St. Elizabeth of Hungary

St Elizabeth of Hungary

1207 - 1231

A Paradigm of Charity, of Healing

and of Piety

Background

Today numerous churches, hospitals and medical centers in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia are named in her honor.

St Elizabeth was born in 1207 the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary.Her ancestors, relatives and descendants included many notable figures in the Hungarian, German, Ukrainian, Russian and Slovak royalty.At the age of 14 she married Ludwig IV, Landgrave of Thuringia.She has been canonized in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, venerated in the Lutheran and Anglican faiths.

The court of Thuringia in the 13th Century was noted for its magnificence and culture, but St. Elizabeth noted for her modesty, charity and piety

Once when asked why she did not wear her regal jewels she replied

The court of Thuringia in the 13th Century was noted for its magnificence and culture, but St. Elizabeth noted for her modesty, charity and piety

She personally performed charitable works

The Miracle of the Roses

A statue in front of St. Elizabeth Church in Budapest recounts the story of the St. Elizabeth and the Roses.Malicious rumors at court alleged that she was stealing valuables from the palace. One day when she was carrying fresh bread to distribute to the poor, she was asked what was hid in her apron. When she opened the garment red and white roses fell to the ground.She is the patron saint of the falsely accused.

Elizabeth rules and the German famineThe Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, summoned Ludwig to the Imperial Diet. While Elizabeth was ruling in his absence, a famine broke out in Germany. Elizabeth took the money from the treasury, even selling state robes and ornaments, to buy wheat for the starving peasants.In memory of that act, she has been named the Patron Saint of Bakers.When he returned, members of the court complained to Ludwig that, among other things, Elizabeth was nursing a leper in the royal bed chambers. Ludwig went to the room and said he did not see a leper in his bed but the body of Christ Crucified..

Elizabeth and LudwigThe marriage of Ludwig and Elizabeth is one of the great love stories of the Medieval Age. She was 14 and he was 21 when they married.He was devoted to her and fully supported her acts of charity and of piety, spending nights with her in prayer vigil.

At the age 26, Ludwig died on route to join the Sixth Crusade. On hearing the news, Elizabeth is reported to have cried out "He is dead. He is dead. It is to me as if the whole world died today."Ludwig is regarded as a saint in Germany, though not canonized in Rome.Widowed at 20 with three small children, alone in a hostile court, she is the patron saint of young mothers and widows.

St. Elizabeth and the Third Order of St. FrancisAfter the death of Ludwig, her dowery was returned and she used the funds to build a hospital in Marburg, where she devoted herself entirely to the care of the sick. She is the patron saint of nurses and hospice workers.On Good Friday, 1228, she formally renounced the world and adopted the dress and rule of the Third Order of St. Francis.St. Francis of Assisi, sent her a personal message of blessing shortly before his death. She is the patron saint of the Third Order of St. Francis.Elizabeth died in 1231 at the age of 24. Very shortly after her death, numerous healing miracles were reported at her grave and the hospital she founded. She was canonized on May 27, 1235.The life and works of St, Elizabeth has been memorialized in books, paintings, stained glass, icons, frescos and statues. Franz Lizts’ oratorio, Die Legende von der heiligen Elisabeth is based on the life of the saint. She inspiration for the character Elisabeth in Richard Wagner's opera Tannhauser.  More recently, a musical based on Elisabeth's life, Elizabeth--Legend of a Saint was produced in 2007 and a documentary, A Woman for Our Time – St. Elizabeth of Hungary, in 2011.