St. Elizabeth of Hungary | Feast Day November 17

Although her life was short, St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207 – 1231) is recognized for her love of the poor and suffering, and as patroness of Catholic charities and the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, she chose a life of penance instead of leisure, which made an impact on the “commoners” she served.

St. Elizabeth married Louis of Thuringia when she was 14. Deeply in love, they had three children. Despite their wealth, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice, and service to the poor and sick under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar.

After six years of marriage, her husband died in the Crusades, and St. Elizabeth was grief-stricken. Her husband’s family did not look kindly upon her and mistreated her before finally throwing her out of the palace. However, the return of her husband’s allies from the Crusades resulted in her being reinstated, since her son was legal heir to the throne.

St. Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1228 where she cared for the poor in a hospital she founded in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. She died in 1231, but her great popularity resulted in her being named a saint only four years later.

LIVE THE LITURGY - INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK

To live with Christ, we must die with him. But what does this mean? What does this look like in the ordinary life of a Christian? We must ask God for the wisdom to see our own crosses, so that we may carry them into the newness of life.