The fourteenth century St Bridget of Sweden is one of the co-patronesses of Europe, along with St Catherine of Siena and St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).

Married, with eight children, she embraced the life of a penitent after her husband’s death. A group of people interested in a deeper devotional life formed round her, which eventually evolved into the separate branches of the Bridgettine Order. Her daughter was St Catherine of Sweden. In 1350 she went on pilgrimage to Rome, and never returned to her native Sweden. She died in 1373.

Here are the beginning and end of the Devotion known as the Fifteen Prayers of St Bridget: ‘O Jesus Christ! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan. … O Sweet Jesus! Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and may the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever. Amen.

May St Bridget pray for us, and may God bless you this day.