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Description
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
© Cecilia Lawrence
January 27th 2016
8 x 10 inches
14 Hours
Acrylic & gold leaf on wood panel

“You acted bravely, and your heart has been strengthened
because you loved chastity.
Your name will be praised for ever.
Your prayers and generosity have been accepted in God's sight,
and because of them he has remembered you.”
- Responsory for the feast of St. Elizabeth

I just finished this commissioned icon for a client's fiance's birthday. I've been wanting to re-do my own Elizabeth of Hungary for a long while now, so I was happy to have the chance to paint another image of her.

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (July 7th 1207 - November 17th 1231) was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary. She was born in Hungary and lived there until the age of four, when she was betrothed to Blessed Ludwig (Louis) of Thuringia. She was brought up by Ludwig's family in Thuringia and grew up alongside her future husband. Even as young children they had a great affection for each other. He would often call her "little sister" and she called him "big brother," and he came to her defense when his siblings or other their peers picked on her.

Elizabeth and Ludwig were married in Wartburg Castle in 1220 (Elizabeth was 14 at the time and Ludwig was 20). Their first child, Hermann, was born in May of 1222. His sister Sophie was born in 1224, and another sister named Gertrud was born in 1227. The new-found Franciscan Order had a large impact on St. Elizabeth's life. Inspired by their love for the poor, she became even more devoted to serving the poor by building hospitals and even ministering to the sick personally. She was often engaged in charitable endeavors and fed the hungry and sold many of her own possessions to feed and clothe the poor that came to her. Ludwig was very fond of his young wife, and even though his family often complained about her, he still defended her and her love of the poor.

There are two famous stories associated with St. Elizabeth of Hungary. One is called "the Miracle of the Roses" where, while St. Elizabeth was going out to give bread to the poor, either her husband Ludwig or his brother Heinrich approached her and asked her what she had under her cloak. Upon lifting the cloak, a shower of roses fell from her arms. Another story says that while Ludwig was out, St. Elizabeth was caring for a leper, and since all of the beds in her hospital were filled, she had the leper brought to her own room and put up on their bed. When Ludwig found out, at first he was indignant, but when he lifted the covers Almighty God opened the eyes of his soul, and instead of a leper he saw the figure of Christ crucified stretched upon the bed.

Ludwig promised the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II that he would join the Sixth Crusade. However, he only got as far as Otranto, Italy, when a plague broke out and he died from fever on September 11th, 1227 at the age of 27. In a delirium from the fever, he said that his room seemed to be filled with doves and he said: "I must fly away with these white doves." St. Elizabeth, when she heard the news that he was dead was completely devastated, saying, "He is dead, and now the whole world is dead to me too." His body was brought back to Germany and entombed at the Abbey of Reinhardsbrunn. Elizabeth was 20 at the time.

After Ludwig's death, his family turned on her. Ludwig's brother, Heinrich Raspe removed her children from the succession and became Landgrave of Thuringia. She went to live in Marburg and a priest named Konrad von Marburg became her confessor. It was at this time that she made solemn vows and became a Third Order Franciscan, devoting herself completely to the care of the poor. She died at the age of 24 at Marburg and was canonized four years later on May 28th, 1235.

"From this time onward Elizabeth’s goodness greatly increased. She was a lifelong friend of the poor and gave herself entirely to relieving the hungry. She ordered that one of her castles should be converted into a hospital in which she gathered many of the weak and feeble. She generously gave alms to all who were in need, not only in that place but in all the territories of her husband’s empire. She spent all her own revenue from her husband’s four principalities, and finally she sold her luxurious’ possessions and rich clothes for the sake of the poor.

Twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, Elizabeth went to visit the sick. She personally cared for those who were particularly repulsive; to some she gave food, to others clothing; some she carried on her own shoulders, and performed many other kindly services. Her husband, of happy memory, gladly approved of these charitable works. Finally, when her husband died, she sought the highest perfection; filled with tears, she implored me to let her beg for alms from door to door.

On Good Friday of that year, when the altars had been stripped, she laid her hands on the altar in a chapel in her own town, where she had established the Friars Minor, and before witnesses she voluntarily renounced all worldly display and everything that our Saviour in the gospel advises us to abandon. Even then she saw that she could still be distracted by the cares and worldly glory which had surrounded her while her husband was alive. Against my will she followed me to Marburg. Here in the town she built a hospice where she gathered together the weak and the feeble. There she attended the most wretched and contemptible at her own table.

Apart from those active good works, I declare before God that I have seldom seen a more contemplative woman. When she was coming from private prayer, some religious men and women often saw her face shining marvellously and light coming from her eyes like the rays of the sun.

Before her death I heard her confession. When I asked what should be done about her goods and possessions, she replied that anything which seemed to be hers belonged to the poor. She asked me to distribute everything except one worn out dress in which she wished to be buried. When all this had been decided, she received the body of our Lord. Afterward, until vespers, she spoke often of the holiest things she had heard in sermons. Then, she devoutly commended to God all who were sitting near her, and as if falling into a gentle sleep, she died."
- From a letter of Konrad of Marburg, Saint Elizabeth's spiritual director

The Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary is celebrated on November 17th.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary is the patron saint of nurses, widows, bakers, the homeless, and Third Order Franciscans.

