg by his faithful followers who had carried them from Italy. Weeping bitterly, she buried the body in thefamily vault of the landgraves of Thuringia in the monastery of Reinhardsbrunn. With the aid of Conrad she now received the value of her dower in money, namely two thousand marks; of this sum she divided five hundred marks in one day among the poor. On Good Friday, 1228, in the Franciscan house at Eisenach Elizabeth formally renounced the world; then going to Master Conrad at Marburg, she and her maids received from him the dress of the Third Order of St. Francis, thus being among the first tertiaries of Germany. In the summer of 1228 she built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and on its completion devoted herself entirely to the care of the sick, especially to those afflicted with the most loathsome diseases. Conrad of Marburg still imposed many self-mortifications and spiritual renunciations, while at the same time he even took from Elizabeth her devoted domestics. Constant in her devotion to God, Elizabeth's strength was consumed by her charitable labours, and she passed away at the age of twenty-four, a time when life to most human beings is just opening.

Very soon after the death of Elizabeth miracles began to be worked at her grave in the church of the hospital, especially miracles of healing. Master Conrad showed great zeal in advancing the process of canonization. Bypapal command three examinations were held of those who had been healed: namely, in August, 1232, January, 1233, and January, 1235. Before the process reached its end, however, Conrad was murdered, 30 July, 1233. But the Teutonic Knights in 1233 founded a house at Marburg, and in November, 1234, Conrad, Landgrave ofThuringia, the brother-in-law of Elizabeth, entered the order. At Pentecost (28 May) of the year 1235, the solemnceremony of canonization of the "greatest woman of the German Middle Ages" was celebrated by Gregory IX atPerugia, Landgrave Conrad being present. In August of the same year (1235) the corner-stone of the beautifulGothic church of St. Elizabeth was laid at Marburg; on 1 May, 1236, Emperor Frederick II attended the taking-up of the body of the saint; in 1249 the remains were placed in the choir of the church of St. Elizabeth, which was not consecrated until 1283.

Pilgrimages to the grave soon increased to such importance that at times they could be compared to those to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. In 1539 Philip the Magnanimous, Landgrave of Hesse, who had become aProtestant, put an end to the pilgrimages by unjustifiable interference with the church that belonged to theTeutonic Order and by forcibly removing the relics and all that was sacred to Elizabeth. Nevertheless, the entireGerman people still honour the "dear St. Elizabeth" as she is called; in 1907 a new impulse was given to her veneration in Germany and Austria by the celebration of the seven hundredth anniversary of her birth.

St. Elizabeth is generally represented as a princess graciously giving alms to the wretched poor or as holding roses in her lap; in the latter case she is portrayed either alone or as surprised by her husband, who, according to a legend, which is, however, related of other saints as well, met her unexpectedly as she went secretly on an errand of mercy, and, so the story runs, the bread she was trying to conceal was suddenly turned into roses.

Sources

The original materials for the life of St. Elizabeth are to be found in the letters sent by CONRAD OF MARBURG to Pope Gregory IX (1232) and in the testimony of her four female attendants (Libellus de dictis quatuor ancillarum) taken by the third papal commission (January, 1235). The best edition of the testimony is to be found in HUYSKENS, Quellenstudien zur Geschichte der hl. Elisabeth, Landgräfin von Thüringen (Marburg, 1908),110-40. For the Acts of the process of canonization see HUYSKENS, Quellenstudien, 110-268; Vita S. Elisabethae des Caesarius von Heisterbach O. Cist. (1236), ed. HUYSKENS, in Annalen des historischen Vereins für den Niederrhein (Cologne, 1908), Pt. LXXXV; the hagiography of St. Elizabeth was greatly influenced by DIETRICH OF APOLDA, Vita S. Elisabeth (written 1289-97), published in CANISIUS, Antiquae lectionis (Ingolstadt, 1605), V, Pt. II, 147-217, and in BASNAGE, Thesaurus Monumentorum Ecclesiasticorum (Amsterdam, 1723). IV. 115-152.

 Bihl, Michael. "St. Elizabeth of Hungary." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 17 Nov. 2016 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05389a.htm>.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. May 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05389a.htm

St.Elizabeth of Hungary and Ludwig IV of Thuringia. Stained glass window in St Patrick's Basilica, Ottawa. Author: Mayer Co of Munich 1898. Window: workshop of Franz Borgias Mayer (1848–1926); Photo: Wojciech Dittwald

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

Also known as

Elizabeth of Thuringia

Elisabeth of….

Memorial

17 November

Profile

Princess, the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary. Great-aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal. She married Prince Louis of Thuringa at age 13. Built a hospital at the foot of the mountain on which her castle stood; tended to the sick herself. Her family and courtiers opposed this, but she insisted she could only follow Christ’s teachings, not theirs. Once when she was taking food to the poor and sick, Prince Louis stopped her and looked under her mantle to see what she was carrying; the food had been miraculously changed to roses. Upon the death of Louis, Elizabeth sold all that she had, and worked to support her four children. Her gifts of bread to the poor, and of a large gift of grain to a famine stricken Germany, led to her patronage of bakers and related fields.

Born

1207 at Presburg, Hungary

Died

1231 at Marburg, Germany of natural causes

her relics, including her skull wearing a gold crown she had worn in life, are preserved at the convent of Saint Elizabeth in Vienna, Austria

Canonized

27 May 1235 by Pope Gregory IX at Perugia, Italy

Patronage

against in-law problems

against the death of children

against toothache

bakers

beggars

brides

charitable societies

charitable workers

charities

countesses

exiles

falsely accused people

hoboes

homeless people

hospitals

lacemakers

lace workers

nursing homes

nursing services

people in exile

people ridiculed for their piety

tertiaries

tramps

widows

Sisters of Mercy

Teutonic Knights

Erfurt, Germany, diocese of

Jaro, Philippines, archdiocese of

Jalžabet, Croatia

Representation

woman wearing a crown and tending to beggars

woman wearing a crown, carrying a load of roses in her apron or mantle

Readings

Elizabeth was a lifelong friend of the poor and gave herself entirely to relieving the hungry. She ordered that one of her castle should be converted into a hospital in which she gathered many of the weak and feeble. She generously gave alms to all who were in need, not only in that place but in all the territories of her husband’s empire. She spent all her own revenue from her husband’s four principalities, and finally she sold her luxurious possessions and rich clothes for the sake of the poor.

Twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, Elizabeth went to visit the sick. She personally cared for those who were particularly repulsive; to some she gave good, to others clothing; some she carried on her own shoulders, and performed many other kindly services. Her husband, of happy memory, gladly approved of these charitable works. Finally, when her husband died, she sought the highest perfection; filled with tears, she implored me to let her beg for alms from door to door.

On Good Friday of that year, when the altars had been stripped, she laid her hands on the altar in a chapel in her own town, where she had established the Friars Minor, and before witnesses she voluntarily renounced all worldly display and everything that our Savior in the gospel advises us to abandon. Even then she saw that she could still be distracted by the cares and worldly glory which had surrounded her while her husband was alive. Against my will she followed me to Marburg. Here in the town she built a hospice where she gathered together the weak and the feeble. There she attended the most wretched and contemptible at her own table.

Apart from those active good works, I declare before God that I have seldom seen a more contemplative woman.

Before her death I heard her confession. When I asked what should be done about her goods and possessions, she replied that anything which seemed to be hers belonged to the poor. She asked me to distribute everything except one worn-out dress in which she wished to be buried. When all this had been decided, she received the body of our Lord. Afterward, until vespers, she spoke often of the holiest things she had heard in sermons. Then, she devoutly commended to God all who were sitting near her, and as if falling into a gentle sleep, she died. – from a letter by Conrad of Marburg, spiritual director of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-elizabeth-of-hungary/

St. Elisabethchurch Grave - Relief of Elisabeth of Hungary,  Grave, Netherlands

Sint Elisabethskerk Grave - Reliëf van Elisabeth van Hongarije

Relief Élisabeth de Hongrie - Grave - Pays Bas

Erzsébet dari Hongaria

Elizabeti wa Hungaria

Photo : Vincent de Groot - http://www.videgro.net

BENEDICT XVI

GENERAL AUDIENCE

Saint Peter's Square

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I would like to speak to you about one of the women of the Middle Ages who inspired the greatest admiration; she is St Elizabeth of Hungary, also called St Elizabeth of Thuringia.

Elizabeth was born in 1207; historians dispute her birthplace. Her father was Andrew ii, the rich and powerful King of Hungary. To reinforce political ties he had married the German Countess Gertrude of Andechs-Meran, sister of St Hedwig who was wife to the Duke of Silesia. Elizabeth, together with her sister and three brothers, spent only the first four years of her childhood at the Hungarian court. She liked playing, music and dancing; she recited her prayers faithfully and already showed special attention to the poor, whom she helped with a kind word or an affectionate gesture.

Her happy childhood was suddenly interrupted when some knights arrived from distant Thuringia to escort her to her new residence in Central Germany. In fact, complying with the customs of that time, Elizabeth's father had arranged for her to become a Princess of Thuringia. The Landgrave or Count of this region was one of the richest and most influential sovereigns in Europe at the beginning of the 13th century and his castle was a centre of magnificence and culture.

However, the festivities and apparent glory concealed the ambition of feudal princes who were frequently warring with each other and in conflict with the royal and imperial authorities.

In this context the Landgrave Hermann very willingly accepted the betrothal of his son Ludwig to the Hungarian Princess. Elizabeth left her homeland with a rich dowry and a large entourage, including her personal ladies-in-waiting, two of whom were to remain faithful friends to the very end. It is they who left us the precious information on the childhood and life of the Saint.

They reached Eisenach after a long journey and made the ascent to the Fortress of Wartburg, the strong castle towering over the city. It was here that the betrothal of Ludwig and Elizabeth was celebrated. In the ensuing years, while Ludwig learned the knightly profession, Elizabeth and her companions studied German, French, Latin, music, literature and embroidery. Despite the fact that political reasons had determined their betrothal, a sincere love developed between the two young people, enlivened by faith and by the desire to do God’s will. On his father's death when Ludwig was 18 years old, he began to reign over Thuringia.

Elizabeth, however, became the object of critical whispers because her behaviour was incongruous with court life. Hence their marriage celebrations were far from sumptuous and a part of the funds destined for the banquet was donated to the poor.

With her profound sensitivity, Elizabeth saw the contradictions between the faith professed and Christian practice. She could not bear compromise. Once, on entering a church on the Feast of the Assumption, she took off her crown, laid it before the Crucifix and, covering her face, lay prostrate on the ground. When her mother-in-law reprimanded her for this gesture, Elizabeth answered: "How can I, a wretched creature, continue to wear a crown of earthly dignity, when I see my King Jesus Christ crowned with thorns?”.

She behaved to her subjects in the same way that she behaved to God. Among the Sayings of the four maids we find this testimony: “She did not eat any food before ascertaining that it came from her husband's property or legitimate possessions. While she abstained from goods procured illegally, she also did her utmost to provide compensation to those who had suffered violence” (nn. 25 and 37).

She is a true example for all who have roles of leadership: the exercise of authority, at every level, must be lived as a service to justice and charity, in the constant search for the common good.

Elizabeth diligently practiced works of mercy: she would give food and drink to those who knocked at her door, she procured clothing, paid debts, cared for the sick and buried the dead. Coming down from her castle, she often visited the homes of the poor with her ladies-in-waiting, bringing them bread, meat, flour and other food. She distributed the food personally and attentively checked the clothing and mattresses of the poor.

This behaviour was reported to her husband, who not only was not displeased but answered her accusers, “So long as she does not sell the castle, I am happy with her!”.

The miracle of the loaves that were changed into roses fits into this context: while Elizabeth was on her way with her apron filled with bread for the poor, she met her husband who asked her what she was carrying. She opened her apron to show him and, instead of bread, it was full of magnificent roses. This symbol of charity often features in depictions of St Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's marriage was profoundly happy: she helped her husband to raise his human qualities to a supernatural level and he, in exchange, stood up for his wife's generosity to the poor and for her religious practices. Increasingly admired for his wife's great faith, Ludwig said to her, referring to her attention to the poor: “Dear Elizabeth, it is Christ whom you have cleansed, nourished and cared for”. A clear witness to how faith and love of God and neighbour strengthen family life and deepen ever more the matrimonial union.

The young couple found spiritual support in the Friars Minor who began to spread through Thuringia in 1222. Elizabeth chose from among them Friar Rodeger (Rüdiger) as her spiritual director. When he told her about the event of the conversion of Francis of Assisi, a rich young merchant, Elizabeth was even more enthusiastic in the journey of her Christian life.

From that time she became even more determined to follow the poor and Crucified Christ, present in poor people. Even when her first son was born, followed by two other children, our Saint never neglected her charitable works. She also helped the Friars Minor to build a convent at Halberstadt, of which Friar Rodeger became superior. For this reason Elizabeth’s spiritual direction was taken on by Conrad of Marburg.

The farewell to her husband was a hard trial, when, at the end of June in 1227 when Ludwig iv joined the Crusade of the Emperor Frederick ii. He reminded his wife that this was traditional for the sovereigns of Thuringia. Elizabeth answered him: “Far be it from me to detain you. I have given my whole self to God and now I must also give you”.

However, fever decimated the troops and Ludwig himself fell ill and died in Otranto, before embarking, in September 1227. He was 27 years old. When Elizabeth learned the news, she was so sorrowful that she withdrew in solitude; but then, strengthened by prayer and comforted by the hope of seeing him again in Heaven, she began to attend to the affairs of the Kingdom.

However, another trial was lying in wait for Elizabeth. Her brother-in-law usurped the government of Thuringia, declaring himself to be the true heir of Ludwig and accusing Elizabeth of being a pious woman incapable of ruling. The young widow, with three children, was banished from the Castle of Wartburg and went in search of a place of refuge. Only two of her ladies remained close to her. They accompanied her and entrusted the three children to the care of Ludwig’s friends. Wandering through the villages, Elizabeth worked wherever she was welcomed, looked after the sick, spun thread and cooked.

During this calvary which she bore with great faith, with patience and with dedication to God, a few relatives who had stayed faithful to her and viewed her brother-in-law's rule as illegal, restored her reputation. So it was that at the beginning of 1228, Elizabeth received sufficient income to withdraw to the family’s castle in Marburg, where her spiritual director, Fra Conrad, also lived.

It was he who reported the following event to Pope Gregory ix: “On Good Friday in 1228, having placed her hands on the altar in the chapel of her city, Eisenach, to which she had welcomed the Friars Minor, in the presence of several friars and relatives Elizabeth renounced her own will and all the vanities of the world. She also wanted to resign all her possessions, but I dissuaded her out of love for the poor. Shortly afterwards she built a hospital, gathered the sick and invalids and served at her own table the most wretched and deprived. When I reprimanded her for these things, Elizabeth answered that she received from the poor special grace and humility” (Epistula magistri Conradi, 14-17).

We can discern in this affirmation a certain mystical experience similar to that of St Francis: the Poverello of Assisi declared in his testament, in fact, that serving lepers, which he at first found repugnant, was transformed into sweetness of the soul and of the body (Testamentum, 1-3).

Elizabeth spent her last three years in the hospital she founded, serving the sick and keeping wake over the dying. She always tried to carry out the most humble services and repugnant tasks. She became what we might call a consecrated woman in the world (soror in saeculo) and, with other friends clothed in grey habits, formed a religious community. It is not by chance that she is the Patroness of the Third Order Regular of St Francis and of the Franciscan Secular Order.

In November 1231 she was stricken with a high fever. When the news of her illness spread, may people flocked to see her. After about 10 days, she asked for the doors to be closed so that she might be alone with God. In the night of 17 November, she fell asleep gently in the Lord. The testimonies of her holiness were so many and such that after only four years Pope Gregory ix canonized her and, that same year, the beautiful church built in her honour at Marburg was consecrated.

Dear brothers and sisters, in St Elizabeth we see how faith and friendship with Christ create a sense of justice, of the equality of all, of the rights of others and how they create love, charity. And from this charity is born hope too, the certainty that we are loved by Christ and that the love of Christ awaits us thereby rendering us capable of imitating Christ and of seeing Christ in others.

St Elizabeth invites us to rediscover Christ, to love him and to have faith; and thereby to find true justice and love, as well as the joy that one day we shall be immersed in divine love, in the joy of eternity with God. Thank you.

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To special groups:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am pleased to welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present today. In particular, I extend greetings to members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross and to the Sisters of St Joseph and the Sacred Heart, along with their students, friends and benefactors here for the canonization of Saint André Bessette and Saint Mary MacKillop. Upon all of you, I invoke God’s abundant blessings.

Lastly, I turn my thoughts to the young people, the sick and the newlyweds. Dear friends, the month of October invites us to renew our active cooperation in the mission of the Church. With the fresh energies of youth, with the force of prayer and of sacrifice, and with the potentials of married life, may you know how to be missionaries of the Gospel, offering your practical support to all those who are toiling to bring it to those who do not yet know it.

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONSISTORY
FOR THE CREATION OF NEW CARDINALS

And now I joyfully announce that next 20 November I will hold a Consistory at which I will name new Members of the College of Cardinals. It is the duty of Cardinals to help the Successor of the Apostle Peter to carry out his mission as the lasting and visible source and foundation of the unity both of faith and of communion” in the Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 18).

