#bridgettines

As has been previously established, the modern Hail Mary we have today is just one of the many variations of the prayer that had developed and flourished during the Middle Ages. The Bridgettine Hail Mary, which was in use by members of the order as late as the 1940s, was first codified in the year 1447, over a century before the 'standard' Hail Mary reached the level of universality that it did after the Council of Trent. The wording of this Hail Mary was as follows:

Ave Maria, gracia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui Ihesus Christus in æternum. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ, forever.

While 1447 saw the addition of in æternum to the end of this prayer (thus post-dating not only Bridget, but her daughter and granddaughter as well), the use of "Jesus Christ" as opposed to "Jesus" may have been the popular form used in Bridget's day.

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT BRIDGET OF SWEDEN The Foundress of the Bridgettines Feast Day: July 23

"Let everyone who has the grace of intelligence fear that, because of it, he will be judged more heavily if he is negligent."

The patroness of Sweden and founder of the Order of the Most Holy Savior, popularly known in short as the Bridgettines, was born to the royal family of that country in 1303 in the historical prince (landskap) of Uppland, north of the Swedish capital of Stockholm. She was the daughter of the knight Birger Persson, of the family of Finsta, governor and lawspeaker of Uppland, and one of the richest landowners of the country, and his wife Ingeborg Bengtsdotter, a member of the so-called Lawspeaker branch of the Folkunga family.

Through her mother, Ingeborg, Birgitta was related to the Swedish kings of her era. At ten, she had a vision of Jesus hanging upon the cross. When she asked who had treated him like this, he answered: 'They who despise me, and spurn my love for them.'

She was so impressed that from that moment, the Passion of Christ became the center of her spiritual life. The revelations she had received since childhood now became more frequent, and her records of these Revelationes coelestes ('Celestial revelations') which were translated into Latin by Matthias, canon of Linköping, and by her confessor, Peter Olafsson, prior of Alvastra, obtained a great vogue during the Middle Ages.

Bridget who bore eight children, was happily married at the age of 14, to her husband, Ulf Gudmarsson of the family of Ulvåsa, Lord of Närke, for 28 years. Six survived infancy, which was rare at that time. Her eldest daughter was Märta Ulfsdotter. Her second daughter is now honored as St. Catherine of Sweden. When she was in her early thirties, she was summoned to be principal lady-in-waiting to the new Queen of Sweden, Blanche of Namur. In 1341, she and her husband went on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Upon her husband's death at the Cistercian Alvastra Abbey in Östergötland in 1344, she entered the Third Order of St. Francis and began a life of poverty and prayer. The revelations she had received since childhood now became more frequent, and she was told to dictate them to Peter Olafsson, the prior of Alvastra abbey. In one of her visions, Christ commanded her to found a new religious order. The Bridgettines (or Birgittines), as they were known, were to live in poor convents and to give all surplus income to the poor.

However, they were allowed to have as many books as they pleased. Except for a pilgrimage to Palestine, she remained in Rome for the rest of her life, urging ecclesiastical reform. Bridget went to confession everyday, and had a constant smiling face. Although she never returned in her native Sweden, her years in Rome were far from happy, being hounded by debts and by opposition to her work against Church abuses.

She died at the age of 69 or 70 in Rome on July 23, 1373. Canonized a saint by Pope Boniface IX in 1391, her major shrine can be found at Abbey Pax Mariae (Vadstena Abbey), situated on Lake Vättern in the Diocese of Linköping and the motherhouse of the order.

Today, July 23, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden.

Bridget received visions of Christ’s suffering many times throughout her life and went on to found the Order of the Most Holy Savior.

Daughter of Birger Persson, governor and provincial judge of Uppland, and Ingeborg Bengtsdotter, Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303.

From the time she was a child, she was greatly devoted to the passion of Jesus.

When she was only ten, it is recorded that she had a vision of Jesus on the cross and heard him say, “Look at me, my daughter."

"Who has treated you like this?" cried little Bridget.

Jesus answered, "Those who despise me and refuse my love for them.” 

