The Bridgettine Order – A Journey Through History

1. Founded by St. Bridget of Sweden (1370)
• The origins of the Bridgettine Order go back to St. Bridget of Sweden (1303–1373), a renowned mystic and visionary who received divine revelations calling her to establish a new monastic order dedicated to prayer, contemplation, and service to the Church.
• In 1370, Pope Urban V approved the Rule of the Order, giving official recognition to the new foundation. The motherhouse was established at Vadstena Abbey in Sweden, which soon became an important spiritual and cultural centre.
• The Order was distinctive in its double-monastery structure, consisting of one section for nuns and another for monks, both placed under the authority of an Abbess. At the heart of the Bridgettine spirituality was a profound union with Christ Crucified and an unwavering commitment to prayer for the Church.

2. Early Expansion and Influence (14th–16th Century)
• Following its foundation, the Bridgettine Order spread rapidly throughout Europe, establishing communities in Sweden, Italy, England, Poland, and other nations.
• The Bridgettine monasteries became renowned for their deep life of prayer, devotion to the Passion of Christ, and generous hospitality. Many of these monasteries also developed into significant centres of learning, culture, and charitable service, contributing greatly to the spiritual and social life of the communities around them.
• Among the most prominent foundations was Syon Abbey in England, established in 1415. It became one of the most renowned and influential Bridgettine monasteries in pre-Reformation England.

3. A Period of Decline (16th–19th Century)
• The Protestant Reformation brought a period of great hardship and decline for the Bridgettine Order. Many monasteries in Northern Europe were dissolved, suppressed, or destroyed.
• The historic motherhouse at Vadstena was closed in 1595. Despite these difficult circumstances, however, the spirit and charism of St. Bridget did not disappear. The Bridgettine tradition continued to survive through scattered communities that faithfully preserved the Order's prayerful and contemplative heritage.

4. Renewal through St. Elisabeth Hesselblad (1911)
• At the beginning of the 20th century, the Bridgettine tradition experienced a remarkable renewal through St. Elisabeth Hesselblad (1870–1957), a Swedish convert and nurse who felt deeply called to revive the Order founded by St. Bridget of Sweden.
• In 1911, she established the Bridgettine Sisters of the Most Holy Savior in Rome, with the Generalate at Casa di Santa Brigida (St. Bridget’s House) in Piazza Farnese where St.Bridget and her daughter St. Catherine of Sweden lived.
• The renewed branch faithfully retained the spiritual heritage of St. Bridget while placing particular emphasis on hospitality, ecumenism, prayer, and the promotion of Christian unity. Through her vision and dedication, St. Elisabeth Hesselblad gave new life to the Bridgettine charism and opened it to a wider mission in the modern world.
• She was canonized in 2016.

5. The Bridgettine Order Today
• Today, the Bridgettine tradition continues through two main branches:

The Medieval Bridgettines
• These are the enclosed, contemplative nuns, who continue to live a life deeply rooted in prayer, contemplation, and the original monastic tradition of St. Bridget.

The Modern Bridgettine Sisters
• The modern branch follows an active-contemplative way of life, harmoniously combining prayer and contemplation with apostolic service. Their ministries embrace charity, hospitality, ecumenical dialogue, and service to the Church and society.

• From Rome, the new foundation gradually extended its presence beyond Italy to Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, India, Palestine, Israel, the Philippines, Indonesia, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba.
• Today, the Order has 59 houses across these countries, continuing the spiritual legacy of St. Bridget of Sweden and the renewed vision of St. Maria Elisabeth Hesselblad.

6. St. Maria Elisabeth Hesselblad – A Legacy of Renewal
• St. Maria Elisabeth Hesselblad remained faithful to her mission of reviving the Bridgettine Order and of making its charism a living witness to prayer, hospitality, reconciliation, and Christian unity.
• She died in Rome on April 24, 1957. Her life of holiness and her contribution to the renewal of the Bridgettine tradition were recognized by the Church when she was beatified on April 9, 2000 by Pope St. John Paul II, and later canonized on June 5, 2016 by Pope Francis.
• Her life continues to inspire the Bridgettine Sisters to remain faithful to their call to prayer, unity, hospitality, and service, while carrying forward the spiritual heritage entrusted to them by St. Bridget of Sweden.