The distinctive veil worn by professed Bridgettine nuns features a crown of linen embroidered with five red marks, one at each joint, designed to recall the Five Wounds of Christ on the Cross. This visual symbol is not merely decorative but serves as a constant, tactile reminder of the order's foundational devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. The order, formally known as the Order of the Most Holy Saviour, was founded by Saint Birgitta of Sweden in 1344 and received papal approval from Pope Urban V in 1370. Birgitta, born in 1303, was a mystic who claimed to have received direct revelations from Christ and the Virgin Mary, which formed the basis of her Rule. Her vision of the suffering of Jesus was so profound that it dictated the very structure of the community she established, creating a double order where nuns lived in strict enclosure while monks served as chaplains and itinerant missionaries. This unique arrangement placed the nuns under the governance of an abbess, a rare position of authority for women in the fourteenth century, while the monks remained subordinate to her spiritual leadership. The order followed the Rule of Saint Augustine but added specific liturgical elements, such as the Office of Our Lady, which became the proper Rite for the Canonical Hours. The physical appearance of the order, from the red cross on the monks' cloaks to the crown on the nuns' veils, was a deliberate attempt to make the theology of the Passion visible to the world.
The Royal Castle of Vadstena
The first monastery of the order was established in 1369 at the former royal castle of Vadstena, located on the shores of Lake Vättern in Sweden. This site was chosen for its historical significance and its potential to serve as a spiritual center for the new order. The community grew rapidly, and by 1515, there were 27 houses, 13 of them in Scandinavia, supported by significant royal patronage. The motherhouse at Vadstena was not suppressed until 1595, even though the Protestant Reformation had been widespread in Scandinavia, allowing the order to play a remarkable part in promoting culture and literature in the region. The order spread widely, reaching an eventual total of 80 houses across Europe. One of the most notable figures in the early history of the order was Lady Ingegerd Knutsdotter, Saint Bridget's granddaughter, who served as Abbess of Vadstena from 1385 to 1403. Upon her death on the 14th of September 1412, direct descent from Saint Bridget became extinct, which opened the medieval concept of Bridget's spiritual children to be her true heirs. This shift in lineage allowed the order to continue its mission without relying on bloodline, emphasizing the spiritual rather than biological connection to its founder. The order's ability to survive and thrive in a region that would soon be consumed by the Reformation was a testament to its deep integration into the cultural and political fabric of Scandinavia.
In England, the Bridgettine monastery of Syon Abbey at Isleworth, Middlesex, was founded and royally endowed by King Henry V in 1415, becoming one of the most fervent, most influential, and materially best endowed religious communities in the country until its Dissolution under King Henry VIII. The abbey was a center of learning and piety, producing significant theological works and maintaining a library that included texts such as The Showing of Love by Julian of Norwich and The Orcherd of Syon, which translated Catherine of Siena's Dialogue. One of the monks of the community, Richard Reynolds, O.Ss.S., was among the first members of the English clergy to be executed as a traitor for his refusal to accept the Oath of Supremacy. He was canonized as a martyr by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and his story remains a powerful symbol of the order's resilience in the face of persecution. The Tudor gatepost in marble, on which parts of St Richard Reynolds' body were placed, was brought by the nuns into their exile and then returned with them to England. This gatepost was later given to the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Exeter, serving as a physical link to the order's history. The community's survival and eventual return to England after centuries of exile is a testament to their unwavering commitment to their faith and their founder's vision.
Exile and the Return to England
Syon Abbey was among the few religious houses restored during Queen Mary I's reign, when nearly twenty members of the old community were re-established there in 1557. However, upon the accession of Queen Elizabeth I and the ensuing persecution of Catholics by the English Crown, the Bridgettine monastic community left England, first for the Low Countries, then, after many vicissitudes, to Rouen in France, and finally, in 1594, to Lisbon. One of the exiled community's recruits during Elizabeth's reign was Elizabeth Sander, known as a writer. She returned to England in 1578 only to be imprisoned and then escaped in 1580. She was to escape from imprisonment in Winchester Castle before she surrendered. She eventually returned to her community in Lisbon, where she died. The community remained in Lisbon, recruiting new members from England, until 1861, when they returned to England. The exile was a period of great hardship, but it also allowed the order to preserve its traditions and texts. In 2004, the surviving medieval books of the monastic library were entrusted for safekeeping to the University of Exeter, ensuring that the intellectual legacy of the order would be preserved for future generations. The community's ability to adapt and survive in foreign lands, while maintaining their identity and mission, is a remarkable chapter in their history.
