Meet the Middle Ages
BackWhat God told Bridget
"Woman, hear me! I am your Lord and I want to speak to you." Birgitta saw and heard Christ many times. Even as a seven-year-old girl, she had had a vision in which she met the Virgin Mary who put a crown on her head. At the age of ten, she had a vision of the tormented and crucified Christ. These encounters were of course both extraordinary and terrifying for a child. Once, she had a horrifying vision of the Devil, who wanted to seize her with one hundred feet and one hundred clawed and crooked hands.
After her husband´s death in 1344, Birgitta had several revelations in which Christ addressed himself to her personally: "You will be my bride and my mouthpiece, you will see and hear holy matters and heavenly secrets", Christ told her.
What did these messages tell her? What did God mean? Birgitta often voiced an opinion on political matters. She told the Kings of England and France, who were at war, to make peace with each other. She opposed King Magnus ´ way of ruling Sweden, and supported an uprising against him. In Rome, she reacted strongly against the lives led by the clergy and the monks - she thought they had become feeble and worldly. Birgitta also worked hard to convince the Pope, who had moved to Avignon, to return to Rome. Birgitta often expressed her opinions on contemporary matters.
God encouraged Birgitta to found a religious order . It was mainly a nuns´ order, but it was for monks as well.
Initially, many people doubted that God really spoke to Birgitta. They thought she made the visions up herself. Gradually though, people of all classes started to notice what she had to say. Kings and princes listened to her as well. Birgitta ´s revelations were very much appreciated. They were taken down in writing and read in many countries. We can still read them today.
After her death, many people started to worship Birgitta. Sometimes miracles and wonders happened after praying to her; a seemingly dead girl came back to life, someone who was very ill regained health. Birgitta influenced many people, both during her life and after her death. She was quite an extraordinary woman.