Elizabeth of Reute
German Franciscan mystic and saint
Feast: 25 November (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Elizabeth Achler, 'the good Betha', was born at Waldsee in Swabia on 25 November 1386 and took the habit of the Third Order of St Francis at fourteen. Leaving home, she lived with a devout tertiary by weaving, often in hunger.
She then entered a house of tertiaries at Reute, working in the kitchen and living in such seclusion, fasting and prayer that she was called 'the Recluse'. She died on 25 November 1420.
The miracles
The Holy See ratified the honour paid to her on 19 June 1766, under Pope Clement XIII.
Why that counted as sanctity
A hidden tertiary whose life was prayer and humble work.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Blessed Elizabeth of Reute
- Wikidata Q75141 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Elizabeth of Reute (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.