Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/274

260 260 ST. ELISABETH ke2)t. Hermana appointed somo high- born children to be hor companions; one was his daughter Agnes, afterwards duchess of Austria; another was that Gnda who remained with Elisabeth until shortly before her death, and related many stories of the piety and humility of the young princess, who strove to do everything to the honour of God. She chose the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Evangelist as her special patrons, and never refused anything asked in the name of St. John. When she was nine years old, Her- mann, the father of her future husband, died. His widow, the Landgravine Sophia, and his daughter Agnes treated Elisa- beth with groat unkindness. As she grew older, they and many of the nobles urged Louis to send her back to her own coun- try, and to marry the daughter of some neighbouring king, who would be able to help them in times of danger. Louis, however, who was tenderly attached to Elisabeth, would not listen to these repre- sentations, and the marriage was cele- brated witii great pomp and with feasting, dancing, and tournaments, at the castle of the Wartburg, in 1220, tibe bride being then only thirteen years old and her husband twenty. Louis was in every way worthy of his young wife ; he was beloved alike by rich and poor, and by reason of the strict justice he adminis- tered, his country was law-abiding and peaceful. Elisabeth and he were a mutual help to each other in their daily life and on their heavenward way. When pos- sible, she accompanied him on his jour- neys to the different parts of his kingdom. When, however, this was not feasible, and Elisabeth was left at home, she laid aside her queenly robes and assumed the garb and veil of a widow, praying fer- vently for her huslwind's safety. She was allowed by Louis to take a vow of obedience to her confessor in all that was not contrary to marital authority. She fasted often, and always wore hair- cloth and the plainest dresses; it was only to please her husband, and when reasons of state required it, that she wore her royal robes. Kindness to the poor was one of the most distinctive traits of the epoch in which she lived. especially among the princes, and Elisa- beth, by the more than tender pity which she evinced towards the poor, the sick, and the unfortunate, gained the surname « Patron of the Poor." That she might share their poverty, and know what poor and scanty food was like, she often, while sitting at an abundant and well-served meal, ate nothing but a limited supply of vegetables prepared without sauce or condiment of any sort. It is recorded in one of the ancient chronicles that, entering the town one day, Elisabeth, who was richly dressed and crowned, met a crowd of poor people to whom she gave all the money she had. When all the silver had been distributed, she saw a poor man who had nothing, and to him she gave her embroidered glove. A young cavalier who was fol- lowing them bought the glove from the ^gg&i*9 cmd attached it to his helmet as a token of the Divine protection. From this moment he triumphed in every com- bat and tournament in which he engaged, both in Europe and in the Crusades. On his death-bed he declared that he attri- buted all his success and glory to the fact of always carrying with him this souvenir of St. Elisabeth. It was not, however, only with presents and money that she sought to alleviate the condition of the poor, but by going constantly amongst them and cheering them with loving words and acts. One day, laden as usual with bread, eggs, and meat, she went to see some of her people. She suddenly met her husband returning from hunting. Astonished to see her so laden, he asked what she was carrying, and at the same time opened the bundle. There he saw a mass of lovely red and white roses. This surprised him very much, as it was not the season for such flowers. When he saw that Elisabeth was troubled, he was about to reassure her with his caresses, but was arrested by seeing a large luminous crucifix ap- pearing on her head. He begged her to continue on her way, and returned him- self to the Wartburg, meditating on this manifestation of the Divine favour, and carrying with him one of the roses, which he kept as sacred all his life. Mean- time, the duchess distributed the flowers