Saint Who?
Saints Who Established Schools
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
Widow and religious († 1336)Feast: July 5
Elizabeth of Portugal was born in 1271. The daughter of the King of Aragon and the great-niece of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth received good spiritual and intellectual formation. At twelve, she married King Denis of Portugal, who put her character to the test by his infidelity. But Elizabeth remained devoted and faithful, and even educated his illegitimate children.
In spite of his personal failings, Denis’ rule was remarkable for its prudence, compassion, and foresight. He founded the University of Coimbra, which remains one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world. Denis had a special interest in agriculture, and Elizabeth worked to educate young women to be good farmers.
Elizabeth also worked miracles of peace, twice preventing war from breaking out between members of her family. She won her husband’s deepest admiration. He made her the executor of his will, confirming the sentiments of a poem he had written for her: “My love, my lady, I hereby tell you: Had God desired to ordain it so, you would have made a great king.” When Denis died in 1325, Elizabeth became a Third Order Franciscan and moved to a convent she had established. She died in 1336, and is known as Elizabeth the Peacemaker.
Heavenly Father, through the intercession of
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, grant peace
to married couples through forgiveness
and shared concern for the common good.
