Saints

St. Isabella of Portugal

Who was St. Isabella of Portugal

St. Isabella of Portugal, also known as St. Elizabeth of Portugal, was a queen of Portugal who lived in the 13th century. She was born in 1271 in Alcobaça, Portugal, the second daughter of King Afonso III and his wife, Beatrice of Castile. Isabella was married to King Denis of Portugal at the age of 12 and became queen of Portugal at the age of 18.

Isabella was known for her charity and her devotion to the poor. She established hospitals and convents, and she often personally cared for the sick and the poor. She was also known for her devotion to the Church and for her efforts to promote peace and reconciliation.

Despite the demands of her position and her charitable works, Isabella also found time to engage in spiritual practices such as fasting and prayer. She is said to have had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary and to have received several visions and revelations from her.

Isabella died in 1336 at the age of 65 and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1625. St. Isabella is remembered as a model of charity and devotion, and her feast day is celebrated on July 4.

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Detailed Biography of St Isabel of Portugal

St Isabel of Portugal, also known as Elizabeth of Aragon, was a queen consort, a peacemaker, and a saint. She was born in 1271 in Zaragoza, Spain, as the daughter of King Peter III of Aragon and Queen Constance of Sicily. She was named after her great-aunt, St Elizabeth of Hungary, who was known for her charity and miracles.
 

Marriage and Family

At the age of 10, Isabel was betrothed to King Denis of Portugal, who was 16 years older than her. The marriage took place in 1288, when Isabel was 17 and Denis was 26. Denis was a poet and a statesman, but also a womanizer and a tyrant. He mistreated Isabel and had several illegitimate children by his mistresses.
 
Isabel, however, was a faithful and devoted wife, who prayed for her husband’s conversion and bore his infidelities with patience and humility. She also loved and cared for his children as her own. She gave birth to two legitimate children: Constance, who married King Ferdinand IV of Castile, and Afonso, who became King Afonso IV of Portugal.
 
Isabel was not only a good mother, but also a good queen. She took an active interest in the affairs of the kingdom and supported her husband’s efforts to improve the economy, the culture, and the education of the people. She also intervened in the negotiations between Portugal and other countries, such as Castile and Aragon, to promote peace and cooperation.
 

Saint Isabella’s Charity and Miracles

Isabel had a special love for the poor and the sick. She spent much of her time and money to help them, often personally visiting them and bringing them food, clothing, medicine, and comfort. She also founded several hospitals, orphanages, convents, and other charitable institutions.
 
One of the most famous miracles attributed to Isabel is the miracle of the roses. According to legend, one day she was carrying bread in her apron to distribute to the poor, when she met her husband on the way. He asked her what she was carrying, suspecting that she was giving away his money or jewels. She answered that it was roses, even though it was winter. He demanded to see them, and when she opened her apron, roses fell out instead of bread. He was astonished and ashamed, and from then on he respected her charitable works.
 
Another miracle occurred when Isabel’s son Afonso rebelled against his father Denis. Afonso accused his father of favoring his illegitimate sons over him and claimed the throne for himself. He gathered an army and marched against his father’s forces. Isabel tried to reconcile them, but they refused to listen to her. She then rode between the two armies on a mule, holding a crucifix in her hand, and pleaded with them to stop fighting. Her courage and faith moved them so much that they laid down their weapons and embraced each other as father and son.
 

Widowhood and Canonization

After Denis died in 1325, Isabel retired from public life and joined the Third Order of St Francis. She lived in a small house near a convent in Coimbra, where she devoted herself to prayer, penance, and works of mercy. She also continued to mediate between her son Afonso and his enemies, such as King Alfonso XI of Castile.
 
In 1336, she fell ill while trying to prevent another war between Portugal and Castile. She died on July 4th in Estremoz, where she had gone to meet her son. Her last words were: “God grant me peace in this hour.” Her body was taken to Coimbra and buried in the convent church.
 
She was canonized by Pope Urban VIII in 1625. Her feast day is July 4th in the Roman Catholic Church. She is the patron saint of Portugal, peace-makers, brides, widows, victims of adultery, abuse or unfaithfulness.
 
St Isabel of Portugal is an example of a woman who lived a life of holiness amid the trials and tribulations of marriage, family, politics, and war. She showed us how to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves.

Prayers to St. Isabella of Portugal

Prayer of Intercession to St. Isabella of Portugal

Dear St. Isabella,

You were a queen who loved and served the poor with great compassion. You devoted your life to helping others and to growing closer to God.

