St. Elizabeth

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, born on July 7, 1207, to King Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania, was a princess renowned for her charitable works. At the age of four, she was sent to the court of Thuringia to be raised and betrothed to Louis IV, whom she married in 1221 at the age of fourteen. The marriage was happy, and Elizabeth became the landgravine of Thuringia. After Louis's death in 1227 during the Crusades, Elizabeth's life took a dramatic turn. She dedicated herself to caring for the poor and sick, joining the Third Order of St. Francis in 1228. Using her dowry, she founded a hospital in Marburg, where she personally attended to the ill. Her devotion to charity and her faith made her a symbol of Christian virtue. Elizabeth passed away on November 17, 1231, at the age of 24. Her canonization occurred on May 25, 1235, by Pope Gregory IX, solidifying her legacy as a patron saint of charities, hospitals, and the poor. Her feast day is celebrated on November 17, and her shrine in Marburg became a major pilgrimage site. Elizabeth's life remains a testament to her unwavering commitment to serving others, embodying the values of love and selflessness that define her enduring legacy.