Although she was a princess, St. Elizabeth of Hungary used her status to go to extraordinary lengths to relieve the suffering of the poor and sick. Her example inspired many other noblewomen and rulers to do the same

Elizabeth was born in 1207 to the royal family of Hungary, so, from her birth, was destined for a marriage that would seal a political alliance for Andrew, her father. Elizabeth was married to Louis of Thuringia at the age of 14. Although they were both quite young, Louis was a loving husband and the couple was very happy.

From very early on, Elizabeth demonstrated a firm commitment to a life of prayer and simplicity. Elizabeth rose in the middle of the night to pray, and was very generous with her resources even precious resources like her robes and royal ornamentation.

These activities caused some of Elizabeth's courtiers to criticize her piety, but Louis only supported her works of mercy. The most famous story about Elizabeth demonstrates Elizabeth's secret works of charity and Louis' whole-hearted support of her. One day, Elizabeth was carrying bread from the palace out to the poor of the town, when she happened to encounter Louis returning from the hunt with a large band of men. Louis' courtiers sneered at Elizabeth for stealing from the royal treasury, so Louis asked her to reveal what she was carrying in her cloak. When Elizabeth opened it, instead of bread, roses fell out, a clear sign in Louis' eyes that Elizabeth was doing the work of God.

In 1225, Louis and Elizabeth's kingdom was struck by famine, and Elizabeth responded by exhausting her own funds and her family’s store of corn in support of the hungry. For many years later, Elizabeth's subjects reported that during the famine Elizabeth fed more than 1,000 people every day. Elizabeth took special care of orphans, and was prudent with her support of the poor, employing anyone who could work.

The castle that Elizabeth lived in was built high on a steep outcropping, and the road to it was steep and rocky—the people there called the path the “knee-smasher.” The sick and elderly were not able to approach it and receive her help, so she built a hospital at the foot of the path, and she even worked there herself, feeding people, making beds, and attending to their needs with her own hands.

After six years of marriage, Louis left on a crusade to Jerusalem but died from the plague while on the journey. Elizabeth was inconsolable when she heard the news, repeating over and over: “He is dead. He is dead. It is to me as if the whole world died today.”

Louis’ death put Elizabeth's position in the court in a precarious position, but Elizabeth refused to remarry, and thus she fell from power. Her family made arrangements to support her and her children, and Elizabeth withdrew from the life of the nobility to pursue holiness as a chaste widow.

For some time, Elizabeth had a stern priest as a spiritual mentor, Conrad of Marburg. After Louis’ death, the priest was given much more power to direct Elizabeth’s life. He may have had good intentions, but he was very strict and deprived Elizabeth of anything that might bring her joy, even beating her for infringements.

She remained humble, and clung to her prayer and support of the poor. When she had the opportunity to return to the royal court of her parents, she refused, wanting to stay near her children, the grave of her husband, and the poor whom she loved. Though she had very little, she continued to give what she had to those who suffered—even fishing in streams to be able to sell her catch to support families who had nothing.

Elizabeth fell ill and died on November 17, 1231, at the age of 24. Her holiness was apparent to everyone, and she was proclaimed a saint just four years later. Her life had a great influence on other noble women who sought to imitate her holiness—St. Hedwig, St. Agnes of Bohemia and St. Judith, among others. Some relics of St. Elizabeth rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus. She is depicted in the Basilica in the stained glass windows above, depicting the famous legend of Louis and the roses.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, friend of the poor and peaceful ruler—pray for us!

To learn even more about Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, watch this video lecture from the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame.