Arne Fälth | Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

Just as the much more famous Saint Birgitta, Ingrid Elof’s daughter from Skänninge founded a convent in her hometown after a call from God. It is very possible that Ingrid’s life's work in Skänninge, which began in 1281, inspired Birgitta to found her convent in Vadstena .

There are many other connections between the two women. Ingrid's niece Kristina was married to Birger Persson, Saint Birgitta's father, in his first marriage.

Birgitta's daughter Cecilia spent some time at the monastery in Skänninge. Ingrid and Birgitta were both ladies of court in Vadstena. They both started the foundations of their convents after their husbands' death, and both were regarded as holy women. Ingrid died 21 years before Birgitta was born, so the two women obviously never got to meet each other, but their work were of great importance for many people in their own time as well as in ours.