St. Elizabeth of Hungary

We might begin this story with “once upon a time,”  for St. Elizabeth of Hungary’s life reads almost like a backwards fairy tale, beginning with her life as a wealthy young princess and ending in poverty, though not despair.

She was born into royalty in 1207, and as a small child was betrothed to Ludwig of Thuringia. When she was only six her mother died, although by then she was already living in her future in-laws’ magnificent palace, where she was raised by Ludwig’s mother, Sophia. Like her name, Sophia proved to be a wise guardian, teaching little Elizabeth to be pious and charitable, even though she was surrounded by great wealth.

Princess Elizabeth grew to be generous to the point of often giving away her beautiful clothing. She married Ludwig when she was fourteen, and happily her new husband was a benevolent ruler who understood and supported her generous acts. They loved each other deeply, and their marriage truly was, like the well-known cliché, a “match made in heaven.”

They had three children quickly, and while Ludwig was away on state business Elizabeth would distribute bread and alms to the hundreds who came to her door.

But when Elizabeth was only 20 years old Ludwig was killed during the Crusades, and when she heard the news she cried out, “The world with all its joys is now dead to me!” True to her word, the very next year she became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi, building a Franciscan hospital where she went each day to tend to her patients.

She completely devoted herself to the care of the sick and impoverished while her children were cared for by trusted relatives. Putting her wealth towards her ministry and working constantly, she herself became sick and died at the young age of 24. She is often depicted with the symbols of bread, alms, roses, and the poor whom she loved.  

Saints and our lives
St. Elizabeth as a young widow came under the spiritual direction of a priest who was known for his very severe penances. “He brought her with a firm hand by the road of self-mortification to sanctity” (Catholic Encyclopedia). While present-day penances exclude corporal punishment, denial of self is still a key Christian concept. If we continually try to placate ourselves we won’t be disciplined the way St. Paul urges us to be: “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) We can all take steps each day to become stronger and better Christians: giving up a treat to make a charitable donation, skipping a meal in solidarity with the poor, turning off the TV to read a good spiritual book, or spending more time in prayer. If we want our spiritual lives to bear fruit we must practice dying to ourselves.

There is a story that St. Elizabeth was bringing loaves of bread wrapped in her mantle to the poor one day, traveling on foot throughout the kingdom. She met her husband with some members of his court out hunting, and not wanting to embarrass him with her actions, told him she had gathered roses. When asked to unfold her mantle she did so, and beautiful roses tumbled out and fell at her feet. Our works of charity, too, are like roses with which we make a fragrant bouquet for God. Offered up in goodness and mercy, they spread the perfume of Christ throughout the world. Each act performed with pure intentions becomes another petal on a budding flower, until we have an armful of tender offerings to lay at Christ’s feet.

St. Elizabeth lived to the fullest Christ’s mandate to wash one another’s feet. She recognized the dignity of every human being created in the image of God, and because of this she was able to put aside her royal heritage and her right to rule in order to serve. She lived in complete harmony with Gospel values, never judging a person for their circumstances in life, but only offering a helping hand. May we all do the same.

Taken from “Evangelization and the Lives of the Saints: St. Elizabeth  of Hungary,” produced by the diocesan Office of New Evangelization. For the complete pamphlet, visit the Office of New Evangelization at www.drvc.org.