Like all of us, Elizabeth experienced illness, bodily weakness and the approach of death. During the last two or three years of her life, she was often ill. But illness did not discourage her. She would consult a doctor and follow his advice, but always worked as much as she was capable of. Even when she had to stay in bed, she would prepare the wool for the spinning she would later do.

Elizabeth accepted bodily weakness, suffering and death with great serenity as did St. Francis, who called his bodily pains and even death his sisters. Death too is one of God’s creatures, one that we and should accept and even bless, for it is our meeting place with God.

We have a wonderful example of how to approach the thought of death in St. Paul:

"Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and

death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit" (Phil 1:20-24)

To understand death is to understand the value of life. Will we waste our few years on this earth or will we have something to show for them? We have been given talents by God, as in the parable of Jesus (Mt. 25:14-30). Will we profit from them before his return by living a good life that will benefit others?

We should also always remember that we don’t know when our Lord will return for us. St Mechthild of Magdeburg, a mystic of St. Elizabeth’s time, said that God had revealed to her about the saint: "It is right for a messenger to be quick" (The Flowing light of the Godhead). Elizabeth was only twenty four when she died. And yet in that time she had delivered a powerful message to the world. Many of us could die at any time, no matter how young we are.

For us the message of Elizabeth’s life could be: live in such a way that when you die you can look back at your life knowing that you are putting it into the hands of your Creator as a work of art.

Do I accept physical suffering and weakness from God with serenity? Can I find a way to make use of illness, if not for work, then at least for prayer? Do I think from time to time about my own death and the need to prepare for it? If I should die tonight, would my life have been one of real service to God?

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. (Mt. 24:42-44)

The Secular Franciscan Rule

Since they are immersed in the resurrection of Christ, which gives true meaning to Sister Death, let them serenely tend toward the ultimate encounter with the Father (II, 19).