These are the names of the new Cardinals:

1. Archbishop Angelo Amato, sdb, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints;

2. H.B. Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria for Copts, Egypt;

3. Archbishop Robert Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum";

4. Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside-the-Walls;

5. Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, Major Penitentiary;

6. Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunale of the Apostolic Signatura;

7. Archbishop Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity;

8. Archbishop Paolo Sardi, Vice-Camerlengo of Holy Roman Church;

9. Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy;

10. Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, cs, President of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See;

11. Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture;

12. Archbishop emeritus Medardo Joseph Mazombwe of Lusaka, Zambia;

13. Archbishop emeritus Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga of Quito, Ecuador;

14. Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo;

15. Archbishop Paolo Romeo of Palermo, Italy;

16. Archbishop Donald William Wuerl of Washington, United States of America;

17. Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis, of Aparecida, Brazil;

18. Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw, Poland;

19. Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, of Colombo, Sri Lanka;

20. Archbishop Reinhard Marx, of Munich and Freising, Germany.

I have also decided to raise to the dignity of Cardinal two Prelates and two Clerics who are distinguished for their generosity and dedication to the service of the Church.

They are:

1. Archbishop José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, Military Ordinary emeritus, Spain;

2. Archbishop Elio Sgreccia, former President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Italy;

3. Mons. Walter Brandmüller, former President of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, Germany;

4. Mons. Domenico Bartolucci, former Choir Master of the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir, Italy.

The list of new Cardinals reflects the universality of the Church; indeed they come from various parts of the world and carry out different tasks at the service of the Holy See or in direct contact with the People of God as Fathers and Pastors of particular Churches.

I invite you to pray for the new Cardinals, asking for the special intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God, so that they may exercise their ministry in the Church fruitfully.

© Copyright 2010 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

SOURCE : http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20101020.html

St. Elisabethchurch Grave, Netherlands, Relief of Elisabeth of Hungary

Sint Elisabethskerk Grave - Reliëf van Elisabeth van Hongarije

Relief Élisabeth de Hongrie - Grave - Pays Bas

Erzsébet dari Hongaria

Elizabeti wa Hungaria

A Garner of Saints – Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

Article

Daughter of Andrew II, King of Hungary, born in 1207. Betrothed early to Louis, son of Herman, Landgrave of Thuringia, she was brought up at that court. She early proved her exceptional devotion, and when no more than five years of age her attendants could with difliculty persuade her to leave the church when she was praying. A few years later she married Louis, who had succeeded his father. With the desire to please God she undertook the vilest employments, and allowed a sick man to be laid in her lap, whose head emitted a disagreeable stench, while she washed his head with her own hands. After her purification she gave to a poor woman the clothes which she had wom at the church. She observed strict temperance in eating and drinking, and caused herself to be beaten with rods by her servants. She desired to imitate the poverty of Christ, and in the. presence of her servants used to wear coarse garments. In works of mercy she was unremitting, and gave clothes to the naked poor. During a famine she fed the starving people with corn from her granaries. At the foot of her castle she built an enormous establishment in which the sick should be tended, and here she caused the children of poor women to be brought up. She induced her husband to go to the Holy Land on a crusade, but while there the Landgrave died. When his death became “known, Elizabeth was driven out of her domains by her vassals, who considered her wasteful and extravagant. Taking refuge with an innkeeper, she was forced to spend the night in a pig-sty. Finally, she was rescued by her uncle, the Bishop of Bamberg. The bishop wished to marry her again, and on her refusal shut her up in a strong castle. But at this time her husband’s remains were brought back, and she was liberated in order to take part in the burial. She lived in great poverty, clothed in poor garments and spinning wool, to the great scandal of her father, but she refused to return to him, preferring her present mode of life. In all things she lived under the direction of Conrad of Marburg, her confessor, and obeyed him punctiliously. One day she entered a nunnery at the request of the nuns without asking his permission, for which he caused her to be beaten so severely that traces of the blows might be seen three weeks afterwards. She devoted all her attention to a poor woman who was a leper, washing her and dressing her sores. When she was not tending the poor she spun wool, which was sent to her from a monastery, and gave the proceeds to the needy. Finally, she obtained admission into the Franciscan order, to which her confessor belonged. She died in the year 1231 at the age of twenty-four, and was buried at Marburg in the chapel near the hospital which she had founded. Her canonisation took place in 1235. 19th November.

Attributes

• A lapful of red and white roses, sometimes there is a beggar or cripple at her feet. She wears a crown and sometimes the Franciscan habit.

MLA Citation

• Allen Banks Hinds, M.A. “Saint Elizabeth of Hungary”. A Garner of Saints, 1900. CatholicSaints.Info. 19 April 2017. Web. 20 November 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/a-garner-of-saints-saint-elizabeth-of-hungary/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/a-garner-of-saints-saint-elizabeth-of-hungary/

Statue of Saint Elizabeth in St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Superior, Wisconsin

Little Lives of the Great Saints – Saint Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary

Article

Died A.D. 1231.

Saint Elizabeth was born at Presburg, Hungary, in the year 1207. Her father, Alexander II of Hungary, was a brave, religious monarch, and her mother, Queen Gertrude, was a woman of lofty soul, great piety, and a lineal descendant of Charlemagne.

From the very cradle Elizabeth gave proofs of her sublime destiny. At three years of age she expressed her compassion for the poor and sought by gifts to soothe their misery. Thus the virtues of her future life were foreshadowed in infancy. Her first act was an alms-deed; her first word was a prayer.

Some years before our Saint’s birth, Herman, Duke of Thuringia, had a son born, whom he named Louis. The duke obtained a promise from the King of Hungary that the little Elizabeth should be given in marriage to his son; and to confirm the engagement, it was agreed, at Herman’s earnest request, that the princess, when four years of age, should be sent to his court, and there brought up under the care of a virtuous lady.

The day arrived; a brilliant cavalcade of lords and noble ladies came for Elizabeth. The child was clothed in a silk robe embroidered with gold. King Alexander said to Lord de Varila: “To your knightly honor I confide my sweetest consolation.” The good queen, with tears streaming down her face, also commended her dear little one to his care. “I willingly take charge of her,” said the noble knight; “I shall always be her faithful servant. “He kept his word.

Great rejoicing greeted the child in her new home, and at four years of age, she was solemnly affianced to Louis, who was then eleven. Ever after they were companions. She called him brother and he called her sister. This was in the good old Catholic times, when simplicity was still honored as a virtue.

Elizabeth was a sweet and lovely child; even in her sports she thought of God. When successful in games of chance, all her winnings were distributed among poor girls, of whom she imposed the duty of saying a certain number of Paters and Aves.

As she grew up she increased in piety and virtue. She loved prayer, and often stole into the palace chapel to offer up her soul to heaven. She was very devout to her guardian angel, and had a special love for Saint John the Evangelist.

This noble girl practised many self-denials. “As the lily among thorns,” says one of her ancient biographers, “the innocent Elizabeth budded and bloomed in the midst of bitterness, and spread all around her the sweet and fragrant perfume of patience and humility.”

She was educated with Agnes, sister to the young duke. On their first appearing together at church the two were dressed alike, and wore golden crowns set with jewels. There was a majestic crucifix in the house of God, and on seeing the sacred image Elizabeth took off her crown and laid it on a bench, at the same time bowing down her graceful person to adore the Almighty.

The vain, worldly Duchess Sophia, who accompanied the young ladies, was offended. “What ails you, Lady Elizabeth?” she said rudely. “What new whim is this? Do you wish that every one should laugh at you? Young ladies should hold themselves erect, and not throw themselves on the ground like fools or old women. Is your crown too heavy? Why do you remain stooped like a peasant?”

“Dear lady,” answered the gentle Saint, “do not blame me. See before my eyes the image of my sweet and merciful Jesus, who was crowned with thorns. I am but a vile creature. My crown would be a mockery of His thorny wreath.” And the lovely girl wept as she uttered those earnest words.

She then knelt humbly as before, and continued her devotions, leaving the dutchess and Agnes to speak just as they pleased. Having placed a fold of her mantle before her face, it was soon wet with tears. The other two, in order to avoid a contrast that would be far from elevating them in the eyes of the people, were obliged to follow her example, and to draw their veils over their faces, “which it would have been much more pleasing to them not to do,” adds the old chronicler.

Elizabeth had now many enemies and few friends in the lordly home of her betrothed. The good Duke Herman, who loved her tenderly, had passed away to a better world. The duchess-mother, who governed during her son’s minority, despised her, and used every effort to oblige her to take the veil in some convent.

From the unamiable Agnes she suffered daily insult. “My Lady Elizabeth,” said she to her on one occasion, “if you imagine that my brother Louis will marry you, it is a great mistake; or, if he does, you must become quite a different person from what you are now!” Thus, in the midst of luxury and boundless wealth, this sweet, simple girl bore her heavy cross in silence and patience.

She had, however, one true friend. Louis was yet young; but, in spite of the hostile feelings of his mother and sister, his affection for Elizabeth grew day by day. He loved her with “a love that was more than love.” He loved her beauty, her innocence, her piety, her modesty, her simplicity. He consoled her in moments of sadness. At such times he whispered his pure, undying affection. When he returned from journeys or hunting-parties, he always brought her some little love-gift – a pair of beads, a crucifix, a purse, a gold chain, or something else. She called him “my dear brother,” and he addressed her as “my sweet sister.”

When eighteen years of age, Louis proclaimed his intention of marrying his betrothed, and, at the same time, imposed silence on her enemies. He did this with such manly decision that no one dared to make any opposition.

The marriage was celebrated in 1220, with great rejoicing, at the castle of Wartburg. The young duke was twenty years of age, the dear Saint Elizabeth but thirteen.

Louis was not unworthy of his bride so holy and beautiful. The purity and greatness of his soul were reflected in his manly, graceful person. Though modest as a girl, he was as brave as a lion. In short, his whole character was summed up in the motto which he had happily chosen from boyhood: “Piety, purity, justice towards all.”

As to Elizabeth, she recompensed her husband with the love of all that was good and lovely. The old biographers picture her great personal attractions – her black hair, her sweet-looking countenance, her bright eyes, which beamed with tenderness, her figure of unrivalled grace, and her simple, winning ways.

Louis and Elizabeth were never so happy as when in each other’s company. Even after marriage they preserved the custom of calling each other brother and sister. “So entire was the union of their souls,” says Montalembert, “that they could ill endure being separated even for the shortest time. Thus when the duke’s hunting excursions were not too distant, he always took his dear Elizabeth with him, and she was happy to accompany him, even though she had to travel over rugged roads and dangerous paths, and to brave storms; but neither hail, nor snow, nor floods, nor excessive heats could hinder her from going, so anxious was she to be near him who never kept her from God.”

Nothing, in truth, could be more imposing even to worldly souls than the sight of so much virtue in these young persons. United by a holy concord, full of purity and humility before God, full of charity and good will towards men, loving each other with a love that drew them both to God, they offered to heaven and earth a sight the most edifying.

Elizabeth chose for her confessor a holy and very learned priest named Conrad; and under the direction of this wise spiritual guide, she walked the narrow way of virtue, and even reached the lofty summits of sanctity.

She went on this earthly pilgrimage with her eyes ever fixed on heaven. Her mortifications were many and rigorous. She wore a hair-shirt next her skin. Every Friday and every day in Lent she used the discipline in memory of Christ’s sufferings.

But piety did not make her sad or gloomy. She was the most cheerful at festivals. “She played and danced sometimes,” says Saint Francis de Sales, “and was present at assemblies of recreation without prejudice to her devotion, which was so deeply rooted in her soul that, like the rocks about the Lake of Rietta, which grew greater by the beating of the waves, her devotion increased amid the pomps and vanities to which she was exposed by her condition.”

The pure heart of this holy princess overflowed with love and mercy for her unhappy fellow creatures. Her generosity was boundless, for she saw Christ in every poor person. She delighted in paying secret visits to various abodes of misery, the bearer of money, provisions, and words of cheer; and her fair, graceful form might often be seen on such missions of charity, as she glided along the winding, rugged paths that led from the ducal castle to the cabins scattered over the surrounding valleys.

One day, accompanied by a favorite maid of honor, she was descending a narrow pathway, carrying under her mantle bread, meat, eggs, and other food for the poor, when suddenly she was met by her husband, Duke Louis, who was returning from a hunting-party. He was astonished to see his dear Elizabeth toiling along such a rough road under the weight of a burden.

“Let us see what you carry,” said he, at the same time drawing aside the mantle which she held closely clasped to her bosom.

Only red and white roses – the most beautiful he had ever seen – met his eye, and this astonished him, as it was no longer the season of flowers. Seeing that Elizabeth was troubled, he sought to console her by his caresses, but he ceased at once on seeing over her head a luminous appearance in the form of a crucifix. The good duke then desired her to continue her route without being disturbed by him, and he returned to Wartburg, reflecting on what God did for her, and carrying with him one of those wonderful roses, which he preserved all his life.

As the castle of Wartburg was built on a steep rock which the weak and infirm poor were unable to climb, our Saint erected a hospital at the foot of the elevation for their reception and entertainment. Here she daily often fed them with her own hands, made their beds, and attended them in the heat of summer, when the air of the place seemed unsupportable to all who were strangers to her heroic charity.

During a frightful famine that desolated the country, she extended her generous aid to every part of her husband’s dominions. Sometimes a miracle smiled on her holy toil. One day as she carried a quantity of food to a group of mendicants, she saw with uneasiness that she had not a sufficiency to give some to each, and that every moment more applicants arrived. The sweet Saint, however, began to pray interiorly, as she handed around the food, and found that, according as she gave pieces away, they were replaced by others, so that after giving each of the multitude a share there was still some left!

Through motives of religion, Duke Louis took the cross to accompany the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa on the Sixth Crusade. The news of this step overwhelmed Saint Elizabeth with sorrow, for her attachment to her husband was something inexpressibly tender and beautiful.

“Dear brother,” she said, as the pearly tears rolled down her lovely cheeks, “if it be not against God’s will, remain with me.”

“Allow me to set out,” said Louis, “for I have made a vow to God.”

All at once the spirit of heroic self-denial shone out, and she said earnestly: “May He in His goodness watch over you. May all happiness attend you for ever. Go, then, in the name of God!”

But the moment of parting was extremely painful. All trembling with emotion, the princess clung to her husband; and it was only after a desperate effort in conquering his heart that his tongue could find expression. “Elizabeth,” said the noble Crusader, “look at this ring that I take with me. On the sapphire is engraven the Lamb of God with His banner. Let it be to your eyes a sure and certain token of all that concerns me. He who brings you this ring, dearest and most faithful sister, and tells you that I am still alive, or that I have died, believe all that he shall say. May God bless you, my sweetest treasure! Adieu; remember our happy life, our fond and holy love, and forget me not in your prayers.”

And Duke Louis rode away, leaving his wife bathed in tears, for she had a gloomy foreboding that she would never see him again.

A few months passed by, and, alas! the faithful ring was on its way back to the castle of Wartburg. Duke Louis was no more. A fatal fever had carried him away, and at the early age of twenty-seven he died like a saint and hero.

When the sad news reached the youthful princess, she murmured a prayer and fell to the floor, stricken with grief. Truly the shadow of the cross had fallen along the pathway of that bright and beautiful spirit! For the first time Elizabeth really saw the frown of adversity, for the first time perhaps, she felt with sensible vividness that in the day of trial virtue is the only solid comfort. Heaven was about to complete her many good works and sacrifices, and to give a rounded loveliness to a life so precious and sublime.

Envy, jealousy, and malignity – all welled up and concealed during her husband’s lifetime – now broke loose against the virtuous princess. Calumny grew loud and barefaced. It was asserted, among other things, that she had squandered the public revenue on the poor, and that as she was u nf it to govern during the minority of her little son Herman, the reins of power should be handed over to her brother-in-law, Henry. Justice and honor fled from the heart of this ambitious man. The wild passions of the mob were appealed to by fiery speeches, and Elizabeth was brutally turned out of the castle of Wartburg. Not a voice was raised in her favor.

It was midwinter, and the cold was very severe. This daughter of a royal race descended on foot – her eyes wet with tears – along the rugged, narrow pathway that led to the city. She herself carried her new-born babe, and the three other children followed with her two faithful companions.

This incident, so shocking to human nature, restored the Saint’s tranquillity. She sought shelter at a poor inn, and was not rejected – though the hard-hearted Duke Henry had issued a proclamation forbidding any one to receive herself or her children. When she heard the midnight bell ringing for Matins at the Franciscan monastery which she had founded not many years before, she immediately arose and went to church. After assisting at the office, she desired the Fathers to sing a solemn Te Deum to thank God for His mercies in visiting her with such afflictions.

For some time after this the troubles of the princess were countless. She could find no place to lodge. A poor priest offered her a room in his little house; but her enemies were on hand and drove her forth. At length she found a refuge from her uncle the Bishop of Bamberg.

A change, however, soon came about. The voice of justice was heard. A spirited remonstrance from some of the chief nobles of Thuringia brought the usurping Henry to his senses, and he even promised to restore Elizabeth her rights and all her possessions. She returned for a short time to the castle of Wartburg, but the piety of her life was not pleasing to her worldly relations.

The Saint left the lordly residence where she had spent so many years, and retired to Marburg, in Hesse. The revenues of this city were granted to her to provide for her maintenance. Here she retired to a house of her own, and, under the guidance of her director, Conrad, she labored only for heaven. She was a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. Tattlers she detested. She spoke little, and her words were marked by modesty and reserve. She gave her rich dowry to the poor, and supported herself by spinning.

Her father, the King of Hungary, sent an ambassador to invite her home. “Say to my dearest father,” she remarked, “that I am more happy in this contemptible life than he is in his regal pomp, and that, far from sorrowing over me, he ought to rejoice that he has a child in the service of the King of Heaven. All that I ask of him is to pray and to have prayers offered for me, and I will ceaselessly pray for him as long as life is left me.”

It pleased the Almighty that a halo of glory and majesty should surround the close of this noble lady’s earthly pilgrimage. One day she met a deaf and dumb boy, and asked him a question. He at once got the use of speech. On another occasion she saw a blind man walking near a church. She questioned the poor fellow, and learned that he would like to see the sunlight and the house of God. The sweet Saint told him to kneel and pray, and she prayed with him. Immediately he saw. The light of this world dawned on his eyes for the first time as he exclaimed: “May God be ever blessed!”

