Elizabeth Hesselblad
Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad was a Swedish Catholic religious sister and the founder of the Bridgettine Sisters. She is recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for her efforts in saving Jewish lives during World War II. Beatified by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Francis, she is remembered for her devotion to Christian unity and charitable works.
- Century
- 20th century
- Country Or Region
- Sweden
Key Facts
- ›Born on June 4, 1870, in Sweden to Lutheran parents, she converted to Catholicism in 1902.
- ›Immigrated to the United States in 1888, where she studied nursing and developed an interest in the Catholic faith.
- ›Founded a new, active branch of the Bridgettines known as the Bridgettine Sisters.
- ›Recognized as Righteous among the Nations for saving over sixty Jews during the Holocaust.
- ›Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000.
- ›Canonized by Pope Francis on June 5, 2016, at Saint Peter's Square.
Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad, the second Bridget
About Elizabeth Hesselblad
Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad (1870–1957) was a Swedish Catholic religious sister, founder of a new active branch of the Bridgettines, and recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for her humanitarian efforts during World War II.
Early Life and Conversion
Born Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad on June 4, 1870, in Fåglavik, Sweden, she was the fifth of thirteen children to Lutheran parents. Baptized into the Lutheran Church, she later immigrated to the United States in 1888, where she studied nursing at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Her work as a nurse brought her into contact with the Catholic faith of many of the poor she cared for. In 1896, she transitioned to private duty nursing and became a companion to the daughters of a wealthy Catholic family. Deep prayer and personal study led her to convert to Catholicism, receiving conditional baptism on August 15, 1902, from Jesuit priest Johann Georg Hagen in Washington, D.C. Hagen also became her spiritual director.
Religious Vocation and Founding the Bridgettine Sisters
After her conversion, Hesselblad made a pilgrimage to Rome, where she received the sacrament of Confirmation. A visit to the house of Bridget of Sweden deeply impressed her, and she felt called to dedicate her life to Christian unity. She was welcomed as a guest by Carmelite nuns in Rome in 1904, enduring a period of probation and a severe illness. She petitioned the Holy See to make religious vows under the Rule of the Order founded by St. Bridget. Receiving special permission from Pope Pius X in 1906, she assumed the Bridgettine habit and professed her vows.
Initially attempting to revive the established Bridgettine way of life, she found no volunteers. Adapting her vision to include the care of the sick, she was joined by three young women from England in 1911, establishing a new congregation. Their mission was to pray and work for the conversion of Scandinavian people. Hesselblad returned to Sweden in 1923, establishing a community there, and later obtained the House of Saint Bridget in Rome for her congregation in 1931. The order received canonical approval on July 7, 1940.
World War II and Legacy
Known as "the second Bridget," Hesselblad undertook many charitable works during and after World War II, assisting the poor and those persecuted by racial laws, and promoting peace. Notably, she saved the lives of over sixty Jews during the Holocaust. Her zeal also contributed to the conversion of a Baptist minister and fostered ties with the former Chief Rabbi of Rome.
Sainthood
The sainthood process began in Rome in 1987. Pope John Paul II declared her Venerable Servant of God on March 26, 1999, recognizing her heroic virtue. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000. Pope Francis approved the second miracle for her canonization on December 14, 2015, and she was canonized on June 5, 2016, at Saint Peter's Square.
Death
Elizabeth Hesselblad died in Rome on April 24, 1957, on Easter Wednesday. Her last words to her sisters were, "Go to Heaven with hands full of love and virtues."
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Elizabeth Hesselblad born and where?
Elizabeth Hesselblad was born on June 4, 1870, in Fåglavik, Västra Götaland County, Sweden.
What religious order did Elizabeth Hesselblad found?
She founded a new, active branch of the Bridgettines, known as the Bridgettine Sisters.
Why is Elizabeth Hesselblad recognized as Righteous Among the Nations?
She is recognized for her efforts during World War II in saving the lives of Jews during the Holocaust.
When was Elizabeth Hesselblad beatified and canonized?
She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000, and canonized by Pope Francis on June 5, 2016.
What was Elizabeth Hesselblad's early life like before her conversion?
Born to Lutheran parents, she worked to help her family and later immigrated to the United States where she studied nursing. Her work as a nurse brought her into contact with the Catholic faith.
Related Saints
Catherine of Vadstena
Catherine of Vadstena was a Swedish noblewoman and the daughter of Saint Bridget of Sweden. She is venerated as a saint in Lutheran and Catholic traditions for her devout life, her leadership of the Brigittine Order, and her efforts to promote her mother's canonization. She is remembered for her commitment to chastity and her role in establishing the Vadstena Abbey.
Bridget of Sweden
Bridget of Sweden was a Swedish Catholic mystic and the founder of the Bridgettines, a religious order. She is remembered for her "Celestial Revelations," which influenced art and theology, and for her role as one of the six patron saints of Europe. Her advocacy for Church reform and her influential visions, particularly of the Nativity, have shaped Christian devotion.
Richard Reynolds
Richard Reynolds was an English Bridgettine monk who became a martyr for his faith. He is remembered for his execution in London for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy to King Henry VIII. Reynolds was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.