A magnificent Tertiary

Born in Bratislava in the kingdom of Hungary, St Elizabeth of Hungary (whose feast day is today) was betrothed at the age of four to Ludwig of Thuringia (Germany) in order to reinforce political alliances between the families and sent to live at his father’s court in Wartburg. Their marriage was solemnised when she was fourteen and he twenty-one.  They had three children in quick succession, and seem to have been happily married. In 1223, Franciscan friars arrived, and Elizabeth learned about and began to live the ideals of Francis of Assisi. She had a hospital with twenty-eight beds built below the Wartburg castle and visited the inmates every day. Ludwig was supportive of his wife’s prayers and works of charity.  In 1227, Ludwig died of the plague at Otranto in southern Italy en route to the Sixth Crusade. Elizabeth was devastated. She went to her uncle, Bishop of Bamberg. He placed a castle at her disposal and there were enquiries about a second marriage from the emperor, Frederick II. But Elizabeth had decided never to marry again, and having provided for her children she joined the Third Order of St Francis. She settled in a small house outside Marburg, to which she attached a hospice for the sick, the poor and the old.  I am always interested in Tertiaries of other Orders but somehow I had not registered until today that St Elizabeth of Hungary – one of my favourite saints – was one.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon B, Catherine

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – in hospital

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Joy Smith – in hospital

Richard P – in hospital

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

RIP Martin Gilham, Sue Burton, little Matthew (six years old, died of cancer)