Three days before she died she was warned to prepare for her departure. Elizabeth put all her affairs in order, and devoutly received the last sacraments from Conrad, her faithful friend and confessor. “O Mary! come to my assistance,” she exclaimed, and falling into a gentle slumber, her pure and beautiful spirit passed away, on the 19th of November, 1231. She was only twenty-four years of age.

MLA Citation

• John O’Kane Murray, M.A., M.D. “Saint Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary”. Little Lives of the Great Saints, 1879. CatholicSaints.Info. 25 September 2018. Web. 20 November 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/little-lives-of-the-great-saints-saint-elizabeth-princess-of-hungary/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/little-lives-of-the-great-saints-saint-elizabeth-princess-of-hungary/

Berg near Rohrbach ( Upper Austria ). Maria-Trost church: Altar of Saint Erasmus - Painting of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary.

Berg bei Rohrbach ( Oberösterreich ). Wallfahrtskirche Maria-Trost: Erasmusaltar - Heilige Elisabeth von Thüringen.

Photographie : Wolfgang Sauber

Weninger’s Lives of the Saints – Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Landgravine of Hesse and Thuringia

Article

Saint Elizabeth, a model of devotion and purity to those who live singly, a mirror of love and retirement for married people, a most perfect example of patience for widows, and whose virtues deserve to be followed by all, high and low, was born in Hungary. She was a daughter of Andrew II, King of Hungary, and of Gertrude, daughter of the Duke of Carinthia. According to the Roman Breviary, Elizabeth began in early childhood to fear God, and increased in piety with age. The walk she loved best of all was going to church, where she prayed with angelic devotion, and whence it was a difficult task to bring her home, as her greatest delight consisted in praying. At the door of the church, she always took off the jewelled coronet which she wore, and when asked why she did this, she replied: “God forbid that I should ever appear with such a crown before the face of Him who was crowned with thorns, and who, out of love for me, was nailed to the cross.” She called Mary, the divine Mother, her mother, and entertained great devotion towards Saint John, the Apostle and Evangelist, whom she chose as the special protector of her chastity. She never refused what was asked of her in the name of the Blessed Virgin or in that of Saint John. The money allotted to her for her recreation, she gave to the poor, requesting them to say the Ave Maria. She was an enemy to luxury, vain adornments and idleness. Nature had not only bestowed upon her unusual personal beauty, but had also endowed her with great qualities of mind.

In obedience to her parents, she gave her hand to Louis, Landgrave of Hesse and Thuringia, and lived with him in continual harmony, her conduct being as blameless in the married state as it had been during her maidenhood. She gave one hour every night to prayer, and spent the day in attendance at the divine service in the church, in devout reading and in working for the poor. She always treated her husband with love and respect, and was a model of all virtues to her subjects. She watched over her domestics with a most careful eye, in order that they might lead a Christian life; but took always a mother’s interest in seeing that their wages were punctually paid. She herself carried to the church the princes and princesses to whom she gave birth; and it was her custom, on these occasions to lay a rich offering on the Altar, and to give abundant alms to the poor. Under her royal robes, she continually wore a garment of hair-cloth. For the sick and the forsaken she had more than a mother’s care and solicitude. She erected a hospital in which she nursed the sick and sheltered orphans; besides feeding nine hundred poor people, every day, at the palace, and sending alms to the dwellings of those who were ashamed to beg. She also visited the sick in their houses, and served them most tenderly even when they were leprous. She kissed their hands and feet, and encouraged them to patience. Never did a poor person leave her without receiving alms, and more than once, when she had no money with her, she gave away the veil from her head. She did not hesitate even to mend the clothes of the needy, and during a severe famine, gave all her corn to the sufferers. In one word, she did not neglect anything that Christian charity could do; so that she was universally called the mother of the poor.

There were at court many who, on account of her great charity, laughed at and derided her; some even accused her of extravagance. Elizabeth, however, did not allow herself to be diverted from her deeds of kindness, and the Landgrave dismissed her accusers with indignation, probably because he perceived that the more charitable his spouse was, the more he was blessed with temporal goods. Hence he not only abstained from disturbing her in her kind deeds, but assisted her in them as long as he lived. He ended his life in a crusade, in which he joined with several other Christian princes in order to conquer the Holy Land from the infidels. Elizabeth grieved deeply when the news of his death reached her, but submitted to the will of the Almighty, saying: “It is known to Thee, O my God, that I loved no one on this earth more than my husband; not only because he was my husband, but also because he loved Thee with his whole heart. But as it has pleased Thee to call him, I am well contented with Thy holy will; and if I could, against Thy decree, raise him from the dead by reciting one Pater Noster, I would not do it. I only beg of Thee to give him eternal peace, and bestow upon me the grace to serve Thee faithfully until the end of my days.” After this heroic submission to the will of God, she caused many masses and prayers to be said for the deceased, gave large alms to the poor, divested herself of her royal robes, and, though but twenty years old, she vowed to live in chaste widowhood for the rest of her days. It pleased the Almighty to try His zealous handmaid most painfully. The nobility made the brother of the deceased Landgrave regent, and accused the holy princess of having impoverished the state by her charity to the poor. Under this pretext, they deprived her of all her possessions, and banished her from the Court, with three children, a son and two daughters. Her former vassals, fearing to draw upon themselves the disfavor of the new government, durst not give her lodgings. Even the hospitals, which she herself had founded, were closed against her. Hence she had to lodge mostly in a stable and to live on the bread she begged. In such unexpected and more than painful circumstances, Saint Elizabeth showed a truly heroic, and, to the children of the world, incomprehensible strength and patience. She complained to no one of the injustice of the nobility, not even to her royal father, who was still living; but rejoiced that she could suffer for the love of God. After the first night of her banishment, she went to the Church of the Franciscans and requested them to sing the “Te Deum,” or “Great God! we praise thee,” to give thanks to God for the sorrows with which He had visited her. The wrongs and outrages which the holy princess suffered, besides her banishment, can hardly be described. An old woman, who had formerly received clothing and nourishment from Saint Elizabeth, dared to push her into a pool of stagnant water, in the street, abusing her at the same time most shamefully, for not having immediately made way for her. This outrage aroused not in the least the wrath of the holy princess; she quietly raised herself out of the pool, cleansed her garments, and offered herself to the Almighty for more suffering. God did not fail to comfort His handmaid in her adversity. Christ appeared to her, during her prayers, encouraged her, and promised never to abandon her. After some time, through her father’s influence, a dwelling, suitable to her rank, was conceded to her, and her dowry was refunded. The Saint immediately used one part of the building for a hospital, made her home in the same, and nursed the sick, as if she had been a servant, hired to wait upon them. All her spare time was employed in prayer and other devout exercises. She also chastised her body by fasting and other penances. At the age of twenty-four years, she learned by revelation, that her end was approaching, for which she prepared herself by most devoutly receiving the holy sacraments. She exhorted all those who were around her death-bed, to love God with their whole heart and to assist the poor to the best of their ability. After this, she continued in prayer, until her soul, richly adorned with virtues and merits, went to her Creator, in the year of Our Lord 1231. The funeral took place at Marburg, in Hesse, where her holy remains still rest, honored not only by Catholics, but also by many Protestants. Luther himself, though a declared enemy of the Saints, believed our Elizabeth to have been one, and called her so, thereby acknowledging that one can be saved and become a saint in the Catholic faith. The miracles that have taken place at the shrine of the holy princess, have made her celebrated throughout the whole world. Sixteen dead persons are known to have been restored to life, through her intercessions, and the number of the sick, who were restored to health, is incomparably greater.

Karl von Blaas  (1815–1894). Das Rosenwunder der Hl. Elisabeth.1839

Practical Considerations

• The life of Saint Elizabeth may serve as a model to persons of every age and station. Children may learn to fear God from their earliest years, and to increase their devotion with their age; single persons, how to live chastely in their state; married people, how husband and wife ought to live together; and the widowed how to sanctify their solitude. Masters and mistresses may learn how to take care of their domestics, and pay their wages regularly. Those of a higher station may learn to set a good example to others, and not to be ashamed to appear at public worship. All Christians can find instruction in it, for employing their time well, helping the needy, and bearing crosses and trials sent by heaven. God permitted a Landgravine, a royal princess, to be banished unjustly from court, to beg her bread, and, besides other ignominies, to be refused a shelter among her own subjects. Still she complained not; but, submissive to the decrees ot Providence, gave humble thanks to the Almighty for all that He, in His wisdom, had sent her. Even at the death of her husband, what fortitude, what submission to the divine will she manifested! Oh! that all would endeavor, in trials of much less severity, to unite their will with that of God, and patiently bear the cross that He has laid upon them.

• The favorite walk of Saint Elizabeth, when she was still a child, was to go to church, where she manifested most angelic devotion, and was so happy, that she could hardly be persuaded to leave. What is your favorite walk? Where do you like to remain? And when you do go to church, why are you in such haste to leave it again? Why do you much oftener go to theatres, frivolous societies, vain amusements, bar-rooms and ball-rooms, than to Church, to prayers, to sermons, or to public worship? Why does the sermon, the mass, or conversation with God in prayer so soon become wearisome to you, when many hours, nay, even half the day or night seem not long, when you occupy them in gaming, dancing, or silly conversation? Answer these questions if you can; and then tell me, do you expect to justify yourself before God, and to enter the same heaven into which Saint Elizabeth entered? “Ah! truly, heaven becomes not the dwelling of those who sleep and are idle, but of those who earnestly endeavor to gain it.” Thus speaks the holy pope, Saint Leo.

MLA Citation

• Father Francis Xavier Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Landgravine of Hesse and Thuringia”. Lives of the Saints, 1876. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 May 2018. Web. 20 November 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-elizabeth-of-hungary-landgravine-of-hesse-and-thuringia/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-elizabeth-of-hungary-landgravine-of-hesse-and-thuringia/

St. Elisabeth of Hungary, stained glass, 18th century, City Museum of Ljubljana

Patron Saints for Girls – The Life of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow

(A.D. 1251) Elizabeth was the daughter of Andrew II, King of Hungary. Her mother was Queen Gertrude, daughter of the Duke of Carinthia. Elizabeth was born in the year 1207. Her august parents were distinguished for their great piety, and great was their joy on seeing their child, even in her infantile years, giving herself, as it were naturally, to the things of God, preferring them to every other engagement, and centering all her delights in prayer, almsgiving, retirement, and recollectedness. Such was the precocious piety that stamped the character of the child, and, as it were, presaged the future glory of the young Hungarian princess.

The Landgrave or Duke of Thuringia, one of the most powerful of the princes of Germany, having heard of Elizabeth, and having learned how heavenly was the character of this child, then only four years old, determined that she should, one day, be the spouse of his young son, Louis.

Ambassadors were sent to the Court of Hungary, and the marriage of the young princess, Elizabeth, and the youthful Louis, was arranged. In order to give more solidity to this engagement, the contracting parties agreed that little Elizabeth should be sent immediately to the Court of Thuringia.

She was consigned to the ambassadors in a massive silver cradle; and as soon as they reached the Landgrave’s Court, they proceeded to celebrate the espousals of Elizabeth and Louis, who had then completed his eleventh year. From this moment Elizabeth never quitted her betrothed, whom she called her brother – young Louis called her his sister; even after their marriage they were accustomed to address each other in these endearing appellations.

The care of Elizabeth’s education was entrusted to a noble lady, eminently qualified for this responsible undertaking.

Two years after her arrival in the Court of Thuringia, Elizabeth was informed of the death of Queen Gertrude, her mother, the remembrance of whom caused her to shed many and many a tear. Three years afterwards, Elizabeth witnessed the death of Landgrave Hermann, the father of her betrothed. This, indeed, was a serious loss to her, for this prince, who was a truly religious man, always smiled complacently on the holy acts of his daughter-in-law, and never opposed any of the devotional practices in which she was wont to indulge. After his death, she was wholly at the mercy of Agnes, her sister-in-law, who annoyed her very much. Sophia, her mother-in-law, a woman singularly attached to pageantries and wordly amusements, encouraged Aglles to thwart and cross young Elizabeth. The great devotion of the latter, and her profound contempt for all the vanities so much loved by people of her rank, excited their extremest displeasure. Agnes, in fact, blushed to think that she should be educated with a person who, acCording to her uncharitable remarks, was fitter to be a tire-woman than a princess.

Duke Louis had succeeded his father, but he was still dependent on the Duchess Sophia, his mother. Furthermore, he was very often absent from the court, and this period was employed by Sophia and Aglles in tormenting poor Elizabeth.

One day – it was the festival of the Assumption – Agnes and Elizabeth received orders to dress themselves in their most sumptuous robes, and to wear their golden crowns, as the Duchess required them to accompany her to the Church of Eisenach, where she was going to hear Mass. Elizabeth obeyed; but on entering the house of God, she removed her crown. The princess Sophia, observing this act, reproached her, and asked her imperiously why she did so?

“Madam,” replied Elizabeth, with profound humility, “ought I wear a golden diadem in a place where I behold Jesus Christ crowned with thorns ?”

Agnes and Sophia were struck dumb with indignation, for so much humility condemned their pride. Elizabeth, however, gave herself no uneasiness, but prostrating herself, prayed with her wonted fervor.

This event served only to augment Elizabeth’s torments. “Do not imagine that Duke Louis will ever marry you;” such was the insulting language habitually employed by Agnes; “Go and become a waiting-woman, for you are not fit to be the wife of a prince.” Nevertheless, poor Elizabeth bore all these injuries and outrages with patience, and when Louis returned to the Court, he did not fail to evince the sincerest love and respect for the virtues of his betrothed, despite the sarcasms of his mother and sister. He consoled her in secret, he encouraged her in the practices of humility and evangelical mortification, and, at the same time, left no doubt on her mind as to his unshaken constancy and eternal attachment.

All their persecutions tended to make Elizabeth entertain, if possible, a still more profound contempt fox: the pomps and pleasures of earth. All these trials she had to encounter on the road wherein Jesus Christ destined her to walk, taught her to entertain patience, humility, gentleness, and charity. She never failed to evince all these heavenly dispositions of soul and body for her cruel persecutors. Consoled by the benedictions of heaven, she almost disregarded all the thorns wherewith her path was strewn. Her chief happiness was to remain within her chapel or oratory, and there to pass many and many an hour in prayer. Her delight was to minister comfort to the poor and to dress the wounds of the suffering, no matter how loathsome they might be. Even in her leisure moments, in the time usually allotted to recreation, any one might have perceived how sedulous she proved herself in cultivating and practising evangelical humility and mortification.

A life like this, so totally opposed to luxury and the fatal etiquette attached to the high place which she was destined one day to occupy, excited the deadliest contempt and aversion of Sophia, and her daughter Agnes. The very courtiers labored with all their ingenuity to heap contempt on Elizabeth. Thus spake they: “She is not worthy of an alliance with the Land- grave: moreover, the prince does not love her. She ought, therefore, return into Hungary, and there marry some civilian of gentle blood.”

But, at length, after long and continual absence, occasioned by his education, Duke Louis returned to the Court of his royal ancestors. He was an accomplished prince, and in every way prepared to act a great part in the theatre of the world; but that which rendered him still more estimable and worthy of Elizabeth was his great purity of morals, and his heart-felt love of piety. The wonderful virtues of Elizabeth, then only fourteen years of age, had made a deep and lasting impression on his soul. He took good care to put an end to the persecutions she had to endure for such a lenghtened period, and, at the same time, declared his determination to marry the blessed girl whom he called his sister. Her persecutors were now obliged to mask their rage, and the marriage of Louis and Elizabeth was solemnized with all regal magnificence.

Even after the marriage, the new Duchess did not, in the least degree, diminish her pious austerities; and the devout prince, her husband, far from finding fault with them, seemed rather disposed to encourage them. All the time which Elizabeth did not spend in prayer was devoted to works of charity, or manual labor, and this labor was to spin wool for the clothing of the poor.

Always united to God, she seemed to perform every act as though she was the only object of His watchfulness. Furthermore, Elizabeth possessed the grand gift of being able to pray almost incessantly.

Her austerities surpassed those of the ancient solitaries. Her aversion to the pomps, pride, and pageants of Court-life, was almost incredible. Many of her ladies of honor imitated her virtues, but they followed her at a considerable distance. In fact, she was inimitable, above all, in the practice of humility, and in her zeal to seek out whatever was of the most revolting nature to the generality of women in her elevated position.

Wishing to bestow her greatest attention on the sick, who labored under the most loathsome maladies, she made it her study to find them, that she might have the exclusive charge of their infirmities.

Her favorite virtue was to alleviate the sufferings of the poor; this was her habitual thought, and the holy passion that consumed her soul. Elizabeth justly deserved to be called the Mother of the Poor, and, to this day, the Church proposes her to us as the patroness of the poor. Such is one of the titles that she has on our veneration. In the persons of the poor, Elizabeth beheld Jesus Christ himself; and this was one of the reasons which caused her to act as their most menial servant. One day – it was on Holy Thursday – she gathered together a vast number of the unfortunates who had been stricken with leprosy, and nowise deterred by this horrid malady, so contagious, and so seldom yielding to human remedies, she washed the hands and feet of this loathsome assemblage, in imitation of our Lord, who, upon the eve of his crucifixion, washed the feet of His Apostles.

Being nowise restricted by her pious husband, there was no end to Elizabeth’s alms-giving. In the year 1225, all Germany was affiicted by a terrible famine, and, at this period, Elizabeth seemed like an angel sent down from heaven to arrest this most direful scourge. The prince, her husband, was at this time in Italy, sustaining the Emperor, Frederick, the Second, with his army. On his return, his principal officers, and the treasurers of his household, were loud in their protestations against the lavish profusion which they said Elizabeth had shown to the poor. But nothing could exceed their astonishment when the prince coldly asked them, if she had not carefully preserved the strong places of Thuringia?

“Yes,” replied the officers.

