Instead of ignoring the destitute, she went out looking for the most impoverished, humbling herself to benefit the sick and starving. Any excess money went to the poor. The marriage implied assistance and military cooperation between Hungary and Thüringen. In 1223, Franciscan friars arrived in Thuringia and taught 16-year-old Elizabeth all about Francis of Assisi's ideals. The daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary, she was betrothed in infancy to Louis IV, son of Hermann I, landgrave of Thuringia, at whose court she was brought up. In 1217, Hermann I died, and at age 16 Louis began to rule Thüringen. She wore simple clothing and set aside time every day to take bread to hundreds of poor people in her land. Elizabeth's life was full of love and faith. Staying in the castle thus meant she would be unable to follow the dictates of her conscience. As soon as her life began, she had responsibilities from being a royal pressed upon her. Born into nobility nearly 800 years ago, St. Elizabeth of Hungary was inspired by God to use her royal position, as a princess by birth and countess by marriage, to help the poor. No longer caring for position or wealth, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis, a lay Franciscan group. Bishops call for caution and tell Catholics to await clarity from the Vatican on Pope Francis' ... Padre Nuestro - Our Father (Lord's Prayer), Catholic Online Shopping | World's Catholic Store. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. At Marburg she built a hospice for the poor and sick, to whose service she devoted the rest of her life. It is said she even gave away the royal's clothing and goods to the afflicted people. Elizabeth was born in 1207 to King Andrew II and Queen Gertrude in Pressburg, Hungary. Elizabeth continued to live a life full of prayer and a service to the poor. Happiness was returned to her young life in 1221 when she was formally married to Ludwig, whom she deeply loved. Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. Misery, despair and sickness were rampant among the nearby peasants, and Elizabeth, even as a teenager, found ways to ease their suffering. A landgrave was a powerful German ruler, and Hermann had dominion over much of central Germany. She traveled the nearby villages looking for the sickest, especially those with leprosy, and gave them special attention. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2020 Catholic Online. She believed that only through evangelical poverty, by living with the poorest of the poor, could she truly imitate Christ. In 1226, when disease and floods struck Thuringia, Elizabeth took to caring for the victims. Throughout her short life Elizabeth was attracted to a life of piety. Pope Gregory IX canonized her on May 27, 1235. Rejected by the very people she had fed and clothed, and because of her uncertain future, Elizabeth sent her children away to live with others. She passed away at the age of 24, on November 17, 1231 in Marburg, Hesse. She bore three children. At age 4, Elizabeth, with a large dowry, was sent to live with Hermann and his family at Wartburg Castle in … Elizabeth's body was laid in a gold shrine in the Elisabeth Church in Marburg. Saint of the Day for Monday, Oct 26th, 2020. This transformation convinced him of the worthiness of her kind endeavours, about which he had been chiding her. Although chastised by others, she believed she couldn’t come before Jesus wearing her regal crown when He wore a crown of thorns. Type on the field below and hit Enter/Return to search, Helping Catholics know & love the Lord and his Church, Why St. Nicholas is a Forgotten Defender of the Faith, Blessed Karl of Austria: A saint for those who suffer. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! When his brother Henry assumed the regency, Elizabeth left and took refuge with her uncle, Bishop Eckbert of Bamberg. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, German Sankt Elisabeth Von Ungarn, (born 1207, probably Pressburg, Hungary [now Bratislava, Slovakia]—died Nov. 17, 1231, Marburg, Thuringia [Germany]; canonized 1235; feast day November 17), princess of Hungary whose devotion to the poor (for whom she relinquished her wealth) made her an enduring symbol of Christian charity. Louis was frequently away on business. Elizabeth prayed constantly. St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also known as St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, was born in Hungary on July 7, 1207 to the Hungarian King Andrew II and Gertrude of Merania. Queen Elizabeth of Hungary sculpture in Matthias Church, Budapest Hungary. Ludwig, who was now one of the rulers of Thuringia, supported all of Elizabeth's religious endeavors even though she was a part of the royal court. Also in 1228 she built a hospital in Marburg, Germany, using funds eventually received from her dowry and inheritance. On Good Friday 1228, Elizabeth was allowed to join the Third Order of Franciscans, who were (and still are) committed to poverty, penance and love of God. Louis was 11 years old when Elizabeth arrived. He held her to a standard that many saw as impossible to meet. Louis died in 1227 of plague at Otranto, Italy, en route to the Sixth Crusade. It was a marriage of mutual devotion and produced three children. Shortly after her birth, her parents promised Elizabeth in marriage to Louis, son of Hermann I, landgrave of Thüringen, Germany. Elizabeth was often at odds with other family members because she frequently gave away goods and food belonging to the castle. