Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Mothers
Saint Bridget of Sweden
Foundress († 1373) Feast: July 23
Bridget, daughter of a Swedish governor, lost her mother when she was twelve years old. However, after she was married to Ulf Gudmarsson at the age of fourteen, the couple had eight children and twenty-eight happy years of marriage. Although Bridget lived for almost two decades as a feudal lady on her husband’s estate, she was then summoned to serve as a lady-in-waiting for the queen.
Bridget had received supernatural visions since childhood, and she took her faith seriously. She quickly realized that the queen tended to be irresponsible and that the king was weak at best. Bridget devoted herself to bringing out the best in Queen Blanche, and the visions she received helped her guide others. She earned the respect of many in the court, but few followed her Christlike example. After the death of her husband, Bridget founded a religious order and both encouraged and admonished abbots, kings, and popes.
However, Bridget was still a mother. She counseled a daughter who had married a rowdy nobleman, whom Bridget nicknamed “the brigand.” When her son became involved with a loose-living queen, she prayed constantly for her son to repent. He repented but died soon afterward. It was her daughter Catherine who became her closest companion and was most like her mother. After all, Catherine too has been acclaimed a saint.
Holy Spirit, give us the wisdom to guide
our erring loved ones.
