Birgitta of Sweden: Constructing Female Space in Medieval Sainthood and Pilgrimage
As a contemporary “living saint” – a figure who was revered as saintly during her lifetime – Saint Birgitta of Sweden made a unique contribution to the medieval religious landscape around her. Her identities as a mother, pilgrim, monastic founder, and mystic were key to the development of her image and to her success in gaining religious and social authority, no easy feat for a medieval woman. Additionally, her identification with the Virgin Mary provided a model for Birgitta’s relationship with her own female devotees. In developing an image that reflected her religious achievements and engagement with issues of womanhood, Birgitta provided an inspiration for other medieval women, becoming a crucial figure in female pilgrimage and devotion.