“The Charity of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary,” painted by Edmund Leighton, circa 1895. / Credit: Edmund Leighton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
CNA Staff, Nov 17, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
OnNov.17,theCatholicChurchcelebratesthelifeandexampleofSt.ElizabethofHungary,amedievalnoblewomanwhorespondedtopersonaltragedybyembracingSt.Francis’idealsofpovertyandservice.ApatronofsecularFranciscans,sheisespeciallybelovedtoGermansaswellasthefaithfulofhernativeHungary.
AsthedaughteroftheHungarianKingAndrewII,Elizabethhadtheresponsibilitiesofroyaltythrustuponheralmostassoonashershortlifebeganin1207.Whileshewasstillveryyoung,herfatherarrangedforhertobemarriedtoaGermannobleman,LudwigofThuringia.
TheplanforcedElizabethtoseparatefromherparentswhilestillachild.AddingtothissorrowwasthemurderofElizabeth’smother,Gertrude,in1213,whichhistoryascribestoaconflictbetweenherownGermanpeopleandtheHungariannobles.Elizabethtookasolemnviewoflifeanddeathfromthatpointonandfoundconsolationinprayer.Bothtendenciesdrewsomeirefromherroyalpeers.
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