| Unity is our mission | |
| The Order of the Most Holy Saviour of St. Bridget, founded in the 14th
century, sprouted afresh at the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to the
work of the Servant of God, Mother Elisabetta Hassemblad. The main goal of
the Order's spiritual intentions and apostolic Christians, in accord with
the principles of the ecumenism set down by the Second Vatican Council, as a
response to the prayer that Jesus made with a broken heart: "Father, may
they all be one". "Hasten, Oh Lord, the unity of Christians: hear the prayers of your humble Bridgettine daughters who have consecrated themselves to you for these intentions" (M. Elisabetta, 1930). Unity as the distinct goal of the Order, shapes the prayer intentions, particularly in Community prayer, and the works of penitence. By the complete offering of their lives to God, the Bridgettine Sisters intend to effect: Reparation for the distance that people or groups have put between themselves and the one fold of Christ; An end to the tragic divisions among Christians, which is a grave obstacle to the Gospel's credibility; Conversion to the true faith pose people and social groups who are not yet Christians or christianized; An increase and consolidation of the priestly ministry and consecrated life in the service of unity. | |
| The Work of the Bridgettines | |
| The work for Christian unity is being constantly erected on the
foundations of the ecumenical reflection that is synthesized in the study,
seminars and conventions; in ecumenical hospitality; and in spirituality
encounters, especially at youth level. It was for this reason that the Bridgettine Sisters founded Centers of spirituality and ecumenical activity all over the world. These Centers play host to International Study Encounters, Conferences and Training Conventions on the subjects of Bridget and her message, and the interesting perspectives of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue between the Churches. Furthermore, in developing countries (India, Mexico), the Bridgettine Sisters combine perfectly their evangelical activity with the promotion of human values, especially in favor of women and young people in need. Nor have they been slow (as has been seen in India) to adopt whole villages and to begin in them a process of social, economic, cultural and religious development, while fully respecting local traditions and customs. Their ministry of hospitality in western countries has as its main scope the service of ecumenism, and it consists of the exercise of charity and of a display of human warmth towards all those who, though they may be rich in terms of material goods, live in profound inner poverty and are desperately seeking new horizons of meaning in life. | |
| Saint Bridget, Patron Saint of Unity | |
| "The missionary zeal which inspired St. Bridget to journey from the north of Europe to the south, makes her an example for us to imitate, especially in the new evangelization of this continent. Saint Bridget of Sweden is, in fact, a truly European Saint!". It was with these words that John Paul II addressed his Apostolic Letter of 8 September 1991 to the Bridgettine Sisters, on the occasion of the 6th Centenary of the Canonization of this Swedish saint who, some years previously, had been described by Paul VI as a symbol of the unity and the catholicity of the Church! |
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She lived in the Middle Ages (1303-1373) which were marked by division and strife, by endless fratricidal war, economic and political instability, religious disunity and the threat of schisms in that same Catholic Church. By her very nature, but even more by her vocation. Bridget was a spirit of reconciliation and peace. Her family background, her residence at the royal court of Sweden as an adviser in the King's government and her travels far and wide through the nations of Europe formed her knowledge of the problems of the diplomacy, politics and the situation in Europe and the problems of the Church, such that she did everything within her power to bring the Pope back from Avignon to the See of Rome. She worked tirelessly for peace in
Sweden, France, Italy and England, which were torn apart by factions,
revolts and war. She vas not slow to fulfill her duties to kings, political
leaders, prelates and the people. It is very difficult to name a place that
has not felt the benefit of this woman's work for peace and religious
reform. After more than six centuries St. Bridget remains a symbol of unity
and communion and a sign of hope. | |
| Elisabetta Hesselblad: A life devoted to unity | |
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Born in Sweden of Lutheran faith, she emigrated to America
at the age of 18 in order to help her family's economic problems. Through
her contact with suffering and illness ant the Roosevelt hospital where she
worked as a nurse, her human and spiritual sensitivity was deepened and
conformed to that of her compatriot Bridget, as spiritually based on love
for the Crucified One as the true path to self - realization and unity of
mankind. |
| Having converted to the Catholic faith on 15 August 1902, and after surmounting many obstacles and serious illnesses, she took the Bridgettine habit at the Casa di S. Brigida in Rome, which was then occupied by Carmelite nuns. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, she founded the new branch of the Bridgettine tradition of contemplation, solemn liturgical celebration, and their apostolate and constant devotion to work for the unity of the Church. This new branch from the old Bridgettine lineage, was born on 8 September 1911 and was given definitive approval by the Holy See on 2 December 1940. This foundation of Mother Elisabetta, through whose veins coursed Bridget's blood, as she herself often asserted, has spread so much that today it is found in Europe (Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Poland, England, Switzerland, Italy), Asia (India) and America (Mexico, USA). On 5 July 1988 the cause for beatification the the Servant of God Mother Elisabetta, was presented at the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Roman Vicariate and she was beatified on April 2000. Mother Elisabetta, having died in Rome on 24 April 1957, left behind the reputation of being an exceptional woman, imbued with a spirit of humility, charity and great faith, an authentic witness to the values of the Gospel for our contemporary society. | |
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