Books About St. Elizabeth of Hungary

[HopefulHeart]

I am interested in learning more about St. Elizabeth of Hungary, my confirmation saint. My reasons for choosing her for confirmation were not especially profound. At the time, I wanted to avoid discerning a religious vocation, so I picked St. Elizabeth of Hungary because she was married.  And now here I am, discerning a religious vocation!

Do you have any recommendations for books about St. Elizabeth? I'd especially like to learn more about her spirituality.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Please tell me that you have not taken up St. Elizabeth's penitence of not washing. 

When Sister Mary Catharine has a moment to check in, she may have some suggestions. The Summit Dominicans honor St. Elizabeth of Hungary in a reverential (but lovingly ironic) way in their soap work room. However, I'm a poor excuse for a friend of the Community because I can't remember whether their soap work room is named after St. Elizabeth or is dedicated to her or has a plaque honoring her, etc. Sorry. 

Perhaps in heaven no one needs to wash, but since I find deep, hot baths with Summit Dominican soaps to be heavenly, I do hope there is warm water of some kind in heaven, whether we wash in it or not. The warm waters of the Caribbean are also heavenly, even if they are cooler than a bath.

I have mixed feelings about St. Elizabeth. The (Catholic) church where I was married was named after St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and I have posted how my marriage turned out. However, I comfort myself that we both meant well and fully intended to stay married (and at 26 were the oldest couple in our pre-cana class--scary thought, but this was a long time ago). Unfortunately, neither of us was who the other wanted/needed the other to be, and no one had told me that even if you truly love someone with your whole heart, that isn't enough reason to marry them. I'm picturing the church in my mind, and I feel very, very sad. I feel sometimes like I failed St. Elizabeth, and the priest who married us, even though it was my ex-husband who mandated the divorce. According to some, I should have gotten over this by now. Oh well, feelings aren't always rational.

Sorry for hijacking your thread. I'll quietly retreat......

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Okay, I looked it up. Wrong saint.   St. Margaret of Hungary (not Saint Elizabeth) is the patroness of the Seignadou Soap Department of the Summit Dominicans.

My apologies to you, to the Summit Dominicans for being a bad friend, and to Saint Elizabeth for spreading false rumors about her bathing habits (although she did lead a very penitential life). 

In Library School they taught us that if you want to be sure to give out correct information, don't rely on your memory if you're not positive, but LOOK IT UP. 

Of course, the off-topic information that I was married in a Catholic church dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary IS correct. Some things you don't forget.

(No clue why some of the text is grey and in a smaller font, something to do with the quote function, I think. 

Edited November 13, 2015 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[HopefulHeart]

Okay, I looked it up. Wrong saint.   St. Margaret of Hungary (not Saint Elizabeth) is the patroness of the Seignadou Soap Department of the Summit Dominicans.

My apologies to you, to the Summit Dominicans for being a bad friend, and to Saint Elizabeth for spreading false rumors about her bathing habits (although she did lead a very penitential life). 

 

No harm done. Your contributions are welcome. 

For the record, giving up bathing is not a penance to which I would be inclined.