MEMORIAL OF SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT GREGORY THAUMATURGE, BISHOP, CONFESSOR – FEAST DAY ~ NOVEMBER 17TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious and Saint Gregory Thaumaturge, Bishop, confessor. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and we pray for all widows and widowers. We pray for all parents and children, for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases.
SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY, RELIGIOUS: St. Elizabeth (1207-1231) was the daughter of the Hungarian King Andrew II. She was born in 1207, either in Bratislava (Slovakia) or in Sárospatak (East of Hungary), and at the age of four, she was brought to the court of her future husband, Ludwig, landgrave of Thuringia. After her marriage in 1221, she very conscientiously fulfilled her duties both toward her husband and as a servant of God. During the night she would rise from bed and spend long periods in prayer. Zealously she performed all types of charitable acts; she put herself at the service of widows, orphans, the sick, the needy. During a famine she generously distributed all the grain from her stocks, cared for lepers in one of the hospitals she established, kissed their hands and feet. For the benefit of the indigent she provided suitable lodging. After the early death of her husband (in 1227 while on a crusade led by Emperor Frederick II), Elizabeth laid aside all royal dignities in order to serve God more freely. She put on simple clothing, became a tertiary of St. Francis, and showed great patience and humility. Nor was she spared intense suffering – the goods belonging to her as a widow were withheld, she was forced to leave Wartburg. In Eisenach no one dared receive her out of fear of her enemies. Upon much pleading a shepherd of the landgrave permitted her to use an abandoned pig sty. No one was allowed to visit or aid her; with her three children, of whom the youngest was not more than a few months old, she was forced to wander about in the winter’s cold.
In 1228 she took the veil of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis at Marburg and there built a hospital with some property still belonging to her. She retained for herself only a small mud house. All her strength and care were now devoted to the poor and the sick, while she obtained the few things she needed by spinning. Working continually with the severely ill, Elizabeth became sick herself. Young in years but rich in good works, she slept in the Lord on November 17,1231, only twenty-four years old. After she died, miraculous healings soon began to occur at her grave near the hospital, and she was declared a saint only four years later. She was canonized in 1235 by Pope Gregory IX. Pope Benedict XVI has praised her as a “model for those in authority,” noting the continuity between her personal love for God, and her public work on behalf of the poor and sick. She’s Patron Saint of Bakers; beggars; brides; Catholic charities; charitable societies; charitable workers; charities; countesses; death of children; exiles; falsely accused people; Franciscan Third Order; hoboes; homeless people; hospitals; in-law problems; lacemakers; lace workers; nursing homes; nursing services; people in exile; people ridiculed for their piety; Sisters of Mercy; tertiaries; Teutonic Knights; toothache; tramps; widows.
PRAYER: God, You taught St. Elizabeth to recognize and serve Christ in the poor. Grant, through her intercession, that we may always lovingly serve the needy and the oppressed. Amen 🙏
SAINT GREGORY THAUMATURGE, BISHOP, CONFESSOR: St Gregory (c 213-c 270) “the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor, Miracle-worker, Writer, Preacher – also known as Gregory of Neocaesarea, Gregory the Wonder-Worker, Theodorus. He was a Christian bishop of the 3rd century. He was born in c 213 at Neocaesarea, Pontus, Asia Minor (in modern Turkey) to a wealthy pagan family. Originally he was known as Theodore (“gift of God”). He was introduced to the Christian religion at the age of fourteen, after the death of his father. St Gregory of Nyssa (c 335-c 395) wrote the Life and Panegyric of Gregory Thaumaturge drawing on family traditions and a knowledge of the neighbourhood, the facts for which, were supplied to the writer by his grandmother, St Macrina the Elder (c 270-c 340). According to the writings of St. Gregory of Nyssa about St. Gregory Thaumaturge, the Wonder-Worker was the first person known to receive a vision of the Mother of God. The Virgin and Saint John the Baptist appeared to him in a vision and gave him what became a statement of doctrine on the Trinity. St. Gregory had the power of healing by laying on of his hands. Often the healing was so powerful that the patient was cured of his illness, and became a fervent convert on the spot.
It is believed that St. Gregory died in the year c 270, on 17 of November at Pontus, Asia Minor (in modern Turkey) of natural causes. The death of St Gregory took place in the seventieth year of his age and the 270th of the Christian Era. Shortly before closing his eyes, he asked if there were yet some in the city who had not received holy baptism. ” Seventeen,” was the answer. The Saint, already in his agony, raised his eyes to heaven and said: ” Thanks and praise to God! When I took possession of my See, I found only seventeen Christians. May God preserve all in the true faith, and give to all infidels, in the whole world, the light of the Saviour’s divine Word!” St Gregory’s remains were translated to Calabria, Italy, where many miracles once more occurred and continue so, as St Gregory intercedes for impossible causes. He’s Patron Saint against earthquakes, desperate causes, floods, forgotten causes, impossible causes, lost causes.
Saint Gregory Thaumaturge, Bishop, Confessor ~ Pray for us 🙏
Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and Saint Gregory Thaumaturge ~ Pray for us 🙏