November 17 marks the feast day of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, the patron saint of patron saint of Catholic charities, hospitals, nurses, and the homeless.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231) was a princess and a symbol of Christian charity who renounced her wealth to serve the poor and sick, becoming a saint just four years after her death.
Born a princess to King Andrew II of Hungary, Elizabeth was sent at age four to the court of Thuringia (in modern-day Germany) to be raised as the future wife of the local ruler's son. At 14, she married Louis IV, the Landgrave of Thuringia. Their marriage was a happy one, and they had three children. Despite her royal status, Elizabeth was known for her piety and commitment to helping the needy, often using her court's resources to feed the hungry and care for the sick, even against the disapproval of other court members.
In 1227, at the age of 20, Elizabeth's life changed dramatically when Louis died of a plague while on a Crusade. Grief-stricken, she vowed never to remarry and sought a life of poverty and service. Louis's family, considering her charitable activities a squandering of the royal treasury, mistreated her and forced her and her children out of the palace.
Born a princess to King Andrew II of Hungary, Elizabeth was sent at age four to the court of Thuringia (in modern-day Germany) to be raised as the future wife of the local ruler's son. At 14, she married Louis IV, the Landgrave of Thuringia. Their marriage was a happy one, and they had three children. Despite her royal status, Elizabeth was known for her piety and commitment to helping the needy, often using her court's resources to feed the hungry and care for the sick, even against the disapproval of other court members.
In 1227, at the age of 20, Elizabeth's life changed dramatically when Louis died of a plague while on a Crusade. Grief-stricken, she vowed never to remarry and sought a life of poverty and service. Louis's family, considering her charitable activities a squandering of the royal treasury, mistreated her and forced her and her children out of the palace.
After regaining her dowry, Elizabeth used the money to build a hospital in Marburg in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. In 1228, she joined the Secular Franciscan Order, a lay order dedicated to poverty and service. She spent her remaining few years living in a simple hut, personally tending to the most severely ill until her own health declined.
Elizabeth died in 1231 at the young age of 24. Her profound holiness and dedication to Christian charity led to her canonization by Pope Gregory IX only four years later, in 1235. She is remembered for her devotion to God and the marginalized, and is the patron saint of Catholic charities, hospitals, nurses, and the homeless.
One of the most famous legends associated with her is the "miracle of the roses," where loaves of bread she was secretly carrying to the poor were miraculously turned into roses when confronted by her husband or his family members.
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