Bridgettine

Bridgettine refers to the Bridgettine Order, or to Saint Bridget of Sweden and her followers. The order is officially known as the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Ordo Sanctae Salvatoris) and is commonly called the Bridgettines.

Origin and foundation

Bridget of Sweden, a 14th-century mystic and reformer, inspired a new monastic rule intended to combine contemplative prayer with active service. The order established a distinctive double monastery structure in which a community of nuns lived alongside a community of monks within the same complex, but in separate cloisters and under separate superiors. The communities shared common vows, liturgy, and a central governance under an abbess who headed the nuns and held overall authority.

Organization and life

Bridgettine houses emphasized devotion to the Eucharist and to Mary, as well as education and charitable works. The motherhouse was founded at Vadstena in Sweden, which served as a spiritual center for the order. Across Europe, additional houses were established, including notable establishments in England and other parts of the continent, reflecting both religious devotion and the educational mission of the order.

History and legacy

The Bridgettine order grew rapidly in the late medieval period but suffered suppression during the Protestant Reformation, with many houses dissolved or secularized. In the modern era, the order or its offshoots continued in some regions and has experienced revival in various countries. Today, Bridgettine communities, often known as Bridgettine Sisters, continue both contemplative and service-oriented work, maintaining the legacy of Saint Bridget’s reform impulse in education, liturgy, and care for the vulnerable.