Nov 17: St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Princess, the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary. Great-aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal. She married Prince Louis of Thuringa at age 13. Built a hospital at the foot of the mountain on which her castle stood; tended to the sick herself. Her family and courtiers opposed this, but she insisted she could only follow Christ's teachings, not theirs. Once when she was taking food to the poor and sick, Prince Louis stopped her and looked under her mantle to see what she was carrying; the food had been miraculously changed to roses. Upon Louis' death, Elizabeth sold all that she had, and worked to support her four children. Her gifts of bread to the poor, and of a large gift of grain to a famine stricken Germany, led to her patronage of bakers and related fields.

Born
1207 at Presburg, Hungary

Died
1231 at Marburg of natural causes; her relics, including her skull wearing a gold crown she had worn in life, are preserved at the convent of Saint Elizabeth in Vienna, Austria



Litany to St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
have mercy on us.

Response: pray for us.

Holy Mary, Mother of Mercy,
Holy Elizabeth, mother of the poor,
Saint Elizabeth, who didst fear God from thy heart,
Saint Elizabeth, most fervent in devotion,
Saint Elizabeth, devout and beloved disciple of Jesus,
Saint Elizabeth, imitator of blessed Francis,
Saint Elizabeth, of noblest faith and birth,
Saint Elizabeth, devoted to all pious offices,
Saint Elizabeth, whose nights were spent in prayer and contemplation,
Saint Elizabeth, who was consoled with heavenly visions,
Saint Elizabeth, beloved of God and man,
Saint Elizabeth, full of contempt of this world,
Saint Elizabeth, example of poverty, chastity, and obedience,
Saint Elizabeth, solace of your husband,
Saint Elizabeth, mirror of widows,
Saint Elizabeth, holocaust of penance and humility,
Saint Elizabeth, admirable preacher of meekness,
Saint Elizabeth, despiser of the luxuries of the regal house,
Saint Elizabeth, lover of the Cross of Christ,
Saint Elizabeth, light of all pious women,
Saint Elizabeth, nourisher of the orphans,
Saint Elizabeth, always intent on works of mercy,
Saint Elizabeth, consoler of all sorrows,
Saint Elizabeth, teacher of the poor,
Saint Elizabeth, seeker of contumely and affronts,
Saint Elizabeth, distributor of thy riches to thy poor neighbors,
Saint Elizabeth, patient in adversity,
Saint Elizabeth, maker of garments for the poor,
Saint Elizabeth, hospitable receiver of pilgrims and the sick,
Saint Elizabeth, succor of the needy,
Saint Elizabeth, formidable to demons,
Saint Elizabeth, example of all spiritual perfection,
Saint Elizabeth, repressor of all vain and dissolute conversation,
Saint Elizabeth, cheered by angelic choirs in thy last agony,
Saint Elizabeth, miraculous in life,
Saint Elizabeth, helper of our devotions,
Saint Elizabeth, our sweetest patron,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Pray for us, blessed Elizabeth, R.That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

Enlighten, O God of compassion, the hearts of Thy faithful servants, and through the glorious prayers of blessed Elizabeth, make us to despise the pleasing things of this world and ever to delight in the consolations of Heaven, through Christ Our Lord.
R.Amen.

O God of tender mercies, pour forth Thy light over the hearts of Thy faithful people, and graciously listening to the glorious prayers of blessed Elizabeth, make us to think little of worldly proseperity and to be ever gladdened by heavenly consolation, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end.
R. Amen.





She is one of the patron saints for nurses and nursing home...both of which are close to my heart as a RN in a nursing home.