Bridget was the daughter of princely and godly parents, and was born in Sweden. Her life was a very holy one. When she was still in the womb, her mother was for her sake saved from shipwreck. When she was ten years old, she heard a sermon upon the sufferings of the Lord, and the following night she saw Jesus on the Cross, covered with fresh Blood, and heard him speaking to her of his same sufferings. From that time forth the thought of them touched her so keenly, that she could never again call them to mind without weeping.
She was given in marriage to Ulpho, Prince of Nericia. She moved her husband to godly works, as well by her noble ensample as by her earnest words. She expended the most motherly care upon the up-bringing of her children. She opened an hospital, in which she carefully tended the poor, especially the sick, and would wash and kiss their feet. She made a pilgrimage with her husband to Compostella, to visit the grave of the holy Apostle James. On their way back Ulpho fell grievously ill at Arras, and St. Denys appeared in the night to Bridget, to tell her as well that her husband would be healed, as divers other things to come.
Her husband died, after having become a Cistercian monk. Bridget, having heard the voice of Christ in a dream, took upon herself an harder way of life. During her life God made known to her many hidden things. She founded the monastery of Vadstena, under the Rule of the Holy Saviour, a Rule which she had received from the Lord himself. By the command of God she went to Rome, where she stirred up many by her example to seek the love of God. Thence she went to Jerusalem, and then returned again to Rome. From this pilgrimage she caught a fever, of which she lay sick an whole year in sharp sufferings, and then, laden with good works, and after foretelling the day of her own death, she departed from earth to heaven. Her body was taken to the monastery of Vadstena. She was famous for miracles, and Boniface IX enrolled her name among those of the Saints.
She was given in marriage to Ulpho, Prince of Nericia. She moved her husband to godly works, as well by her noble ensample as by her earnest words. She expended the most motherly care upon the up-bringing of her children. She opened an hospital, in which she carefully tended the poor, especially the sick, and would wash and kiss their feet. She made a pilgrimage with her husband to Compostella, to visit the grave of the holy Apostle James. On their way back Ulpho fell grievously ill at Arras, and St. Denys appeared in the night to Bridget, to tell her as well that her husband would be healed, as divers other things to come.
Her husband died, after having become a Cistercian monk. Bridget, having heard the voice of Christ in a dream, took upon herself an harder way of life. During her life God made known to her many hidden things. She founded the monastery of Vadstena, under the Rule of the Holy Saviour, a Rule which she had received from the Lord himself. By the command of God she went to Rome, where she stirred up many by her example to seek the love of God. Thence she went to Jerusalem, and then returned again to Rome. From this pilgrimage she caught a fever, of which she lay sick an whole year in sharp sufferings, and then, laden with good works, and after foretelling the day of her own death, she departed from earth to heaven. Her body was taken to the monastery of Vadstena. She was famous for miracles, and Boniface IX enrolled her name among those of the Saints.
