In the 14th century, in the Medieval ages, at the dawn of christian Europe, which was war-ravaged, pore, isolated and besieged, many towns, churches, monasteries were plundered by pirates.
The Black Death killed people as flies, but during this time several great men, culture leading characters lived, such as Dante, Boccaccio and Chartres.
In 1303 a girl was born in Sweden. Her name was Birgitta an she was going to become the most famous personality outside the country. She considered herself being Gods mediator on earth and after her death she got canonized.

Birgitta- a chosen

Birgitta grew up in the middle of Sweden as the oldest child in the family. As a young woman, Birgitta learned to make the sign of the cross and read "The Lords prayer" She followed her parents to the mass in the parish church and in those days her thoughts of religion started to grow. The Christianity became an important element in Birgitta´ s consciousness and also her unconsciousness life. At the age of seven, Birgitta had a strange experience. She saw a beautiful lady, a dazzling beauty with a shimmering crown in her hand. The lady stood by an alter beside her bed and asked the child if she would like to try the crown. Suddenly the woman fade away and the sight of her was gone. Birgitta knew then that she had been chosen, called upon and under Gods protection. Another unusual thing happened a couple of years later.

She listened once to a sermon about Jesus suffering at the cross and the following night, she saw Christ in her dreams, speaking to her about his pain. Those who despise him and forget his love, they had done this to him. From that day, she couldn´t think about Jesus torment without tears.

When Birgitta was twelve, her mother died and she moved to her aunt where she had a chance to take part in important daily subjects such as politics, social problems and religion. She was married off to a five year older man in 1316 and together they got eight children. Despite marriage, as a catholic, the religion was a head element in her life and when her husband died and the children grew up she could wholeheartedly work with what she for a long time thought was her call: a religious mission, to help the people to live a better life to get a better world.

The predilection for the convent life was enormous and she cherished admire to mendicant friars. She had planes, conferring an order upon herself. It took a while before the pope gave his permission to Birgitta´ s order and soon, the kings yard Vadstena became a convent.

Birgitta´ s years in Rome

Her "call" continued and her destination was Rome, the centre of the religious world. The capital of Italy was the place where Birgitta was going to work against the Christian decadence. Her weekdays in Rome consisted mostly of visits in different churches, devotional exercises and pilgrimages. She lived in simplicity and temperance but she got a great circle of friends. During her time in Rome, people in all social classes appreciated her and admired her work. She lived in Rome for several years and in 1373 (70 years) she died in her family’s arms. Just before her death, the Christ revealed to Birgitta and told her that they would meet again in heaven.

A couple of years after Birgitta´ s death, she got canonized for her achievements of humans and the catholic church. She is the only canonized person in the history of Sweden.

What are your opinion in Italy about Birgitta?