St. Elizabeth of Hungary was born into royalty in 1207 and married Louis IV of Thuringia while still young. As a princess, she became known for using her wealth to care for the poor, hungry and sick rather than keeping the privileges of court life for herself.

After her husband died unexpectedly, Elizabeth devoted herself even more completely to charitable service. She established a hospital and personally cared for those in need, living with remarkable simplicity until her own death at only twenty-four years old. Her short life became one of the Church’s best-known examples of charity lived through practical action.