Born: June 4, 1870 (Fåglavik, Sweden)
Elizabeth Hesselblad was a Swedish religious sister who made a significant impact on the Roman Catholic Church. She founded a new, active branch of the Bridgettine order known as the Bridgettine Sisters. Hesselblad’s efforts during World War II, where she saved the lives of Jews during the Holocaust, earned her recognition as a Righteous Among the Nations. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000, and canonized by Pope Francis on June 5, 2016, at Saint Peter’s Square.
Elizabeth Hesselblad was born on June 4, 1870, in Fåglavik, Sweden, as the fifth of thirteen children to August Robert Hesselblad and Cajsa Petersdotter Dag. Her parents were Lutheran, and she was baptized into the Lutheran Church of Sweden in her parish of Hudene. Hesselblad’s family faced financial difficulties, and by the age of sixteen, she had to work to support them. In 1888, she emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City.
In New York, Hesselblad studied nursing at Roosevelt Hospital and worked as a home nurse, caring for many poor individuals who were Catholic. Through her interactions with them, she developed an interest in the Catholic faith. Deep prayer and personal study led her to embrace Catholicism, and on August 15, 1902, the Feast of the Assumption, she was conditionally baptized by a Jesuit priest, Johann Georg Hagen, in the chapel of the Georgetown Visitation Monastery in Washington, D.C. Hagen also became her spiritual director.
Hesselblad described her conversion moment as a profound experience of God’s love: In an instant, the love of God was poured over me. I understood that I could respond to that love only through sacrifice and a love prepared to suffer for His glory and for the Church. She immediately offered her life to God and expressed her willingness to follow Him on the Way of the Cross.
Just two days after her baptism, Hesselblad received her First Communion and embarked on a journey to Europe. She approached Hagen and expressed her desire to be received into the Catholic Church immediately. Although Hagen was initially hesitant, as he had only just met her, Hesselblad convinced him of her deep and thorough understanding of Catholic doctrine. Impressed by her conviction, Hagen allowed her to be received into the Church.
After her conversion, Elizabeth Hesselblad dedicated her life to the service of God and the Church. She felt a strong calling to revive the Bridgettine order, which had collapsed during the Protestant Reformation. Hesselblad sought and received the approval of the Pope to establish a new branch of the order. She became the superior of the Bridgettine Sisters and worked tirelessly to renew the order’s spiritual and apostolic life.
Hesselblad also played a vital role during World War II. As part of her mission, she sheltered Jewish refugees, providing them with a safe haven and risking her own life to protect them from the Nazis. Her selfless actions and bravery during this time led to her recognition as a Righteous Among the Nations.
Elizabeth Hesselblad’s contributions to the Catholic Church and her dedication to serving others are widely acknowledged. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 2000, recognizing her holiness and her impact on society. In 2016, Pope Francis canonized her, affirming her as a saint and honoring her extraordinary life of faith and service.
Awards:
– Righteous Among the Nations