The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-02-23

lRome; and for this latter reason people
fwere often STYLED barbarians in an.
cicnt times.
Another word on this phase of the
matter. 1t is often asserted that the
Irish were uncivilized before the ad-
vent of Christianity, because there were
occasional wars between the minor
kings, and indecdagainst the high king.
Let us see. Hundreds of years after
wards the kings of the English hept-
nrchy made war on each other. and q
thousand years later vet there We're
long periods of warfare between the
houses of York and Lancaster for the
throne OF England: there were civil
wars in France; the German princes
warrrd against each other ana against
the emperor; the italian principalities
and republics were fighting each other:
and not forty years ago there was n
very serious civil war in this country.
These points OF history are recalled,
not in a spirit CT praise or blame or
rctort. do not poisc the balance of
Justice or injustice in eitlmr case; but
If civil strife was the sign OF uncivil-
ization In the one case, SO it was also
in the other; if such happenings were
cXcusabla In the other countries, then
let not the finger of scorn be pointed
at Ireland because of similar condi-
tions years before. So recalling what
was said a few minutes ago, we can
safely assert that the Emerald Isle had
both learning and civilization ut the
beginning of the Christian era; but this
education was true of certain classes,
the privileged classes only--the Druids.
the Judges and the poets. 1t was not
generally dif1uscd as in aftprtimes, and
1t was in promoting the general diffu-
sion of education that ST. Brigid took
distinctively active part.
These things l have said, and per-
haps rather lengtlily, that you may
have clearer idea of the conditions
when your patron saint appeared on
the stage Of Irish affairs. She was
we'll descended, we'll connected, being
a member OF the O'Connor family, one
as respectable MS Plantagenct, wearing
crowns and mitrcs before the great
house of Hapsburg was heard Of There
is in the Bodlean library in Oxford a
manuscript written by Conor, the Red.
six years before the birth of Christ.
Belonging to military race In n civil
lied country, endow cd with the educa-
tion Of the higher classes, tall, grace
full woman, slender and beautiful, 1t is
no wonder that she was sought in mar
riage by men Of distinction. Marriage
is honorable in all, as st. Paul says;
the Lord raised married people to the
dignity Of co-operators with Him.
They are His agents in peopllng the
world, in certain sense supplying
with Him the iuture inhabitants of
heaven. even though the soul does not
come by generatlon-a noble dignity,
indeed! But the Lord gave Brigid q
higher vocation still, call to leave IA
thcr and mother and follow Him, and
she responded to the call, cut herself
off from the comforts of homc from
the consultations Of family life, from
all temporal hopes of the future to
make more sure her hopes for eternity.
Little thought she what fame the
future had in store for her. If she de-
sired the temporal renown that was
preparing for her she would have been
proud, indeed, and little worthy be-
coming such distinguished agent in
! the designs Of Providence. No, it is
the humble whom the Lord exalts; it
was the insignificant fishermen of Gal
lice whom He chose to be His apostles,
the weak he set apart to build up the
strong, and he selected as the Mary of
Erin one who in more senses than one
was like the Mary Of all Christianity
His own ever blessed mother. Brigid,
who is often styled the Mary of Ire
land, took up the yoke and followed
and learned Of Him who was meek and
humble of hcart, and with the COM
panions who then and in after years
attached themselves to her devoted
herself to God and her neighbor. st.
I'rigid's advance in the science of the
saints was rapid; her graces were ex
traordinary, for the Lord prepares His
special agents, gives them abilities and
supernatural strength to fulfill the du-
ties he sets apart for them. He said
to the prophet Jeremias: "The words
1 will put in thy mouth thou shalt
speak," Your patroncss was filed with
inspiration from on high, given a