St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad, Foundress of the Bridgettines

St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad (1870-1957) was a Swedish convert to Catholicism who founded the Bridgettine religious order. Born in Fåglavik, Sweden, she spent time in the United States before moving to Rome and establishing the Bridgettine convent there in 1911. She devoted her life to ecumenical unity and reviving the Bridgettine charism. Hesselblad was beatified in 2000 and canonized in 2016, becoming the first Swedish saint in over 600 years. She is venerated for her life of prayer, service to the poor, and work toward Christian unity.