Editing Bridget of Sweden (section)

== Evaluations and interpretations ==
{{The Sacred Heart}}

Although he was initially interested in Bridget's ''Revelations'', [[Martin Luther]] would later conclude that her visions were mere ravings.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NPSnDgAAQBAJ&dq=Bridget+of+Sweden+%2B+Martin+Luther&pg=PA278 Rex, Richard. ''The Making of Martin Luther'', Princeton University Press, 2017], {{ISBN|978-1400888542}}, p. 45</ref> Some 19th-century writers presented her as a forerunner of the [[Protestant Reformation]] due to her criticism of popes, bishops and other members of the clergy who did not live in accordance with the teachings of their religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/06/not-so-secular-sweden|title=Not So Secular Sweden by Matthew Milliner|date=June 2014|work=[[First Things]]|publisher=Institute on Religion and Public Life|access-date=18 May 2014|quote=Like England, Sweden went Protestant during the Reformation. But the Lutheran pastor who met us there was not the steward of an empty shell, but instead oversaw a living devotional site frequented by Protestants and Catholics alike. (It does not hurt that Birgitta's forceful critique of the papacy led some to see her as proto-Protestant.)}}</ref> However, she never criticized that teaching or the church as such.

Of her as depicted in his play ''Folkungasagan'' [[August Strindberg]] explained Bridget as "a power-hungry, vainglorious woman who intentionally vied for sainthood", adding "of this unpleasant woman and according to the historical documents I made the uncontrollable ninny now in my drama, although in her honor I let her awaken to clarity about her silliness and her arrogance."<ref name=":2">[http://www.fof.se/tidning/2003/3/heliga-birgittas-comeback Heliga Birgittas comeback – Forskning&Framsteg]</ref>

''[[Centuries of Selfies]]'' (2020) describes how Bridget damaged [[Magnus IV of Sweden|King Magnus]] and [[Blanche of Namur|Queen Blanche]] by accusing them of "erotic deviations, extravagance and murderous plots",<ref>{{cite book | last=Demitz | first=Jacob Truedson | title=Centuries of Selfies: Portraits commissioned by Swedish kings and queens| publisher=Vulkan Förlag | publication-place=Stockholm; New York | date=2020 | isbn=978-91-89179-63-9 | others=Preface by [[Ulf Sundberg]]|title-link=Centuries of Selfies|pages=27}}</ref> a description particularly noted by ''[[Dala-Demokraten]]'' as likely to upset Swedish nuns.<ref>{{ cite news | last = Kyhle | first = Lars | date = 29 May 1997 | title = Blood-Swain och Olaf Scotking, Svenska kungar från Ludvikas och USA:s horisont | publisher = Dala-Demokraten | pages = 3 }}</ref> With the eventual translation of her Latin works into Swedish, increased understanding and appreciation of her evolved in some Swedish circles,<ref>[http://www.fof.se/tidning/2003/3/heliga-birgittas-comeback Heliga Birgittas comeback – Forskning&Framsteg (The Comeback of Saint Bridget – Research and Progress)],</ref> but more historians have shown how Bridget used personally and politically motivated mud-slinging against people she didn't like.<ref>[http://libris.kb.se/bib/l2cvjpqlj5l9j5k9 2023 book] by [[:sv:Erik Petersson (författare)|Erik Petersson]] pp. 43-44</ref>