The Modern Branches of the Order
As of 2013, there were 800 members of the Bridgettine order, divided into several branches that have evolved over the centuries. The original medieval branch today consists of four independent monasteries, including Maria Refugie Abbey in Uden, Netherlands, and Pax Mariae Abbey in Vadstena, Sweden. The Spanish branch, founded by Marina de Escobar in the 1630s, consists of four independent monasteries in Spain, four in Mexico, and one in Venezuela. The Swedish branch, the largest of the order today, was founded by Saint Elizabeth Hesselblad, a nurse, on the 8th of September 1911, and consists of religious sisters dedicated to providing hospitality for those in need of rest. It was fully approved by the Holy See on the 7th of July 1940, and currently consists of convents in Europe, Asia, and North America. The motherhouse of the order is located on the Piazza Farnese, Rome, Italy, the house where Birgitta had once lived. On the 28th of October 2016, Fabia Kattakayam was selected as the order's new Abbess General, becoming the first person of Indian descent to serve in this position. The order's ability to adapt to changing times while maintaining its core mission is evident in the diversity of its branches and the global reach of its communities.
The Unique Monks of Amity
An innovative community of Brigittine monks is located in Amity, Oregon, at the Monastery of Our Lady of Consolation. Founded on the 16th of March 1976, by Brother Benedict Kirby, O.Ss.S., it is the only Brigittine monastery of men in the world and the first since the nineteenth century when they were dispersed, largely due to the European wars. The monks here do not ordinarily receive Holy Orders, following the original pattern of monasticism. The monastery has the canonical status of a priory sui juris, meaning it is autonomous, and is supported mainly through sales of their chocolate fudges and truffles. This unique arrangement allows the monks to live a monastic life without the constraints of the traditional clerical hierarchy, focusing instead on prayer, hospitality, and the production of goods to support their community. The monastery's success in maintaining its mission and financial independence is a testament to the adaptability of the Bridgettine order. The community's ability to thrive in a modern context while preserving the spirit of its founder is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating the enduring relevance of the order's vision.
Controversy and the Indian Sisters
Controversy arose in 2002 over the treatment of the Indian sisters who form a large percentage of the order. This became public in 2002 when six Indian sisters from different houses of the order in Italy fled and approached the Benedictine Abbot of Subiaco. At the abbot's request, Bishop Silvio Cesare Bonicelli of Parma issued a special decree, permitting the fugitive sisters to enter a monastery of Benedictine nuns. As a consequence, the abbot was subsequently required to resign from office by the Holy See, a highly unusual event. The controversy highlighted the challenges faced by the order in maintaining its global mission while addressing issues of cultural sensitivity and the treatment of its members. The order's ability to navigate these challenges and continue its work is a testament to its resilience and commitment to its core values. The incident also brought attention to the diverse backgrounds of the order's members, reflecting the global reach of the Bridgettine mission. The order's response to the controversy demonstrated its willingness to address internal issues and seek solutions that align with its founding principles.
The Legacy of Saint Bridget
The legacy of Saint Bridget of Sweden extends far beyond the founding of the order she established. She was canonized on the 7th of October 1391 and is recognized as the Patron Saint of Europe. Her daughter, Catherine of Vadstena, was also canonized on the 16th of August 1482, continuing the family's legacy of holiness. The order's influence is evident in the many saints, blesseds, and venerables who have been part of the Bridgettine family, including Richard Reynolds, Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad, and others. The order's commitment to the Passion of Jesus Christ, as revealed to Saint Bridget, has remained at the heart of its mission for over six centuries. The order's ability to adapt to changing times while maintaining its core values is a testament to the enduring power of its founder's vision. The Bridgettine order continues to play a significant role in the Catholic Church, providing hospitality, spiritual guidance, and a living example of the Passion of Christ to the world.