Born in 1303 in Sweden, St Bridget of Sweden had a great devotion to Christ’s passion throughout her lifetime. She was married to a Swedish landowner for 28 years and had 8 children with him. She served as a lady in waiting to the queen of Spain. When her husband died, she committed herself to austerity and celibacy. She founded a monastery for both men and women. That community developed into a religious order known as the Brigantines. She advised the popes who were in exile in Avignon, France to return to Rome. She was known as a prophet and did not refrain from preaching the strong words that God put in her mouth. She is the patron saint of the country of Sweden and one of the co-patron saints of Europe.
This week and next week during daily Mass, we will hear from the prophet Jeremiah in our first readings. Jeremiah compares the love that God has for his people with the ways Israel is not faithful to God. Israel has abandoned the founts of life giving water that God offers them to the broken dry cisterns that Israel chooses to dig themselves. Do we go to God for spiritual fulfillment in life? Or do we choose to try in vain to find that fulfillment within ourselves? If we rely solely on our earthly pursuits and not on God, we will remain spiritually unfulfilled.
No comments:
Post a Comment