Saint Elizabeth's Three Crowns by Blanche Jennings Thompson

He sent them all away, and gave them money so they would not have to resort to prostitution to support their families. Even sending strange women to his chambers to tempt him. Some of the nobles of the court encouraged Louis to take a mistress, as was customary during that time. (And though this is not in the book, because it IS a children’s book after all, I do want to mention one of my favorite details of Louis and Elizabeth’s relationship.

They were married when Elizabeth was only twelve. But the Queen and Elizabeth’s loyal fiancée Louis was always there to protect her and defend her honor. Her mother back in Hungary was assassinated, she was mocked and belittled by the palace staff and even her own playmates for her precocious behavior and holiness, and her future father-in-law was excommunicated, which meant the whole castle was deprived of a priest and the sacraments.Īs she grew older, the court fought with the Queen of Thunguria to send Elizabeth back to her home country.

It’s an easy read, but by no means dumbed down for older audiences.Įlizabeth was Princess of Hungary, only a toddler when sent to Thunguria (in present-day Germany) to meet her future husband, Louis. I love the Ignatius children’s Saints books for their simplicity, yet careful attention to detail and historical accuracy. It has been years since I read this little book, and I fell in love with it all over again. Only four years after her death she was canonized a saint. Her subjects were never able to grow accustomed to the queen who lived the life of a saint, but they always appreciated her generosity and saw in her such simplicity and holiness. When she emptied the castle store-houses of grain for the poor, Jesus would miraculously fill them up again. Sometimes she gave everything away and had nothing nice to wear, but Jesus always provided for her at the last minute. Francis and she constantly gave her jewels and best clothes to the poor. She became a member of the Third Order of St. Although Elizabeth was a princess, she longed to live the kind of poverty she heard about through the Franciscans. As she would play games with other children, she would contrive little ways to sneak into the chapel and have a visit with Jesus. They noticed that she was always trying to be holy. From the beginning of her life in her new castle, Elizabeth was ridiculed by all of those people who were jealous of her. By the age of four she was already engaged to be married and was sent far away from her home to live with Louis, her husband-to-be, who was only 10 years old. She was born Princess Elizabeth of Hungary, the daughter of King Andrew. Francis of Assisi, she lived most of her life in a castle surrounded by incredible wealth. This new story in the Vision Books series of saints for 9 - 15 year olds is aobut Saint Elizabeth of Hungary who spent her life differently than most saints.

Saint Elizabeth's Three Crowns by Blanche Jennings Thompson