St. Bridget of Sweden
Bridget was the daughter of a wealthy governor who lavished his fortune. He gave money to charitable causes and assisted the underprivileged. He advocated for the just and fair treatment of all individuals. Bridget, who was born in 1303, was taught these skills at a young age.
Bridget married into the Swedish royal line and had eight children, one of whom became recognized as St. Catherine of Sweden. Bridget and her spouse followed in her father’s footsteps by helping those in need. She is claimed to have even arranged for the construction of a hospital on their land. The hospital was open to all.
Bridget gave away all of her possessions after her husband died. She established a dual monastery for men and women who lived separately but worshipped together. The Brigittines were a religious organization known as the Order of the Most Holy Saviour.
Birgitta and Ulf traveled to Santiago de Compostela following her years of service at Court. On the way back, Ulf became extremely ill at Arras. Birgitta feared Ulf’s death and sat by his bedside all night praying until a bishop came to see her and assured her that Ulf would recover and that ‘God had great things in store for her.’
St. Denis of Paris, France’s Patron, introduced himself. Ulf recovered and worked as a Lagman in the Närke region until early in 1344 when he fell ill and was carried to the monks at Alvastra, where he died and was buried.
Birgitta lived in a small house near the abbey and prayed for hours at Ulf’s tomb. While praying for direction, she distributed her belongings among her children and several charities.
When she was 41 years old, God summoned her ‘be My Bride and My Canal’ at the abbey of Alvastra. He tasked her with setting up a new religious organization, particularly for women.
Facts
Novena Starts: July 14th
Feast Day: July 23rd
Birth: 1303
Death: 1391
Significance of St. Bridget Novena Prayer
St. Bridget of Sweden is the patroness of Sweden and widows. Saint Bridget was proclaimed patron saint of Europe by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 1999. On the 23rd of July, the day of her death, her feast day is commemorated.
Her feast was not included in the Tridentine Calendar, but it was added to the General Roman Calendar in 1623 for celebration on October 7, the day of Pope Boniface IX’s canonization in 1391.
Her feast was moved to the 8th of October five years later (although the Church in Sweden celebrates it on the 7th), where it stayed until the General Roman Calendar was revised in 1969 when it was moved to the current day.
Some people still use the General Roman Calendar of 1954, Pope Pius XII’s General Roman Calendar, or the General Roman Calendar of 1960.
Read more: St. Abigail Novena
St. Bridget of Sweden Novena
Day 1
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 2
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: Novena to St. John Paul II
Day 3
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 4
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 5
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: Footprints In The Sand Poem
Day 6
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 7
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 8
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 9
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Bridget, Bride of Christ, your life was centred around honouring the wounds of Jesus.
Intercede before our Wounded Lord and ask Him to forgive us for the times when we failed to recognise his presence or accept his help and the times when we sinned against Him, causing increased pain.
St Bridget, implore Jesus in His mercy to bestow upon us a reverence and devotion to His Sacred Wounds.
Help us to carry our crosses with love.
Please tell Jesus that we love Him and thank Him for the pain and humiliation He endured for our sake.
St. Bridget, we humbly ask you to lay our petitions <<mention your special request>> at the feet of the Risen Jesus where we know you will be warmly received.
Amen.
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: Boondock Saints Prayer Meaning and Biblical Origin
Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden
First Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus Christ! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan.
Remember, O Lord, that during the Last Supper with Thy disciples, having washed their feet, Thou gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console them, Thou didst foretell them Thy coming Passion.
Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience in Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore witness saying: My Soul is sorrowful even unto death.
Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before the torment of the crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood, Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the people of a nation Thou hadst chosen and elevated, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Thy youth and during the solemn Paschal season.
Remember that Thou wast despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in those of derision; that Thy Face and Eyes were veiled, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned with thorns, a reed placed in Thy Hands, that Thou was crushed with blows and overwhelmed with affronts and outrages.
In memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure before Thy Passion on the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and entire confession, worthy satisfaction and the remission of all my sins.
Amen.
Second Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties, tormented Thee at will. In consideration of these torments and insulting words, I beseech Thee, O my Savior, to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, and to bring me, under Thy protection, to the perfection of eternal salvation.
Amen.
Third Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost enfold and hold all under Thy Loving power, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands and Feet to the Cross by blow after blow with big blunt nails, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pain to pain, and with indescribable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross, pulled Thee from all sides, thus dislocating Thy Limbs.
I beg of Thee, O Jesus, by the memory of this most Loving suffering of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear Thee and to Love Thee.
Amen.
