St. Brigid of Ireland

Saint of the Month, 

St. Brigid of Ireland, Abbess (one of our stained-glass windows!)

Saint Brigid of Kildare, also known as Brigid of Ireland, was born around 450 AD in Faughart, near Dundalk in County Louth, Ireland. Her mother, Brocca, was a Christian slave from Portugal who had been baptized by Saint Patrick, while her father, Dubhthach, was a pagan chieftain of Leinster. From her earliest years, Brigid displayed exceptional piety and charity, often giving away her father's possessions to the poor and needy. As a young woman, Brigid resisted attempts to arrange her marriage, instead choosing to dedicate her life to God. At the age of 15, Brigid received the veil from Saint Macaille and, together with seven other young women, formed the beginning of a convent at Croghan Hill. In 470 AD, Brigid founded her most famous monastery at Kildare, on the site of a pagan shrine to the Celtic goddess Brigid. This double monastery, housing both men and women in separate quarters, became a center of religion and learning in Ireland. As abbess, Brigid wielded considerable power and influence, guiding the community with wisdom and prudence. The monastery at Kildare became renowned for its artwork, particularly its beautifully illuminated manuscripts and intricate metalwork. Brigid's influence extended far beyond the walls of her monastery. She traveled extensively throughout Ireland, founding numerous convents and churches. Her work in spreading the Christian faith earned her the title "Mary of the Gael," second only to Saint Patrick in her impact on Irish Christianity. Brigid was known for her miraculous abilities, often associated with healing, multiplication of food, and calming the elements. One famous legend tells of how she transformed her bathwater into beer to serve visiting clerics! The saint's compassion and generosity became legendary. She was particularly known for her care of the poor, the sick, and lepers. Brigid's miracles often involved the multiplication of food and drink to feed the hungry and thirsty. Her life embodied the values of hospitality, peace-making, and equality, which were central to her understanding of the Gospel. In an era when women typically held little power, Brigid was an exception, with her abbey at Kildare becoming a significant political and cultural force in early medieval Ireland . Saint Brigid died on February 1, 523 AD, and was buried at Kildare Cathedral. Her feast day is celebrated on February 1st, which coincides with Imbolc, the Celtic festival marking the beginning of spring.

Brigid's veneration spread rapidly throughout Ireland and beyond, with churches dedicated to her in England, Wales, and continental Europe. Saint Brigid's legacy continues to inspire those who seek to emulate her compassion, faith, and dedication to serving others in Christ's name.

When Brigid decided to build her monastery, she knew the perfect spot - a fertile plain beside a forest, with a lake nearby for water. But the land belonged to the King of Leinster, who refused her request. Undeterred, Brigid prayed for God's help, then approached the king with a humble plea: "Will you give me as much land as my cloak can cover?" The king laughed, thinking it a foolish request given the small size of her cloak. He agreed, amused by what he saw as the nun's naivety. Brigid laid her cloak on the ground and asked four of her sisters to each take a corner. As the women began to walk in different directions, the cloak miraculously expanded. It grew and grew, stretching across acres of land. The astonished king watched as Brigid's cloak covered pastures, forests, and hills. Realizing he had witnessed a true miracle, the king not only granted her the covered land but became a patron of her monastery. He was moved by Brigid's faith and cleverness in using his own words to secure a foundation for her religious community. Through this legendary act, Brigid demonstrated her trust in God's providence and her determination to create a place of worship and service. The expanding cloak became a symbol of Brigid's expansive vision for her monastery - a center of learning, charity, and faith that would grow to shape Irish Christianity for generations to come.

In Christ,

Fr. Luke Fleck