Saint’s Life Story

Her Early Life  

Elizabeth was born in 1207 to King Andrew II of Hungary and Queen Gertrude in Pressburg, Hungary (now Bratislava, Slovakia). Her mother’s sister was Saint Hedwig. Elizabeth, together with her sister and three brothers, spent only the first four years of her childhood at the Hungarian court. She liked recited her prayers faithfully and already showed special attention to the poor, whom she helped with a kind word or an affectionate gesture.

In 1213, her mother, Gertrude was murdered by Hungarian nobles, probably out of hatred of the Germans.

Betrothed at Age 4 – Married at Age 14

Elizabeth was betrothed at the age of four to Prince Ludwig of Thuringia (in central Germany) and sent to live at his father’s court. In 1221, they were married when she was fourteen and he was twenty-one. She loved him deeply and bore him three children, Hermann, Sophie, and Gertrude.

Religious Influences

In 1223, Franciscan friars arrived. It was also about this time that the priest Konrad von Marburg gained considerable influence over Elizabeth when he was appointed as her confessor. Still just a teenager, Elizabeth not only learned about the ideals of Francis of Assisi, but started to live them. 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.  Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Coming down from her castle, daily she would take bread, meat, flour and other food to hundreds of the poorest in the land, who came to her gate.

This behavior 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!”.

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?”.

Miracle of the Roses

Elizabeth is perhaps best known for her miracle of the roses. While taking bread to the poor in secret, she met her husband Ludwig on a hunting party. Ludwig, to quell suspicions that she was stealing treasure from the castle, asked her to reveal what was hidden under her cloak. In that moment, her cloak fell open and white and red roses could be seen, which proved to Ludwig that God’s protecting hand was at work

Christ in Bed

Elizabeth laid the leper Helias of Eisenach in the bed she shared with her husband. Her mother-in-law, who was horrified, told this immediately to Ludwig on his return. When Ludwig removed the bedclothes in great indignation, at that instant “Almighty God opened the eyes of his soul, and instead of a leper he saw the figure of Christ crucified stretched upon the bed.”

Her Husband’s Death

In September 1227, just a few weeks before the Elizabeth’s daughter Gertrude was born, tragedy struck her happy marriage. On route to join the Sixth Crusade, Ludwig died of a fever in Italy. At age twenty, Elizabeth was a widow with soon to be three children. With the aid of Konrad, Elizabeth received the value of her dowry in money, namely two thousand marks; of this sum she divided five hundred marks in one day among the poor.

Following his death, her husband’s family, especially his brother Henry, viewed Elizabeth as squandering the royal purse and threw her out. Her royal aunt and uncle made a castle available to her and set about making plans for a second marriage for her. However, she followed God’s calling to renounce her position and enter into a new life.

Third Order Franciscan

On Good Friday 1228, Elizabeth became a Third Order Franciscan, sold all that she had, and worked to support her children. She settled into a small house that she herself had built and attached a hospital to it, which she founded in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Here she spent the few remaining years of her life caring for the sick, the poor, and the elderly. Penance, prayer, and practical charity filled her hours.

Her gifts of bread to the poor, and of a large gift of grain to a famine – stricken Germany, led her to become patron of bakers.

Her Death

Constant in her devotion to God, Elizabeth’s strength was consumed by her charitable labors. Elizabeth passed away at the age of twenty-four, a time when life to most human beings is just opening, on November 17, 1231 in Marburg, Germany .

Born :                  1207 in in Pressburg, Hungary (now Bratislava, Slovakia)

Died:                   November 17, 1231 in Marburg, Germany

Beatified:           Unknown

Canonized:        May 27, 1235 by Pope Gregory IX

Feast Day:          November 17

Patron Saint:     Against In-Law Problems; Archdiocese of Jaro, Philippines; Bakers, Beggars; Brides; Charitable Societies; Charities; Dying Children; Exiles; Falsely Accused People; Homeless People; People Ridiculed For Their Piety; Thuringia (modern day Germany); Widows

Source:

• General Audience of 10 October 2010: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary | Pope Benedict XVI (vatican.va)
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary: Widow, “Mother of the Poor” (catholicfire.blogspot.com)
• CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
• Elizabeth of Hungary – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

St. Elizabeth of Hungary – YouTube (Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network – USA)