聖伊莎貝拉（法國）
伊莎貝拉生於1225年，是法國國王路易八世的女兒，也是法國國王路易九世（聖路易）妹妹。伊莎貝拉才貌雙全，聖德出眾。她不愛穿華美衣服，祈禱時常神魂超拔，除普通守齋日期外，每星期守嚴齋三次。她研究拉丁文學，以便閱讀教會經文和教父著作。她因過分克己，突然患重病，母后很擔憂，便去詢問一位獲賜神恩的賢婦。這位賢婦回答道：「公主的病，不久自會痊癒；但是在世俗的角度說來，她今後不能再算『活』人了，因為她將與世俗完全斷絕關係。」奧國伯爵和耶路撒冷王都先後向她求婚，但是她立志守貞不嫁。
她每日常與許多窮人同席，並親自伺候他們。飯後，出外探視貧病。她生了好幾場重病；但她最大的精神打擊，是十字軍戰事失利，和她胞兄被敵軍擄去。母后去世後，她決定創立一座方濟各女修院，遵照聖加勒的會規。一些著名方濟各會士如聖文德等，都參加起草會規的工作。這個方濟各女修院，便是有名的隆尚女修院。
伊莎貝拉自己並沒有正式加入修會，她穿世俗服裝，住在修院隔隣。她不加入修會的原因有二：第一個原因是她體弱多病，不易全守會規；第二個原因是她不願當院長。可是她仍照常守齋，而且幾乎全日守靜默。她每次領聖體前，向她的女傭求恕。這樣的生活，她過了十年。臨死前，一連幾夜作長禱，神魂超拔；1270年安逝。
祈禱
天主，你賜給伊莎貝拉捨棄榮華，度照顧貧病的愛德生活，求你藉她的榜樣和祈禱，幫助我們謙卑自下，在各自的崗位，為主服務。因你的聖子、我們的主耶穌基督，他和你及聖神，是唯一天主，永生永王，亞孟。
Saint Isabel of France
St. Isabel of France was born in 1225, and was the daughter of King Louis VIII of France. She also was the younger sister of St. King Louis IX of France, and Alfonso, the Count of Poitiers. She was the older sister of King Charles I of Sicily. Isabel’s father died when she was two, and she became an expert in the Latin language. She turned down several opportunities of getting married, with a desire to serve the Church by building a monastery. She founded a monastery of the Order of Poor Ladies of St. Clare of Assisi. The Sisters were called “Sisters of the Humble Order of Servants of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary”.
On June 10, 1256, the first stone of the monastery Church was laid. In 1259, Pope Alexander IV gave his sanction to the new Rule, which St. Isabel composed. She did this with the help of four leading Franciscans, including St. Bonaventure. This Rule was created solely for this monastery, which was named the Monastery of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin.
She never became a Sister, or accepted the role as Abbes, but lived next door in her home. St. Isabel died in her house at Longchamp on February 23, 1270, after serving the sick and poor for most of her life. She was buried in the monastery Church.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isabel of France as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in the humility she lived out.
St. Isabel of France, you were born with great political and worldly power. Despite this, you chose to humbly serve God as a consecrated virgin.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so humbly!
You worked to establish a convent for Poor Clares and to have a new rule written for the nuns to follow. When the new rule was approved by the Pope, he gave your convent the title Enclosed Sisters Minor, as St. Francis named his order the Friars Minor to emphasize humility.
Pray for me, that I may grow in the spirit of humility in my life. Pray that I may always do all I can to serve God humbly in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isabel of France, pray for us.
資料來源 References
圖：https://twitter.com/NY_Arch/status/1100410158046371842/photo/1
中文內容：https://guodegang.pixnet.net/blog/post/267271157
English text:
https://www.newmanministry.com/saints/saint-isabel-of-france
https://www.praymorenovenas.com/st-isabel-of-france-novena