Please intercede for me before the throne of God. Help me to imitate your love and charity, and to follow in your footsteps as a servant of the Lord.

Grant me the grace to be selfless and to seek the good of others, just as you did. May I always strive to grow in virtue and to follow the example of Jesus.

I ask this through your intercession, St. Isabella. Amen.

Prayer to St. Isabella of Portugal

Dear St. Isabella,

I turn to you in my time of need, asking for your intercession before the throne of God. Please pray for [insert specific intention here].

May your love and compassion be a source of strength and inspiration for me. Help me to trust in the Lord and to have faith in his loving plan for my life.

I ask this through your intercession, St. Isabella. Amen.

Top 6 Quotes by St. Isabella of Portugal

  1. “Love is the virtue that unites all others.”

  2. “Charity is the virtue that makes us love our neighbor as ourselves.”

  3. “The love of God is the most powerful force in the world.”

  4. “True love is selfless and seeks the good of the other.”

  5. “The greatest treasure we can possess is the love of God in our hearts.”

  6. “The love of God and the love of neighbor are inseparable.”

Children’s Story about the life of St. Isabella of Portugal

There once lived a young princess named Isabella. She was a kind and caring person, and she loved helping others.

When Isabella was just 12 years old, she married the king of Portugal, Denis. Despite her young age, Isabella took her role as queen very seriously and worked hard to make sure everyone in the kingdom was happy and healthy.

One of the things Isabella loved most was visiting the sick and the poor. She would often go to the hospitals and convents she had founded, and she would personally care for the sick and the poor, giving them food and comfort.

Isabella was also very devoted to the Church and spent a lot of time praying and fasting. She had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, and she believed that Mary had appeared to her in visions and given her messages.

Even though she was very busy, Isabella always found time to help others and to grow closer to God. She became known as a model of charity and devotion, and everyone in the kingdom loved and respected her.

When Isabella grew old and passed away, the people of Portugal were very sad. But they knew that Isabella was now in heaven, watching over them and smiling down on them from above. And to this day, Isabella is remembered as a kind and loving queen who always put others before herself.

Why is St. Isabella of Portugal the patron saint of brides?

St. Isabella of Portugal is the patron saint of brides because she is considered a model of purity and devotion. As a queen, Isabella was known for her charitable works and her devotion to the Church. She is said to have had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary and to have received several visions and revelations from her.

Isabella’s devotion to purity and her commitment to living a life of faith and charity made her a popular choice as a patron saint for brides. In addition to her role as the patron saint of brides, Isabella is also the patron saint of Portugal and of travelers.

Miracles by St. Isabella of Portugal

St. Isabella of Portugal performed many miracles during her lifetime and after her death. Some of the most well-known miracles attributed to her include:

  • Healing the sick: Isabella was known for her charitable works and her devotion to the sick and the poor. It is said that many people were healed through her prayers and her touch.

  • Failing to catch fire: Isabella was once falsely accused of adultery and was sentenced to be burned at the stake. As the flames engulfed her, she prayed to the Virgin Mary for protection, and the flames did not harm her.

  • Calming a storm: Isabella once calmed a raging storm at sea by making the sign of the cross and praying to the Virgin Mary.

  • Multiplying food: Isabella once multiplied a small amount of food to feed a large group of people who were hungry.

These miracles, along with her charitable works and her devotion to the Church, were cited as evidence of Isabella’s holiness when she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1625.

Reflection on the Feast of St. Isabella of Portugal

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Isabella of Portugal on July 8th. The Feast of St. Isabella of Portugal is a time to reflect on the life and example of this holy queen, who devoted her life to helping the poor and to growing closer to God.

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Isabella, we can ask ourselves: How can we imitate her love and charity in our own lives? How can we follow her example of devotion and selflessness?

One way to honor St. Isabella on her feast day is to perform an act of charity or service in her honor. This could be something as simple as volunteering at a local soup kitchen or making a donation to a charitable organization.

We can also take time to pray and reflect on the virtues that St. Isabella exemplified, such as love, charity, and devotion. As we do so, we can ask for the intercession of St. Isabella and ask for the grace to follow in her footsteps as servants of the Lord.

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Saints Similar to St. Isabella of Portugal

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Henry II and the Biography of St. Hubert of Liege. St. Isabella of Portugal, St. Henry II, and St. Hubert of Liege are all recognized as saints with historical roles within the Christian faith. Next up: Biography of St. Isaiah

 

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