canonization edition consists of eight books, the last of
which contains revelations concerning kings and church
leaders that are of political interest and relevance, and
other works, such as the Regula salvatoris and the Sermo
angelicus, which is a collection of daily readings to be
used during the night offi ce at the monastery.
St. Birgitta’s spirituality is characterized by a strong
interest in the humanity of Christ, who is perceived as a
crusading knight impatiently waiting to do justice. She
also identifi es closely with the Virgin, who is the central
devotional fi gure in the Brigettine Order. Her Marian
revelations were popular throughout Europe during
the 15th century. Her legal background is refl ected in
another cycle of visions that involve judgment scenes of
the souls of the departed. Another characteristic is the
practical interest she takes in temporal matters. Hers is a
missionary mysticism, and she is intent upon regenera-
tion and reform. Like the Old Testament prophets, she
puts special emphasis on God’s severe judgment of the
wicked, and she strives to save human souls, to renovate
the Church militant, and to raise the degenerate moral
standards she observes all around her, among clergy
and laypeople alike. The monastic order she founded is
a testimony to her lasting infl uence not only in Sweden,
but also throughout Europe.
Further Reading
Editions
Revelationes S. Birgitte. Lübeck: Ghotan, 1492 [editio prin-
ceps].
Collijn, Isak, ed. Acta et processus canonizacionis beate Birgitte,
efter cod. A14 Holm.,cod. Onob. lat 90, o. cod. Harl. 612,
med inledning, person- och ortregister. Samlingar utgivna
av Svenska fornskrift–sällskapet, ser. 2. Latinska skrifter, 1.
Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1924–31.
Collijn, Isak, ed. Birgerus Gregorii. Legenda sancte Birgitte.
Samlingar utgivna av Svenska fornskrift–sällskapet, ser. 2,
Latinska skrifter, 4. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1946.
Undhagen, Carl-Gustaf, ed. Birger Gregerssons Birgitta-offi cium.
Samlingar utgivna av Svenska fornskrift–sällskapet, ser 2,
Latinska skrifter, 6. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1960.
Bergh, Birger, ed. Den heliga Birgittas Revelaciones: Book VII.
Samlingar utgivna av Svenska fornskrift–sällskapet, ser. 2,
Latinska skrifter, 7.7. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1967.
Bergh, Birger, ed. Sancta Birgitta. Revelaciones: Book V: Liber
questionum. Samlingar utgivna av Svenska fornskrift–säll-
skapet, ser. 2, Latinska skrifter, 7.5. Uppsala: Almqvist &
Wiksell, 1971.
Eklund, Sten, ed. Sancta. Birgitta, Opera minora. II. Sermo Ange-
licus. Samlingar utgivna av Svenska fornskrift–sällskapet, ser.
2, Latinska skrifter 8.2. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1972.
Eklund, Sten, ed. Sancta Birgitta. Opera minora. I. Regula Sal-
vatoris. Samlingar uigivna av Svenska fornskrift–sällskapet,
ser. 2, Latinska skrifter, 8.1. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell,
1975.
Undhagen, Carl-Gustaf, ed. Sancta Birgitta. Revelaciones. Book
I, with Magister Mathias’ Prologue. Samlingar utgivna av
Svenska fornskrift–sällskapet, ser. 2, Latinska skrifter, 7.1.
Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1978.
Morris, Bridget, ed. Book VofSt. Birgitta’s Uppenbarelser. Ed-
ited from MS Cod. Ups. C61. Samlingar utgivna av Svenska
fornskrift–sällskapet, 80. Lund: Blom, 1991.
Literature
Westman, K. B. Birgitta-studier. Uppsala: Akademiska boktryck-
eriet Berling, 1911 [published also as Uppsala universitets
årsskrift 1 (1911)].
Kraft, Salomon. Textstudier till Birgittas revelationer. Kyrkohis-
torisk årsskrift, 29. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1929.
Vernet, F. “Brigitte de Suède.” In Dictionnaire de spiritualité as-
cétique et mystique. Ed. Marcel Viller, S. J. Paris: Beauchesne,
1937, vol. 1, cols. 1943–58.
Brilioth, Yngve. Svenska kyrkans historia. Den senare medeltiden
1274–1521. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1941.
Jørgensen, Johannes. St Bridget of Sweden. 2 vols. Trans. Inge-
borg Lund. London: Longmans, 1954.
Colledge, Eric. “Epistola solitarii ad reges: Alphonse of Pecha as
Organizer of Birgittine and Urbanist Propaganda.” Mediaeval
Studies 18 (1956), 19–49.
Nyberg, Tore. Birgittinische Klostergründungen des Mittelalters.
Bibliotheca historica Lundensis, 15. Lund: Gleerup, 1965.
Ekwall, Sara. Våräldsta Birgittabiografi och dennas viktigaste
varianter. Kungl. vitterhets historie och antikitets akademiens
handlingar, hist. ser., 12. Stockholm: Kungl. vitterhets historie
och antikvitets akademien, 1965.
Montag, Ulrich. Das Werk der heiligen Birgitta von Schweden
in oberdeutscher Überlieferung Texte und Untersuchungen.
Münchener Texte und Untersuchungen zur deutschen Literatur
des Mittelalters, 18. Munich: Beck, 1968.
Klockars, Birgit. Birgitta och böckerna. En undersökning av
den heliga Birgittas källor. Kungl. vitterhets historie och
antikvitets akademiens handlingar, hist. ser., 11. Stockholm:
Kungl. vitterhets historie och antikvitets akademien, 1966.
Kilström, Bengt Ingmar. Bibliographia Birgittina. Skrifter av
och om den heliga Birgitta samt om birgittinska kloster och
birgittinskt fromhetsliv, i urval. Strängnäs: Societatis Sanctae
Birgittae, 1973.
Stolpe, Sven. Birgitta i Sverige. Stockholm: Askild & Karnekull,
1973.
Stolpe, Sven. Birgitta i Rom. Stockholm: Askild & Karnekull,
1973.
Rossing, Anna. Studier i den heliga Birgittas spiritualitet.
Akademisk avhandling för fi losofi e, doktorsexamen, Lit-
teraturvetenskapliga institutionen. Stockholm: Stockholms
Universitet, 1986.
Bridget MorrisBJARNI KOLBEINSSON (d. 1223)
Bjarni Kolbeinsson was the son of the well-known
Norwegian Orkneyian chief Kolbeinn hrúga (“heap”)
and a great-granddaughter of Páll Þorsteinsson, earl
of the Orkneys. Bjarni thus came of a mighty family
in the Isles, as Orkneyinga saga, states, and he was a
close friend of Earl Haraldr Maddaðarson (Orkneyinga
saga, ch. 109). From 1188 until his death (September
15, 1223), he was bishop of the Orkneys. As such, he
initiated the canonization of Earl Ro ̨ gnvaldr Kali Kols-
son, and while he was in offi ce an important part of the
St. Magnus cathedral in Kirkwall was erected. Bjarni
is mentioned fi ve times as a participant in diplomatic
missions or political assemblies in Norway (1194, 1208,BJARNI KOLBEINSSON