St. Bridget (or Birgitta) of Sweden, on the death of Prince Ulfo, her husband, embraced a life of prayer and penance. Favored by Almighty God with wonderful visions and revelations, she founded the Religious Order of the Most Holy Savior. With her daughter St. Catherine, she made numerous pilgrimages to various sanctuaries in Italy and in Palestine.

The secrets of heaven were manifested to her in many revelations which are referred to in the Collect of the Mass. She exerted her influence in the cause of the Church’s reform in the courts, Episcopal palaces, the abbeys and even at the Holy See. She died at Rome, July 2, 1373. Her relics were brought back to Sweden by her daughter a year later. She was canonized by Boniface IX, 1391.

(Source: The New Roman Missal, Rev. F. X. Lasance)