St. Birgitta of SwedenSt Birgitta of Sweden was one of the most charismatic figures in the late medieval mystical tradition. In Rome she succeeded in commanding prelates and popes, and throughout the courts of Europe she engaged in political secular intrigues; she married and produced eight children, yet became the only woman in the fourteenth century to be canonised; and in an age where new monastic foundations were proscribed, she founded an order of her own devising, primarily for women. This first modern biography presents an account of her extraordinary life and achievements, placing the saint in the context of the society from which she emerged, and showing how her public voice and reforming zeal were informed by a private spirituality at all stages of her life. Particular attention is given to her most lasting achievement, the monastic foundation which bears her name and has produced a network of communities throughout Europe, active to the present day. Dr BRIDGET MORRIS is senior lecturerin Scandinavian studies at the University of Hull. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
THE SWEDISH ROOTS | 13 |
The early fourteenth century | 29 |
CHAPTER | 35 |
WIDOWHOOD AT ALVASTRA | 64 |
THE ROME YEARS | 93 |
THE LAST PILGRIMAGE | 118 |
THE MAKING OF THE SAINT | 143 |
THE BIRGITTINE LEGACY | 160 |
Bibliography | 179 |
Glossary of names | 193 |
| 200 | |
Common terms and phrases
abbess Alphonso Alvastra autem Avignon became Bergh Birger Birger Persson Birgittine Birgittine Order bishop Book VII canonisation canonisation process cardinals chapter Christ Church Cistercian clerics Collijn confessor crusades Cyprus death devotion divine eciam eius Eklund Erik esset Finsta fourteenth century further Gdańsk Giovanna God's Holy honour illa Jaén Jönsson Katarina king Klockars knight later Latin Linköping Magister Magnus Eriksson Magnus Ladulås Margareta Clausdotters Maria marriage married Mary Mathias medieval middle ages miracles monastery monastic order monk Montefiascone mother mystical Naples Närke Niccolò Niccolò Orsini nuns Nyberg Östergötland papacy papal pilgrimage political pope prayers prophetic quam queen quia quod reform revelations role Rome Rule Sahlin saint secular Sermo Angelicus sicut Skänninge spiritual St Birgitta Stockholm suggested Sweden Swedish tells tion tradition tunc Ulf's Undhagen Uppland Uppsala Urban Vadstena Vättern Vauchez vero Virgin vision vita wife woman women worldly