SOURCE: An introduction to The Revelations of Saint Birgitta, edited by W. P. Cumming, Oxford University Press, 1929, pp. xxiii-xxix.

In the following excerpt, Cumming summarizes St. Birgitta's life and the literary merit of her Revelations.

A. Gi; A. the Life of Saint Birgitta1 =~ Sthe Life of Saint Birgitta1

In the year 1302 or 1303² Birgitta³ was born at Finstad, a town a few miles from Upsala in the province of Upland. Her father was Birger, the lagman or governor of Upland.

Birgitta began to have visions at the age of seven;⁴ in these visions an angel, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Christ, usually appeared and talked to her. When she was 10 years of age she heard a sermon on the passion of Christ. That night Christ appeared to her as if he had just been crucified, and said, 'Thus am I tortured'. Birgitta, thinking that the wounds were fresh, asked...