Saint Bridget of Sweden

Saint Bridget of Sweden

Around the apparitions of St.. Bridget, a lot of controversy arose. They were heavily attacked at the councils of St. 1414 r. in Konstanz and in 1431 r. in Basel. Only Pope Benedict XIV confirmed their rightness and recognized their credibility.

Prayers, which were revealed to St.. Brigid of Sweden through Jesus Christ, over time they became known as the Mystery of Happiness. The name is meaningful for at least two reasons. First, the name "mystery" takes us into a mystical dimension, which is not knowable to man. Religious mystery means a certain truth, which God himself revealed, human reason, as humanly speaking, cannot or grasp it, nor comprehend. Second, "happiness" is the primary goal, which every human being strives for. However, by transferring "happiness" into a religious dimension, man wants God and his closeness. Happiness is also God's promise of eternal life to every believer.

Christ presented this mystery during one of the apparitions of St.. Brigid of Sweden, who felt a special need to meditate on his Passion. Desiring in a perfect way to celebrate the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, she asked Him, to reveal to her the number of blows inflicted on Jesus during the Passion of the Cross. According to biographers, Christ appeared to Brigid during her stay in the Basilica of St.. Paul Outside the Walls.

The prayers titled The Mystery of Happiness, along with its promises, come from a book printed in 1740 r. in Toulouse by Fr.. Adriana Parvilliers, Jesuit. The text of the prayers has been translated into many languages, including also into Polish. The basic text of this edition, translated into five languages, was submitted to the Congregation for. st. Rites 20 April 1950 r. by the Canadian publisher Casa di Padle Pio. Currently, prayers are of great interest among the faithful.

LIFE OF ST. SWEDISH BRIGIDA

She was born in the castle in Finstad near Uppsala in 1303 r. She came from a very pious and godly family. Parents, despite the dangers they face, they made many pilgrimages, e.g.. to the tomb of St.. James in Compostella and to the Holy Sepulcher. This was then regarded as a form of atonement for sins. They also made a pilgrimage to the tomb of St.. Bridget in Keldara. There they asked for a blessing and for special favors for their daughter.

From an early age, Bridget enjoyed the signs of a special friendship of the Lord Jesus. For the first three years of her life, she couldn't speak, but the lack of well-formed speech did not prevent her from growing in God and loving Him. Her piety became clearer when she regained her ability to speak. She often worshiped and performed spiritual exercises.

When she had 7 years, Mary appeared to her, who put a crown on her head. Three years later, she saw the Divine Savior nailed to the cross, drenched in blood with uncounted wounds. Then she heard the words of the Lord: "Look at me, daughter ". Having obeyed, she said: "Is that me, Lord, I treat you so cruelly?”. Christ replied: "I make a reproach about it, who despise me and are insensitive to my love ". As other sources say, Brigid, seeing the bloodied Jesus, she was about to call out: "O, my dear Lord! Who did it to you? I don't want anything, as only to love you!”.

This dream left an imprint on Brigitte's heart. Since then, she thought a lot, sometimes with tears in their eyes, about the suffering of Christ.

When Brigitte had 12 years, her mother died. Then the father gave the girl up to be brought up by her uncle in Aspanas. The strict lifestyle prevailing there did not disturb Brigid, who all wanted to belong to the Savior. Against her will, two years later she was married to 19-year-old Ulf Gotmarsson, syna gubernatora Wastergotlandu. Throughout her 28-year marriage, she was a good wife, she performed her tasks with affection and meticulousness. Bridget bore eight children to her husband, whom she chose educated and religious educators with great sensitivity.

She also did not forget about her soul. Piotr Olafsson, vice-prime minister of the Cistercians, he was her spiritual director. Every day Brigitte read and contemplated the words of Jesus.

W 1332 r. Brigid was appointed to the court of King Magnus II as a steward. At that time, she supported the poor financially, churches and monasteries. When in 1339 r. her underage son died, she went to the tomb of St.. Olafa w Trond-heim. Two years later, she and her husband went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. During this trip, Bridget's spouse fell ill. He then promised God, that if he survived this pilgrimage, and thanks to this he will see his homeland and his children, then he will enter a monastery. So it happened. After his return to Sweden, the man moved to the Cistercian monastery in Alvastra. He died there in 1344 r.

Bridget at that time consecrated herself exclusively to God. She spent long hours in prayer and mortification. During the apparitions, she received a new message: she was to admonish the mighty and bring them the teaching of Christ. Moreover, she had the gift of knowing the future fate of the Church and nations. She performed her ministry very diligently. She reminded the hearts of the Teutonic Knights and the Swedish King Magnus II. She criticized him for his waste, scandals at court, and for placing too heavy a burden on the people.

In the meantime, in the town of Vadstena, she founded a new religious family under the invocation of. Holy Savior, commonly called "brigid girls".
In order to approve the rule of her order, she went to Rome. There she also founded a new monastery.

In the following years, she made a lot of pilgrimages. She visited many holy places, m.in. Assisi, Padua, Salemo. W 1371 r. she went on a trip to the Holy Land. Soon after her return, tired from the journey, she died on the day she had previously announced in Rome 23 July 1373 r.

Five years after her death, i.e.. w 1378 r., a new rule of the order was approved, making w 1384 r. the monastery in Vadstena could be officially established. W 1391 r. Brigid was brought to the altars.

PROMISES

Pan, revealing himself to St.. Brigid, he said: "My body has received 5 480 blows. If you want to celebrate them with godly practice, collude 15 Our Father and 15 Hail with prayers, I taught you during the whole year, in this way during the year you will honor my every wound ".

Then Jesus promised, that everyone, who during the year will successively say these prayers or make a sincere intention of saying them:

Free 15 souls from their family in Purgatory.

15 the righteous among their relatives will be confirmed and kept in grace.

15 sinners from among their relatives will be converted.

Person, who will say these prayers, will reach a certain degree of perfection.

Already on 15 days before her death, she will feel sincere sorrow for all the sins she has committed, knowing how serious they are.

On 15 days before her death, I will give her my most holy body, that through them she may be freed from eternal hunger, and I will give her my precious Blood to drink, that she would not experience any nagging thirst for ever.

I will put my victorious Cross before her as a help and defense against the snares of my enemies. Before her death, I will come to her with my dearest and beloved Mother.

I will accept her soul with kindness and lead her to eternal joy.

By taking her there, I will give her a taste from the wonderful well of my Divinity, what I will not make it, who did not say these or similar prayers.

You need to know, that even if someone lived through 30 years in sin, but then with a contrite heart he would say the prayers devoutly, or at least make up a decision to say them, I will forgive his sins.

I will protect him from destructive temptations. I'll keep his five senses.

I'll save him from sudden death.

I will free his soul from eternal punishments. This man will receive everything, what will he ask God and the Blessed Virgin.

If someone had always lived according to God's will and had to die prematurely, his life will be extended.

Whoever says these prayers, he will get a partial indulgence each time.

The man will be assured, that he would enjoy the happiness of angel choirs. Each, who would teach others these prayers, it will never be deprived of joy and merit, but they will last forever.

Tam, where these prayers are said, God is present by his grace.