“Well,” observed the prince, “I will not dare to censure her charities; for they will bring down the benedictions of heaven on us; and I am certain I never shall want means as long as my wife continues to employ them so usefully, and so like a Christian woman, who, in her high position, does not forget herself or her God!”

Meanwhile, a crusade had been proclaimed against the Turks, the enemies of Christ, and the enemies of civilization. Duke Louis, therefore, deemed it his bounden duty to respond to the summons of the Sovereign Pontiff, who was exhorting all the chivalry of Christendom to march to the succor of their oppressed brethren in the East.

Duke Louis, therefore, took the cross, and set out for Naples, where he was to join the Emperor Frederick, with whom he meant to pass into Palestine. Sad and painful was the parting from his holy wife. Bitter were the tears they shed, but religion resumed its empire, and at last triumphed over the feelings of nature.

The Landgrave having marched into Italy, proceeded to Otranto, where he was to have embarked with the Emperor Frederick. In that city he was attacked by an epidemic malady, then raging amongst his troops. In fact, he was its first victim. He immediately demanded the sacraments of the church, which were administered by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and he soon afterwards expired in the most pious sentiments of a true Catholic. He was only twenty-seven years of age, and his loss was sincerely lamented by all his companions in arms.

The announcement of his decease filled Elizabeth’s Court with grief and gloom. Her husband, her pious friend, he who called himself her brother; he with whom she had hoped to pass many a happy year, her Louis had departed to heaven from her, and she was never to see him again till God summoned her to His mansions of glory! “Ah !” she exclaimed, “since my brother is no longer here on this earth with me, I pray God that I may die to all things: henceforth I can live only to weep and mourn.”

That envy and hatred, which did not dare to show itself during Louis’ lifetime, now joined in a league to ruin her. It was then alleged that Elizabeth had embarrassed the treasury by her almsgiving, that it was necessary to re-establish the exhausted finances, that Prince Hermann, son of the deceased Landgrave, was too young to take the reins of government, that some one capable of protecting the domains of the State should be selected, and they finally concluded that the only one fit for this important duty, was Henry, the uncle of Hermann.

The aristocracy succeeded in winning the sympathies of the populace, and Henry, therefore, seized the reins of government.

His first act was to expel Elizabeth from her palace, and his cruelty was so excessive, that he refused her the very necessaries of life. Furthermore, he forbade all persons inhabiting his cities, to receive or succor her.

The princess suffered all this outrages and cruelties with admirable patience, and not a word of murmuring or repining ever fell from her lips.

Full of confidence in God, she departed tranquilly from her palace with her female servants, and took up her abode in a poor cottage. At midnight, she repaired to the church of the Franciscans, just as they were chanting matins, and then and there she invited them to join her in the Te Deum, for she desired to give thanks to God for the affiictions with which it pleased Him to visit her.

Next day she employed all intelligence in seeking for some place where she might lodge, but no one dared to harbor her, as all were in dread of the usurper and his supporters. She, therefore, had to spend the whole day in the church of the Franciscan friars. In the night-time her children were brought to her, for Henry drove them out of the palace. On beholding the poor babes, now deprived of all maintenance, she could not check the current of her tears. Oh I how she then lamented the decease of their father. The caresses of the poor little creatures were not sufficient to console that afflicted mother; but she lifted up her eyes to heaven, and she, the daughter of kings, she whose alms, a few days ago, had succored the indigence and sufferings of so many, now humbly implored the King of heaven to look down compassionately on her and her tender charge. At all times full of confidence in God, Elizabeth offered all her sufferings and humilitations to Him, and her most fervent prayer was that He would give her grace to live for Him alone, to fervently desire Him only, and God did come to her aid. An abbess, who was her kinswoman, offered her an asylum in her monastery. The Bishop of Bamberg, her uncle, presented her with a mansion situated near his palace. The prelate, thinking that a new alliance was the only means by which she might be enabled to recover her own and children’s rights, counselled her to marry again; but the Saint informed him, that after her husband’s decease she had made a vow to remain a widow for the rest of her life, and that her only desire was to consecrate the remainder of her days to God alone.

During her sojourn in the states of the Bishop of Bamberg, the mortal remains of her husband were brought home from Italy. Elizabeth then related to the knights who had accompanied her husband’s mortal remains, the sad story of her sufferings. She besought them to plead her cause and that of her children, and to obtain justice for them and her from her brother-in-law.

She never accused him as the cause of the disgraceful treatment she had experienced, but attributed it all to the evil counsels to which he had given ear. The knights were deeply affected by the story of her misfortunes, and bound themselves by an oath to see her restored to all her rights and privileges. Such was the ardor they evinced in this matter, that Elizabeth felt herself bound to moderate their zeal.

On their arrival in Thuringia, the nobles energetically reproached Prince Henry with the disloyalty of his conduct. “Remember,” said they to him, “that there is a God who sees all things. What crime has this woman committed? Is not the weakness of her sex quite enough to prevent her undertaking any emprise injurious to the State? Know you not that she is distinguished for her wonderful piety and many inestimable virtues? What have her children, your own blood, done to you? Ought not their age plead in their favor? You, who should have been their protector, have proved yourself their unrelenting enemy. Have you not violated all laws, human and divine?”

Henry’s heart could not withstand such well-deserved reproaches. Sorrowful for his past conduct, and softened by the tears shed by the princesses themselves, he consented that Elizabeth should return to the palace, promised to make restitution of all her property, and swore that he would resign the reins of government to her son as soon as he had attained his majority.

The knights being fully satisfied with these promises, brought back Elizabeth to her palace. Henry then caused her to be treated with all the honors due to her rank, and put her in possession of all her property.

After so many painful vicissitudes Sophia, her mother-in-law, flattered herself that Elizabeth would renounce that manner of life which had brought so many afflictions on her; but Elizabeth’s hatred of vanities became more intense, and she proved still more devoted to that God, who consoled her in all her afflictions – to that God who never deserted her when she was abandoned by all those who fawned on her in the days of her prosperity.

Now that she had experience of bitter poverty, she became more attached to the poor, and to them she gave all the revenues arising from her dowry. For them she subjected herself to all manner of humiliations, such as mendings their clothes, and ministering to them with her own hands.

In vain did the King of Hungary, her father, strive to induce her to return to his Court. She refused to re-enter that world, which she had quitted for ever. She continued to live in the most perfect poverty, eating nothing but bread and herbs, and living only to pray. She, with her own hands, dressed the ulcers of the poor, and made herself an entire sacrifice to the suffering members of Jesus Christ.

At last the moment came in which the holy Duchess of Thuringia was to go to receive the glorious reward of all her sufferings and sorrows. Knowing that her end was approaching, although her malady was very slight, she redoubled her devout exercises, and the fire of her holy fervor grew stronger. Before receiving the sacraments, she desired to make a general confession of her whole life; and even to her last gasp, she ceased not to meditate on the mysteries of the life and sufferings of her divine Redeemer.

At length, after addressing many words, replete with piety and edification, to those who surrounded her, she expired in the night of the 19th of November, 1231, aged only twenty-four years. A great many miracles were wrought at her tomb. Four years after her death (A.D. 1235), she was canonized by Pope Gregory IX.

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/patron-saints-for-girls-the-life-of-saint-elizabeth-of-hungary-widow/

The group of Saint Elisabeth. Sculpture in wood by Rudolf Moroder polychromed by Christian Delago in the Parish church of Urtijëi 1900

Hl. Elisabeth-Gruppe in Holz geschnitzt, gefasst von Christian Delago in der Pfarrkirche von St. Ulrich in Gröden des Rudolf Moroder entstanden 1900

Gruppo scultoreo di Santa Elisabetta di Ungheria scolpito nel legno da Rudolf Moroder, policromia di Christian Delago del 1900

Stories of the Saints for Children – Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

There is a little golden blossom growing on many of the heaths and mountain sides of Germany, which the peasants call “Elizabeth’s Flower,” in memory of the Saint who dwelt in their land long ago, the child of Andrew, the pious King of Hungary, and his Queen Gertrude.

These parents had been happy when God gave them this little daughter, but their joy increased as they heard her baby tongue first lisp the Names of Jesus and Mary, because they believed she would grow up to be a very holy servant of Christ.

Before Elizabeth was four years old, a rich prince asked her parents to promise her to his son Louis when she was of an age to marry, and, though they grieved to part with her, they granted this request, because they thought it was for her good, giving her into the care of this German landgrave, who, with many nobles and ladies in attendance journeyed with her into Thuringia, which was to be her home. The young Prince Louis was then eleven years of age, and from that time they were brought up together, calling each other by the names of brother and sister.

The good landgrave tried to make the little stranger child happy, and chose out some of the noblest girls of her own age belonging to his court for her companions, one of whom stayed with her nearly all her life. This friend was named “Guta,” and she has told a great deal about the Saint’s early days in Thuringia.

The little Elizabeth was very merry and fond of play, but she loved God so much that in the midst of her amusements she thought of Him, and often she would hop on one foot to the castle chapel with her young friends hopping after her, and even if she found the door fastened she would kiss it, and kiss the lock and the walls, for love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament Who dwelt there.

Before she was old enough to read, she would go to the altar steps, and putting a great, open psalter before her, folded her tiny hands reverently, thinking of God, and praying to Him. At other times she would persuade the children to go with her to the cemetery, and offer up prayers for the souls of those persons who had been buried there. If a child loves Jesus so much she becomes very sweet and gentle, and thus Elizabeth’s companions delighted to be with her, and they declared that the Holy Child Himself came frequently to play with her. She fixed upon certain prayers to say every day, but if anything kept her from finishing all, she would pray quietly to God, as she lay in bed, while others supposed her to be sleeping.

Elizabeth began, even as a young child, to practise giving up her will every day in little trifling things, so that she might be imitating Jesus, and getting ready to make larger sacrifices for Him when she grew older. In the midst of a game, when she was enjoying herself the most, she would atop, saying, “Now I am quite full of happiness – I will leave off for the love of God.”

And in dancing, which she liked so much, she would cease when she had made one turn, exclaiming, “That will do for the world; the rest I will give up for Jesus Christ.”

This gentle little Elizabeth had placed herself particularly under the protection of the Blessed Virgin; but she had so great a love for Saint John the Evangelist that she chose him for her patron saint, and remained faithful in her devotion to him until the end of her life. From her infancy, Elizabeth had felt an intense love for the poor, and a great desire to relieve them, and, as she grew older, she gave away all the money which was allowed her, and would go through the passages and kitchens of the castle, seeking the scraps of meat and bread which were cast aside by the servants, but received so gratefully by the half-starved beggars who came to ask alms at the gate.

Thus, in prayers, and amusements, and good works, the time passed, until Elizabeth was nine years old, and then a great sorrow happened to her. Since she had been in Thuringia she had heard of the death of her own mother – now the good landgrave, the father of her future husband, was taken from her to her very great grief, for he had loved her as dearly as if she had been his own child, snd after he died the landgravine and the other ladies of the court turned against the little Elizabeth, and treated her unkindly. All they complained of was the manner of life she led, her love of the poor, her desire for prayer; and they said she was unfit for a princess, and ought not to be the wife of Louis. But through all this, we are told that no angry or impatient words escaped her; the more harsh they were, so much the more did she fix her heart on God, whose love made up for all she suffered.

One year, upon the Feast of the Assumption, the landgravine desired Elizabeth and her own daughter Agnes to put on their richest dresses, and crowns of gold, and go with her to the large church in Eisenach to hear Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin. They obeyed, and accompanied her to the city, and into the church, where places had been specially prepared for them; but at the sight of the crucifix Elizabeth forgot the landgravine’s presence, and, taking off her golden crown, lay prostrate on the ground.

“What is this for, my Lady Elizabeth?” said the landgravine, angrily. “Cannot you behave better than an ill-brought-up child? Do you find your crown too heavy that you lie crouching there like a peasant girl?”

Then Elizabeth rose, and with great humility and sweetness answered, “Be not angry, dear lady. How can I wear gold and jewels when I see before me God my King adorned with sharp thorns? My crown would be a mockery of His!”

And she wept so bitterly, covering her eyes with the folds of her mantle, that the princesses could not help doing the same, and hiding their faces also, although in their hearts they were more than ever displeased with her.

But the dislike to Elizabeth grew with her growth, and some of the greatest counsellors urged the young landgrave to send her back to her father, while his mother would have wished to place her in a convent, so that she could never be his wife.

Elizabeth was often very sad when she heard such things said of her; she felt lonely in that foreign land away from her home, and without any father’s care; but God her Father in heaven had her in His keeping, and when she was most sorrowful she would kneel before her crucifix, and pour out her heart in prayer, and then, with fresh peace of mind, would return to her companions without a shadow upon her sweet face.

Although so much was done to make Louis dislike his future wife, he never ceased to love her, and when he returned home after his short absences he would bring her some little gift as a proof of his affection. Once, however, he omitted doing this, which caused Elizabeth some pain, and one of the young nobles who had come with her from Hungary spoke to Louis, asking him if he meant to break his word, and let her return home to her father. The landgrave sprang to his feet, declaring he would never give her up, that he loved her more because of the piety which all condemned, and very soon afterwards his marriage with Elizabeth took place at the Castle of Wartburg, when he was twenty, and she about thirteen years old.

Louis of Thuringia was worthy to be the husband of the Saint, for he also loved God above all things, and they lived very happily together; but her affection for him never caused her to neglect her prayer, or the works of charity she ha# practised before. Constantly in the cold winter nights she would rise to meditate upon the birth of Jesus in the chilly ^darkness of the stable at Bethlehem; she would go away from rich banquets having eaten nothing but dry bread, and yet, though she was hard with herself, she was so happy and had such a bright joyous countenance, that every one felt peace and comfort in her presence.

It pleased God in return for her faithful love to show some wonderful signs of His grace upon her. Once she was sitting down alone to a meal of bread and water, when Louis happened to come in quite unexpectedly, and raising his wife’s cup to his lips, he found it full of a richer wine than he had ever before tasted. He asked the steward from whence he had drawn it, but when he heard that Elizabeth’s cup was never filled with anything but water, Louis said no more, for he saw now that it was the work of Almighty God in blessing for the love she gave to Him and His poor.

Although the dear Saint’s gifts to the flick and suffering were so constant, she also waited upon them and visited them herself, no matter how keen the wind, or how rough and steep the road which led to their dwellings. She also obtained the landgrave’s permission to build a hospital half-way upon the rock where the castle stood, so * that about twenty-eight sick people might be received there who were too weak to climb up the hill to the gate for relief. These she visited every day, carrying them food with her own hands, washing their sores and kissing their feet in the greatness of her charity.

It happened once that as Elizabeth, with her servant, was coming down a very steep path, she suddenly met her husband and a company of nobles returning from a day’s hunting. She was almost bending beneath the weight of bread, meat, and eggs she was carrying to the poor, and folding her cloak tightly round her, stood aside to let them pass by; but Louis insisted on knowing what she had with her, and opening her mantle, he saw with surprise that it was filled with the most beautiful red and white roses he had ever beheld, and it was the more astonishing because the season for such flowers was long since passed. But the dear Saint was so troubled by God’s favours to her being thus made public, that Louis tried to soothe her, but he drew back with reverence as he saw the light of a glowing silvery crucifix appearing above her head, and bidding her farewell, he rode homeward musing over God’s wonders, carrying with him one of the miraculous roses, which he wore near his heart to the day of his death. Meantime Elizabeth, with great simplicity, went on her way, and when she reached the homes of the sick and destitute, the roses had vanished, and the food for their relief was again visible.

As time passed on the landgrave and his young wife had several children given them by God, and soon after the birth of each one the mother would take the newly-born baby up the steep path to the church of Saint Catherine, and there offer it upon the altar, beseeching God with many tears to make the little one grow up His friend and servant.

While the life of Elizabeth was passed in these lovely deeds of charity and holiness, Germany was calling upon all her princely knights to gather together in a fresh crusade to wrest the holy sepulchre of Christ from the power of the infidel Turks. Douis of Thuringia joined the number, and received the cross worn by crusaders from the hands of. the Bishop of Hildesheim. It was a terrible sorrow to the Saint when she heard that he was leaving her, and at first she cried bitterly, begging him to remain at home; but when he told her that he felt called by the love of Jesus Christ to undertake this holy cause, she ceased weeping, and, begging God to watch over him, bade him farewell. They never met on earth again, for the brave Louis was one of the first to be slain; he had gone for the love of God, and he died for that love willingly, without a murmur or regret.

Poor Elizabeth! Now, indeed, she was solitary. “I have lost everything,” she said. “Oh! my Jesus, strengthen my weakness.” Just at first everyone pitied her, but very soon the old dislike to her returned, all manner of evil things were spoken of her, and at last her cruel relations drove her from the castle with her little fatherless children, and not even those whom she had fed in their hunger would shelter her. From door to door she went, only to be turned away. Like Jesus, her Master, she ” had not where to lay her head but at length she was admitted into a miserable little inn, and put to sleep in an outhouse where pigs were usually kept. While resting there she heard the bell of the Franciscan church close by, and hastening to the friars, she begged that the “Te Deum” might be sung, in thanksgiving for the humiliation and suffering God had sent her; and as the music rose up to heaven, peace and joy filled her sad heart, and never again left it. But though dear Saint Elizabeth was glad to suffer so as to be more like Christ when He was on earth, she could not bear to hear her little children crying with cold and hunger, therefore she resolved to bear the pain of sending them away from her, and some friend took them to places of safety.

But though every one forsook Elizabeth, God took care of her, and gave her more and more wonderful proofs of His great love, allowing her many times to have beautiful visions of Christ and the Blessed Virgin, which comforted her in her great sufferings.

After a time the Landgravine Sophia and her sons were sorry for their treatment of the Saint, and restored to her a great part of her property, so that her children were provided for, but Elizabeth chose for herself a life of continual poverty and hardship. Her coarse dress was patched with all shades and colours; she worked for her bread by preparing wool for spinning, and took part with her two companions, Isentrude and Guta, in the labour of their home.

