Saint Brigid of Sweden - 23 July - Feast in Europe

Readings: Galatians 2:19–20; Psalm 33(34); John 15:1–8

Saint Bridget of Sweden is one of the patron saints of Europe, alongside Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). They were chosen to represent the different parts of the continent and the various periods of its history (although Bridget and Catherine were contemporaries). It is no coincidence that they are also figures of historical importance in their respective countries and in the eras in which they lived.

We celebrate them for their holiness, for the fact that they distinguished themselves in faith, hope and charity. Each of these three women had a rich inner life and was deeply devoted to prayer and meditation, so much so that the course of their lives was a journey towards an ever-deeper union with Christ.

In the life of Bridget (c. 1304–1373) we see how that union with Christ, and indeed her identification with Him, bore great fruit in her works of charity, particularly towards the poor and the sick. The same is true of Catherine of Siena: the more she identified with Christ through the mystical experiences granted to her, the more she committed herself to the concerns of the Church and the world. We can describe them as great champions of justice and peace in their time

Edith Stein was not called to active ministry in the same way as the other two, but she is an extraordinary witness to the passive aspect of the Christian life, which bore fruit in what she experienced in her search for truth and in what she suffered, rather than in external projects (apart, of course, from the books she wrote).

The Passion of Jesus is central to the spirituality of all three, and particularly so for Bridget of Sweden, who, from a very young age, received visions of events in the life of Jesus, particularly his birth in Bethlehem and the events of his suffering and death. These were set down in writing and have borne fruit in many lives, as they continue to do for many people who still use them for meditation today.

Bridget also continued to attract criticism and even ridicule for her claims regarding these visions. Yet such reactions do not detract from the heart of her holiness, which consists in union with Christ through faith, hope and charity. The readings chosen for the Mass on her feast day highlight this very clearly: ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me’, ‘without me you can do nothing’.

This is the Christian life for every baptised person. Those we honour as saints are simply brothers and sisters in Christ who, by the grace of God, have been able to live out these gifts in an extraordinary way. Thus they remain fruitful branches of the vine even centuries after their lives have ended.