Saint for Today – St. Elizabeth of Portugal

St. Elizabeth of Portugal was born in 1271 and was named after her great-aunt, the great Elizabeth of Hungary, but is known in Portuguese history by the Spanish form of that name, Isabel. The daughter of Pedro III, King of Aragon, and Constantia, grandchild of Emperor Frederick II, she was educated very piously, and led a life of strict regularity and self-denial from her childhood: she said the full Divine Office daily, fasted and did other penances, and gave up amusement. Elizabeth was married very early to King Denis of Portugal, a poet, and known as Rei Lavrador, or the working king, from his hard work in his country’s service. His morals, however, were extremely bad, and the court to which his young wife was exposed was extremely corrupt. Nevertheless, Elizabeth quietly pursued the regular religious practices of her maidenhood, whilst doing her best to win her husband’s affections by gentleness and extraordinary forbearance. She was devoted to the poor and sick, and gave every moment she could spare to helping them, even pressing her court ladies into their service. Naturally, such a life was a reproach to many around her, and caused ill will in some quarters. A popular story is told of how her husband’s jealousy was roused by an evil-speaking page; of how he condemned the queen’s supposed guilty accomplice to a cruel death; and was finally convinced of her innocence by the strange accidental substitution of her accuser for the intended victim. Denis does not appear to have reformed in morals till late in life, Elizabeth won him to repentance by her prayers and unfailing sweetness. They had two children, a daughter Constantia and a son Alfonso. The latter so greatly resented the favors shown to the king’s illegitimate sons that he rebelled, and in 1323 war was declared between him and his father.

Always the peacemaker, St. Elizabeth traveled in person, riding into the midst of the opposing armies. By doing so she reconciled her husband and son. Her husband Denis died in 1325, his son succeeding him as Alfonso IV. With her son on the throne and her duties as queen behind her, St. Elizabeth retired to a convent of Poor Clares which she had founded at Coimbra. There she took the Franciscan Tertiary habit, wishing to devote the rest of her life to the poor and sick in obscurity. But she was called forth to act once more as peacemaker. In 1336 Affonso IV marched his troops against the King of Castile, to whom he had married his daughter Maria, and who had neglected and ill-treated her. In spite of age and weakness, the holy queen dowager insisted on hurrying to Estremoz, where the two king’s armies were drawn up. She again stopped the fighting and caused terms of peace to be arranged.

However, the exertion brought on her final illness; and as soon as her mission was fulfilled she died of a fever on July 4, 1336, full of heavenly joy, and exhorting her son to the love of holiness and peace. She was buried at Coimbra, and miracles followed her death. She was canonized by

Pope Urban VIII in 1625, and her feast is kept on July 8 in the liturgical calendar.

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia

Feast of Saint Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal and Widow

Semi-Double / White Vestments – Missa ‘Cognovi’

Epistle Lesson from the book of Proverbs Prov 31:10-31

Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. And she hath risen in the night, and given prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens. She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hand she hath planted a vineyard. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen and purple is her covering. Her husband is honorable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. She made fine linen and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. Fa- vour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.

Gospel - Matt 13:44-52

At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; he who finds it hides it, and in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea that gathered in fish of every kind. When it was filled, they hauled it out, and sitting down on the beach, they gathered the good fish into vessels, but threw away the bad. So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to Him, Yes. And He said to them, So then, every Scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings forth from his storeroom things new and old. Laus tibi Christe