It is rare in history, especially in the late Middle Ages, to find a woman capable of finding her own way and making a name for herself without the help of a man. Yet that's exactly what Birgitta Bigersdotter did: she realized her potential and through the visions of God blessed her, she used everything she had and rose to become "one of the great saints of Scandinavia” (Lindqvist 71). Birgitta was the only woman in the 14th century to be made a saint and the only woman to found her own monastic order which is still relevant today (Morris 1). Saint Bridget overcame the limitations imposed on women of that time by turning to religion. By proving her piety and "on the basis of recognized holiness and theocratic equality, she was able to communicate effectively with emperors and popes, kings and bishops, women and men, children and servants" ("Birger Gregersson and Thomas Gascoigne: The Life of Saint Birgitta") How is it that a woman was able to reach such heights in a medieval society dominated by men? To answer this question, we must look at Swedish society today When it comes to Europe, Sweden could be considered a backward country. In many ways, Sweden was behind its more advanced neighbors. incredible years of Viking conquest, these were the years of suffering, trying to put this country back together. It seemed that everything happened in Sweden much later than in most other parts of Europe. Sweden only had common law. in the mid-14th century, the capital, Stockholm, was not established until the 13th century, Christianity also arrived late, in the 11th century (Morris 12). One of the advantages of this is that they avoided the struggle between the Church and the European Union middle of paper (Lindqvist 72). Works Cited “Saint Bridget of Sweden”. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition (2013): 1.Academic Search Premier. Internet. March 29, 2014. Mazzoni, Cristina. “On women, holiness and the Middle Ages”. Magistra 19.2 (2013): 35-40. Premier Academic Research. Internet. March 29, 2014. Morris, Bridget. Saint Birgitta of Sweden. Boydell & Brewer, 1999. Print. “BRIDGET OF SWEDEN, Saint. » (nd): Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. March 29, 2014. “Saint Birgitta; Light of the North." Swedish Press 05 2003: 18. ProQuest. March 30, 2014 Bulter, Alban The Lives of the Saints. (1866): 9-12 Zehringer, William C. "St. The image of perfection of Birgitta of Sweden. "New Oxford Review 76.11 (2009): 32-35. Academic research completed. Web. March 30, 2014." Birger Gregersson and Thomas Gascoigne: The Life of Saint Birgitta. " Vox Benedictina, 8.2 (1991): 323-322.