It was God’s Will that Elizabeth should become quite perfect in suffering, so He even allowed the priest, who was her confessor and a very holy man, to be often severe and harsh with her, giving her difficult commands to obey, and humbling her by great penances which needed much patience and gentleness to bear; but through every trial the Saint drew nearer to God, setting all her love upon Him, never failing in obedience to her confessor, whom she regarded in the place of Jesus Christ. Even when he sent away her two early friends, and put in their places coarse, rough women, who were very unkind to her, she behaved with perfect sweetness and submission, although at first the parting with her beloved companions made her shed many tears.

Soon she was to receive her reward, for one night, at the close of the year 1231, as Elizabeth lay praying in her bed, she had a vision of our Lord in the midst of a golden brightness, Who bade her prepare for her approaching death. She arose, and began very gladly to arrange for her burial, visit her poor friends, and divide the few things she possessed between them and her two companions; and after four days she felt the beginning of illness. For a fortnight she suffered from violent fever, but she was almost continually engaged in prayer, and was quite calm and happy. One evening, when Elizabeth seemed to be sleeping, the woman who watched her heard a sweet soft song coming from her lips, and afterwards she exclaimed, “Oh, madam, how beautifully you have been singing.”

“Did you hear it V said the Saint. “I will tell you how it was. A little bird came and sang so sweetly to me that I could but sing with him, and he revealed to me that I shall die in three days.”

From that moment she refused to see any visitors, desiring to keep herself alone with God; she made her confession to the Blessed Conrad, and afterwards talked with him of God and the joys of heaven; then, having heard Mass, she received the last sacraments with a love only known to Jesus, and on the night of the 19th November she died, having just reached the age of twenty-four years.

Those who came to look at her in death said that never before had she appeared so beautiful, for the glory of her wonderful holiness rested upon her sweet calm face, a fragrant perfume was observed in the room where her body was lying, and angel voices were heard singing above her.

Four years afterwards, when all the accounts of her life had been made known, the Pope declared Elizabeth a Saint in heaven, whose name was to be honoured in the Church on earth; and the tidings spread far and wide, so that pilgrims from all countries began to visit her shrine, to make prayers and offerings there.

And now, in closing this story of Elizabeth’s childish days, and the sweet suffering life she led when she grew older, we will put here a little prayer which has been addressed to the Saint, begging her to get us grace to love and serve God as she did.

“Oh, dear Saint Elizabeth, I honour thy pious childhood, I grieve for thy sufferings and persecutions. Why have I not passed my first years in holiness? why have I not borne my little sorrows patiently? I entreat thee, by thy. blessed childhood, crush my childish wilfulness and sin, and by thy great patience obtain for me the pardon of all my faults. Amen.”

– from Stories of the Saints for Children, by Mary F Seymour

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/stories-of-the-saints-for-children-saint-elizabeth-of-hungary/

Carl Wilhelm Friedrich Oesterley, Elisabetta di Turingia, 1865’

November 19

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow

Her life compiled by Cæsarius, monk of Heisterbach, is lost. Theodoric of Thuringia, a Dominican, (who seems to be the famous Theodoric of Apoldo, in 1289, author of the life of St. Dominic,) wrote that of St. Elizabeth in eight books, extant in Canisius. (Lect. Antiq. t. 5.) Lambecius (t. 2, Bibl. Vind.) published an additional fragment, with several pieces relative to her canonization. Her life by James Montanus of Spire, published by Sedulius, abridged by D’Andilly, &c., is taken from the work of Theodoric. The letter of the holy priest, Conrad of Marpurg, the saint’s confessor, to Pope Gregory IX. soon after her death, bears authentic testimony to her heroic virtues. Conrad’s letter is published in an Appendix to the supplement of the Byzantine Historians, printed at Venice in 1723. It is accompanied with the authentic relation of miracles examined before Sifrid, archbishop of Mentz, Reymund, the Cistercian abbot of Eberbac, and master, or doctor Conrad, preacher of the word of God, by commission of the holy see, who jointly sent the relation to the pope. See also St. Bonaventure, Serm. de S. Elizabethâ, t. 5.

A.D. 1231.

ELIZABETH, daughter of Alexander II., the valiant and religious king of Hungary, and his queen, Gertrude, daughter to the duke of Carinthia, was born in Hungary in 1207. Herman, landgrave of Thuringia and Hesse, had a son born about the same time, and named Lewis. This prince obtained, by ambassadors, a promise from the king of Hungary that his daughter should be given in marriage to his new-born son; and, to secure the effect of this engagement, at the landgrave’s request, the princess, at four years of age, was sent to his court, and there brought up under the care of a virtuous lady. Five years after, Herman died, and Lewis became landgrave. Elizabeth, from her cradle, was so happily preserved by the love of God, that no room for creatures could be found in her heart; and though surrounded, and, as it were, besieged by worldly pleasures in their most engaging shapes, she had no relish for them, prayed with an astonishing recollection, and seemed scarcely to know any other use of money than to give it to the poor; for her father allowed her, till her marriage was solemnized, a competent yearly revenue for maintaining a court suitable to her rank. This child of heaven, in her very recreations studied to practise frequent humiliations and self-denials; and stole often to the chapel, and there knelt down and said a short prayer before every altar, bowing her body reverently, or, if nobody was there, prostrating herself upon the ground. If she found the doors of the chapel in the palace shut, not to lose her labour, she knelt down at the threshold, and always put up her petition to the throne of God. Her devotion she indulged with more liberty in her private closet. She was very devout to her angel guardian and the saints, particularly St. John the Evangelist. She was educated with Agnes, sister to the young landgrave, and upon their first appearing together at church, they were dressed alike, and wore coronets set with jewels. At their entering the house of God, Sophia, the landgrave’s mother, observing our saint take off her coronet, asked why she did so: to which the princess replied, that she could not bear to appear with jewels on her head, where she saw that of Jesus Christ crowned with thorns. Agnes and her mother, who were strangers to such kind of sentiments, and fond of what Elizabeth trampled upon, conceived an aversion for the young princess, and said, that since she seemed to have so little relish for a court, a convent would be the properest place for her. The courtiers carried their reflections much further, and did all in their power to bring the saint into contempt, saying, that neither her fortune nor her person were such as the landgrave had a right to expect, that he had no inclination for her, and that she would either be sent back to Hungary, or married to some nobleman in the country. These taunts and trials were more severe and continual, as the landgrave, Herman, dying when Elizabeth was only nine years old, the government fell into the hands of his widow in the name of her son till he should be of age. These persecutions and injuries were, to the saint, occasions of the greatest spiritual advantages; for by them she daily learned a more perfect contempt of all earthly things, to which the heavenly lover exhorts his spouse, saying: “Hearken, daughter, forget thy people.” She learned also the evangelical hatred of herself, and crucifixion of self-love; by which she was enabled to say with the apostles: Behold we have left all things. In this entire disengagement of her heart, she learned to take up her cross and follow Christ by the exercise of meekness, humility, patience, and charity, towards unjust persecutors; and to cleave to God by the closest union of her soul to him, by resignation, love, and prayer, contemning herself, and esteeming the vanity of the world as filth and dung. She desired to please God only, and in this spirit she was wont to pray: “O sovereign spouse of my soul, never suffer me to love any thing but in Thee, or for Thee. May every thing which tends not to Thee, be bitter and painful, and Thy will alone sweet. May Thy will be always mine: as in heaven Thy will is punctually performed, so may it be done on earth by all creatures, particularly in me and by me. And as love requires a union, and entire resignation of all things into the hands of the beloved, I give up my whole self to Thee without reserve. In my heart I renounce all riches and pomp: if I had many worlds I would leave them all to adhere to Thee alone in poverty and nakedness of spirit, as Thou madest Thyself poor for me. O spouse of my heart, so great is the love I bear Thee, and holy poverty for Thy sake, that with joy I leave all that I am, that I may be transformed into Thee, and that abandoned state so amiable to Thee.”

The saint was in her fourteenth year when Lewis, the young landgrave, returned home, after a long absence, on account of his education. Address in martial exercises and other great accomplishments introduced the young prince into the world with a mighty reputation: but nothing was so remarkable in him as a sincere love of piety. The eminent virtue of Elizabeth gave Him the highest esteem for her person. However, he seldom saw or spoke to her, even in public, and never in private, till the question was one day put to him, what his thoughts were with regard to marrying her? and he was told what rumours were spread in the court to her disadvantage. Hereat he expressed much displeasure, and said, that he prized her virtue above all the mountains of gold and rubies that the world could afford. Forthwith he sent her by a nobleman a glass garnished with precious stones of inestimable value, with two crystals opening on each side, in the one of which was a looking-glass; on the other a figure of Christ crucified was most curiously wrought. And not long after he solemnized his marriage with her, and the ceremony was performed with the utmost pomp, and with extraordinary public rejoicings. The stream of public applause followed the favour of the prince: the whole court expressed the most profound veneration for the saint, and all the clouds, which had so long hung over her head were at once dispersed. Conrad of Marpurg, a most holy and learned priest, and an eloquent pathetic preacher, whose disinterestedness, and love of holy poverty, mortified life, and extraordinary devotion and spirit of prayer, rendered him a model to the clergy of that age, was the person whom she chose for her spiritual director, and to his advice she submitted herself in all things relating to her spiritual concerns. This holy and experienced guide, observing how deep root the seeds of virtue had taken in her soul, applied himself by cultivating them to conduct her to the summit of Christian perfection, and encouraged her in the path of mortification and penance, but was obliged often to moderate her corporal austerities by the precept of obedience. The landgrave also reposed an entire confidence in Conrad, and gave this holy man the privilege of disposing of all ecclesiastical benefices in the prince’s gift. Elizabeth, with her pious husband’s consent, often rose in the night to pray, and consecrated great part of her time to her devotions, insomuch that on Sundays and holidays she never allowed herself much leisure to dress herself. The rest of her time which was not spent in prayer or reading, she devoted to works of charity, and to spinning or carding wool, in which she would only work very coarse wool for the use of the poor, or of the Franciscan friars. The mysteries of the life and sufferings of our Saviour were the subject of her most tender and daily meditation. Weighing of what importance prayer and mortification, or penance are in a spiritual life, she studied to make her prayer virtually continual, by breaking forth into fervent acts of compunction and divine love amidst all her employments. The austerity of her life surpassed that of recluses. When she sat at table, next to the landgrave, to dissemble her abstinence from flesh and savoury dishes, she used to deceive the attention of others by discoursing with the guests, or with the prince, carving for others, sending her maids upon errands, often changing her plates, and a thousand other artifices. Her meal frequently consisted only of bread and honey, or a dry crust, with a cup of the smallest wine, or the like: especially when she dined privately in her chamber, with two maids, who voluntarily followed her rules as to diet. She never ate but what came out of her own kitchen, that she might be sure nothing was mixed contrary to the severe rules she had laid down; and this kitchen she kept out of her own private purse, not to be the least charge to her husband. She was a great enemy to rich apparel, though in compliance to the landgrave, she on certain public occasions conformed in some degree to the fashions of the court. When ambassadors came from her father, the king of Hungary, her husband desired her not to appear in that homely apparel which she usually wore; but she prevailed upon him to suffer it; and God was pleased to give so extraordinary a gracefulness to her person, that the ambassadors were exceedingly struck at the comeliness and majesty of the appearance she made. In the absence of her husband she commonly wore only coarse cloth, not dyed, but in the natural colour of the wool, such as the poor people used. She so strongly recommended to her maids of honour simplicity of dress, penance, and assiduous prayer, that several of them were warmed into an imitation of her virtues; but they could only follow her at a distance, for she seemed inimitable in her heroic practices, especially in her profound humility, with which she courted the most mortifying humiliations. In attending the poor and the sick, she cheerfully washed and cleansed the most filthy sores, and waited on those that were infected with the most loathsome diseases.

Her alms seemed at all times to have no bounds; in which the good landgrave rejoiced exceedingly, and gave her full liberty. In 1225 Germany being severely visited by a famine, she exhausted the treasury and distributed her whole crop of corn amongst those who felt the weight of that calamity the heaviest. The landgrave was then in Apulia with the emperor; and at his return the officers of his household complained loudly to him of her profusion in favour of the poor. But the prince was so well assured of her piety and prudence, that without examining into the matter, he asked if she had alienated his dominions? They answered: “No.” “As for her charities,” said he, “they will entail upon us the divine blessings: and we shall not want so long as we suffer her to relieve the poor as she does.” The castle of Marpurg, the residence of the landgrave, was built on a steep rock, which the infirm and weak were not able to climb. The holy margravine therefore built an hospital at the foot of the rock for their reception and entertainment; where she often fed them with her own hands, made their beds, and attended them even in the heat of summer, when that place seemed insupportable to all those who were strangers to the sentiments of her generous and indefatigable charity. The helpless children, especially all orphans, were provided for at her expense. Elizabeth was the foundress of another hospital, in which twenty-eight persons were constantly relieved; she fed nine hundred daily at her own gate, besides an incredible number in the different parts of the dominions, so that the revenue in her hands was truly the patrimony of the distressed. But the saint’s charity was tempered with discretion; and instead of encouraging in idleness such as were able to work, she employed them in a way suitable to their strength and capacity. Her husband, edified and charmed with her extraordinary piety, not only approved of all she did, but was himself an imitator of her charity, devotion, and other virtues: insomuch that he is deservedly styled by historians, the Pious Landgrave. He had by her three children, Herman, Sophia, who was afterwards married to the duke of Brabant, and Gertrude, who became a nun, and died abbess of Aldenburg. Purely upon motives of religion the landgrave took the cross to accompany the emperor Frederic Barbarossa, in the holy war, to Palestine. The separation of this pious and loving couple was a great trial; though moderated by the heroic spirit of religion with which both were animated. The landgrave joined the emperor in the kingdom of Naples; but as he was going to embark, fell ill of a malignant fever at Otranto, and having received the last sacraments at the hands of the patriarch of Jerusalem, expired in great sentiments of piety, on the 11th of September, 1227. Many miracles are related to have been wrought by him, in the history of Thuringia, and in that of the crusades. 1 Elizabeth, who at his departure had put on the dress of a widow, upon hearing this melancholy news, wept bitterly, and said: “If my husband be dead, I promise to die henceforth to myself, and to the world with all its vanities.” God himself was pleased to complete this her sacrifice by a train of other afflictions into which she fell, being a sensible instance of the instability of human things, in which nothing is more constant than an unsteadiness of fortune: the life of man being a perpetual scene of interludes, and virtue being his only support, a check to pride in prosperity, and a solid comfort in adversity.

Envy, jealousy, and rancour, all broke loose at once against the virtuous landgravine, which, during her husband’s life, for the great love and respect which he bore her, had been raked up and covered over as fire under the ashes. As pretences are never wanting to cloak ambition, envy, and other passions which never dare show themselves barefaced, it was alleged, that the saint had squandered away the public revenue upon the poor; that the infant Herman, being unfit for the government of the state, it ought to be given to one who was able to defend and even extend the dominions of the landgraviate; and that therefore Henry, younger brother to the late landgrave, ought to be advanced to the principality. The mob being soothed by the fine speeches of certain powerful factious men, Henry got possession, and turned Elizabeth out of the castle without furniture, provision, or necessaries for the support of nature, and all persons in the town were forbid to let her any lodgings. The princess bore this unjust treatment with a patience far transcending the power of nature, showing nothing in her gestures which was not as composed as if she had been in the greatest tranquillity possible. And rejoicing in her heart to see herself so ill treated, she went down the castle-hill to the town, placing her whole confidence in God, and with her damsels and maids went into a common inn, or, as others say, a poor woman’s cottage, where she remained till midnight, when the bell ringing to matins at the church of the Franciscan friars, she went thither, and desired the good fathers to sing a Te Deum with solemnity, to give God thanks for his mercies to her in visiting her with afflictions. Though she sent about the next day, and used all her endeavours to procure some kind of lodging in the town, no one durst afford her any for fear of the usurper and his associates. She staid the whole day in the church of the friars, and at evening had the additional affliction to see her three children, whom their barbarous uncle had sent out of the castle, coming down the hill. She received them in the church porch, with undaunted fortitude, but could not refrain from tenderly weeping to see the innocent babes so insensible of their condition as to smile upon her, rejoicing that they had recovered their mother. Reduced to the lowest ebb she applied to a priest for relief, who received her into his little house, where she had but one straight poor chamber for herself, her maids, and children. Her enemies soon forced her from thence, so that with thanks to those who had given her and hers some kind of shelter from the severities of a very sharp winter season, she returned to the inn or cottage. Thus she, who had entertained thousands of poor, could find no entertainment or harbour; and she who had been a mother to so many infants and orphans of others, was glad to beg an alms for her own, and to receive it from her enemies. God failed not to comfort her in her distress, and she addressed herself to him in raptures of love, praying that she might be wholly converted into his love, and that his pure love might reign in her. Melting in the sweetness of divine love she poured forth her soul in inflamed ejaculations, saying, for example: “Ah, my Lord and my God, may Thou be all mine, and I all Thine. What is this, my God and my love? Thou all mine, and I all Thine. Let me love Thee, my God, above all things, and let me not love myself but for Thee, and all other things in Thee. Let me love Thee, with all my soul, with all my memory,” &c. In these fervent aspirations, overflowing with interior joy, she sometimes fell into wonderful raptures, which astonished Hentrude, a lady of honour, particularly beloved by her, and her companion in her devotions and mortifications.