Fourth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Heavenly Physician, raised aloft on the Cross to heal our wounds with Thine, remember the bruises which Thou didst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members which were distended to such a degree that never was there pain like unto Thine. From the crown of Thy Head to the Soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was not in torment, and yet, forgetting all Thy sufferings, Thou didst not cease to pray to Thy Heavenly Father for Thy enemies, saying: Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
Through this great Mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Thy Most Bitter Passion may effect in us a perfect contrition and the remission of all our sins.
Amen.
Fifth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Mirror of eternal splendor, remember the sadness which Thou experienced, when contemplating in the light of Thy Divinity the predestination of those who would be saved by the merits of Thy Sacred Passion, Thou didst see at the same time, the great multitude of reprobates who would be damned for their sins, and Thou didst complain bitterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate sinners.
Through the abyss of compassion and pity, and especially through the goodness which Thou displayed to the good thief when Thou saidst to him: This day, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, Thou wilt show me mercy.
Amen.
Sixth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer, when naked and like a common criminal, Thou was fastened and raised on the Cross, when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned Thee, except Thy Beloved Mother, who remained close to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy faithful disciple when Thou saidst to Mary: Woman, behold thy son! and to Saint John: Son, behold thy Mother!
I beg of Thee O my Savior, by the sword of sorrow which pierced the soul of Thy holy Mother, to have compassion on me in all my affliction and tribulations, both corporal and spiritual, and to assist me in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death.
Amen.
Seventh Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Inexhaustible Fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the Cross: I thirst! suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race. I beg of Thee O my Savior, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires.
Amen.
Eighth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Sweetness of hearts, delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of the vinegar and gall which Thou didst taste on the Cross for Love of us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Thy Precious Body and Blood during our life and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolation for our souls.
Amen.
Ninth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the pain Thou didst endure when plunged in an ocean of bitterness at the approach of death, insulted, outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry out in a loud voice that Thou was abandoned by Thy Father, saying: My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?
Through this anguish, I beg of Thee, O my Savior, not to abandon me in the terrors and pains of my death.
Amen.
Tenth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Who art the beginning and end of all things, life and virtue, remember that for our sakes Thou was plunged in an abyss of suffering from the soles of Thy Feet to the crown of Thy Head. In consideration of the enormity of Thy Wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Thy Commandments, whose way is wide and easy for those who love Thee.
Amen.
Eleventh Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, in memory of Thy Wounds which penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and to the depth of Thy being, to draw me, a miserable sinner, overwhelmed by my offenses, away from sin and to hide me from Thy Face justly irritated against me, hide me in Thy Wounds, until Thy anger and just indignation shall have passed away.
Amen.
Twelfth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Mirror of Truth, symbol of unity, link of Charity, remember the multitude of wounds with which Thou was covered from head to foot, torn and reddened by the spilling of Thy adorable Blood. O Great and Universal Pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy virginal Flesh for Love of us! Sweetest Jesus! What is there that Thou couldst have done for us which Thou hast not done! May the fruit of Thy sufferings be renewed in my soul by the faithful remembrance of Thy Passion, and may Thy Love increase in my heart each day, until I see Thee in eternity, Thou Who art the treasury of every real good and every joy, which I beg Thee to grant me, O Sweetest Jesus, in Heaven.
Amen.
Thirteenth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, remember the pain which Thou didst endure when all Thy strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted, Thou didst bow Thy Head, saying: It is consummated!
Through this anguish and grief, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish.
Amen.
Fourteenth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! Only Son of the Father, Splendor and figure of His Substance, remember the simple and humble recommendation Thou didst make of Thy Soul to Thy Eternal Father, saying: Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit! And with Thy Body all torn, and Thy Heart Broken, and the bowels of Thy Mercy open to redeem us, Thou didst Expire. By this Precious Death, I beg of Thee O King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist the devil, the flesh and the world, so that being dead to the world I may live for Thee alone. I beg of Thee at the hour of my death to receive me, a pilgrim and an exile returning to Thee.
Amen.
Fifteenth Prayer
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
O Jesus! True and fruitful Vine! Remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which Thou didst so generously shed from Thy Sacred Body as juice from grapes in a wine press.
From Thy Side, pierced with a lance by a soldier, blood and water issued forth until there was not left in Thy Body a single drop, and finally, like a bundle of myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross Thy delicate Flesh was destroyed, the very Substance of Thy Body withered, and the Marrow of Thy Bones dried up.
Through this bitter Passion and through the outpouring of Thy Precious Blood, I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, to receive my soul when I am in my death agony.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
O Sweet Jesus! Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and may the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever.
Amen.
