Monday 23 July
John 15:1-8 • St Bridget of Sweden (Patron of Europe) (Feast)
St Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303. She married and gave birth to eight children to whom she was a devoted mother. After her husband’s death she committed herself to the ascetic life as a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis and later founded a religious order. She wrote many works in which she related her mystical experiences. She died in Rome in 1373. St Bridget was declared by Pope John Paul II to be a Patron of Europe.
St Bridget wrote beautifully and movingly of her love for Jesus:
‘Blessed are you, my Lord Jesus Christ. You foretold your death and at the Last Supper you marvellously consecrated bread which became your precious body. And then you gave it to your apostles out of love as a memorial of your most holy passion. By washing their feet with your holy hands, you gave them a supreme example of your deep humility. Honour be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ. Fearing your passion and death, you poured forth blood from your innocent body like sweat...After you had been led to Caiaphas, you, the judge of all men, humbly allowed yourself to be handed over to the judgement of Pilate. Glory be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for the mockery you endured when you stood clothed in purple and wearing a crown of sharp thorns.
With utmost endurance you allowed vicious men to spit upon your glorious face, blindfold you and beat your cheek and neck with cruellest blows. Blessed may you be, my Lord Jesus Christ. You redeemed our souls with your precious blood and most holy death, and in your mercy you led them from exile back to eternal life. Glory be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ.
You allowed your blessed body to be taken down from the cross by your friends and laid in the arms of your most sorrowing mother, and you let her wrap your body in a shroud and bury it in a tomb to be guarded by soldiers. Blessed are you and praiseworthy Christ. You sit upon your throne in your kingdom of heaven, in the glory of your divinity, living in the most holy body you took from a virgin’s flesh. So you will appear on that last day to judge the souls of all the living and the dead.’
Galatians 2:19-20 • Psalm 33(34):2-11
John 15:1-8
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