Early Life and Religious Vocation
Born into a wealthy and noble Swedish family, Bridget was married at a young age and had eight children, one of whom, Saint Catherine of Sweden, also became a religious figure. After the death of her husband, Ulf Gudmarsson, Bridget dedicated her life to religious service and mystical contemplation. In 1349, she traveled to Rome, where she remained until her death in 1373, advocating for Church reform and the return of the papacy from Avignon.
Revelations and Mysticism
Bridget is best known for her reported mystical visions, which she claimed were direct communications from Christ, the Virgin Mary, and various saints. These visions were documented and eventually approved by the Church, albeit with caution and ecclesiastical oversight. The Revelationes include both theological teachings and vivid descriptions of the Passion of Christ.
The Question of the Blows During the Passion
Among the most well-known and controversial elements of Bridget’s revelations is her alleged dialogue with Jesus Christ regarding the number of blows he received during his Passion. In a widely circulated tradition, not found directly in her canonized Revelationes, but rather in apocryphal and devotional texts attributed to or inspired by her, Bridget is said to have asked Christ:
"O Lord, how many blows did You receive on Your body?"
To this, Christ allegedly responded:
"I received 5,480 blows upon My body. If you wish to honor them, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys for an entire year, and you shall honor each of My wounds."
This devotional promise led to the widespread circulation of the so-called “Fifteen Prayers of Saint Bridget,” also known as The Secret of Happiness, promising specific spiritual benefits and indulgences to those who recite these prayers daily for one year.
Historical and Theological Evaluation
While Saint Bridget's official revelations—approved by the Council of Basel in 1435 and later by Pope Boniface IX—form the core of her mystical theology, the exact origin of the “5,480 blows” narrative remains unclear and likely apocryphal. Scholars such as Roger Ellis (1993) and John Hogg (2003) note that this figure is not part of Bridget’s authenticated Revelationes, but rather a later devotional addition, possibly linked to medieval interest in numerical symbolism and Christ’s physical suffering.
The Catholic Church has never formally endorsed the historical accuracy of the "5,480 blows" tradition or the accompanying promises. In fact, the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (Handbook of Indulgences) of the modern Roman Catholic Church does not list such promises, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued cautionary statements about attributing supernatural efficacy to unauthenticated private revelations.
Conclusion
Saint Bridget of Sweden remains a towering figure in Christian mysticism and medieval devotion. While her canonized Revelationes provide profound theological and devotional insights, the popular tradition concerning the number of blows Christ received during His Passion appears to stem from later devotional elaborations rather than her original, Church-approved writings. Thus, it should be interpreted within the broader context of medieval piety rather than as a doctrinal or historically verified account.
References
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Ellis, R. (1993). The Revelations of Saint Birgitta of Sweden: Volume I. Oxford University Press.
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Sahlin, C. (2001). Birgitta of Sweden and the Voice of Prophecy. Boydell & Brewer.
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Hogg, J. (2003). Saint Bridget: Prophetess of Sweden. Gracewing Publishing.
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Duffy, E. (2005). Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes. Yale University Press.
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Vatican (1968). Enchiridion Indulgentiarum: Normae et Concessiones.