The abbess of Kitzingen, in the diocess of Wurtzburg, our saint’s aunt, sister to her mother, hearing of her misfortunes, invited her to her monastery, and being extremely moved at the sight of her desolate condition and poverty, advised her to repair to her uncle, the bishop of Bamberg, a man of great power, charity, and prudence. The bishop received her with many tears, which compassion drew from his eyes, and from those of all the clergy that were with him; and provided for her a commodious house near his palace. His first views were, as she was young and beautiful, to endeavour to look out for a suitable party, that, marrying some powerful prince, she might strengthen her interest, and that of her family, by a new alliance, which might enable her to recover her right: but such projects she entirely put a stop to, declaring it was her fixed resolution to devote herself to the divine service in a state of perpetual chastity. In the mean time the body of her late husband, which had been buried at Otranto, was taken up, and, the flesh being entirely consumed, the bones were put into a rich chest, and carried into Germany. The hearse was attended by a great many princes and dukes, and by counts, barons, and knights without number, marching in martial order, with ensigns folded up, the mournful sound of drums, all covered with black, and other warlike instruments in like manner. Where some of these princes left the corpse to return home, the nobility of each country through which it passed took their place; and every night it was lodged in some church or monastery where masses and dirges were said, and gifts offered. When the funeral pomp approached Bamberg, the bishop went out with the clergy and monks in procession to meet it, having left the nobility and knights with the disconsolate pious margravine. At the sight of the hearse her grief was inexpressible; yet, whilst there was not a dry eye in the church, she showed by restraining her sorrow how great command she had of her passions. Yet, when the chest was opened, her tears burst forth against her will. But, recollecting herself in God, she gave thanks to his Divine Majesty for having so disposed of her honoured husband, as to take him into his eternal tabernacles, so seasonably for himself, though to her severe trial. The corpse remained several days at Bamberg, during which the funeral rites were continued with the utmost solemnity, and it was then conducted with great state into Thuringia. The princess entreated the barons and knights that attended it to use their interest with her brother-in-law to do her justice, not blaming him for the treatment she had received, but imputing it to evil counsellors. Fired with indignation at the indignities she had received, they engaged to neglect no means of restoring her to her right: so that it was necessary for her to moderate their resentment, and to beg they would only use humble remonstrances. This they did, reproaching Henry for having brought so foul a blot and dishonour upon his house, and having violated all laws divine, civil, and natural, and broken the strongest ties of humanity. They conjured him by God, who beholds all things, and asked him in what point a weak woman, full of peace and piety, could offend him: and what innocent princely babes, who were his own blood, could have done, the tenderness of whose years made them very unfit to suffer such injuries. Ambition strangely steels a heart to all sentiments of justice, charity or humanity. Yet these remonstrances, made by the chief barons of the principality, softened the heart of Henry, and he promised them to restore to Elizabeth her dower and all the rights of her widowhood, and even to put the government of the dominions into her hands. This last she voluntarily chose to renounce, provided it was reserved for her son. Hereupon she was conducted back to the castle out of which she had been expelled, and from that time Henry began to treat her as a princess, and obsequiously executed whatever she intimated to be her pleasure. Yet her persecutions were often renewed till her death.

The devout priest Conrad had attended her in great part of her travels, and returned to Marpurg, which was his usual residence. Elizabeth, loathing the grandeur and dreading the distractions of the world, with his advice, bound herself by a vow which she made in his presence, in the church of the Franciscans, to observe the third rule of St. Francis, and secretly put on a little habit under her clothes. Her confessor relates that, laying her hands on the altar in the church of the friars minors, she by vow renounced the pomps of the world; she was going to add the vow of poverty, but he stopped her, saying she was obliged, in order to discharge many obligations of her late husband, and what she owed to the poor, to keep in her own hands the disposal of her revenues. Her dower she converted to the use of the poor; and as her director Conrad, in whom she reposed an entire confidence, was obliged to live in the town of Marpurg, when she quitted her palace she made that which was on the boundary of her husband’s dominions, her place of residence, living first in a little cottage near the town, whilst a house was building for her, in which she spent the last three years of her life in the most fervent practices of devotion, charity, and penance. In her speech she was so reserved and modest that if she affirmed or denied anything, her words seemed to imply a fear of some mistake. She spoke little, always with gravity, and most commonly of God; and never let drop any thing that tended to her own praise. Out of a love of religious silence she shunned tatlers: in all things she praised God, and being intent on spiritual things was never puffed up with prosperity, or troubled at adversity. She tied herself by vow to obey her confessor Conrad, and received at his hands a habit made of coarse cloth of the natural colour of the wool without being dyed. Whence Pope Gregory IX., who had corresponded with her, says she took the religious habit, and subjected herself to the yoke of obedience. Thus she imitated the state of nuns, though, by the advice of her confessor, she remained a secular, that she might better dispose of her alms for the relief of the poor. Conrad, having observed that her attachment to her two principal maids, Isentrude and Guta, seemed too strong, and an impediment to her spiritual progress, proposed to her to dismiss them: and, without making any reply, she instantly obeyed him, though the sacrifice cost mutual tears. The saint, by spinning coarse wool, earned her own maintenance, and, with her maids, dressed her own victuals, which were chiefly herbs, bread, and water. Whilst her hands were busy, in her heart she conversed with God. The king of Hungary, her father, earnestly invited her to his court; but she preferred a state of humiliation and suffering. She chose by preference to do every kind of service in attending the most loathsome lepers among the poor. Spiritual and corporal works of mercy occupied her even to her last moments, and by her moving exhortations many obstinate sinners were converted to God. It seemed, indeed, impossible for anything to resist the eminent spirit of prayer with which she was endowed. In prayer she found her comfort and her strength in her mortal pilgrimage, and was favoured in it with frequent raptures, and heavenly communications. Her confessor, Conrad, assures us, that when she returned from secret prayer, her countenance often seemed to dart forth rays of light from the divine conversation. Being forewarned by God of her approaching passage to eternity, which she mentioned to her confessor four days before she fell ill, as he assures us, she redoubled her fervour by her last will, made Christ her heir in his poor, made a general confession of her whole life on the twelfth day, survived yet four days, received the last sacraments, and, to her last breath, ceased not to pray, or to discourse in the most pathetic manner on the mysteries of the sacred life and sufferings of our Redeemer, and on his coming to judge us. The day of her happy death was the 19th of November, in 1231, in the twenty-fourth year of her age. Her venerable body was deposited in a chapel near the hospital which she founded. Many sick persons were restored to health at her tomb; an account of which miracles Siffrid, archbishop of Mentz, sent to Rome, having first caused them to be authenticated by a juridical examination, before himself and others. Pope Gregory IX., after a long and mature discussion, performed the ceremony of her canonization on Whit-Sunday, in 1235, four years after her death. Siffrid, upon news hereof, appointed a day for the translation of her relics, which he performed at Marpurg in 1236. The Emperor Frederic II. would be present, took up the first stone of the saint’s grave, and gave and placed on the shrine with his own hands a rich crown of gold. St. Elizabeth’s son, Herman, then landgrave, and his two sisters, Sophia and Gertrude, assisted at this august ceremony; also the archbishops of Cologne and Bremen, and an incredible number of other princes, prelates, and people, so that the number is said to have amounted to above two hundred thousand persons. The relics were enshrined in a rich vermilion case, and placed upon the altar in the church of the hospital. A Cistercian monk affirmed upon oath that, a little before this translation, praying at the tomb of the saint, he was cured of a palpitation of the heart and grievous melancholy, with which he had been painfully troubled for forty years, and had in vain sought remedies from physicians and every other means. Many instances are mentioned by Montanus, and by the archbishop of Mentz, and the confessor Conrad, of persons afflicted with palsies, and other inveterate diseases, who recovered their health at her tomb, or by invoking her intercession; as of a boy blind from his birth, by the mother’s invocation of St. Elizabeth at her sepulchre, applying some of the dust to his eyes, upon which a skin, which covered each eye, burst, and he saw, as several witnesses declared upon oath, and Master Conrad saw the eyes thus healed; of a boy, three years old, dead, cold, and stiff a whole night, raised to life the next morning by a pious grandmother praying to God through the intercession of St. Elizabeth, with a vow of an alms to her hospital, and of dedicating the child to the divine service; attested in every circumstance by the depositions of the mother, father, grandmother, uncle, and others, recorded by Conrad; of a boy dead and stiff for many hours, just going to be carried to burial, raised by the invocation of St. Elizabeth; of a youth drowned, restored to life by the like prayer; of a boy drawn out of a well, dead, black, &c.; and a child still-born, brought to life; others cured of palsies, falling-sickness, fevers, madness, lameness, blindness, the bloody flux, &c., in the authentic relation. A portion of her relics is kept in the church of the Carmelites at Brussels; another in the magnificent chapel of La Roche-Guyon, upon the Seine, and a considerable part in a precious shrine is in the electoral treasury of Hanover. 2 Some persons of the third Order of St. Francis having raised that institute into a religious Order long after the death of our saint (without prejudice to the secular state of this Order, which is still embraced by many who live in the world), the religious women of this Order chose her for their patroness, and are sometimes called the nuns of St. Elizabeth.

Perfection consists not essentially in mortification, but in charity; and he is most perfect who is most united to God by love. But humility and self-denial remove the impediments to this love, by retrenching the inordinate appetites and evil inclinations which wed the heart to creatures. The affections must be untied by mortification, and the heart set at liberty by an entire disengagement from the slavery of the senses, and all irregular affections. Then will a soul, by the assistance of grace, easily raise her affections to God, and adhere purely to him; and his holy love will take possession of them. A stone cannot fall down to its centre so long as the lets which hold it up are not taken away. So neither can a soul attain to the pure love of God whilst the strings of earthly attachments hold her down. Hence the maxims of the gospel and the example of the saints strongly inculcate the necessity of dying to ourselves by humility, meekness, patience, self-denial, and obedience. Nor does anything so much advance this interior crucifixion of the old man as the patient suffering of afflictions.

Note 1. Hist. des Croisades, l. 10, p. 310, t. 2. [back]

Note 2. See Thesaurus Reliquiarum Electoris Brunswico Luneburgensis. Hanoviæ. 1713. [back]

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume XI: November. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/11/191.html

Atelier de Hans Leinberger . Statue en bois polychrome et doré de Sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie, vers 1520, 

Musée de l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame, Strasbourg. Bavière

Elizabeth of Hungary, Queen, OFM Tert. (RM)

Born in Pressburg (Bratislava) or Saros-Patak, Hungary, 1207; died in Marburg, Hesse, Germany, November 17, 1231; canonized by Gregory IX in 1235; feast day formerly on November 19.

I love Saint Elizabeth of Hungary because she refused to defend herself against the unjust accusations of others. She felt that to defend herself would mean breaking the law of love as written in her heart. She was barely more than a child when she died before her 24th birthday, a pure soul who nobly endured all the sufferings of this earth, an innocent spirit against whom neither evil nor misfortune could prevail. The princess (Landgräffin) who became a beggar for the less fortunate could still say, "heaven opened, and that sweet Jesus, my Lord, stooping down to me and consoling me. . . ." She is said to have experienced a real conversion as she walked from Wartburg to Eisenach and met a beggar who looked like Jesus. Her husband Count Ludwig IV of Thuringia is also popularly esteemed a saint but died at age 27. One of her three children, Gertrude was beatified.

In the Life of Saint Elizabeth, Dietrich von Apolda relates that one evening in 1207 the minnesinger Klingsohr from Transylvania announced to the Landgraf Hermann I of Thuringia that a daughter had been born to the king of Hungary that night, who should be exalted in holiness and become the wife of Hermann's son.

Indeed Saint Elizabeth was born that night, the daughter of Queen Gertrude of Andechs-Meran and Andrew II, two years after he was crowned king of Hungary. Her lineage also included Saint Hedwig, another married saint, who was her aunt.

At her baptism she was carried to the church under a canopy of the richest cloth to be found in the country. From her earliest days she was the delight of her parents. It is said that her first word was a prayer, and almost the first thing she did was an act of kindness to the poor. Even when she was only four, her sweetness of character was such that people in other countries had heard about her.

At the age of four she was sent 350 miles from home to Wartburg Castle near Eisenach, Germany, as the betrothed of the 11-year-old Count Ludwig IV of Thuringia and Hesse. His father, the haughty and powerful Duke Hermann I of Thuringia, cousin to the German emperor, dispatched an embassy to the Hungarian court where, with full protocol, the child-fiancee was handed over to be educated by Hermann's wife Sophie as Ludwig's future bride.

Elizabeth and Ludwig had a wonderful relationship built upon their childhood friendship full of shared sorrows and fired by passionate devotion to each other. When Elizabeth was six, her mother was assassinated and Ludwig comforted her. Soon afterwards Ludwig's elder brother died and, about 1216, the insane Duke Hermann died violently while under the ban of the Church. Suffering and sympathy in their youth bound Elizabeth and Ludwig as a couple. And Elizabeth had further suffering to come.

She loved to visit the sick and the poor. No road was too rough or day too stormy to keep her from going on some errand of mercy to a wretched cabin. Because Wartburg Castle was located on a steep rock, which the ill were unable to climb, Elizabeth even built a hospital at its foot and often fed and cared for the patients herself.

In church one day she saw a large crucifix. So full of love for Christ was she that she took off her crown, thinking it inappropriate for his servant to wear a crown of gold and jewels while He wore a crown of thorns.

She provided for helpless children, especially orphans, founded another hospital with 28 beds, and fed hundreds of persons daily, in addition to making provisions for others throughout the kingdom. Ludwig's family and their peers began to criticize the young princess for associating with the common folk, but she bore their insults patiently without ever replying in anger, probably because Ludwig supported her in this work.

When Ludwig returned from his knightly training, his family tried to dissuade him from marrying her. They urged him to send her back to Hungary. To his credit Landgraf Ludwig would not listen to his mother's and household's slanders against Elizabeth. He defended her and married Elizabeth in 1221.

When they married Elizabeth was only 14 and Ludwig, 21. Everyone remarked what a handsome couple they made. He was tall, good looking, and manly. Elizabeth was young, beautiful, and sweet in every way. They understood each other well, and were very happy together.

What was intended to be a marriage of convenience, a uniting of two powerful families, was actually a marriage of tender love and mutual affection, in which both found tremendous joy and peace. (It is said that Ludwig never forgot to bring Elizabeth a present after one of his journeys--not necessarily identifying married bliss with gifts .)

The year after their wedding (1222) their son Hermann was born; in 1224 Sophie, and in 1227 another daughter Gertrude. (Hermann died as Landgraf at age 19. Sophie married the Duke of Brabant, Henry II and lived to age 60. Blessed Gertrude became Abbess of Altenburg.)

Saint Francis died six years after they had married; Elizabeth was influenced by one of his friars--Brother Roger, who shortly after her wedding told her about Francis and Christ's message to him. He urged her to seek release from her marriage vows, so as to be free to serve Christ. Elizabeth desired to surrender herself utterly, in an all-absorbing love. That she did not do this was probably the restraining influence of her confessor--Master Conrad of Marburg, who had been appointed to this post by Pope Gregory IX.

Conrad, a learned, able and insensitive man, whose harsh methods of guiding her spiritual life have been sharply criticized, may be forgiven his ruthlessness because he was an irreproachable ascetic himself and scrupulous in the performance of his duties. He moderated her ambition to be a mendicant and lessened her generosity to the poor. She took a vow of obedience in all things, but those related to spousal rights, to Conrad in front of her mother-in-law and her children in 1225.

As a child she was unequalled in her devotion: devotion to the Church, obedience and complete dedication to virtue. As a woman she was pious and almost obsessed with the spirit and letter of the law of love and its precepts. With her there were no half measures, no restraint, no compromises, no appeasement. It was all or nothing. That Christ must come first was impressed upon her when, during Mass one day, she was admiring her husband and looked up at the bells of the Consecration to see Blood pouring from the elevated host. So, she devoted herself to meditation on the things of God, and acts of charity with the blessing of Ludwig.

Her servant Irmingard, during the canonization process said that Conrad had forbidden her to eat or use anything which she did not certainly know had been produced without injustice. For this reason Ludwig had allowed her to observe a particular rule of diet. She disciplined her body by fasting and scourging and made her servants chastise her on Fridays and fast days.

Though she arrayed herself in purple and gold to please her husband and his court, underneath these costly robes she wore a horsehair shirt. When her husband was away she put on humble garments and sat with her maids to spin wool. She continued to refuse to wear her jewelled coronet when she entered a church. She longed to suffer as Christ did; hence her self-denial, poverty, sacrifice, and penance. Nevertheless she was spontaneous and mischievous. Often before a party she would do penance. Yet she appeared cheerful and happy, when it was time for gaiety.

When she was home she ate little. One day Ludwig returned to find she had taken nothing but bread and water at her meals. He asked her to take better care of her health. She told him to taste the water left in a glass from which she had been drinking. To his great astonishment he found that it tasted like the very best wine.

Elizabeth was not satisfied with giving money and food to the poor. She knew that God wants us to sacrifice ourselves as well as our treasure. So she herself waited beside sickbeds, cooked the meals, cleaned houses, milked cows, and even dressed the sores of her patients. One day she carried into the castle a small child suffering from leprosy, and laid him on a couch. In horror at the sight, the ladies called Ludwig to show him what his wife had done. Ludwig looked at the poor leper, but saw instead the Christ Child Himself!

One day, while returning from the woods in the middle of winter, Ludwig met Elizabeth carrying food in her mantle. She opened it to show him that she bore, not bread, but the most beautiful red and white roses. At the same time he noticed a beautiful cross in the air over her head. He took one of the roses, and went on his way. It is said that he kept the rose for the rest of his life.

It's seems unfortunate that Ludwig kept the rose for so short a time. Their idyllic marriage lasted only six years. In 1227, Ludwig was called with the knights of Christian Europe to fight the Turks in the Holy Land. Before leaving he promised to send back his signet ring if anything should befall him.

