Princess Eugenie of Sweden... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Let us not grow weary while doing good. She has done what she could.
Galatians 6:9; Mark 14:8

Princess Eugenie of Sweden (1830 - 1889) had found peace with God through the influence of a lady-in-waiting at court. Her poor health soon made it clear that she would not marry. So she devoted her love and her financial means to the poor and sick citizens in her land.

Wirth her support various orphanages, hospitals and residences for senior citizens were built. For this purpose she sold the greater part of her jewellery. Her unselfish action brought relief and blessing to many people. But it also caused much criticism in upper class circles, who considered it foolishness.

Eugenie not only donated her money; she also visited the orphans and invalids. For many of them she used to pray by name and persistently, e.g. for a woman whose withdrawn attitude impressed her. After some time she received an answer to her prayers. When she approached the woman's bed again, she was greeted with the words, "I thank God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, and that He has cleansed me from my sins." Tears ran down the woman's face as she spoke. "In those tears," the princess commented, "I recognized my jewels."

In her last will and testament dated 1885 Princess Eugenie mentioned her Saviour and His love, besides the fact that Christians had "no continuing city" here (Hebrews 13, 14). This conviction of her faith marked her life and motivated her to "lay up treasure in heaven". A brief biography of her life ends with the words: "She has done what she could."

Today's reading: Psalm 91