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Sometimes it can be difficult to find a saint who was married, as the vast majority of canonized saints were priests or religious.
St. Bridget of Sweden stands out as a great example of a married saint who fully embraced her vocation as wife and mother.
Fruitful marriage
Pope Benedict XVI highlighted St. Bridget’s married life in a general audience he gave in 2010:
Her husband was called Ulf and he was Governor of an important district of the Kingdom of Sweden. The marriage lasted for 28 years, until Ulf’s death. Eight children were born, the second of whom, Karin (Catherine), is venerated as a saint. This is an eloquent sign of Bridget’s dedication to her children’s education.
Ulf was initially not as devout as his wife, but through her example, he was led closer to Christ:
Bridget, who was given spiritual guidance by a learned religious who initiated her into the study of the Scriptures, exercised a very positive influence on her family which, thanks to her presence, became a true “domestic church.” Together with her husband she adopted the Rule of the Franciscan Tertiaries. She generously practiced works of charity for the poor; she also founded a hospital. At his wife’s side Ulf’s character improved and he advanced in the Christian life.
Husbands are not always open to their wives’ influence, but Ulf was and this openness allowed them to experience a very fruitful marriage:
This first period of Bridget’s life helps us to appreciate what today we could describe as an authentic “conjugal spirituality”: together, Christian spouses can make a journey of holiness sustained by the grace of the sacrament of Marriage. It is often the woman, as happened in the life of St Bridget and Ulf, who with her religious sensitivity, delicacy and gentleness succeeds in persuading her husband to follow a path of faith
In this way St. Bridget is a great intercessor for any wife who is trying to bring along her husband to a deeper practice of the faith.
Her life shows that it is possible to be united in a devout marital spirituality, but it does require an openness of heart from both husband and wife.
Pope Benedict XVI ends his reflection on St. Bridget’s marital life with the following prayer for all married couples:
May the Lord’s Spirit still inspire holiness in Christian spouses today, to show the world the beauty of marriage lived in accordance with the Gospel values: love, tenderness, reciprocal help, fruitfulness in begetting and in raising children, openness and solidarity to the world and participation in the life of the Church.
And today we celebrate...