Birgitta of Sweden – (1303-1373)
Introduction
For many months now we have been looking at the lives of female saints during the middle ages. There are hundreds of great stories, but we have just focused on a few. From Genovefa (423 – 502) through Jadwiga “King of Poland” (1373-1399), we have discovered that there were queens, abbesses, nuns, Beguines, sisters in monasteries, writers, godly wives, mothers, empresses, social reformers, and many other women who served Christ. God called and gifted many women to serve Him during this very interesting time in history.
During this time most of Europe was basically Christian. In our last post we saw how the pious and faithful Jadwiga was instrumental in spreading the gospel to Lithuania. During the fourteenth century, the popes were still ruling from Avignon, France. Many devout Catholics believed that the pope should live in Rome. Part of the time, there were in fact two popes, one in Rome and one in Avignon. Our story this week is about a devout woman who worked to restore the papacy to Rome.
Birgitta of Sweden – Part 1 – Angel of Rome
When the popes had moved their seat to Avignon, France in the early fourteenth century, many Christians referred to it as “The Babylonian Captivity”. Most of the faithful believed that the right place for the papacy was in Rome, where the church had reportedly been founded by Saint Peter. But because of the influence of the powerful French kings, the popes had lived in Avignon since 1305.
If ever there had been a time for someone to speak out for church and government reform, it was during the fourteenth century. The church was immersed in corruption and facing a great schism that would last for decades. During this time, there seemed to be no monstrous activity on the part of the church leaders that was too low. Factions were all out to gain whatever power they could for themselves. And what’s more, there didn’t seem to be any men speaking out against the immorality and corruption during this time – only two women – Catherine of Siena and Birgitta of Sweden. Catherine, a very godly woman who would later be sainted, wrote volumes of denunciations against the church. She died, worn out, at age thirty-three in 1380. She did not get to witness any reforms in her day.[1]
The other female reformer at the time was Birgitta of Sweden. She bravely made her presence felt by the popes and political rulers with her sharp tongue and forceful, influential writing. Birgitta did not succeed in causing any reforms in the church either, but that did not stop her from boldly confronting the popes and cardinals.
Birgitta began her work of reform later in life after her husband died. First, God blessed her with a family and a somewhat normal life.
Birgitta Birgersdotter was born to an aristocratic family related to the kings of Sweden and therefore had some influence at court. Birgitta was married to Ulf Gudmarsson. She had eight children and served at court for several years. When the King of Sweden, Magnus Eriksson married Blanche of Namur, he asked his kinswoman, Birgitta to come and be Lady-in Waiting and to teach the young queen the language and customs of her new country. Thus, Birgitta provided a strong Christian influence at the Swedish court.
In 1341, Birgitta and her husband retired from public life, and they apparently discussed plans for both to enter monasteries. However, after Ulf died in about 1344, Birgitta decided to found her own religious order, called the “Order of the Holy Savior”, but more popularly known today as the Brigittines. Birgitta went to Rome around 1350 to spread the word of God and to obtain approval for her order. She was now a middle-aged widow.
While in Rome she wasted no time denouncing the corruption around her. She believed that a prerequisite for the reform of the church was for the pope to remain in the Italian capital. When Pope Urban announced that he wanted to live in Avignon, she compared him to the devil saying the pope was “appointed pastor and minister of Christ’s sheep.” But now, “the pope scatters them and lacerates them. He is worse than Lucifer, more unjust than Pilate, more cruel than Judas.” Pope Urban left for Avignon anyway with her prophetic words burning his ears. “Longing for ease and comfort,” she predicted, “he will be called to account to God.” In fact, Pope Urban died after a few weeks, frail and sick, at the papal palace in Avignon.
She later wrote to Pope Gregory telling him, “In thy curia arrogant pride rules, insatiable cupidity and execrable luxury. It is the very deepest gulf of horrible simony. Thou seizest and tearest from the Lord innumerable sheep.” She didn’t mince any words! She reminded him that God denounced the sins of pride, avarice, and concupiscence. She pointed out that the church rulers no longer looked like the Lord Jesus Christ who was poor and humble. Unfortunately, her words fell on deaf ears.
For the most part, Birgitta failed in her mission of reform. Her order was approved in 1370, but not according to the Rule she had written. The papacy did not return to Rome during her lifetime. There was no noticeable improvement in the lives of the leaders to whom she wrote. They were bent on continuing in their corrupt ways. They weren’t going to let a lowly peasant, especially a woman, tell them what to do.
But among the people of Rome and the clergy in that city, Birgitta was seen as a “friend of God”. She lived in relative poverty, caring for the poor with her own hands. Even those whom she castigated never questioned her sincerity. Her assistance of the poor and homeless became legendary in the city and earned her the title of “The Angel of Rome.”
Today, Birgitta is remembered for her work among the poor and her many religious writings. Her works are mostly made up of prophetic visions. Her writings are gathered in eight books where she calls for Christians to repent and reform. She believed that the church had strayed far away from the Biblical precepts of Christ and the apostles. Only through confession and obedience could Christians hope to receive God’s blessings. In the collection referred to as Revelations, she foreshadowed many of the grievances that Martin Luther would be concerned with 150 years later during the era of the Reformation.
Among her lasting accomplishments is the creation of the monastic order that still bears her name. The Society of St. Birgitta in Sweden is a laypersons’ organization that works among the poor after her example.
Birgitta had much influence in her day. She was a Swedish noblewoman with many friends in high places. Her words could not be lightly ignored. Though remaining a resident of Rome in her later life, she traveled widely, and many rulers, both on the throne of the church and the thrones of kingdoms, felt the impact of her words. God raised her up during a time of need to be a voice in the wilderness. She did not shirk her task.
There has been a resurgence of interest in her writings. In the next post – “Birgitta of Sweden – Part 2” – we will look at some of her prayers and songs that had been translated and copied throughout the 1400’s. They are still readily available today in translations that we can read and be blessed by.
[1] See posts on May 4, May 18, and June 8, 2021, for more information about Catherine of Siena.
