Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, born in 1271, was a woman of profound faith, compassion, and dedication to peace. Born into the royal family of Aragon, she was named after her great-aunt, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. At a young age, Elizabeth was married to King Denis of Portugal, with whom she had two children. Despite the challenges and conflicts within her marriage, Elizabeth remained committed to her faith and her duties as queen.
Throughout her life, Elizabeth was known for her deep piety and her commitment to acts of charity. She devoted herself to the care of the poor and sick, establishing hospitals, orphanages, and charitable institutions. Her personal life was marked by trials, including her husband’s infidelities and political disputes, but she remained a model of patience, forgiveness, and peacemaking.
Elizabeth’s greatest legacy is her role as a peacemaker. She often mediated disputes within her family and between warring factions in Portugal and neighboring kingdoms. Her efforts to broker peace earned her the title “the Peacemaker.” After the death of her husband, Elizabeth joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and continued her charitable works until her death in 1336.
Lesson 1: Commitment to Peace: Saint Elizabeth’s life teaches us the importance of being peacemakers in our daily lives. Whether it’s mediating family conflicts, resolving disputes at work, or fostering harmony in our communities, we are called to be instruments of peace. In a world often filled with strife and division, her example encourages us to actively seek reconciliation and understanding.
Lesson 2: Compassion in Action: Elizabeth’s dedication to charity reminds us of the importance of caring for those in need. Modern life often distracts us from seeing the needs of others, but her life challenges us to make time for acts of kindness and service. Volunteering, helping a neighbor, or supporting charitable causes are ways we can embody her spirit of compassion in today’s world.
Prayer to Saint Elizabeth of Portugal:
O Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, you who dedicated your life to peace and charity, pray for us, that we may follow your example in our own lives. Help us to be peacemakers, bringing reconciliation and harmony to our families, workplaces, and communities. Inspire us to act with compassion and to serve those in need, reflecting God’s love and mercy in all we do. Through your intercession, may we be strengthened to live out our faith with dedication and love. Amen.
Other Saints We Remember Today
Commemoration of All Holy Popes
Our Lady of Refuge
St. Theodore (310), Bishop, Martyr
photo: “Santa Isabel Reina de Portugal” by José Gil de Castro via Wikimedia Commons