O God, by whose gift Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
recognized and revered Christ in the poor,
grant, through her intercession,
that we may serve with unfailing charity
the needy and those afflicted.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Description
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
© Cecilia Lawrence
January 27th 2016
8 x 10 inches
14 Hours
Acrylic & gold leaf on wood panel

“You acted bravely, and your heart has been strengthened
because you loved chastity.
Your name will be praised for ever.
Your prayers and generosity have been accepted in God's sight,
and because of them he has remembered you.”
- Responsory for the feast of St. Elizabeth

I just finished this commissioned icon for a client's fiance's birthday. I've been wanting to re-do my own Elizabeth of Hungary for a long while now, so I was happy to have the chance to paint another image of her.

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (July 7th 1207 - November 17th 1231) was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary. She was born in Hungary and lived there until the age of four, when she was betrothed to Blessed Ludwig (Louis) of Thuringia. She was brought up by Ludwig's family in Thuringia and grew up alongside her future husband. Even as young children they had a great affection for each other. He would often call her "little sister" and she called him "big brother," and he came to her defense when his siblings or other their peers picked on her.

Elizabeth and Ludwig were married in Wartburg Castle in 1220 (Elizabeth was 14 at the time and Ludwig was 20). Their first child, Hermann, was born in May of 1222. His sister Sophie was born in 1224, and another sister named Gertrud was born in 1227. The new-found Franciscan Order had a large impact on St. Elizabeth's life. Inspired by their love for the poor, she became even more devoted to serving the poor by building hospitals and even ministering to the sick personally. She was often engaged in charitable endeavors and fed the hungry and sold many of her own possessions to feed and clothe the poor that came to her. Ludwig was very fond of his young wife, and even though his family often complained about her, he still defended her and her love of the poor.

There are two famous stories associated with St. Elizabeth of Hungary. One is called "the Miracle of the Roses" where, while St. Elizabeth was going out to give bread to the poor, either her husband Ludwig or his brother Heinrich approached her and asked her what she had under her cloak. Upon lifting the cloak, a shower of roses fell from her arms. Another story says that while Ludwig was out, St. Elizabeth was caring for a leper, and since all of the beds in her hospital were filled, she had the leper brought to her own room and put up on their bed. When Ludwig found out, at first he was indignant, but when he lifted the covers Almighty God opened the eyes of his soul, and instead of a leper he saw the figure of Christ crucified stretched upon the bed.

Ludwig promised the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II that he would join the Sixth Crusade. However, he only got as far as Otranto, Italy, when a plague broke out and he died from fever on September 11th, 1227 at the age of 27. In a delirium from the fever, he said that his room seemed to be filled with doves and he said: "I must fly away with these white doves." St. Elizabeth, when she heard the news that he was dead was completely devastated, saying, "He is dead, and now the whole world is dead to me too." His body was brought back to Germany and entombed at the Abbey of Reinhardsbrunn. Elizabeth was 20 at the time.

After Ludwig's death, his family turned on her. Ludwig's brother, Heinrich Raspe removed her children from the succession and became Landgrave of Thuringia. She went to live in Marburg and a priest named Konrad von Marburg became her confessor. It was at this time that she made solemn vows and became a Third Order Franciscan, devoting herself completely to the care of the poor. She died at the age of 24 at Marburg and was canonized four years later on May 28th, 1235.

"From this time onward Elizabeth’s goodness greatly increased. She was a lifelong friend of the poor and gave herself entirely to relieving the hungry. She ordered that one of her castles should be converted into a hospital in which she gathered many of the weak and feeble. She generously gave alms to all who were in need, not only in that place but in all the territories of her husband’s empire. She spent all her own revenue from her husband’s four principalities, and finally she sold her luxurious’ possessions and rich clothes for the sake of the poor.

Twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, Elizabeth went to visit the sick. She personally cared for those who were particularly repulsive; to some she gave food, to others clothing; some she carried on her own shoulders, and performed many other kindly services. Her husband, of happy memory, gladly approved of these charitable works. Finally, when her husband died, she sought the highest perfection; filled with tears, she implored me to let her beg for alms from door to door.

On Good Friday of that year, when the altars had been stripped, she laid her hands on the altar in a chapel in her own town, where she had established the Friars Minor, and before witnesses she voluntarily renounced all worldly display and everything that our Saviour in the gospel advises us to abandon. Even then she saw that she could still be distracted by the cares and worldly glory which had surrounded her while her husband was alive. Against my will she followed me to Marburg. Here in the town she built a hospice where she gathered together the weak and the feeble. There she attended the most wretched and contemptible at her own table.

Apart from those active good works, I declare before God that I have seldom seen a more contemplative woman. When she was coming from private prayer, some religious men and women often saw her face shining marvellously and light coming from her eyes like the rays of the sun.

Before her death I heard her confession. When I asked what should be done about her goods and possessions, she replied that anything which seemed to be hers belonged to the poor. She asked me to distribute everything except one worn out dress in which she wished to be buried. When all this had been decided, she received the body of our Lord. Afterward, until vespers, she spoke often of the holiest things she had heard in sermons. Then, she devoutly commended to God all who were sitting near her, and as if falling into a gentle sleep, she died."
- From a letter of Konrad of Marburg, Saint Elizabeth's spiritual director

The Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary is celebrated on November 17th.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary is the patron saint of nurses, widows, bakers, the homeless, and Third Order Franciscans.

O God, by whose gift Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
recognized and revered Christ in the poor,
grant, through her intercession,
that we may serve with unfailing charity
the needy and those afflicted.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.