Bridget Feast Day

Today on the 23rd of July the church comes together to celebrate the feast day of Saint Bridget of Sweden. Saint Bridget is one of my great grandmothers from generations ago. She was a brave, resilient, loyal, and caring woman who left her rich lifestyle to live as a poor nun. Every year on the anniversary of St. Bridget’s death and the celebrated feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden, my mother tells the story of Bridget’s life. On June 14, 1303 Bridget was born in Sweden. She began to have visions of Jesus at the age of ten. It is recorded that her vision was of him on the cross saying, “Look at me, my daughter.” When Bridget was just 14 she married a man who also had his heart set on serving God. They had eight children, one of them being St. Catherine of Sweden. Not only did she serve God but she also served the Swedish court as the queen’s personal maid. She attempted to help King Magnus and Queen Blanche lead better lives with God, but they never fully listened to her. Throughout
Ever since she was a child she was very faithful to Jesus. At only ten years old it was recorded she had a vision of Jesus on the cross and heard him say, “Look at me, my daughter.” Bridget then replied, “Who has treated you like this?” Jesus answered, “Those who despise me and refuse my love for them.” This was a life changing moment for Bridget and is one of the main aspects that inspired her to spread the message of Jesus and prevent them from offending him. Saint Bridget was also married at a young age of 14 to an 18-year-old Ulf. Just like Bridget, Ulf had also set his heart on serving God. Later in life Ulf unfortunately died and left Bridget with their 8 children. This devastating event in her life would’ve hugely impacted her ways and she turned to God for answers, which was when she became a devoted