St. Brigid's Day
Today is the feast day of St. Brigid, who is often listed as the patron saint of Ireland (along with Patrick), poets, dairymaids, blacksmiths, healers, cattle, fugitives, midwives, and new-born babies. A short biography of St. Brigid can be found on the Brigid's Place website.
The Icon of St. Brigid of Ireland above is from Bridge Building Icons.
A prayer for today from The St. Helena Breviary ~
Everliving God, we rejoice today in the witness of your servant Brigid of Kildare, who served as courageous leader and mentor, faithfully shepherding both men and women in her monastery and guiding them into holiness of life: Inspire us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you in our own day. This we ask in the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
posted by Darrell Grizzle | 10:16 AM
3 Comments:
St. Brigid of the Goblet of Fire, ora pro nobis! Amen!
Um, Brigid was a Celtic Goddess who was co-opted by the Christians for political reasons. This Celtic Goddess' lore surrounding Europe and Kildare predates any human nun.
Brigid was indeed the name of a Celtic Goddess, but Brigid was also the name of a nun who was born around 450 into a Druid family, the daughter of Dubhthach, court poet to King Loeghaire. The historical Brigid lived in Kildare until her death in 523 and ran a monastery with both male and female monastics. Kildare had formerly been a Pagan shrine where a sacred fire was kept perpetually burning, and Brigid and her nuns, instead of stamping out the fire, kept it going.
Over the years, legends grew up around the historical Brigid that incorporated many of the legends about the Goddess Brigid. This was done by the peasants who continued to revere both Brigids. This mingling of Christian and Pagan was done not for political reasons but as a way for the peasants to keep their pre-Christian traditions alive despite the ruling Christians who were becoming more and more oppressive.
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