From that moment on, Bridget tried to stop people from offending Jesus.

When she was 14, Bridget married an 18-year old man named Ulf. Like Bridget, Ulf had set his heart on serving God.

They had eight children. One of them is now honored as St. Catherine of Sweden.

Bridget and Ulf also served the Swedish court. She was the queen's personal maid.

Bridget tried to help King Magnus and Queen Blanche lead better lives, however, for the most part, they did not listen to her.

All her life, Bridget had marvelous visions and received special messages from God.

In obedience to them, she visited many rulers and important people in the Church. She explained humbly what God expected of them.

After her husband died, Bridget put away her rich clothes and lived as a poor nun.

Later, in 1346, she began the Order of the Most Holy Savior, also known as Bridgettines.

She still kept up her own busy life, traveling and doing good everywhere she went.

And through all this activity, Jesus continued to reveal many secrets to her, which she received without the least bit of pride.

During this stage of her life, St. Bridget's mystical experiences became more pronounced and frequent, so much so that they were contained in a work that became very popular in the middle ages, called the Revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden.

Her vibrant visions, which became famous, were often consulted by artists to aid them in their depiction of scenes from Sacred Scripture.

Out of her special love for Christ's Passion, which she had since childhood, St. Bridget sincerely wanted to know how many times the body of Our Lord was struck during the various scenes of his Passion.

She repeatedly prayed about this so that she could honor each one of them.

One day, Jesus answered her longing and told her:

"I received 5,480 blows upon My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, recite fifteen Our Fathers and fifteen Hail Marys with the following Prayers, which I Myself shall teach you, for an entire year. When the year is finished, you will have honored each of My Wounds."

Jesus then gave St. Bridget 15 prayers to pray every day for a full year, which she would recite along with Our Father and Hail Mary for each.

In total, these prayers would equal 5,475.

This could be understood as all the wounds other than the Five Wounds in his hands, feet and side, which are more commonly honored separately.

This became known as the Holy Wounds of Jesus devotion.

This is not to be confused with the Five Wounds of Jesus Devotion in his hands, feet and side.

It is also called the Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget, the Pieta Prayers, or the Magnificent Prayers.

Shortly before she died, the saint went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

At the shrines there, she had visions of what Jesus had said and done in each place.

All St. Bridget's revelations on the sufferings of Jesus were published after her death.

St. Bridget died in Rome on 23 July 1373.

She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Boniface IX on 7 October 1391.

On 1 October 1999, Pope John Paul II named Saint Bridget as patron saint of Europe.

"True wisdom, then, consists in works, not in great talents, which the world admires; for the wise in the world's estimation . . . are the foolish who set at naught the will of God, and know not how to control their passions."

- Saint Bridget of Sweden

Happy Feast Day Saint Bridget of Sweden

1303 - 1373 Feast Day: July 23 Patronage: Europe, Sweden, Widows Bridget of Sweden was married at 13 and the mother of eight children (the second eldest was St. Catherine of Sweden). After the death of her husband of twenty years, she founded the Bridgettines nuns and monks. Bridget was a mystic, who received visions from early childhood which became more frequent and definite. She believed that Christ Himself appeared to her, and she wrote down the revelations she then received.

Vila i frid, Bridget of Sweden.  Patron saint of Sweden, widows, and one of six patron saints of Europe, Birgitta Birgersdotter also married young, bore eight children (six of whom survived infancy), was widowed young, and established a religious order, the Order of the Most Holy Savior (whose adherents are known as Bridgettines).  She died on this date in 1373 at the age of 70.

Stamp details: Stamps on top: Issued on: October 7, 1941 From: Stockholm, Sweden MC #288-289

Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden.  

Bridget of Sweden (OSsS), also known as Birgitta Birgersdotter and Birgitta of Vadstena, was a Swedish Catholic mystic and the founder of the Bridgettines.

She received visions of Christ’s suffering many times throughout her life and went on to found the Order of the Most Holy Savior.

