Saint Bridget of Sweden

The text "S. Birgittae Viduae" refers to **Saint Bridget of Sweden**, who is also known as Saint Birgitta. She was a **widow** and a **mystic** who founded the **Bridgettine Order**. Saint Bridget is one of the six patron saints of Europe and is known for her **visions and revelations**. Her feast day is celebrated on **October 7th**.

Saint Bridget of Sweden, also known as **Birgitta Birgersdotter**, was born around **1303** in Uppland, Sweden, and died on **July 23, 1373** in Rome. She was a **Swedish Catholic mystic** and the founder of the **Bridgettine Order** (Order of the Most Holy Savior). Bridget is one of the six patron saints of Europe.

### Early Life and Family
Bridget was the daughter of **Birger Persson**, a knight and one of the richest landowners in Sweden, and **Ingeborg Bengtsdotter**, who was related to the Swedish royal family. At the age of 13, she married **Ulf Gudmarsson**, a nobleman and lawspeaker of Östergötland. They had eight children, including **Saint Catherine of Sweden**.

### Mystical Visions and Religious Life
Bridget is renowned for her **mystical visions** and **revelations**, which she began experiencing from a young age. After her husband's death in 1344, she devoted herself to a life of prayer and caring for the poor and the sick. She became a member of the **Third Order of Saint Francis** and later founded the Bridgettine Order.

### Pilgrimages and Influence
Bridget went on several pilgrimages, including to **Santiago de Compostela** and the **Holy Land**. She spent the latter part of her life in Rome, where she worked tirelessly to end the Avignon papacy and bring the Pope back to Rome. Her **revelations** were influential during the Middle Ages and were published in many languages.

### Canonization and Legacy
Bridget was canonized on **October 7, 1391** by Pope Boniface IX³. Her feast day is celebrated on **July 23**. She is the patron saint of **Sweden**, **widows**, and for a **holy death**.

Saint Bridget's life and works continue to inspire many, and her legacy as a mystic and founder of a religious order remains significant in the history of the Catholic Church.

³: [Wikipedia](^3^)
⁴: [Britannica](^4^)

(1) Bridget of Sweden - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_of_Sweden.
(2) Saint Bridget of Sweden | Biography, Legacy, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Bridget-of-Sweden.
(3) Bridget of Sweden - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_of_Sweden.
(4) Saint Bridget of Sweden | Biography, Legacy, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Bridget-of-Sweden. (5) . https://bing.com/search?q=Saint+Bridget+of+Sweden.
(6) St. Bridget of Sweden. https://stbridgetofsweden.org/.
(7) Bridget of Sweden - New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Bridget_of_Sweden.
(8) Saint Bridget of Sweden: A Beacon of Faith and Devotion - Spiritual Culture. https://spiritualculture.org/saint-bridget-of-sweden/.