The Irish standard., 1901-02-23

Patrick and his fellow missionaries
who labOred to spread the Gospel, and
she was of untold assistance to them
in influencing the popular mind to the
practices and conditions of Christianity
in an age that produced saints without
number, and was the foundation of an
evangelical race. Her activity was so
far-reaching that she is accounted next
to st. Patrick himself as a Christian
iZcr Of Erin. st. Columbkill, too the
apostle Of western Scotland, was ac-
quaintcd with her, and he and Column
ban, and Fcargil and Gail, carried her
fame, and what was of far greater inn
portance, her spirit and influence be-
yond the Rhine ard to. Switzerland S
highest mountains. Her name is i'm
pressed on the map of Ireland. In Eng
land and Scotland, too, there are places
named after her, and churches arc
built under her invocation wherever in
the wide would the children of st
Patrick are numerous enough to raise
n temple to the Most High. 1t is with
authority that l assert that the name
Of Brigid is spread over the places OF
Ireland, that it appears in Scotch and
English geography; for wherever the
word Bride" appears it is but All
adaptation-an anglicization OF the
spelled B-r-i-g-i-d, just as your revcr.
end pastor insists on spelling it, There
was ST. Bridget, Il great saint OF
Sweden, but your patrOnesS' namr
must not be confused With hers; the
Celtic spelling Br-i-g-i-d is pronounced
Bri-yid in Gaelic. and is easily slip,
shodued into Bride. The name is de-
lived from the Celtic word "bri," which
means strength; hence also we have
the name Brian, Il strong man. 1t is
~ mistake to hold that kildare forms
any part Of your patroncss' name; she
lara on church at the oak
Nevertheless Kildare plays an ill-
portant part in ST Brigid's history. III
the eighteenth year of her religious
profession she chose il place about
thirty eight miles southeast Of Dublin
and began convent there, and this
became her chief place Of residence
At first the house was rude and sim
pie, but in Il short time the number of
her postulants increased to such de
gree. the donations of princes and peo
pie We're so munificent, sthe desire of
the Irish to ba near a great seat OF
holiness and learning so strong and the
number of pilgrims was so large, that
Il magnificent convent, Il splendid
church, and a large city grew up at
the site st. Brigid had chosen. 1t be
came an episcopal city, and the kings
made it a "city of refuge" No one
could receive military violence there
and accordingly during all the inter
necinc wars Of the native princes and
kings Kildare remained uninvnded
and unpolluted.
From this place st. Brigid and hel
Successors watched over and ruled all
the nunncries ": Ireland for long cen
turtles. From here they promoted pur
Il
cation among women; for III ancient
times as we'll us mOdrlri Il convent is
an active center of piety and learning
These are duties of nuns, tire reasons
why they exist; religion loves and pro
notes education because it speaks OF
God and of His power.
The same faith which animated st
Brigid and which st. Patrick PLANTED
having taken everlasting root in Ire
land. flouris]cd during centuries, With
stood the shocks of adversely: it's mon
| aSterieS and convcnts-tllat is. the
places which made Ireland the univrr
sity of western Europe for centuries
appeared everywhere over the island
But when the day of advcrsity came
| these same mCl,astcrinS. from wiicl
| civilization went forth rs blood iron
tile heart. were overturned by the an
ccsturS of those who call thmselvcs tn,
model educators of today; the holy in
mates and teachers were scattered t,
the four winds or murdered: the build
ings We're made piles of debris: ruiz
waS heaped on ruin. education drives
out of the country. but the faith. til.
living fnit.,. lived on l. cave and ylr;
and mn,lntainSide till now it stands
forth again fresh aud vigorous. alway:
ancient and ever new: and Rrigld''
spirit walks abroad ami nnimates an,
WHITES the converts and mOnaStcrie
that spring up in every part Of tn,
Island of Saints and Scholars. N
wonder that churches rise in her nnm'
for God: in other lands her name il
, glorious. ner example for purity o
Thought word and deed. Is held up [,
he honurel and followed. and her low,
of mercy will lead every vOtary wher
she shines. Ike Il star resplcnden
ldornng the great reaches of God
eternal home.
nVEp THE NORTHWEST