Yesterday
we had our annual Fall Fest at my parish. For the past three years my nephew and I have
been attending and this year we went as Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint
Elizabeth of Hungary. I had promised
that I would share with you a bit about the saint I choose to be this
year... Saint Elizabeth of Hungary spent
her life in a castle surrounded by incredible wealth. She was born a princess and from the age of
four she was already engaged to Louis, a German prince. From the moment he saw
her he loved her and she in turn felt a deep connection to him as well. They were mere children (she four he ten)
when Elizabeth was sent from home to Germany and thus a pure friendship began
in which they called each other brother and sister. As they grew in age, their love for one
another also grew and she found refuge in him through most of her young life
because he encouraged her desire for holiness.
She loved spending hours in the castle chapel praying and giving to the
poor in abundance – which were not traits admired in a royal and often times
she was ridiculed by her subjects.
However, she continued to pursue holiness regardless of the resistance
and Louis always defended her holy ways.
She was deeply moved by a Franciscan Friar who visited the castle and
shared the testimony of Saint Francis of Assisi and she longed to live in
poverty and simplicity (eventually becoming a Third Order of Saint Francis).
Her meeting with this friar fueled her desire for prayer and she emptied the
castle store-houses of grain to give to the poor. While Louis was alive he defended Elizabeth
and her ways, but he died young in battle.
His death was a huge hit to Elizabeth for he was the one person on earth
that she loved above all, but God gave her the strength to survive him. Without his protection her subjects turned
against her and kicked her out of the castle and she had to beg for food and
was terribly humiliated by everyone.
Eventually her position was restored and though her subjects never grew
accustomed to her generosity she continued to give to the poor and strive for
simplicity and holiness. Four years
after her death she was canonized a saint.
I really
enjoyed getting to know Saint Elizabeth for many reasons first she was separated
from her family and country at the age of four and sent to live with her
betrothed in Germany; yet, she never complained rather found solace in God and
in prayer. As a child she would always
sneak to the chapel to pray and visit Jesus.
Though she was misunderstood by just about everyone in the castle
because of her strong faith- God provided a wonderful friend and husband to
protect and encourage her. The love
story between, Elizabeth and Louis is one of the most beautiful tales of love I
have read and though she lost him quite young she found refuge in God. Although she felt like she had died the day
she lost Louis, she clung to God fiercely and God gave her the will to go
on. It was truly an honor getting to be
her this Hallows Eve.
Saint Francis loves snakes!
On another
note, the Fall Fest was a great success at my parish. We had quite a lot of families come out to
support the event and a lot of little saints walked the parish grounds. We had a lovely pizza dinner provided, game
booths for the kids and Prehistoric Pets gave us a show with some creepy
crawlers. Over all it was a really fun
night! More parishes should start doing
similar events after all the Catholic Church is great at evangelizing pagan holidays
(smile).
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