Germany Celebrates St. Elizabeth
Wartburg Castle Near Eisenach Hosts Exhibit Honoring Saint
An exhibit honoring the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Elizabeth of Thuringia will be held at Wartburg Castle near Eisenach, Germany in 2007.
The Wartburg Castle near Eisenach, Germany will host an exhibit from July 7 to Nov. 19, 2007, in celebration of the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Elizabeth of Thuringia. St. Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary and was known for her kindness and giving to the poor. She built several hospitals in Germany and became a symbol of Christian charity.
Elizabeth was betrothed to Ludwig IV of Thuringia when she was 4, and was raised in the Wartburg Castle. She married Ludwig in 1221 and the couple had three children. According to legend, Elizabeth was always taking food and other goods to the poor. One day, as she was carrying a pouch full of bread to give away, her husband stopped her and asked what she had. When she opened up the pouch, the bread had turned into rose petals. A statue in Budapest commemorates this legend.
Ludwig died just a few years later, in 1227, on his way to join the Sixth Crusade. Not wanting to remarry, Elizabeth joined the Third Order of St. Francis, a lay Franciscan group. Four years after her husband’s death, Elizabeth herself died at the tender age of 24. The cause of her death is uncertain. She was canonized just four years later by Pope Gregory IX.
In addition to the exhibit commemorating St. Elizabeth, Wartburg Castle itself is something to behold. Elizabeth lived in the castle from 1211 to 1228. Three centuries later, Martin Luther called the castle home. Luther had grown up in Eisenach, and he lived in Wartburg from May 1521 until March 1522 after his excommunication by Pope Leo X. During this time, Luther translated the New Testament into German. In 1999, the castle was selected to the World Heritage List as an “Outstanding Monument of the Feudal Period in Central Europe.”
Building of the castle began in 1067 and it has gone through various renovations throughout the centuries. Much of the original architecture remains, including the Romanesque Palace, which is the most impressive part of the castle.
Eisenach, which is located in the center of Germany is also known as the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach.
For more information about St. Elizabeth and Wartburg Castle, visit http://www.cometogermany.com.
