'Moses lifter up his arms in prayer when the people of Israel were in
battle, but our spiritual arms must always be uplifted, not only in the
choir and when we are on our knees before the most Holy One, but wherever
we are, wherever we may be called.’
Mother Elisabeth, December 1950.
The saints of
Brigittine order
Saint Birgitta of Sweden
Birgitta is most known for
her revelations and her own devout life in prayer and self-denial, and for
the monastic order she founded. In this way she may be pattern of the
religious life for all Christians. Because of her great love of Christ and
of the Church she became a fearless tutor for the church and secular
leaders of her day. She was generous to the poor and to those who were
suffering, and as a strong mother she may stand as a model for all women.
On the 1st
October 1999 Pope Johan Paul II proclaimed St. Birgitta Patron of Europe.
Mother Elisabeth Hesselblad
In this century Mother
Elisabeth refounded the Brigittine order. She is called the second
Birgitta because of her efforts in making St. Birgitta more known and for
having revived the order and in this way continuing St. Birgitta’s work in
our own day. Mother Elisabeth died in 1957 in Rome. Steps are now being
taken in Rome to have Mother Elisabeth beatified.
History of
the Brigittine Sisters
The order of our Saviour
was founded by St. Birgitta of Sweden and approved by Pope Urban V in
1370. The order’s first convent was in Vadstena by Lake Vattern in Sweden,
and this was the model for a number of Brigittine houses in Europe. In the
16th and 17th centuries, many Brigittine convents
were founded chiefly in Poland, Belgium, France, Spain and Mexico. These
houses were only for Sisters.
During the Reformation and
later conflicts between church and state almost all these convents were
dissolved.
In course of past hundred
years a large number of Brigittine convents women have once again founded.
It was wished to re-introduce the order to the countries and places where
it had previously existed, but now there are also many Brigittine
communities in India.
St. Brigitta’s Convent in
Trondhiem was dedicated on 19th June 1998.
The Work of
the Sister
According to the most
monastic tradition of St. Brigitta’s Sisters, their chief obligation is
liturgical prayer – the regular Daily Office. The sisters take part daily
in the Mass, and there is Adoration of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar
everyday. Central in sisters’ work is the Guest House, which is part of
the activity of every (Brigittine) convent. The sisters welcome to their
House all who seek to find stillness and quiet. The sisters’ guest houses
may be an answer to the needs of pilgrims when they are at well-known
places of pilgrimage or when they are on their way there.
The Brigittine order has a
special mission in furthering ecumenical work, and the sisters are happy
to receive guests from other churches, and study visits from school
classes or other groups. They can also arrange meetings and retreats.
In all the countries there
is a growing interest in ecumenism. Chiefly through prayer but also
through action the sisters share in the missionary work of the church. In
co-operation with the needs of the local church, the sisters do catechism
and other forms of teaching, run nursery schools care for the sick and
provide a home for students and old people.
