THE CELTIC CONNECTION • MARCH 1992
Page 13
Lives ofCeCtic Saints
ST. BRIGID OF KILDARE
By FR. STEPHEN LISTER
St. Brigid holds a place of honour in the history of the Celtic Church — especially in Ireland — as one of the many female saints whose lives have influenced the culture of the British Isles. Her life in particular epitomises the hospitality and charity of the Irish.
Brigid, the daughter of Dubtach, a provincial king, and one of his concubines, was born in Leinster in 452. Under pressure from his wife, Dubtach sold the mother and daughter to a high-born Druid. The Druid recognised that Brigid was an unusual child, a charge sent from God, and despite the fact that she was a slave, he hired a nurse for her. It happened that the nurse was a Christian, possibly one of St. Patrick's early converts, and so she raised Brigid as a Christian.
Brigid was a kind and generous person and was even known on occasion to have multiplied a meagre supply of food to feed those in need. When she eventually returned to her father's household as the dairy maid, she constantly gave away the butter and milk from the dairy to the poor.
Dubtach's wife, already vexed by Brigid's return, was furious over
this and convinced Dubtach to sell her to the High King. Dubtach once again conceded to his wife and took Brigid to Tara.
While he was negotiating with the High King, Brigid gave away Dubtach's best jewelled sword (a present from the High King himself) to a passing leper. The High King, also a Christian, was so touched by Brigid's compassion that he asked Dubtach to grant her freedom, which he did.
As a free woman, it was Brigid's desire to forsake the world to take up the monastic life. She approached St. Mel, (her local bishop and a nephew of St. Patrick) and requested, along with seven other women, to be tonsured a nun. As the bishop was hesitant to do this, Brigid went into the Church to pray. While she was praying, the bishop saw a column of fire shining above her head and reaching up to the roof rafters. He quickly consented to confer monastic vows.
The first monastic community established by St. Brigid was at CroghanHill.lt was from here that she travelled, usually by chariot, to many parts of Ireland, healing the deaf and the blind, healing lepers, and casting out demons. She often
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followed armies into battle and she and her sisters would kneel in prayer between the two armies until they came to a peaceful agreement. She converted many people, and wherever she went she touched the hearts of the most cynical and cold with her faith, compassion and kindness.
The story is told of St. Brendan the Navigator (credited with the pre-Columbus discovery of America) coming to visit St. Brigid. She came in from shepherding her sheep to welcome him and, as she greeted him, she hung her wet cloak on the sun's rays to dry. Brendan's servant tried twice to hang his master's cloak in the same fashion, and finally, St. Brendan himself only managed to do it on the third try!
Once, a throng of paupers came to her and requested adraughtof beer. She had none, but close by there was water that had been drawn for baths. She prayed that the water might be transformed into beer and lo and behold! — after making the sign of the cross on the water, it became beer. As on many other occasions, joy was brought to the hearts of these thirsty people.
The King of Leinster gave her a large property in Kildare (Church of the Oak) and it was here that the first "double monastery" inlreland was established. The monks and nuns celebrated divine service in a partitioned chapel, and had separate quarters where they lived and worked.
St. Brigid was the Abbess, St. Conlaeth was the Abbott and it was through his inspiration that the monks became very skilled in the art of religious metal works, which were used to beautify the new churches that were being established throughout the land.
Under St. Brigid's direction, the monks and nuns of Kildare also produced beautifully illuminated gospels. The Book of Kildare, which mysteriously disappeared in the 17th Century, is said to have been in the same class as the famous Book of Kells attributed to St. Columba. Even now, Irish poets and writers invoke Brigid's name, as their patron saint, before they begin their work.
Thesymbol mostcloselyassociated with St. Brigid is the woven St. Brigid's cross. It is told that she was once comforting a dying man, and as she sat she absent-mindedly braided rushes from the floor of his hut into a cross. It is still common throughout Ireland to make these crosses on St. Brigid's Day (February 1st) and to place them in the rafters of one's home to ward off evil.
She was a tireless traveller throughout Ireland, bringing comfort and solace to many. When she was nearly 70, she made her last exhaustive tour of the whole country. She returned to Kildare and died on February 1, 523. In 1185 her body was found in
Downpatrick with those of St. Patrick and St. Columba. "Mary of Gaels" as she was known still lives in the hearts of her people and many still seek her intercession in prayer.
Prayer to St. Brigid
O Holy Brigid, thou didst become sublime through thy humility, and didst fly on the wings of thy longing for God.
When thou didst arrive in the Eternal City and appear before thy Divine Spouse, wearing the
Crown of virginity, thou didst keep thy promise to remember those who have recourse to thee.
Thou dost shower grace upon the world, and dost multiply miracles.
Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.
—From the Eastern Orthodox Vespers Service to St. Brigid
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