Saint Brigid of Ireland, who lived from 452 to 525, is believed to have been born in Faughart near Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. Her life is intertwined with the legacy of St. Patrick, who baptized her parents. Brigid’s father, Dubhthach, was a chieftain in Leinster, and her mother, Brocca, a slave in his court. From a young age, Brigid showed a deep inclination towards religious life.

She received the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan, and it is thought that St. Mel of Armagh was the one to profess her and possibly grant her abbatial authority. Brigid initially settled with seven companions near Croghan Hill, and around 468, she followed St. Mel to Meath. A significant milestone in her life was the establishment of a double monastery at Cill-Dara (now Kildare) around 470, where she served as the Abbess. This institution emerged as a significant hub for education and spirituality, eventually leading to the formation of the Cathedral city of Kildare.

Under her guidance, a school of art flourished in Kildare, renowned for its illuminated manuscripts, including the celebrated but now-lost Book of Kildare. Brigid’s life, though adorned with many legendary and miraculous tales, undeniably reflects her profound spirituality, exceptional charity, and deep compassion for the suffering.

Saint Brigid passed away in Kildare on February 1. Revered as the “Mary of the Gael,” she is interred at Downpatrick alongside St. Columba and St. Patrick, co-patrons of Ireland. Also known as Bridget and Bride, she is celebrated on her feast day, February 1st, honoring her as one of Ireland’s most remarkable and influential figures.

Photo credit: Nheyob via Wikimedia Commons

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Daily Reading

 

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Jeremiah 17:5-8 Thus says the LORD:             Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings,                         who seeks his strength in flesh,                         whose heart turns away from the LORD….

Daily Meditation