Saint Elizabeth of Portugal

Elizabeth was born in 1271, a princess of Aragon, daughter of King Peter III and grandniece of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, for whom she was named. At about twelve she was married to King Denis of Portugal, a capable ruler but an unfaithful husband. She answered with prayer, patience and charity, even raising his children born outside their marriage, and she founded hospitals, shelters and convents.

She became famous as a peacemaker. More than once she reconciled her husband with their rebellious son Afonso, at one point riding onto the battlefield between their armies. After Denis died in 1325 she gave away her wealth and lived as a Franciscan tertiary beside the Poor Clares of Coimbra. In 1336, old and ill, she traveled to Estremoz to prevent a war between her son and the king of Castile, and died there on July 4. She was canonized in 1625.

Portugal calls her the "Rainha Santa," the Holy Queen. In Coimbra, where her body rests at the monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova, great processions honor her every two years in July. Her best-loved legend tells how bread she was carrying to the poor turned into roses, so she is often shown with roses in her lap.