Elizabeth was born on July 7, 1207 to the Hungarian King Andrew II and Gertrude of Merania. From early on she had the royal responsibilities pressed upon her. At a very early age, she was arranged to be married to a German nobleman and was therefore sent away at the age of 4 for education at the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia.
Her mother was murdered because of conflict between the Germans and Hungarian nobles when she was just 6 years old. She matured beyond her years and sought peace with prayer.
Happiness returned to Elizabeth when her arranged marriage took place. She was just 14 years old and loved Ludwig IV who was 21 and had been ruler since the age of 16. They had 3 children together, 2 of which became members of nobility, and the 3rd entered the religious life, becoming abbess of a German convent.
She had lived a life full of prayer and service to the poor which Ludwig supported as he had become ruler of Thuringia. She began to lead an austere and simple life even though she was a part of the royal court. She practiced penance and devoted herself to acts of charity, regardless of her position. She used her position to advance her mission. The castle stores were used to feed hundreds, pay debts, and provide clothing.
At the age of 16, Franciscan friars arrived in Thuringia and taught her all about Francis of Assisi’s ideals. She decided to mirror her life in accordance to his. She wore simple clothing and set aside time every day to take bread to hundreds of poor people in her land.
Several years later, when disease, famine, and floods struck the area, she took to caring for the victims and the poor. She sold her personal possessions, jewels, and royal garments as additional funds to have a hospital built. It provided for almost a thousand poor people on a daily basis.
Her life was full of love and faith but tragedy struck when King Ludwig passed away from illness in 1227. She was devastated and vowed to never remarry. She lived her life similar to a nun, despite great pressure from her relatives.
She took vows of celibacy and complete obedience to her strict and harsh spiritual director. This even included sending away her children.
At the age of 21, she joined the Third Order of Saint Frances and founded a hospital in his honor where she attended to the ill.
She died at the age of 24 of poor health on November 17, 1231 in Marburg, Hesse.
Pope Gregory IX canonized her on May 27, 1235, only 4 years from her death.
She is the patron saint of bakers, beggars, brides, charities, countesses, death of children, homeless, nursing, people ridiculed for piety, Sisters of Mercy, and tertiaries.
Her feast day is November 17.
For God’s Glory.
