St. Elizabeth of Hungary - 1317 - Fresco - Cappella di San Martino, Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi
The numerous "St. Elizabeth's Hospitals" throughout the world are for the most part named, not for the Biblical Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, but for this princess of Hungary. She was concerned for the relief of the poor and the sick, and with her husband's consent she used her dowry money for their relief. During a famine and epidemic in 1226, while her husband was away in Italy, she sold her jewels and established a hospital where she nursed the sick, and opened the royal granaries to feed the hungry. After her husband's death in 1227, her inlaws, who opposed her "extravagances," expelled her from Wartburg. Finally an arrangement was negotiated with them that gave her a stipend. She became a Franciscan tertiary (lay associate) and devoted the remainder of her life to nursing and charity. She sewed garments to clothe the poor, and went fishing to feed them.
by James Kiefer.
Readings:
Psalm 109:20-25
Tobit 12:6b-9
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Luke 6:35-38
PRAYER
Almighty God, by your grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Elizabeth is an all-around lovely saint, a woman who exemplified Jesus' teachings about helping the poor by the manner in which she lived her life.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’ (Luke 6:35-38)
We have Hilda, Abbess of Whitby today. Despite her Celtic background she worked for the recognition of the Roman rites as agreed at the Synod held in her monastic house at Whitby. A powerful woman, for any time.
ReplyDeleteWe had Hilda yesterday. I wanted to note her feast day because I admire her and because I've seen the lovely Abbey ruins at Whitby, but I didn't have time.
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