The Religious Traditions of St. Birgitta

Mystic, visionary and theologian, St. Birgitta's upbringing and life experiences in the 14^th Century laid the groundwork for her religious profession. Throughout her life, she received many visions of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints through a method of prayer called affective piety. She compiled them into compelling and powerful devotionals that were spread throughout much of Christendom. Her visions influenced many in the Church and they helped people understand the faith better. One part of the faith that she encouraged better understanding in was the role of the Virgin Mary. In some of her visions, she recounted the events and sufferings of both Mary and Jesus; moreover, she emphasized the mother-son relationship and focused on the role of Mary as Co-redemtrix, which accentuated her collateral suffering. Notwithstanding, Birgitta was not interested in writing a biography about Mary; she simply wanted others to understand her in the context of salvation history.

St. Birgitta of Sweden, one of the most revered and celebrated Saints of the Northern Kingdom, was an influential woman, who was born into a devout and affluent family in the year 1303 AD (New Advent). She was one of seven siblings, of which only two others reached maturity. Her father, Birger Persson, a lagman in Uppland, and her mother, Ingeborg Bengtsdotter of the Folkkunga line, raised her in the fear and admonition of the Lord. They instilled in her a heart to follow after the things of God (Morris, 35).