My Love is Crucified

In our Bridgettine charism we can identify these four main aspects: 1. The primacy of God - the faith of Saint Birgitta is oriented to the Trinitarian God, everything is finalized to the Trinity, as a supreme and ultimate Good ; 2. The christocentrism of the Cross – Saint Birgitta shows an acute mystical intelligence of the mysteries of Christ, of the Humanity of the Word, of the Passion and Death of the Lord; 3. Extroverted ecclesiality  - active love for the Church and especially for the Petrine Magisterium; 4. Marian spirituality – “ is the cantus firmus of Birgitta’s writings ”, the centrality of Mary in Christianity is present throughout the mission of the Swedish Saint; The charism of Saint Birgitta is centred on the Humanity of the Word , which consumes the gift of Love towards humanity above all in the Calvary drama. For this reason, the Bridgittine motto Amor meus Crucifixus est best expresses the intensity and profound meaning of the charism of Saint Birgit...

Birgitta was born in Finsta in 1303. Her father Birger Persson was a member of the Royal Council. Her mother, Ingeborg, was related to the ruling dynasty. After the death of her mother, at the age of 12, Birgitta was entrusted to the upbringing of her aunt Karin Bengtsdotter, who one night found her niece kneeling near the bed. And she asked her, "What are you doing there?" Birgitta replied, "I thank him who always helps me." "Who is he?" "The man I saw on the cross." In 1316 her father married her to Ulf Gudmarson, five years older than her, a son of a lagman from Västergötland. Birgitta, who would have preferred to die a hundred times, but did not even want to enter the convent, bowed to her father's decision. The first part of her life was that of a secular woman who was happily married. Birgitta soon became known for her charitable work. On her estate she built a hospital for the poor and sick and took care of them herself. She also took ...

The Order of the Most Holy Savior was founded in the 14th century by the great Saint Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373). After many centuries, at the beginning of the 20th century it was refounded by another Swede, Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad. The life of Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad - a Swedish convert, Founder of our Order, who lived between 1870 and 1957, a continuation of the charism of the "great Mystic of the North", Saint Bridget of Sweden - was an extraordinary manifestation of the mystery of the Communion of Saints, a fascinating and admirable testimony of the breath of the Holy Spirit. Through prayer and suffering she contributed significantly to the progress of the faith and the increase of the intimate life of her spiritual daughters and people who knew her. Since her Lutheran family experience, she distinguished herself by a superior religious and moral sensitivity that was understood by those around her. Mother Elizabeth's holiness had a daily perspective and was a te...