Mary's Castle Library

 THE CATHOLIC FEAST 

DATE: JULY 04

NAME: 

SAINT ELIZABETH

OF PORTUGAL

 

PATRONAGE

●Peace ●against jealousy ●brides ●charitable societies and charity workers ●difficult marriages ●victims of adultery

●invoked in time of war ●victims of unfaithfulness ●widows ●falsely accused people ●queens

HER LIFE PROFILE 

Saint Elizabeth of Portugal was born in 1271 into the royal house of Aragon, Elizabeth was the daughter of Infante Peter (later King Peter III) and his wife Constance of Sicily and the sister of three kings: Alfonso II and James II of Aragon and Frederick III of Sicily.

 

As a young girl, Elizabeth learned self-discipline and acquired a taste for spirituality, she showed an early enthusiasm for her faith. She said the full Divine Office daily, fasted and did other penance, as well as attended twice-daily choral Masses

 

At only 12, she was married to Denis, the king of Portugal. She was a devoted wife, attended daily Mass, and looked for any and every opportunity to serve and help strangers, immigrants, the poor, and the sick.

 

Her virtue served her well during her adult years, when she became a peacemaker in her family and among the royal leaders of her day. She brought about peace between her son and her husband; between the king and his cousin who claimed the crown; 

and between her son, when he became the king of Portugal, 

and his son-in-law, the king of Castile. 

 

Saint Elizabeth lived eleven more years. She joined the Franciscan Third Order and performed loving acts of charity and penance.

She died on July 4, 1336. She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Urban VIII in 1626.

 

PRAYER

Father of peace and love, You gave Saint Elizabeth of Portugal  the gift of reconciling enemies. 

By the help of her prayers give us the courage to work for peace among men, that we may be called the sons of God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, 

Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

SAINT ELIZABETH

OF PORTUGAL, 

PRAY FOR US. AMEN!