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Elizabeth
was born in 1271. She was daughter of Pedro III, of Arragon, being named
after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. At twelve years of age she was
given in marriage to Denis, King of Portugal, and from a holy child became a
saintly wife. She heard Mass and recited the Divine Office daily, but
her devotions were arranged with such prudence that they interfered with no
duty of her state. She prepared for her frequent communions by severe
austerities, fasting thrice a week, and by heroic works of charity. She
was several times called on to make peace between her husband and her son Alphonso,
who had taken up arms against him. Her husband tried her much, both by
his unfounded jealousy and by his infidelity to herself.
A slander
affecting Elizabeth and one of her pages made the king determine to slay the
youth and he told a lime-burner to cast into his kiln the first page who should
arrive with a royal message. On the day fixed the page was sent; but
the boy, who was in the habit of hearing Mass daily, stopped on his way to do
so. The king, in suspense, sent a second page, the very originator of
the calumny, who, coming first to the kiln, was at once cast into the furnace
and burned. Shortly after, the first page arrived from the church, and
took back to the king the lime-burner’s reply that his orders had been
fulfilled. Thus hearing Mass saved the page’s life and proved the
queen’s innocence. Her patience, and the wonderful sweetness with
which she even cherished the children of her rivals, completely won the king
from his evil ways, and he became a devoted husband and a truly Christian king.
She built
many charitable institutions and religious houses, among others a convent of
Poor Clares. After her husband’s death, she wished to enter their
Order; but being dissauded by her people who could not do without her, she took
the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, and spent the rest of her life
in redoubled austerities and almsgiving.
She died
at the age of sixty-five, while in the act of making peace between her children.
Reflection – In the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, St.
Elizabeth daily found strength to bear with sweetness suspicion, and cruelty;
and by that same Holy Sacrifice her innocence was proved.
Related Link:
Epistle and Gospel for July 8
Taken from Lives of the Saints.
The Saints of the Week Archives
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