On July 4, the Catholic Church honors St. Elizabeth of Portugal, a monarch who protected the underprivileged and prevented violence in her nation throughout the 13th and 14th centuries.

King Pedro III of Aragon and his wife Constantia were the parents of Elizabeth of Portugal, who was born in 1271. Elizabeth had a significant commitment to God even as a young girl by fasting, praying frequently, and taking life seriously. She married King Diniz of Portugal when she was still quite young, a union that would test her faith and endurance.

King Diniz was committed to his nation and was referred to as the "Worker King" for his hard work. Unfortunately, he did not always show the same devotion to his wife, though he is reported to have repented of his infidelity before his death. The king fathered an extra seven children with other women in addition to the two children he had with Elizabeth.

Many people in the king's court also practiced or approved of various immoral behaviors, making it simple for the young queen to succumb to these vices herself. Elizabeth, however, remained dedicated to carrying out God's purpose humbly and generously. She desired to advance Christ's reign on earth rather than utilize her position as queen to pursue her own satisfaction.

Elizabeth of Portugal was a devoted patroness and close friend to the sick and impoverished, and she made it mandatory for the female court attendants to look after them as well. The bishop of the queen testified that, even though the local law forbade lepers from coming near the castle, she had a routine of covertly admitting them in and bathing and dressing them.

Elizabeth's dedication to the Gospel was also demonstrated by the two occasions that she intervened to stop the civil war in the realm. Alfonso, the sole child of Diniz and Elizabeth, was so enraged by the king's indulgent treatment of one of his illegitimate sons that, in 1323, he and his father organized opposing forces that were about to engage in open combat.

In this case, St. Elizabeth stood between the two opposing armies and commanded that Diniz and Alfonso reconcile and make peace. She took similar action in 1336, the final year of her life, to stop her son from pursuing war against the King of Castile over his mistreatment of Alfonso's own daughter.

Following the death of King Diniz in 1325, Elizabeth joined the Third Order of Franciscans and moved into a monastery that she had built a few years earlier. She was canonized by Pope Urban VIII in 1625 as a result of the evidence of miracles performed via her intercession following her death in 1336. She is often portrayed in royal garb holding a dove or an olive branch and is the patron saint of the Third Order of St. Francis.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Jucundian
Saint Andrew of Crete
Saint Peter of Luxembourg
Saint Bertha of Artois
Saint Theodore of Cyrene