He left for the Fifth Crusade but died of the plague in the seaport town of Otranto near Brindisi, Italy, before leaving Europe and just 18 days before the birth of his daughter Gertrude. Shortly after her birth, messengers came with Ludwig's ring to Elizabeth, who grieved piteously. When she heard the news, Elizabeth is said to have run crazily throughout the castle shrieking, "O Lord my God, the whole world and all that was joyful in the world is now dead to me! But Thy will be done!" But there was worse to come (some of the details are uncertain).

Ludwig's relatives, who had never liked her ways, accused her of mismanaging the estate because of her great charity. She was forced to leave Wartburg, probably by her brother-in-law Heinrich, regent for her young son, who may have wanted Ludwig's estate. She was put out of the castle in the depths of winter on a wet night with the baby at her breast. The people of Eisenach were forbidden to shelter her or her children, so for a time she slept in a pigsty. Poverty didn't seem to really bother Elizabeth, rather she embraced it as God's gift.

An old woman she met, while crossing a stream on some stepping stones, pushed her into the water and said: "There! That's where you belong. When you were a princess you wouldn't act like one. I wouldn't stoop to help you either!" That was the thanks she received, she who had done so much for the poor--why should we expect gratitude?

In any case, she suffered much until she was taken away from Eisenach by her aunt Matilda, abbess of Kitzingen, who gave shelter to Elizabeth and her children. She next visited her uncle Eckembert, bishop of Bamberg, who put his castle of Pottenstein at her disposal. She travelled there with her son Hermann and the baby Gertrude, leaving her daughter Sophie with the nuns at Kitzingen.

Eckembert had plans for her remarriage, but she refused to consider them. She and Ludwig had pledged never to remarry. When Emperor Frederick II proposed marriage to her, she refused saying that she had promised to serve God and Him alone for the rest of her life. Eckembert locked her up in a keep, where she continued to pray confidently and humbly. (Nothing is said of how or when she was released.)

Early in 1228, Ludwig's body was returned to Elizabeth according to most accounts and buried in the abbey church at Reinhardsbrunn. On Good Friday that same year, in the church of the Franciscan friars of Eisenach, she became a member of the third order of Saint Francis. With her hand on the altar of a chapel, she renounced, "her family, her children, her own will, and all the pomps of the world." Her confessor, Conrad, had intervened to prevent her from also renouncing her dowry and the property that remained to her. Some say that that the returning Crusaders reproached her brother- in-law and wanted to wrest his property from the hands of Heinrich, but Elizabeth refused to allow it.

Heinrich finally did return Elizabeth's dowry with which she later founded a hospital with her life-long friends Guda and Ysentrude. Others say that she was restored to Wartburg, but insisted that all revenues be turned over to the poor.

Elizabeth had developed a love of poverty from the Friars Minor but had been unable to act upon it while she was Landgraeffin. Once her children had been provided for by relatives, and she was free to live in Marburg, she lived for a time in a tiny house at Wehrda. Returning to Marburg, she built a small house just outside, and devoted herself to caring for the sick, the aged, and the poor at a hospice she founded there.

Christian charity for her was not simply philanthropy; it bore the wounds of the love of Christ and conformed itself to the special conditions of life with Him. The love of Christ for her implied the love of His Cross and the bearing of it after him. She adopted a little orphan who was chronically sick. Day and night she tended him, washing him, and changing his clothes. Filth, suppuration, and mucus soiled her noble hands, but it never bother her for in tending the littlest, she cared for Jesus.

She begged door to door for food for herself and others, until Conrad of Marburg, still her confessor, stopped her from begging, divesting herself of all her goods, giving more than a certain amount in alms, and exposing herself to diseases such as leprosy. Nevertheless, he was a hard director.

He overshadowed the closing years of her young life, treating her ruthlessly and, at times, brutally. She admitted how much she feared him. But his methods did not break her spirit: with remarkable humility she submitted to his harsh discipline and obeyed.

Conrad forbade her the joy of seeing her children. When she thought she had given up everything, he forced her to part from the two friends she had known and loved since she came to Germany from Hungary at age four, replacing them with a lay brother, a pious unattractive young woman, and a harsh irritable noble widow--cruel women who reported all she did to him. The loss of all she held dear--her family and friends--was compensated by Our Lord and his Blessed Mother who appeared to her frequently bringing her the sweetest consolations.

Conrad would slap Elizabeth's face for disobeying his smallest command and sometimes beat her with a rod that left its mark for weeks. After each chastisement Elizabeth arose strong and unhurt, in her words, like grass bent by heavy rain.

Until her health failed Saint Elizabeth was tireless in serving the wants of those in need: the princess who made garments for the poor went fishing to get them food and cleaned the homes of the sick. One day a Magyar noble arrived at Marburg, and at the hospice he found Elizabeth at her spinning wheel in her plain gray habit of the Order of Penitence. He asked her to return with him to the court of Hungary and leave her life of hardships, but Elizabeth would not go.

She led a life of exceptional poverty and humility, though some say that the usurper allowed her to come back to the castle four years before her death, and that Heinrich also recognized her son's succession to the title of landgraf.

She died at Marburg on November 17, not yet 24. She is certain to have heard the angelic choirs ineffably singing the resurrection at her death and seen the hands of light stretched out eternally towards those who willingly suffer expiation. To be poor is generally a sign of honesty. To know how to be poor is a sign of modesty. To want to be poor is a sign of virtue. To sacrifice everything, including oneself, to the poverty of others is a sign of holiness.

More beggarly than the beggar, this king's daughter chose to follow the painful road the underprivileged toil along. More initiated than the initiated, this innocent girl knew what many of us still refuse to know--the promise, the gift of God: for in hearing the pleas of those suffering from fever, she knew who it was that was asking her for a drink.

Her relics were translated to the Church of Saint Elizabeth in Marburg, where they remained as an object of popular pilgrimage until 1539, when the relics were removed to an unknown place by the Lutheran Philip of Hesse.

Soon after her death, miracles were reported at her tomb. So numerous and wonderful were they that she was canonized just years after her death. Her father, mother, three children, and many relatives were present at the canonization to hear the Voice of God, through His Church, declare her a saint. She has ever since been one of the most beloved saints of the German people (including this Austro-German American woman who took her name--but vacillates between Elizabeth of Hungary and the mother of John the Baptist) (Ancelet-Hustache, Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Condenhove, J. Delaney, S. Delaney, Encyclopedia, Martindale, Melady, White)

In art, Saint Elizabeth is depicted as a queen with a double crown surrounded by beggars, to whom she gives food and clothing, or combs their hair. Sometimes she is shown (1) carrying a pitcher and loaf; (2) carrying bread which turns to roses in her lap; (3) with three crowns at her feet, beggar under her mantle; (4) crowned, pitcher in one hand, bird on the other, beggars and cripples in the background; (5) with angels bringing garments to her to give to the poor; (6) crowned among her women spinning for the poor; (7) with a loaf and fishes; (8) in the habit of a Franciscan tertiary; (9) crowned, kneeling before the bishop (her confessor Conrad), who hands her a palm branch, behind him Saint Francis holding shears; (10) girt with the Franciscan cord, she kneels before Saint Francis of Assisi (Roeder).

Among the images of Saint Elizabeth on the Internet are:

An anonymous, 14th- century Sienese medallion

Death of St. Elizabeth (14th-century French illumination)

James Collinson's St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Simone Martini's St. Clare and St. Elizabeth of Hungary

She is sometimes confused with Saint Dorothy (but she does not lead the Christ-child by the hand). Also with Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, who was also a royal tertiary, who was said to carry bread which turned to roses. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is, however, the more famous of the two (Roeder) Elizabeth of Hungary is the patroness of bakers, beggars, confraternities engaged in good works, countesses, the falsely accused, the homeless, nursing services, Sisters of Mercy, charitable organizations, lacemakers, widows, and young brides. She is invoked against toothache (Roeder).

SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1117.shtml

Gherardo Starnina. Santa Elisabetta d'Ungheria

Sant' Elisabetta d'Ungheria Religiosa

17 novembre

Presburgo, Bratislava, 1207 - Marburgo, Germania, 17 novembre 1231

Figlia di Andrea, re d'Ungheria e di Gertrude, nobildonna di Merano, ebbe una vita breve. Nata nel 1207, fu promessa in moglie a Ludovico figlio ed erede del sovrano di Turingia. Sposa a quattordici anni, madre a quindici, restò vedova a 20. Il marito, Ludovico IV morì ad Otranto in attesa di imbarcarsi con Federico II per la crociata in Terra Santa. Elisabetta aveva tre figli. Dopo il primogenito Ermanno vennero al mondo due bambine: Sofia e Gertrude, quest'ultima data alla luce già orfana di padre. Alla morte del marito, Elisabetta si ritirò a Eisenach, poi nel castello di Pottenstein per scegliere infine come dimora una modesta casa di Marburgo dove fece edificare a proprie spese un ospedale, riducendosi in povertà. Iscrittasi al terz'ordine francescano, offrì tutta se stessa agli ultimi, visitando gli ammalati due volte al giorno, facendosi mendicante e attribuendosi sempre le mansioni più umili. La sua scelta di povertà scatenò la rabbia dei cognati che arrivarono a privarla dei figli. Morì a Marburgo, in Germania il 17 novembre 1231. È stata canonizzata da papa Gregorio IX nel 1235. (Avvenire)

Patronato: Infermieri, Società caritatevoli, Fornai, Ordine Francescano Secolare

Etimologia: Elisabetta = Dio è il mio giuramento, dall'ebraico

Emblema: Cesto di pane

Martirologio Romano: Memoria di santa Elisabetta di Ungheria, che, ancora fanciulla, fu data in sposa a Ludovico, conte di Turingia, al quale diede tre figli; rimasta vedova, dopo aver sostenuto con fortezza d’animo gravi tribolazioni, dedita già da tempo alla meditazione delle realtà celesti, si ritirò a Marburg in Germania in un ospedale da lei fondato, abbracciando la povertà e adoperandosi nella cura degli infermi e dei poveri fino all’ultimo respiro esalato all’età di venticinque anni. 

A quattro anni di età è già fidanzata. Suo padre, il re Andrea II d’Ungheria e la regina Gertrude sua madre l’hanno promessa in sposa a Ludovico, figlio ed erede del sovrano di Turingia (all’epoca, questa regione tedesca è una signoria indipendente, il cui sovrano ha il titolo di Landgraf, langravio). E subito viene condotta nel regno del futuro marito, per vivere e crescere lì, tra la città di Marburgo e Wartburg il castello presso Eisenach.

Nel 1217 muore il langravio di Turingia, Ermanno I. Muore scomunicato per i contrasti politici con l’arcivescovo di Magonza, che è anche signore laico, principe dell’Impero. Gli succede il figlio Ludovico, che nel 1221 sposa solennemente la quattordicenne Elisabetta. Ora i sovrani sono loro due. Lei viene chiamata “Elisabetta di Turingia”. Nel 1222 nasce il loro primo figlio, Ermanno. Seguono due bambine: nel 1224 Sofia e nel 1227 Gertrude. Ma quest’ultima viene al mondo già orfana di padre.

Ludovico di Turingia si è adoperato per organizzare la sesta crociata in Terrasanta, perché papa Onorio III gli ha promesso di liberarlo dalle intromissioni dell’arcivescovo di Magonza. Parte al comando dell’imperatore Federico II. Ma non vedrà la Palestina: lo uccide un male contagioso a Otranto.

Vedova a vent’anni con tre figli, Elisabetta riceve indietro la dote, e c’è chi fa progetti per lei: può risposarsi, a quell’età, oppure entrare in un monastero come altre regine , per viverci da regina, o anche da penitente in preghiera , a scelta. Questo le suggerisce il confessore. Ma lei dà retta a voci francescane che si fanno sentire in Turingia, per dire da che parte si può trovare la “perfetta letizia”. E per i poveri offre il denaro della sua dote (si costruirà un ospedale). Ma soprattutto ai poveri offre l’intera sua vita. Questo per lei è realizzarsi: facendosi come loro. Visita gli ammalati due volte al giorno, e poi raccoglie aiuti facendosi mendicante. E tutto questo rimanendo nella sua condizione di vedova, di laica.

Dopo la sua morte, il confessore rivelerà che, ancora vivente il marito, lei si dedicava ai malati, anche a quelli ripugnanti:” Nutrì alcuni, ad altri procurò un letto, altri portò sulle proprie spalle, prodigandosi sempre, senza mettersi tuttavia in contrasto con suo marito“. Collocava la sua dedizione in una cornice di normalità, che includeva anche piccoli gesti “esteriori”, ispirati non a semplice benevolenza, ma a rispetto vero per gli “inferiori”: come il farsi dare del tu dalle donne di servizio. Ed era poi attenta a non eccedere con le penitenze personali, che potessero indebolirla e renderla meno pronta all’aiuto. Vive da povera e da povera si ammala, rinunciando pure al ritorno in Ungheria, come vorrebbero i suoi genitori, re e regina.

Muore in Marburgo a 24 anni, subito “gridata santa” da molte voci, che inducono papa Gregorio IX a ordinare l’inchiesta sui prodigi che le si attribuiscono. Un lavoro reso difficile da complicazioni anche tragiche: muore assassinato il confessore di lei; l’arcivescovo di Magonza cerca di sabotare le indagini. Ma Roma le fa riprendere. E si arriva alla canonizzazione nel 1235 sempre a opera di papa Gregorio. I suoi resti, trafugati da Marburgo durante i conflitti al tempo della Riforma protestante, sono ora custoditi in parte a Vienna. E’ compatrona dell’Ordine Francescano secolare assieme a S. Ludovico.

Autore: Domenico Agasso

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/25150

A. Houatt. Portrait de Sainte Elizabeth Duchesse de Turinge avec un mendiant, XVIIe siècle, National Library of Wales

BENEDETTO XVI

UDIENZA GENERALE

Piazza San Pietro

Mercoledì, 20 ottobre 2010 

Santa Elisabetta d’Ungheria

Cari fratelli e sorelle,

oggi vorrei parlarvi di una delle donne del Medioevo che ha suscitato maggiore ammirazione; si tratta di santa Elisabetta d’Ungheria, chiamata anche Elisabetta di Turingia.

Nacque nel 1207; gli storici discutono sul luogo. Suo padre era Andrea II, ricco e potente re di Ungheria, il quale, per rafforzare i legami politici, aveva sposato la contessa tedesca Gertrude di Andechs-Merania, sorella di santa Edvige, la quale era moglie del duca di Slesia. Elisabetta visse nella Corte ungherese solo i primi quattro anni della sua infanzia, assieme a una sorella e tre fratelli. Amava il gioco, la musica e la danza; recitava con fedeltà le sue preghiere e mostrava già particolare attenzione verso i poveri, che aiutava con una buona parola o con un gesto affettuoso.

La sua fanciullezza felice fu bruscamente interrotta quando, dalla lontana Turingia, giunsero dei cavalieri per portarla nella sua nuova sede in Germania centrale. Secondo i costumi di quel tempo, infatti, suo padre aveva stabilito che Elisabetta diventasse principessa di Turingia. Il langravio o conte di quella regione era uno dei sovrani più ricchi ed influenti d’Europa all’inizio del XIII secolo, e il suo castello era centro di magnificenza e di cultura. Ma dietro le feste e l’apparente gloria si nascondevano le ambizioni dei principi feudali, spesso in guerra tra di loro e in conflitto con le autorità reali ed imperiali. In questo contesto, il langravio Hermann accolse ben volentieri il fidanzamento tra suo figlio Ludovico e la principessa ungherese. Elisabetta partì dalla sua patria con una ricca dote e un grande seguito, comprese le sue ancelle personali, due delle quali le rimarranno amiche fedeli fino alla fine. Sono loro che ci hanno lasciato preziose informazioni sull’infanzia e sulla vita della Santa.

Dopo un lungo viaggio giunsero ad Eisenach, per salire poi alla fortezza di Wartburg, il massiccio castello sopra la città. Qui si celebrò il fidanzamento tra Ludovico ed Elisabetta. Negli anni successivi, mentre Ludovico imparava il mestiere di cavaliere, Elisabetta e le sue compagne studiavano tedesco, francese, latino, musica, letteratura e ricamo. Nonostante il fatto che il fidanzamento fosse stato deciso per motivi politici, tra i due giovani nacque un amore sincero, animato dalla fede e dal desiderio di compiere la volontà di Dio. All’età di 18 anni, Ludovico, dopo la morte del padre, iniziò a regnare sulla Turingia. Elisabetta divenne però oggetto di sommesse critiche, perché il suo modo di comportarsi non corrispondeva alla vita di corte. Così anche la celebrazione del matrimonio non fu sfarzosa e le spese per il banchetto furono in parte devolute ai poveri. Nella sua profonda sensibilità Elisabetta vedeva le contraddizioni tra la fede professata e la pratica cristiana. Non sopportava i compromessi. Una volta, entrando in chiesa nella festa dell’Assunzione, si tolse la corona, la depose dinanzi alla croce e rimase prostrata al suolo con il viso coperto. Quando la suocera la rimproverò per quel gesto, ella rispose: “Come posso io, creatura miserabile, continuare ad indossare una corona di dignità terrena, quando vedo il mio Re Gesù Cristo coronato di spine?”. Come si comportava davanti a Dio, allo stesso modo si comportava verso i sudditi. Tra i Detti delle quattro ancelle troviamo questa testimonianza: “Non consumava cibi se prima non era sicura che provenissero dalle proprietà e dai legittimi beni del marito. Mentre si asteneva dai beni procurati illecitamente, si adoperava anche per dare risarcimento a coloro che avevano subito violenza” (nn. 25 e 37). Un vero esempio per tutti coloro che ricoprono ruoli di guida: l’esercizio dell’autorità, ad ogni livello, dev’essere vissuto come servizio alla giustizia e alla carità, nella costante ricerca del bene comune.

