|
Also known as
Bride; Bride of the Isles; Bridget of Ireland; Bridget; Brigid of Kildare
Brigit; Ffraid; Mary of the Gael
Memorials
1 February;
10 June (translation of relics)
Profile
Daughter of Dubtach, pagan Scottish king of Leinster, and Brocca, a
Christian Pictish slave who had been baptized by Saint Patrick. Just
before Brigid's birth, her mother was sold to a Druid landowner. Brigid
remained with her mother till she was old enough to serve her legal owner
Dubtach, her father.
She grew up marked by her high spirits and tender heart, and as a child,
she heard Saint Patrick preach, which she never forgot. She could not bear
to see anyone hungry or cold, and to help them, often gave away things
that were Dubtach's. When Dubtach protested, she replied that "Christ
dwelt in every creature". Dubtach tried to sell her to the King of
Leinster, and while they bargained, she gave a treasured sword of her
father's to a leper. Dubtach was about to strike her when Brigid explained
she had given the sword to God through the leper, because of its great
value. The King, a Christian, forbade Dubtach to strike her, saying "Her
merit before God is greater than ours". Dubtach solved this domestic
problem by giving Brigid her freedom.
Brigid's aged mother was in charge of her master's dairy. Brigid took
charge ,and often gave away the produce. But the dairy prospered under her
(hence her patronage of milk maids, dairy workers, cattle, etc.), and the
Druid freed Brigid's mother.
Brigid returned to her father, who arranged a marriage for her with a
young bard. Bride refused, and to keep her virginity, went to Bishop Mel,
a pupil of Saint Patrick's, and took her first vows. Legend says that she
prayed that her beauty be taken from her so no one would seek her hand in
marriage; her prayer was granted, and she regained her beauty only after
making her vows. Another tale says that when Saint Patrick heard her final
vows, he mistakenly used the form for ordaining priests. When told of it
he replied, "So be it, my son, she is destined for great things."
Her first convent started with seven nuns. At the invitation of bishops,
she started convents all over Ireland. She was a great traveler,
especially considering the conditions of the time, which led to her
patronage of travelers, sailors, etc. Brigid invented the double
monastery, the monastery of Kildare on the Liffey being for both monks and
nuns. Combeth, noted for his skill in metalwork, became its first bishop;
this connection and the installation of a bell that lasted over 1000 years
apparently led to her patronage of blacksmiths and those in related
fields.
Born
453 at Faughart, County Louth, Ireland
Died
1 February 523 at Kildare, Ireland of natural causes; buried in
Downpatrick, Ireland with Saint Patrick and Saint Columba; head removed to
Jesuit church in Lisbon, Portugal
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Name Meaning
fiery arrow (= brigid)
Patronage
babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle, chicken farmers, children whose
parents are not married, dairymaids, dairy workers, fugitives, infants,
Ireland, Leinster, Ireland, mariners, midwives, milk maids, newborn
babies, nuns, poets, poultry farmers, poultry raisers, sailors, scholars,
travelers, watermen,
Representation
abbess, usually holding a lamp or candle, often with a cow nearby
Readings
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us. I would like an
abundance of peace. I would like full vessels of charity. I would like
rich treasures of mercy. I would like cheerfulness to preside over all. I
would like Jesus to be present. I would like the three Marys of
illustrious renown to be with us. I would like the friends of Heaven to be
gathered around us from all parts. I would like myself to be a rent payer
to the Lord; that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good
blessing upon me. I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all
eternity.
Saint Brigid
|
