Today we celebrate Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271–1336): she was a queen consort, a mother, a tireless peacemaker, and a Franciscan tertiary, canonized by the Catholic Church (1625) for her life of piety, charity, and commitment to peace. She is venerated for her devotion to the poor, her deep Christian spirit, and her ability to mediate in conflicts.

From childhood she showed a special inclination toward a life of prayer, fasting, and good works. At the age of 12, Elizabeth was given in marriage to King Denis I of Portugal (as was customary in royal alliances of the time). Despite her husband’s infidelities and the often dissolute life of the court, Elizabeth remained faithful to her Christian values. She knew how to unite her role as queen with a life of prayer, fasting, and constant help for those in need. After her husband’s death in 1325, Elizabeth withdrew to live in the monastery of the Poor Clares in Coimbra, where she entered as a Franciscan tertiary and lived in simplicity, prayer, and charity, while continuing to act as a mediator and a figure of moral authority.

—She is the patron saint of peacemakers. Her legacy goes beyond the history of Portugal and makes her one of the great female figures of the Church.