Rome

CHURCH OF ST. BRIDGET (Ch. 39)

“Than was ther a gret jentylwoman in Rome preyng thys creatur to be godmodyr of hir childe and namyd it aftyr Seynt Brigypt, for they haddyn knowlach of hir in hir lyvetyme. And so sche dede. (lines 2206-9)

Aftyrward this creatur spak wyth Seynt Brydys mayden in Rome, but sche cowd not undirstondyn what sche seyd. Than had sche a man that cowde undirstondyn hir langage, and that man tolde Seynt Brygiptys mayden what this creatur seyde and how sche askyd aftyr Seynt Brigypt, hir lady. Than the mayden seyd that hir lady, Seynt Brigypt, was goodly and meke to every creatur and that sche had a lawhyng cher. And also the good man wher this creatur was at hoste telde hir that he knew hir hys owyn selfe but he wend lityl that sche had ben so holy a woman as sche was, for sche was evyr homly and goodly to alle creaturys that woldyn spekyn wyth hir. (lines 2223-32)

St. Bridget of Sweden came to Rome for the Jubilee of 1350, remaining until her death in 1373. When Bridget arrived she was 46 years old, a wife and mother of eight. Her advocacy, with that of St. Catherine of Siena helped bring the Papacy back to Rome. The medieval mystic, like Julian of Norwich, is a model for Margery Kempe. Thus, it is no surprise that her account of Bridget’s legacy, and description of Bridget’s house, which had become a church, are lengthier than any other. In contrast, John Capgrave's long account of Rome's churches, does not mention the St. Bridget's, but does include a miracle experienced by the saint when a crucifix spoke to her as she was praying in St. Paul's Outside the Walls (John Capgrave, Ye Solace of Pilgrimes: A Description of Rome circa A.D. 1450 by John Capgrave, an Austin Friar of King's Lynn, ed. C. A. Milles, London: Oxford University Press, 1911, 67).

Sche was in the chawmbre that Seynt Brigypt deyd in, and herd a Dewche preste prechyn of hir therin and of hir revelacyonys and of hir maner of levyng. And sche knelyd also on the ston on the whech owr Lord aperyd to Seynt Brigypte and telde hir what day sche schuld deyn on. And this was on of Seynt Brigyptys days that this creatur was in hir chapel, whech befortyme was hir chawmbre that sche deyd in. (lines 2231-36)

In the late 14th century, the Church of St. Bridget was built and dedicated by Pope Boniface IX, who also canonized her on October 7, 1391. It was located on the site of Bridget's house in Rome, where she had opened a hostel and eventually died, caring for pilgrim Swedes. The church was restored in 1513, but in ca. 1540, it was temporarily abandoned after Sweden became Lutheran. Around 1550, Pope Julius III declared it a hostel for converts. In the 18th century, Pope Clement XI repaired the foundation and built the current structure and gave the hostel to the Order of the Holy Savior. The Church of St. Bridget is located just to the right of the Piazza Farnese. See Mariano Armellini, Le Chiese di Roma dal Secolo IV al XIX, Rome: Tipografia Vaticana, 1891; Umberto Gnoli, Topografia topomastica di Roma medioevale e moderna, Foligno, 1984 (2nd ed).

The church was greatly modified and rebuilt in 16th century, and the present facade dates to 1637-41. It was redecorated in 1740s. A corridor leads from the church into the convent, and ends at a staircase that ascends to the room where St. Bridget died, decorated in the late 19th century. There is almost no part of this structure or decoration that dates to Kempe’s time. One reference lists three inscriptions (each above a portal in the nave), written in gothic characters that refer to the devotion of St. Bridget, they supposedly date to the late 14th century. A view of what is today the Piazza Farnese, shows the 17th century facade of this church.

ROSB1: Facade of Church of Santa Brigida (seen from across piazza)

ROSB2: Facade of Santa Brigida