Today we remember Saint Elizabeth, one of the most well-known and beloved saints of the Middle Ages. He was born in Sárospatak, II. As a child of Hungarian King András (Aranybulla 1222) and Queen Gertrud. She was given in marriage to the Count of Thuringia, Lajos, at a very young age - at the age of four - and was brought up in Wartburg Castle, in a German environment. Her husband, who was seven years older than Erzsébet, really loved her and they had three children together.
The religious zeal of the Hungarian princess soon attracted the attention of the court. He was considered eccentric because of his devotion to God and helping the poor. He built a pilgrim's house and a hospital and cared for the fallen himself.
According to a legend, on one occasion when Lajos was away from the palace, Elizabeth laid a patient from the overcrowded hospital in Lajos' bed. The people of the court were offended by the act and told Lajos what had happened, who angrily went to his bedroom, and when he got to his bed he saw that not just anyone had taken his place, but Jesus Christ himself.
Disguised as a beggar, the Messiah was given the most prestigious place: the king's bed and Elizabeth's attention. After this event, Lajos was even more attached to his wife and supported her charitable actions.
After the unexpected death of Lajos, a difficult period awaited Erzsébét. She left the castle with her children and went from town to town to minister among the sick. He later moved to Marburg and entered the Franciscan monastery in 1228. He was only 24 when he died in 1231. Already in his lifetime, he was surrounded by legends and revered as a saint. The church included Elizabeth among the saints very early on, already in 1235.
One of the best-known stories related to Elizabeth is the so-called miracle of the rose.
On one occasion he took bread to the poor in his apron. Her husband stopped her and asked what she was carrying. Elizabeth answered that roses, and when she showed her apron, there were indeed roses in it. Based on this story, roses became the main iconographic attribute of St. Elizabeth in the depictions.
However, it is also worth taking a look at Europe, since in addition to the Elizabeth cult of Central European countries, we also know another Saint Elizabeth, who was a close relative of Elizabeth of Sárospatak.
Elizabeth of Aragon (1277 – 1336), patron saint of Coimbra, III. Daughter of King Peter of Aragon, II. Great-grandson of King András of Hungary, great-niece of St. Elizabeth of Árpád-házi. He was also named in honor of his aunt.
He did not know Hungarian, but his role model was his aunt, Szent Erzsébet from Árpád-házi. Both saints are depicted with roses, as a similar miracle happened to them.
In Portugal, Isabella was also called the "Angel of Peace" because she mediated the dispute between her husband and her son Alfonso.
The great-natured Dénes did not prove to be a good husband; he had several lovers and finally drove away his wife, whom he accused of taking her to Alfonz instead. Later, when he was ill, he called her back and cared for her husband until Elizabeth's death. After the king's death, he entered the Franciscan order and became famous for his charity. He sold his possessions and jewels and distributed the goods among the poor and monasteries.
When visiting Portugal, don't be surprised if you see a statue of a young female saint on one of the church altars - holding roses in her apron. No mistake, she is Saint Elizabeth of Coimbra. Let's be proud that all over Europe there are saints whose roots come from our land and who set an example of faith, commitment, and helping the poor.
Everything that guided St. Elizabeth's actions in the Middle Ages is still valid today: "what you did to one of the least of my brothers, you did to me." Matt. 25, 40
Source: Vasarnap.hu
Author: Gergő Bese
Image: Edmund Blair Leighton's painting "Saint Elizabeth of Árpád-házi distributing bread to the poor" is on display. Source: Wikipedia
