8th October, St Bridget, Widow

St Bridget, Holy Widow.

St. Bridget was a descendant of the kings of Sweden. She was married to the prince of Mericia, and brought up her eight children in a holy way; one of them was St. Catherine of Sweden. She led her husband to such a virtuous life that he renounced the world to submit himself to the Cistercian Rule, in the monastery of Alvastra: he died there in the odour of sanctity (1344), and is known as blessed Ulpho.



Bridget became still more fervent in her holy widowhood "devoting herself to all manner of good works and persevering day and night in prayer" (Epistle). Like a man who has discovered a treasure and who sells all he possesses to acquire it (Gospel), she divided her riches among her children, and detached from everything, she sought only the kingdom of heaven. Filled with the fear of God, she subjected her body to the severest penance (Introit), and Jesus, whom she thus imitated in His passion, rewarded her by revealing heavenly secrets to her (Collect). He gave her the constitutions of the Order which she founded under the rule of St. Augustine. She died in Rome in 1373.

Cognovi, Domine, quia aequitas judicia tua, et in veritate tua humiliasti me: confige timore tuo carnes meas, a mandatis tuis timui. * Beati immaculati in via, qui ambulant in lege Domini.
I know, O Lord, that Thy judgements are equity, and in Thy truth Thou hast humbled me: pierce Thou my flesh with Thy fear, I am afraid of Thy judgements. * Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
(Psalm 118:75,120,1 from the Introit of Mass).



Domine, Deus noster, qui beatae Birgíttae per Fílium tuum unigenitum secreta coelestia revelasti: ipsíus pia intercessione da nobis famulis tuis; in revelatione sempiternae gloriae tuae gaudere laetantes.
O Lord our God, who through Thine only begotten Son, didst reveal secrets of heaven to blessed Bridget; grant, through her loving intercession, that we Thy servants may rejoice with gladness at the revelation of Thine eternal glory.
(Collect)



Símile est regnum coelorum * homini negotiatori quaerenti bonas margarítas: inventa una pretiosa, dedit omnia sua, et comparavit eam.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
(Magnificat Antiphon, 1st Vespers)



From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02782a.htm