November 17th: St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Patroness of the Franciscan Third Order (1207-1231)

She was the daughter of the King of Hungary and in 1221 married Ludwig, the Landgrave of Thuringia. With Ludwig she had four children. After her husband’s death in 1227, she became a Franciscan tertiary, devoting herself to caring for the poor, the sick, and the aged. She died in exceptional poverty and was canonized in 1235.

Collect:
Father,
You helped Elizabeth of Hungary
to recognize and honor Christ
in the poor of this world.
Let her prayers help us to serve our brothers and sisters
in time of trouble and need.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Protector, Third Order Franciscan

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, hear us.

O Christ, graciously hear us.

O God the Father, of heaven: have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world: O God, the Holy Ghost:
O Holy Trinity, one God: have mercy upon us.

Holy Mary: Pray for us.
Immaculate Virgin: Mother and Mistress of our Order: Pray for us.

St. Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, Duchess of Thuringia: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, mother in Israel: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, queen in the Kingdom of God: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, consoler of sinners: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, nurse of lepers: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, devoted wife of Louis the Good: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, famous exemplar of Christian widowhood: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, fervent spouse of the Son of God: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, humble in prosperity: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, patient in adversity: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, mighty in penance: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, wondrous in prayer: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, first-born of the tertiaries regular: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, protectress of our Order: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, the “dear saint” of Holy Church: Pray for us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: spare us, O Lord.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: graciously hear us, O Lord.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world:have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O blessed Elizabeth. Alleluia.
R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Alleluia.

Let us pray: Merciful Lord, we pray Thee to pour the bright beams of Thy grace into our hearts:

that, by the glorious prayers of Thy Saint Elizabeth, we may learn to despise all worldly prosperity,

and ever to rejoice in all Heavenly consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Elizabeth was born in Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary. At the age of four she was sent for education to the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia, to whose infant son she was betrothed. As she grew in age, her piety also increased by leaps and bounds. In 1221, she married Louis of Thuringia and in spite of her position at court began to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity.

Her husband was himself much inclined to religion and highly esteemed her virtue, encouraging her in her exemplary life. They had three children when tragedy struck – Louis was killed while fighting with the Crusaders. After his death, Elizabeth left the court, made arrangements for the care of her children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St. Francis. She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and devoted herself to the care of the sick until her death at the age of 24 in 1231.

St. Elizabeth is the patron saint of bakers, countesses, death of children, falsely accused, the homeless, nursing services, tertiaries, widows, and young brides. Her symbols are alms, flowers, bread, the poor, and a pitcher.

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-231) Feast Day: November 17th

from a letter by Conrad of Marburg, spiritual director of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary:

Elizabeth was a lifelong friend of the poor and gave herself entirely to relieving the hungry. She ordered that one of her castle should be converted into a hospital in which she gathered many of the weak and feeble. She generously gave alms to all who were in need, not only in that place but in all the territories of her husband’s empire. She spent all her own revenue from her husband’s four principalities, and finally she sold her luxurious possessions and rich clothes for the sake of the poor.

Twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, Elizabeth went to visit the sick. She personally cared for those who were particularly repulsive; to some she gave good, to others clothing; some she carried on her own shoulders, and performed many other kindly services. Her husband, of happy memory, gladly approved of these charitable works. Finally, when her husband died, she sought the highest perfection; filled with tears, she implored me to let her beg for alms from door to door.

On Good Friday of that year, when the altars had been stripped, she laid her hands on the altar in a chapel in her own town, where she had established the Friars Minor, and before witnesses she voluntarily renounced all worldly display and everything that our Savior in the gospel advises us to abandon. Even then she saw that she could still be distracted by the cares and worldly glory which had surrounded her while her husband was alive. Against my will she followed me to Marburg. Here in the town she built a hospice where she gathered together the weak and the feeble. There she attended the most wretched and contemptible at her own table.

Apart from those active good works, I declare before God that I have seldom seen a more contemplative woman.

Before her death I heard her confession. When I asked what should be done about her goods and possessions, she replied that anything which seemed to be hers belonged to the poor. She asked me to distribute everything except one worn-out dress in which she wished to be buried. When all this had been decided, she received the body of our Lord. Afterward, until vespers, she spoke often of the holiest things she had heard in sermons. Then, she devoutly commended to God all who were sitting near her, and as if falling into a gentle sleep, she died.

The post Patroness of the Franciscan Order: St. Elizabeth of Hungary first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Litany of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Protector, Third Order Franciscan

Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, hear us. O Christ, graciously hear us.

O God the Father, of heaven: have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world: O God, the Holy Ghost: O Holy Trinity, one God: have mercy upon us.

Holy Mary: Pray for us. Immaculate Virgin: Mother and Mistress of our Order: Pray for us.

St. Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary: Pray for us. St. Elizabeth, Duchess of Thuringia: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, queen in the Kingdom of God: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, consoler of sinners: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, nurse of lepers: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, devoted wife of Louis the Good: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, famous exemplar of Christian widowhood: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, fervent spouse of the Son of God: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, humble in prosperity: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, patient in adversity: Pray for us. St. Elizabeth, mighty in penance: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, wondrous in prayer: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, first-born of the tertiaries regular: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, protectress of our Order: Pray for us.
St. Elizabeth, the “dear saint” of Holy Church: Pray for us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: spare us, O Lord.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: graciously hear us, O Lord.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O blessed Elizabeth. Alleluia.
R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Alleluia.Let us pray: Merciful Lord, we pray Thee to pour the bright beams of Thy grace into our hearts: that, by the glorious prayers of Thy Saint Elizabeth, we may learn to despise all worldly prosperity, and ever to rejoice in all Heavenly consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Homily #121117b ( 14min) Play – Fr. Joachim on the life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary the patron saint of the Third Order of St Francis. She excelled in taking care of the poor, exhausting herself both financially and politically in her charity for them. Thus she exemplified the  gospel today,

But love your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great.

Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Elizabeth of Hungary – Feast – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: sir 26:1-3, 15-18, 24
Resp: psa 31:8-5, 8-9, 20, 24-25
2nd: 1ti 5:3-10
Gsp: mat 25:31-40

Audio (MP3)

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A Prayer to St. Elizabeth of Hungary:

Almighty God, by whose grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world:  Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble. In the name and for the sake of and through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

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Homily #141117n ( 10min) Play – St.  Elizabeth of Hungary is a most illustrious member of the Third Order of St. Francis, and Father Matthias gives us a short overview of her short life. Father Matthias quotes from Auspicato Concessum by Pope Leo XIII where he talks about the Third Order of St. Francis. The pontiff calls it the “Sacred Army of Jesus Christ” and tells us that the Third Order is the solution for the many ills of our days. The Holy Father tells all of us that those of us who are children of St. Francis must imitate his true example of how to follow Christ.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Elizabeth of Hungary – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Monday in the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
1st: rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5
Resp: psa 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Gsp: luk 18:35-43

Audio (MP3)

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Homily #141117b ( 12min) Play – Fr. Alan referring to the blind man of Jericho and the life of St. Elizabeth to tell us that we must put our trust in God.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Elizabeth of Hungary – Feast – Form: OF
Readings: Monday in the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
1st: rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5
Resp: psa 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Gsp: luk 18:35-43

Audio (MP3)

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Litany of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Protector and Patroness of Third Order Franciscans

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Fr. Ignatius on the life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and how her working with the poor helped her to see through the flattery and prestige that was poured upon her as queen.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Fr. Ignatius on the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary explains how she lived as a third order Franciscan despite being the Queen of Hungary.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Elizabeth of Hungary – Franciscan Feast

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