The Greatest of These is Love: The Life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

by Lori Pieper

Though St. Elizabeth of Hungary lived over 800 years ago, she has a unique appeal for Christians today. Love, rather than ideology or politics, was the basis of her whole life. Born in 1207, the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and married to Ludwig IV, the Landgraf of Thuringia, Elizabeth was a happily married woman who loved her husband and children. As a lover of the poor, she not only practiced charity, but protested the injustices practiced against the poor in the feudal world, even her husband's own policies. Above all, Elizabeth hungered for God and found him in her everyday activities as a noblewoman, ruler, wife and mother before she found him in religious life and service to the poor in imitation of St. Francis. Originally published in 2007 to coincide with the 800th anniversary of St. Elizabeth's birth, this life, now revised and expanded, is based on the most up-to-date research and is accompanied by the testimonies given at her canonization process, including some that have never before been translated into English.

Genres: Nonfiction

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Katie Marquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, approachable look at a remarkable woman's life.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book from cover to cover. This was well-done for a scholarly work. Three stars because I couldn't take all of the Catholic mysticism and justification by works, and it's just hard for me to know what to believe. I hope Elizabeth only depended on Christ for her salvation, not rejecting her wealth, etc. But if she did trust in Christ alone, I think she'd be rolling in her grave to have people praying to her.

[Paul Baker]

I am speechless as the humans say. It is hard to grasp the lives of people who have such grace in their lives. This book could encourage you (it should) but it could also make you ask why you have wasted so much of your life not serving the Lord our God.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

review coming soon...