St Brigid
| St. Brigid was born in AD 450 in Faughart, near Dundalk in County Louth. Her father, Dubhthach, was a pagan chieftain of Leinster, and her mother, Broicsech, was a Christian. Brigid`s father named her after one of the most powerful goddesses of the pagan religion- the goddess of fire, whose manifestations were song, craftsmanship, and poetry. He kept Brigid and her mother as slaves even though he was a wealthy man. Brigid spent her earlier life cooking, cleaning, washing and feeding the animals on her father`s farm. She lived during the time of Patrick and was inspired by his preaching’s to become a Christian. When Brigid turned eighteen, she stopped working for her father. Brigid`s father wanted her to find a husband, but Brigid had decided that she would spend her life working for God by looking after poor, sick and elderly people. Legend says that she prayed that her beauty would be taken away from her so no one would seek her hand in marriage; her prayer was granted. Brigid`s charity angered her father because he thought she was being too generous to the poor. When she finally gave away his jewel-encrusted sword to a leper, her father realised that she would be best suited to religious life. Brigid finally entered the convent. She received her veil from St. Macaille. Legend also says that Brigid regained her beauty after making her vows and that God made her more beautiful than ever. News of Brigid’s good works spread and soon many young girls from all over the country joined her in the convent. Brigid founded many convents all over Ireland; the most famous one was in County Kildare. It is said that this convent was built beside an Oak tree where the town Kildare now stands. Around 470 she also founded a double monastery, for nuns and monks, in Kildare. She also founded a school of art, including metal work and illumination, and thus the famous illuminated manuscript Book of Kildare was created. St. Brigid`s Cross Making a St.Brigid`s Cross is one of the traditional rituals in Ireland to celebrate the beginning of early spring, 1st February. The crosses are made of rushes that are pulled rather than cut. They are hung by the door and in the rafters to protect the house from fire and evil. According to tradition the old cross is burned to keep fire from the house. Brigid and her cross are linked together by the story that she wove this form of cross at the deathbed of either her father or a pagan lord, who upon hearing what the cross meant, asked to be baptised. Brigid died in AD 524. After some time, her remains were exhumed and transferred to Downpatrick to rest with the two other patron saints of Ireland, Patrick and St. Columcille. Her skull was brought to Lisbon, where it remains to this day. Brigid is the female patron saint of Ireland. She is also known as Muire na nGael or Mary of the Gael which means ‘Our Lady of the Irish`. (From the wbsite of St. Brigid`s GNS, Glasnevin, Dublin11. Email: stbrigid. Glasnevin@gmail.com) |