Daughter of Birger Persson, governor and provincial judge of Uppland, and Ingeborg Bengtsdotter, Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303.

From the time she was a child, she was greatly devoted to the passion of Jesus.

When she was only ten, it is recorded that she had a vision of Jesus on the cross and heard him say, “Look at me, my daughter."

"Who has treated you like this?" cried little Bridget.

Jesus answered, "Those who despise me and refuse my love for them.” 

From that moment on, Bridget tried to stop people from offending Jesus.

When she was 14, Bridget married an 18-year old man named Ulf. Like Bridget, Ulf had set his heart on serving God.

They had eight children, one of them was St. Catherine of Sweden.

Bridget and Ulf also served the Swedish court, with Bridget as the queen's personal maid.

Bridget tried to help King Magnus and Queen Blanche lead better lives, however for the most part, they did not listen to her.

All her life, Bridget had marvelous visions and received special messages from God.

In obedience to them, she visited many rulers and important people in the Church. She explained humbly what God expected of them.

After her husband died, Bridget put away her rich clothes and lived as a poor nun. In 1346, she began the Order of the Most Holy Savior, also known as Bridgettines.

She still kept up her own busy life, traveling about doing good everywhere she went. Through all this activity, Jesus continued to reveal many secrets to her, which she received without the least bit of pride.

Shortly before she died, the saint went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. At the shrines there, she had visions of what Jesus had said and done in each place.

All her revelations on the sufferings of Jesus were published after her death.

Bridget died in Rome on 23 July 1373. She was canonized by Pope Boniface IX on 7 October 1391.

"True wisdom, then, consists in works, not in great talents, which the world admires; for the wise in the world's estimation . . . are the foolish who set at naught the will of God, and know not how to control their passions."

Bridget of Sweden (c. 1303 –1373), born Birgitta Birgersdotter, was a Swedish Catholic mystic and the founder of the Bridgettines. Outside Sweden, she was known as the Princess of Nericia and was the mother of Catherine of Vadstena (1332-81). Bridget was recently featured in the British Library’s exhibition, Medieval Women. Bridget is one of the six patron saints of Europe, along with Benedict…

Today, July 23, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden.

Bridget received visions of Christ’s suffering many times throughout her life and went on to found the Order of the Most Holy Savior.

Daughter of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter and Birger Persson, the governor and provincial judge of Uppland, Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303.

From the time she was a child, she was greatly devoted to the passion of Jesus.

When she was only ten, it is recorded that she had a vision of Jesus on the cross and heard him say, “Look at me, my daughter."

"Who has treated you like this?" cried little Bridget.

Jesus answered, "Those who despise me and refuse my love for them.” 

From that moment on, Bridget tried to stop people from offending Jesus.

When she was 14, Bridget married an 18-year old man named Ulf.

Like Bridget, Ulf had set his heart on serving God.

They had eight children — one of them was St. Catherine of Sweden.

Bridget and Ulf also served the Swedish court.

Bridget was the queen's personal maid. She tried to help King Magnus and Queen Blanche lead better lives, however for the most part, they did not listen to her.

All her life, Bridget had marvelous visions and received special messages from God.

In obedience to them, she visited many rulers and important people in the Church. She explained humbly what God expected of them.

After her husband died, Bridget put away her rich clothes and lived as a poor nun.

Later, in 1346, she began the Order of the Most Holy Savior, also known as Bridgettines.

She still kept up her own busy life, traveling about doing good everywhere she went.

And through all this activity, Jesus continued to reveal many secrets to her, which she received without the least bit of pride.

Shortly before she died, the saint went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

At the shrines there, she had visions of what Jesus had said and done in each place.

All her revelations on the sufferings of Jesus were published after her death.

Bridget died in Rome on 23 July 1373.

She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Boniface IX on 7 October 1391.

She is one of the six patron saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia, Cyril and Methodius, Catherine of Siena and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

—

"True wisdom, then, consists in works, not in great talents, which the world admires; for the wise in the world's estimation . . . are the foolish who set at naught the will of God, and know not how to control their passions."