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Elizabeth
was born in Hungary in the thirteenth century. She was the daughter
of King Alexander II and, at the age of four, was betrothed
to Ludwig of Thuringa. The princess alienated herself from the
royal court by her preoccupation with tending to the sick and
poor and by her generous acts of charity. After her husband’s
death she was ousted from her royal position by her cruel brother-in-law,
who, incidentally, poisoned her only son after her death. She
fell under the influence of Conrad of Marbug who physically
and mentally abused her for the rest of her life. She was completely
under Conrad’s control which led to gossip as to the nature
of their relationship. His cruelty to her seemed to explain
her untimely death at the age of twenty-six. At her funeral
Conrad began his rigorous campaign to have her canonized while,
at the same time, religious fanatics, seeking relics, invaded
her coffin and cut off her hair and nipples. She was once caught
stealing bread to give to the poor and the bread miraculously
turned into roses which explains her patronage of Bakers. Elizabeth
is also the patron of countesses, death of children, the falsely
accused, the homeless, nurses, widows and young brides; and
she’s invoked against the plague. Her feast day is November
17. |
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| St.
Elizabeth
of Hungary
Patron St. of
Bakers |
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