ST. BRIGID OF IRELAND (FEB. 1ST)

 

St. Brigid of Ireland

By Bp. Joseph

Today, we celebrate the memory of St. Brigid of Kildare (AD 451 - 525)!  

Born of the slave and raised as a slave in the house of a Druid, St. Brigid believed in God from a young age, and legend says was baptized by St. Patrick himself. Freed by a Christian king when offered to him for sale, she took refuge in the Church of the Oak, one of the earliest cathedrals in Ireland, and became a consecrated virgin as a young woman. She was veiled as a nun by St. Patrick, and then founded a monastery with the Monk Conleth for men and became the abbess of a monastery for women. 

THE LITANY OF ST. BRIGID 

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Eternal Father, have mercy on us.

Divine Son, have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Virgin of Virgins, Pray for us.

Blessed St. Brigid, Pray for us.

Consecrated spouse of the King of Kings, Pray for us.

Corner-stone of the Monastic Institute in the Island of Saints, Pray for us.

Brigid, Patroness of Ireland, Pray for us.

Model of Irish Virgins, Pray for us.

Mother of Religious, Pray for us.

Pattern of holiness, Pray for us.

Intercessor for the Irish clergy, Pray for us.

Mediatrix for the Irish people, Pray for us.

Protectress of the faith preached by St. Patrick, Pray for us.

Enjoying with him the clear vision of God, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Let us Pray

O God, the Author of all sanctity, grant that we who inhabit the Island of Saints, may, through the intercession of St. Brigid, walk in their footsteps on earth, and so arrive with them to the possession of Thee in Heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pour forth on us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the spirit of Thy wisdom and love, with which Thou hast replenished Thy holy Servant, St. Brigid, that sincerely obeying Thee in all things, we may by a zealous imitation of her virtues, please Thee in faith and works. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LEGACY 

During her lifetime, St. Brigid accomplished many miracles for the glory of God, centered around caring for the needy and protecting the helpless. She is especially remembered for the reed Crosses that she would weave by hand and give to children for veneration, which were known to dispel the power of demons. She is also remembered for the flame that she tended in her monastery church, which, due to her faithfulness and constancy, never went out during her lifetime. 

The Cross of St. Brigid Requires People to Work Together 

Sts. Brigid and Patrick are Co-Patrons of Ireland 

St. Brigid’s Altar Icon

The Shrine of St. Brigid, Built on Her Resting Place, County Kildare, Ireland 

St. Brigid was greatly loved for her cheerfulness, fearlessness, and compassion on lepers. She lived a full and bountiful life in the Church, spread the Gospel by her many labors, and died of natural causes in the year AD 525. She is now remembered as one of the three most important Celtic Saints, numbered with St. Patrick and St. Columba, and commemorated in the names of countless women and parish churches throughout time. 

COLLECT

ALMIGHTY GOD, whose servant Brigid, kindled with the flame of Thy love, became a shining light in Thy Holy Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before Thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

St. Brigid, pray for us!