The Abbey of our lady and St. Brigid, better known as the monastery in Vadstena, situated on lake vättern, in the diocese of linköping. The monastery was founded in 1346 by St. Bridget. In 1384, the monastery was consecrated by the Bishop of linköping. St. Brigid died in 1381, and was canonized in 1391.

The monastery took both men and women (among the monks were 25 men and 60 women). Over time, the Abbey became the spiritual center of the country and became the largest land ownership in Sweden. The Abbey was ruled by hospitals and nursing homes, supported women from aristocratic circles, who had a bad reputation among Church authorities.

After the reformation in 1527 monastic communities in Sweden, it was actually prohibited to accept new novices. Those monks who were already in the monasteries, were allowed to stay to care for the property, or leave the walls of the monastery by their own volition. However, the monastery in Vadstena was exempt from this ban, and he could take the newcomers even after the reformation, but only by special permission of the monarch.

The Abbey occupied a favorable position in the country because of its international reputation and close ties with the Swedish nobility. Many of the monks and nuns were from noble families, including the sister of the king, Anna. The monastery also served as the burial place for many of the nobles, therefore, not surprising that for a long time the Abbey existed due to the generous donations of the nobility.

In 1555 the monastery in Vadstena was purely feminine. During the reign of king Johan III (1569-1592, the Abbey was restored and regained the right to take novices without any restrictions. But in 1594 Charles IX ordered to dissolve the Abbey, after which came the decline of the monastery. In the 17th century the buildings were empty for 40 years, later, there was founded a home for veterans and school for children of the military, and after the closure has been opened hospital.

A new convent in the ancient Abbey was founded in 1963 and in 1991 he became an independent Abbey. Thus, the order founded by Saint Bridget, gradually returning to the monastery of Vadstena.