St. Bridget of Sweden
Patron Saint of Europe and Sweden
St. Bridget of Sweden was born into a wealthy family in Sweden in the early 1300s. From a young age, she began having visions of Christ crucified, and her visions led her to use her wealth and position of power for charity. She was a mother to eight children, one of whom, Catherine, became St. Catherine of Sweden. Bridget founded the Bridgettines in 1370 after receiving papal approval. She spent the last years of her life in Rome, continuing her acts of charity while also working for institutional change to help future generations of the Church. St. Bridget is one of the patron saints of Europe.