![[Saint Elizabeth holy card]](sainte07.jpg "17kb jpg antique holy card of Saint Elizabeth, artist unknown; if you have information on this card, please email me; please don't write to ask about the image")
The Peacemaker Isabel of Portugal Isabella of Portugal
4 July formerly 8 July
The king was known for his hard work, his poetic nature, and his lack of morals. Elizabeth suffered through years of abuse and adultery, praying all the while for his conversion, and working with the poor and sick. Mother of two, Princess Constantia and Prince Affonso. She sometimes convinced the ladies of the court to work with her, but most of the time she just incurred their jealousy and ill will. The king appears to have reformed late in life, though whether from Elizabeth's faith or his imminent death is unknown.
The Prince Affonso rebelled against the favours Diniz bestowed on his illegitimate sons, and in 1323 forces of the king and prince clashed in open civil war. Though she had been unjustly accused of siding with her son against the crown, Elizabeth rode onto the battlefield between them, and was able to reconcile father and son, and prevent bloodshed. This led to her patronage as a peacemaker, and as one invoked in time of war and conflict.
Widowed in 1325. After the king's death, she distributed her property to the poor, became a Franciscan tertiary, and retired to a monastery of Poor Clares she had founded at Coimbra.
In 1336 her son, now King Affonso IV, marched against his son-in-law, the King of Castile to punish him for being a negligent and abusive husband. Despite her age and ill health, Elizabeth hurried to the battlefield at Estremoz, and again managed to make peace in her family, and thus maintain peace in her land.
against jealousy brides charitable societies charitable workers charities Coimbra, Portugal difficult marriages falsely accused people invoked in time of war peace queens tertiaries victims of adultery victims of jealousy victims of unfaithfulness widows
Franciscan nun rose in her hand Franciscan nun with a beggar nearby Franciscan nun with a jug in her hand Franciscan tertiary nun woman carrying roses in her lap in winter woman crowned with roses
Catholic Encyclopedia Catholic Online For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein Google Directory New Catholic Dictionary Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society Wanderer, by Maria J Cirurgiao and Michael D. Hull Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson