“God is disgusted by the fall and ruin of his holy Church … drops of burning and smoking sulfur are dripping from the roof; the walls are as revolting to look at as pus mingled with rotting blood.” These are startling words, and they are from one of the many revelations received by St Bridget (or “Birgitta”) of Sweden (1303-1373): wife, mother of eight, widow, social and Church reformer, mystic, and foundress of the Order of the Most Holy Savior, also known as the Brigittine Order.
The world has witnessed in recent years a rapidly growing interest in St Bridget among Catholics as well as Protestants, and even non-Christians, scholars and the general population alike. Pope John Paul II declared St Bridget Co-Patroness of Europe (1 Oct 1999) and called her a Model for Today’s Woman (3 Oct 2002), seeing in her life and in her writings a powerful witness to the Gospel, an "icon" as it were, reflecting the beauty, goodness and loving mercy of God – as well as his justice – to our modern world in great need, like the Prodigal Son, of coming to its senses and returning to its Father.
St Bridget is best known for the Revelations, the divinely inspired messages she received from God the Father, Jesus, the Virgin Mary and numerous saints over a period of almost 30 years, including visions and messages regarding the infancy, life, and sufferings of Christ. Although the Revelations consist of twelve books and hundreds of pages and treat of a wide variety of subjects, there can be found throughout the work messages which are of utmost pertinence for today, showing the “actuality” of St Bridget for the Church and for the world in our times.