Elisabetta praticava assiduamente le opere di misericordia: dava da bere e da mangiare a chi bussava alla sua porta, procurava vestiti, pagava i debiti, si prendeva cura degli infermi e seppelliva i morti. Scendendo dal suo castello, si recava spesso con le sue ancelle nelle case dei poveri, portando pane, carne, farina e altri alimenti. Consegnava i cibi personalmente e controllava con attenzione gli abiti e i giacigli dei poveri. Questo comportamento fu riferito al marito, il quale non solo non ne fu dispiaciuto, ma rispose agli accusatori: “Fin quando non mi vende il castello, ne sono contento!”. In questo contesto si colloca il miracolo del pane trasformato in rose: mentre Elisabetta andava per la strada con il suo grembiule pieno di pane per i poveri, incontrò il marito che le chiese cosa stesse portando. Lei aprì il grembiule e, invece del pane, comparvero magnifiche rose. Questo simbolo di carità è presente molte volte nelle raffigurazioni di santa Elisabetta.

Il suo fu un matrimonio profondamente felice: Elisabetta aiutava il coniuge ad elevare le sue qualità umane a livello soprannaturale, ed egli, in cambio, proteggeva la moglie nella sua generosità verso i poveri e nelle sue pratiche religiose. Sempre più ammirato per la grande fede della sposa, Ludovico, riferendosi alla sua attenzione verso i poveri, le disse: “Cara Elisabetta, è Cristo che hai lavato, cibato e di cui ti sei presa cura”. Una chiara testimonianza di come la fede e l’amore verso Dio e verso il prossimo rafforzino la vita familiare e rendano ancora più profonda l’unione matrimoniale.

La giovane coppia trovò appoggio spirituale nei Frati Minori, che, dal 1222, si diffusero in Turingia. Tra di essi Elisabetta scelse frate Ruggero (Rüdiger) come direttore spirituale. Quando egli le raccontò la vicenda della conversione del giovane e ricco mercante Francesco d’Assisi, Elisabetta si entusiasmò ulteriormente nel suo cammino di vita cristiana. Da quel momento, fu ancora più decisa nel seguire Cristo povero e crocifisso, presente nei poveri. Anche quando nacque il primo figlio, seguito poi da altri due, la nostra Santa non tralasciò mai le sue opere di carità. Aiutò inoltre i Frati Minori a costruire ad Halberstadt un convento, di cui frate Ruggero divenne il superiore. La direzione spirituale di Elisabetta passò, così, a Corrado di Marburgo.

Una dura prova fu l’addio al marito, a fine giugno del 1227 quando Ludovico IV si associò alla crociata dell’imperatore Federico II, ricordando alla sposa che quella era una tradizione per i sovrani di Turingia. Elisabetta rispose: “Non ti tratterrò. Ho dato tutta me stessa a Dio ed ora devo dare anche te”. La febbre, però, decimò le truppe e Ludovico stesso cadde malato e morì ad Otranto, prima di imbarcarsi, nel settembre 1227, all’età di ventisette anni. Elisabetta, appresa la notizia, ne fu così addolorata che si ritirò in solitudine, ma poi, fortificata dalla preghiera e consolata dalla speranza di rivederlo in Cielo, ricominciò ad interessarsi degli affari del regno. La attendeva, tuttavia, un’altra prova: suo cognato usurpò il governo della Turingia, dichiarandosi vero erede di Ludovico e accusando Elisabetta di essere una pia donna incompetente nel governare. La giovane vedova, con i tre figli, fu cacciata dal castello di Wartburg e si mise alla ricerca di un luogo dove rifugiarsi. Solo due delle sue ancelle le rimasero vicino, la accompagnarono e affidarono i tre bambini alle cure degli amici di Ludovico. Peregrinando per i villaggi, Elisabetta lavorava dove veniva accolta, assisteva i malati, filava e cuciva. Durante questo calvario sopportato con grande fede, con pazienza e dedizione a Dio, alcuni parenti, che le erano rimasti fedeli e consideravano illegittimo il governo del cognato, riabilitarono il suo nome. Così Elisabetta, all’inizio del 1228, poté ricevere un reddito appropriato per ritirarsi nel castello di famiglia a Marburgo, dove abitava anche il suo direttore spirituale Corrado. Fu lui a riferire al Papa Gregorio IX il seguente fatto: “Il venerdì santo del 1228, poste le mani sull’altare nella cappella della sua città Eisenach, dove aveva accolto i Frati Minori, alla presenza di alcuni frati e familiari, Elisabetta rinunziò alla propria volontà e a tutte le vanità del mondo. Ella voleva rinunziare anche a tutti i possedimenti, ma io la dissuasi per amore dei poveri. Poco dopo costruì un ospedale, raccolse malati e invalidi e servì alla propria mensa i più miserabili e i più derelitti. Avendola io rimproverata su queste cose, Elisabetta rispose che dai poveri riceveva una speciale grazia ed umiltà” (Epistula magistri Conradi, 14-17).

Possiamo scorgere in quest’affermazione una certa esperienza mistica simile a quella vissuta da san Francesco: il Poverello di Assisi dichiarò, infatti, nel suo testamento, che, servendo i lebbrosi, quello che prima gli era amaro fu tramutato in dolcezza dell’anima e del corpo (Testamentum, 1-3). Elisabetta trascorse gli ultimi tre anni nell’ospedale da lei fondato, servendo i malati, vegliando con i moribondi. Cercava sempre di svolgere i servizi più umili e lavori ripugnanti. Ella divenne quella che potremmo chiamare una donna consacrata in mezzo al mondo (soror in saeculo) e formò, con altre sue amiche, vestite in abiti grigi, una comunità religiosa. Non a caso è patrona del Terzo Ordine Regolare di San Francesco e dell’Ordine Francescano Secolare.

Nel novembre del 1231 fu colpita da forti febbri. Quando la notizia della sua malattia si propagò, moltissima gente accorse a vederla. Dopo una decina di giorni, chiese che le porte fossero chiuse, per rimanere da sola con Dio. Nella notte del 17 novembre si addormentò dolcemente nel Signore. Le testimonianze sulla sua santità furono tante e tali che, solo quattro anni più tardi, il Papa Gregorio IX la proclamò Santa e, nello stesso anno, fu consacrata la bella chiesa costruita in suo onore a Marburgo.

Cari fratelli e sorelle, nella figura di santa Elisabetta vediamo come la fede, l'amicizia con Cristo creino il senso della giustizia, dell'uguaglianza di tutti, dei diritti degli altri e creino l'amore, la carità. E da questa carità nasce anche la speranza, la certezza che siamo amati da Cristo e che l'amore di Cristo ci aspetta e così ci rende capaci di imitare Cristo e di vedere Cristo negli altri. Santa Elisabetta ci invita a riscoprire Cristo, ad amarLo, ad avere la fede e così trovare la vera giustizia e l'amore, come pure la gioia che un giorno saremo immersi nell'amore divino, nella gioia dell'eternità con Dio. Grazie.

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Saluti:

Je salue les pèlerins francophones, en particulier, les jeunes, les collégiens et les étudiants présents venus d’Alsace, de Bretagne, du Languedoc et de Paris. Je salue cordialement les pèlerins venus de loin, de l’Île de la Réunion et du Canada qui vient de célébrer la canonisation de l’admirable Frère André, plein de foi et de simplicité. Je n’oublie pas les confirmés de Fribourg en Suisse. Que Dieu vous bénisse et bon pèlerinage à tous!

I am pleased to welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present today. In particular, I extend greetings to members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross and to the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the Sacred Heart, along with their students, friends and benefactors here for the canonization of Saint André Bessette and Saint Mary MacKillop. Upon all of you, I invoke God’s abundant blessings.

Ganz herzlich grüße ich die deutschsprachigen Pilger und Besucher. Liebe Brüder und Schwestern, die Gestalt der heiligen Elisabeth zeigt uns, daß eine große Liebe zu Gott und zum Nächsten, besonders zu den materiell und auch geistlich Bedürftigen, dem Leben einen tiefen Sinn schenkt. Diese große heilige Frau soll uns eine Fürsprecherin sein, in der Nachfolge Christi voranzuschreiten.
Euch allen wünsche ich schöne Tage in Rom und Gottes reichen Segen.

Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española, en particular a los miembros de la Cofradía escolapia del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración y María Santísima del mayor dolor, de Granada; a los fieles de Alcobendas, a los Oficiales del curso de Estado Mayor de la Academia Aérea de Ecuador, así como a los demás grupos provenientes de España, México y otros países latinoamericanos. Que la figura de Santa Isabel de Hungría, modelo de caridad, nos inspire también a nosotros a un amor intenso hacia Dios y hacia el prójimo. Muchas gracias.

Amados fiéis brasileiros da paróquia São Pedro Apóstolo de Pato Bravo e todos os peregrinos de língua portuguesa, agradeço a vossa visita e de coração vos saúdo, desejando que esta peregrinação a Roma deixe a vida de cada um iluminada pelo sentido e pelo amor de Deus e do próximo. Sobre as vossas famílias e comunidades cristãs, desçam abundantes favores divinos, que sobre todos invoco ao abençoar-vos em nome do Senhor.

Saluto in lingua polacca:

Witam uczestniczących w tej audiencji pielgrzymów polskich. Dzisiaj w Polsce przypada liturgiczne wspomnienie świętego Jana z Kęt: filozofa, teologa na Uniwersytecie Jagiellońskim, patrona archidiecezji krakowskiej. Był pracowity, wytrwały, pobożny. Wyróżniał się duchem miłosierdzia i troską o ubogich. Uczmy się od niego wierności Chrystusowi i Ewangelii. Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus.

Traduzione italiana:

Saluto i pellegrini polacchi partecipanti a quest’udienza. Oggi in Polonia ricorre la memoria liturgica di San Giovanni da Kęty, filosofo, teologo dell’Università Jagellonica, patrono dell’Arcidiocesi di Cracovia. Era laborioso, perseverante, pio. Si distinse per lo spirito di misericordia e per la sollecitudine verso i poveri. Impariamo da lui la fedeltà a Cristo e al Vangelo. Sia lodato Gesù Cristo.

Saluto in lingua croata:

Srdačan pozdrav upućujem hrvatskim hodočasnicima pristiglima iz Šibenika i Makarske, kao i vjernike Hrvatske katoličke misije iz Ludwigshafena.

Osnaženi u vjeri na grobovima apostola, svjedočite Božju ljubav u vašem narodu svojim životom, ustrajnom molitvom te marljivim i poštenim radom. Hvaljen Isus i Marija!

Traduzione italiana:

Rivolgo un cordiale saluto ai pellegrini croati, provenienti da Šibenik e da Makarska, come pure ai fedeli della Missione cattolica Croata di Ludwigshafen. Rafforzati nella fede sulle tombe degli apostoli, testimoniate l’amore di Dio nel vostro popolo con la vita, la preghiera perseverante, il lavoro diligente ed onesto. Siano lodati Gesù e Maria!

Saluto in lingua slovacca:

S láskou pozdravujem pútnikov zo Slovenska, osobitne z Bratislavy a z Kostolnej pri Dunaji.

Bratia a sestry, dnešná katechéza nám predstavuje postavu svätej Alžbety Uhorskej, aj vám takej blízkej. Táto mimoriadna svedkyňa lásky k biednym, nech vás povzbudí k stálemu konaniu skutkov milosrdenstva.

Zo srdca žehnám vás i vašich drahých.

Pochválený buď Ježiš Kristus!

Traduzione italiana :

Saluto con affetto i pellegrini provenienti dalla Slovacchia, particolarmente quelli da Bratislava e da Kostolná pri Dunaji.

Fratelli e sorelle, l’odierna catechesi ci presenta la figura di S. Elisabetta d’Ungheria, anche a voi cosi vicina. Questa straordinaria testimone di amore verso i poveri susciti in voi un rinnovato impegno nelle opere di misericordia.

Di cuore benedico voi ed i vostri cari.

Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!

Saluto in lingua ungherese:

Isten hozta a magyar zarándokokat. Első helyen köszöntöm a tarjáni híveket és a csíksomlyói csoport tagjait. Mai katekézisemben Árpádházi Szent Erzsébetről, a felebaráti szeretet védőszentjéről elmélkedtem. Az ő közbenjárását és pártfogását kérve szívesen adom apostoli áldásomat Kedves Mindannyiotokra.

Dicsértessék a Jézus Krisztus!

Traduzione italiana:

Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini ungheresi, specialmente i fedeli di Tarján e di Sumuleu Ciuc. Nella mia catechesi di oggi mi sono soffermato sulla figura di Santa Elisabetta d'Ungheria, su questa grande Santa della carità verso il prossimo. Chiedendo la sua intercessione e protezione, volentieri imparto a tutti voi la Benedizione Apostolica.

Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!

* * *

Rivolgo un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua italiana. In particolare, saluto i partecipanti al pellegrinaggio promosso dalle Suore Catechiste del Sacro Cuore, in occasione della canonizzazione di santa Giulia Salzano, ed auguro che il suo esempio vi sia di incoraggiamento, i suoi insegnamenti vi orientino, e la sua intercessione vi sostenga nelle fatiche quotidiane. Saluto i cresimati della diocesi di Faenza-Modigliana, accompagnati dal loro Vescovo Mons. Claudio Stagni, ed assicuro la mia preghiera affinché ciascuno possa testimoniare, con il buon esempio e l’assidua pratica delle virtù cristiane, gli insegnamenti del Vangelo. Saluto i fedeli della parrocchia Sacro Cuore di Gesù, in Viterbo, augurando di partecipare con crescente generosità alla vita della comunità cristiana.

Rivolgo, infine, il mio pensiero ai giovani, ai malati ed agli sposi novelli. Cari amici, il mese di ottobre ci invita a rinnovare la nostra attiva cooperazione alla missione della Chiesa. Con le fresche energie della giovinezza, con la forza della preghiera e del sacrificio e con le potenzialità della vita coniugale, sappiate essere missionari del Vangelo, offrendo il vostro concreto sostegno a quanti faticano per portarlo a chi ancora non lo conosce.

* * *

ANNUNCIO DI CONCISTORO
PER LA CREAZIONE DI NUOVI CARDINALI

E adesso con gioia annuncio che il prossimo 20 novembre terrò un Concistoro nel quale nominerò nuovi Membri del Collegio Cardinalizio. I Cardinali hanno il compito di aiutare il Successore dell’Apostolo Pietro nell’adempimento della sua missione di principio e fondamento perpetuo e visibile dell’unità della fede e della comunione nella Chiesa (cfr Lumen gentium, n. 18).

Ecco i nomi dei nuovi Porporati:

1. Mons. Angelo Amato, S.D.B., Prefetto della Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi;

2. S.B. Antonios Naguib, Patriarca di Alessandria dei Copti (Egitto);

3. Mons. Robert Sarah, Presidente del Pontificio Consiglio "Cor Unum";

4. Mons. Francesco Monterisi, Arciprete della Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura;

5. Mons. Fortunato Baldelli, Penitenziere Maggiore;

6. Mons. Raymond Leo Burke, Prefetto del Supremo Tribunale della Segnatura Apostolica;

7. Mons. Kurt Koch, Presidente del Pontificio Consiglio per la Promozione dell'Unità dei Cristiani;

8. Mons. Paolo Sardi, Vice Camerlengo di Santa Romana Chiesa;

9. Mons. Mauro Piacenza, Prefetto della Congregazione per il Clero;

10. Mons. Velasio De Paolis, C.S., Presidente della Prefettura degli Affari Economici della Santa Sede;

11. Mons. Gianfranco Ravasi, Presidente del Pontificio Consiglio della Cultura;

12. Mons. Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, Arcivescovo emerito di Lusaka (Zambia);

13. Mons. Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, Arcivescovo emerito di Quito (Ecuador);

14. Mons. Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Arcivescovo di Kinshasa (Rep. Democratica del Congo);

15. Mons. Paolo Romeo, Arcivescovo di Palermo (Italia);

16. Mons. Donald William Wuerl, Arcivescovo di Washington (Stati Uniti d'America);

17. Mons. Raymundo Damasceno Assis, Arcivescovo di Aparecida (Brasile);

18. Mons. Kazimierz Nycz, Arcivescovo di Warszawa (Polonia);

19. Mons. Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, Arcivescovo di Colombo (Sri Lanka);

20. Mons. Reinhard Marx, Arcivescovo di München und Freising (Germania).

Ho deciso, inoltre, di elevare alla dignità cardinalizia due Presuli e due Ecclesiastici, che si sono distinti per la loro generosità e dedizione nel servizio alla Chiesa.

Essi sono:

1. Mons. José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, Arcivescovo Ordinario Militare emerito (Spagna);

2. Mons. Elio Sgreccia, già Presidente della Pontificia Accademia per la Vita (Italia);

3. Mons. Walter Brandmüller, già Presidente del Pontificio Comitato di Scienze Storiche (Germania);

4. Mons. Domenico Bartolucci, già Maestro Direttore della Cappella Musicale Pontificia (Italia).

 
Nella lista dei nuovi Porporati si riflette l’universalità della Chiesa; essi, infatti, provengono da varie parti del mondo e svolgono differenti compiti a servizio della Santa Sede o a contatto diretto con il Popolo di Dio quali Padri e Pastori di Chiese particolari.

Vi invito a pregare per i nuovi Cardinali, chiedendo la particolare intercessione della Santissima Madre di Dio, affinché svolgano con frutto il loro ministero nella Chiesa.

© Copyright 2010 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

SOURCE : http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/it/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20101020.html

Edmund Blair Leighton, Carità di sant'Elisabetta d'Ungheria (1895), olio su tela; collezione privata

Voir aussi : https://www.eglisesduconfluent.fr/Pages/Pe-ElisabethHongrie.php

Tertiary Saints – Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Patroness of the Third Order : https://catholicsaints.info/tertiary-saints-saint-elizabeth-of-hungary-patroness-of-the-third-order/

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, by Leonora Blanche Lang : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-elizabeth-of-hungary-by-leonora-blanche-lang/