Thursday – 16th Week in Ordinary Time – A – Optional Memorial of Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, peace be with you. That same peace that filled the heart of our beloved Saint Bridget of Sweden, whose memorial we have the option to celebrate today. And so I am choosing to reflect on this saint with you, especially in light of the readings that are given for her feast day.

Because in both Galatians 2:20 and in John 15, we hear about how important it is to remain in Christ. In Galatians 2:20, we hear these words: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." (Galatians 2:20) And this could indeed be the spiritual autobiography of Saint Bridget, who lived by the Spirit of Christ throughout her life.

In John 15, Jesus insists seven times on one word: "Remain." (John 15:4-10) Meaning abide, dwell, persevere in communion with Him. Saint Bridget's entire life as a wife, mother, and then widow, and foundress, but also as a pilgrim and mystic, was an exercise in remaining united to Christ through every stage of life. She did not become holy by escaping ordinary life, but by allowing Christ to transform every vocation she received.

My brothers and sisters, one point that many Catholics forget is that Saint Bridget was once married for almost 30 years. She and her husband Ulf, had eight children, one of whom became Saint Catherine of Sweden. Imagine that. A mother and daughter, both saints, in Heaven to be emulated, imitated for their great virtuous living and faith.

She served at court while raising a family. It's only after her husband's death that she embraces a more ascetical life. Now this is important because holiness is not reserved for cloisters. Bridget reminds us that sanctity begins in the home.

Saint Bridget found it to be her mission to reform the Church. She lived during one of the darkest moments in Church history. The papacy had been residing in Avignon instead of Rome. Through her visions, she repeatedly urged repentance, reform of clergy, conversion of rulers, and the Pope's return to Rome. This reminds us of Saint Catherine of Siena, who also did the same thing. Although not every historical detail can be directly attributed to her influence, she did become one of the strongest prophetic voices calling for the restoration of the papacy to Rome. She loved the Church enough to speak difficult truths, not as a rebel, but as a faithful daughter.

A lot of us have grown to love Saint Bridget of Sweden for the famous Fifteen Prayers. A few historical clarifications might be useful for us.

First of all, what are they? They're a series of meditations on Christ's Passion. Tradition holds that they arose from Bridget's profound personal contemplation of the sufferings of Christ during her mystical experiences. Now, whether every word comes directly from Bridget herself or developed through her spiritual tradition, that's a little bit debated by historians. But the prayers have been cherished for centuries.

They are a one-year devotion. Traditionally, the prayers are prayed every day for one year, together with 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys. The number 15 originally corresponded to the 15 traditional mysteries of the Rosary and invites daily meditation on the Passion.

I'd urge you to look for these prayers on this website where an audio version of the prayers will also be available. And so you can pray these prayers daily together from this website. The number 15 originally corresponded to the 15 traditional mysteries of the Rosary, and they invite us to daily meditation on the Passion.

Now, many editions include 21 extraordinary promises allegedly made by Christ himself to Saint Bridget. Yet it is important to note that these promises have never been formally approved as matters of faith by the Church. Yet Catholics are free to pray the prayers because they are Christ-centred and orthodox and very sublime indeed. But the promises should be received as part of private devotional tradition, not as guaranteed doctrines or dogmas of the faith. This distinction can help us to avoid superstition while preserving genuine devotion.

The prayers became popular because they invite the faithful to contemplate each wound of Christ, to remain close to his Passion, to grow in gratitude for his sacrifice, and to unite personal suffering with his Cross. In other words, they help a person live "I have been crucified with Christ." (Galatians 2:19-20)

The beautiful connection with today's Gospel is that Jesus says, "Remain in me." (John 15:4) How do we remain in Jesus? Saint Bridget would answer by prayer, by meditation on the Passion, by fidelity to our vocation, by courageously speaking the truth, and by allowing every trial to deepen our union with Christ.

Her famous prayers were never meant to be magical formulas. They were meant to help Christians remain attached to the vine by contemplating the love shown on Calvary.