Saint Bridget of Sweden

I was born in the year 1303 in Sweden, as the daughter of a wealthy governor. My father taught us to donate from our wealth to good causes and to help the poor. I was married into the Swedish royal family and had eight children. One of them was the later Saint Catherine of Sweden. My husband and I followed my father’s example of doing good towards other people. For example, I had a hospital built on our estate. When my husband died, I first thought I had nothing to live for anymore. Eventually, I felt that God wanted me to found a religious order, which came to be known as the Order of the Most Holy Saviour. I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during which I experienced Jesus’ presence in visions of his salvific suffering. I died in Rome in 1373, but my body was returned to my beloved Sweden.