| Brigid of Ireland (February 1st) is also known as "Bride," "Brigit," and "Bridget" (all attempts to transliterate her name from the ancient Celtic language). Next to Patrick, Brigid is the most beloved of Irish saints. She was born in the middle years of the fifth century and raised in a Druid household. Early in her life, she decided to devote herself to God as a Christian. It is said that she was baptized by Patrick himself, which is certainly possible.
She became a nun and gathered a group of women around her, founding a convent in 470 at Kildare. In order to ensure that her community could receive the sacraments regularly, she persuaded the leader of community of monks to be ordained as a bishop and move to Kildare, thus establishing the only known Irish double-monastery of men and women. This community greatly contributed to the spread of Christianity throughout Ireland. Brigid took an active role in policy-making decisions of the larger Church, and she exercised a jurisdictional authority. There is even a story that she was consecrated a bishop.
There are hundreds of stories about Brigid, telling particularly of her concern for the poor (most of these also contain accounts of healings and various other miracles). Other stories show the influence of Irish folklore, such as the tale of her changing her bathwater into beer to satisfy some visiting clergy! Brigid's personality cult is deeply embedded in the Irish/Gaelic/Celtic popular culture, and though few details other life are known for certain, there is no doubt that she was a major figure in the birth of the Church in Ireland. She died ca.524 at Kildare and was buried there. In the ninth century, her remains were re-interred with those of Patrick at Downpatrick. |