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Elizabeth-of-Hungary, The Catholic Encyclopedia - Biography of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She was even denied use of her own dowry and any inheritance if she intended to use that money for charitable activities. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. In 1227, preparing to participate in a crusade to the Holy Lands, Louis contracted a disease and died. In 1231 Elizabeth died, and Pope Gregory IX made Konrad the chief inquisitor in Germany; he was assigned to exterminate heresy, denounce clerical marriage, and reform monasteries. Now, with no husband and no children, Elizabeth immersed herself in an austere existence, even begging door to door, and she committed her life to serving others. The centralization of the different existing institutions…, Elizabeth of Hungary, who arrived from the Wartburg in 1228 and spent the remaining three years of her life there in charitable works. Elizabeth's life was consumed deeply by her devotion to God and her charitable labor. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, ; canonized 1235; feast day November 17), princess of Hungary whose devotion to the poor (for whom she relinquished her wealth) made her an enduring symbol of Christian charity. That same year she funded the building of a 28-bed hospital near Wartburg, where she tended the sick, the crippled, the disabled, anyone needing help. Ludwig and Elizabeth were politically powerful and lived with a remarkable generosity toward the poor. He is dead. In 1225 a widespread famine began in Germany. Her mother-in-law discovered Elizabeth had placed a leper in the bed, and feeling enraged, she informed Ludwig. In 1228, Elizabeth joined the Third Order of St. Francis. St. Elizabeth is often depicted with a basket of bread to show her devotion for the poor and hungry. Helping and serving were not enough for Elizabeth; she wanted to know the holy poverty and suffering of Our Lord. Conrad was a favorite of Pope Gregory IX because of his success in eliminating heretics from the Church. St. Elizabeth's feast day is celebrated on November 17 and she is the patron saint of bakers; beggars; brides; charities; death of children; homeless people; hospitals; Sisters of Mercy; widows. There was no disgrace in her lifestyle, but rather a special dignity, because nothing came between her and God. Elizabeth saw the face of Jesus in the beggar, the leper, the homeless, and devoted her life in the service of such people. It is said that during one of her many trips delivering bread to the poor in secret, Ludwig met with her and asked her questions to erase everyone's suspicions that she was stealing treasures from the castle. …Marburg, which was founded by St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–31) on the territory of the knights of the Teutonic Order, was influenced by the spirit of St. Francis. While Wartburg Castle had ample grain and foodstuff, the local people were starving. She willingly deprived herself of her possessions, giving up the clean, comfortable surroundings of the castle to live in poverty. According to one account, once, while she was praying, her clothes caught on fire. At age 4, Elizabeth, with a large dowry, was sent to live with Hermann and his family at Wartburg Castle in Thüringen. Her inspiring holiness, generosity and indefatigable devotion to the sick and poor were recognized by Pope Gregory IX when he named her a saint on May 28, 1235. She put herself under the spiritual direction of Konrad von Marburg, an ascetic of incredible harshness and severity, who belonged to no specific order. St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also known as St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, was born in Hungary on July 7, 1207 to the Hungarian King Andrew II and Gertrude of Merania. She is also painted in honor of the "Miracle of Roses" and "Crucifix in the Bed. Various parks were named after her, such as the Empress Elisabeth Park in Meran, South Tyrol. In fact, while living in the royal household, she had a servant wake her every night so she could pray. His mother was Sophia of Bavaria, and he had four younger siblings. Elizabeth is the patron of many in need, including hospital and nursing-home patients, widows, charities, homeless people and people in exile. ", St. Elizabeth has been praised by Pope Benedict XVI as a "model for those in authority.". His treatment of Elizabeth was very strict and often harsh. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. Although the shrine can still be seen today, her body is no longer there. She then forth decided to live her life mirroring his. Her feast day is Nov. 17. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. The marriage implied assistance and military cooperation between Hungary and Thüringen. Much to the anger of other castle residents, Elizabeth began giving the grain away. So Elizabeth left, choosing to join the poor people of Thüringen. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Announcing our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! She used the castle stores to feed hundreds of people, paid their debts and gave clothes to anyone in need. A landgrave was a powerful German ruler, and Hermann had dominion over much of central Germany. While the reason for this departure is unclear, it may have been because Henry Rasp, Louis’ brother and landgrave at that time, would not allow Elizabeth to con-tinue using the castle’s treasury to help the poor. While Elizabeth was very young, her father arranged for her to be married to Ludwig IV of Thuringia, a German nobleman. Elizabeth was born in 1207 to King Andrew II and Queen Gertrude in Pressburg, Hungary.

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