Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

posted in: Homilies, Saints | 0

Today’s Readings

St. Elizabeth was the daughter of the king of Hungary, and she married Louis IV of Thuringia when she was fourteen years old. They were happily married and had three children together. Together, they tried to live the ideals of St. Francis, so they sold their possessions and gave the money to the poor. This upset Elizabeth’s in-laws, who probably were hoping to inherit the things Louis and Elizabeth owned. When Louis was on the way to fight in a war, he was killed. Elizabeth’s in-laws forced her out of the palace, and she and her children went to live with her uncle who was a bishop. After Louis’s friends returned from the war, they restored Elizabeth to the palace and her rightful place. St. Elizabeth is a woman who lived a simple life and dedicated her life to loving others and helping the poor. She is the patron of Catholic Charities.

The Psalmist today proclaims that those who are victorious are fed from the tree of life. Saint Elizabeth was indeed victorious, not giving up her principles of living for the poor, even when she was deposed from the palace. The Psalmist goes on to say, “For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.” That turned out to be the case for her at the end of it all, as it will be for us. God will reward all of those who live the Gospel, if not in this life, certainly and triumphantly in the life to come.