Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-03-15
Her Name and Fame Ranks
With That of st.
Patrick.
Was OF Princcly Blood, Her Fa-
Their Being Chief OF
Leinster.
Her MEMORY STILL KEPT GREEN

st. Brigid. the patroness Of the
Catholic church in Ireland, is re-
vered almost as much as St. Patrick,
and is styled "The Mary of the Gael"
Her feast day is February 1, and
through the efforts of the Ladies
Auxiliary Of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians this day and month OF
February are devoted to special devo-
lions in her honor. The Louisville
division of the Ladies' Auxiliary takes
commendable pride in their efforts
along this line, and in time devotions
to st. Brigid Incorrectly known as
Bridget) will become more common.
She was learned as well as holy
woman and wrote many beautiful
prayers, particularly one in comment
Grafton OF the five wounds of our
Blessed Lord. Only the ignorant
are ashamed of the name of Brigid
For the information of those who
know nothing of her life and an
cestry the Kentucky Irish American
will briefly relate some Of her his
tory. This gentle saint and virgin
was born in the County Louth in the
latter part Of the fifth century. She
was Of princely birth, her father be-
Ing the Chief of Leinster. SIu
rounded by all To
the time afforded
these pleasures to by
ceiving the veil at TIL
Macaille. Shortly aft
nun she and several Of
ions, holy women, erectW
oak tree at Drum Criadh, Ia
plains of Magh Life, her subseuuy
famous Convent of CillIDara an
Church of the Oak), now kildare So
great was her sanctity and learning
-n9t her small oratory eventually dr.
veloped into a Cathedral and became
center of religious activity and
learning, Through her efforts two
monastic institutions were founded
under the jurisdiction Of the church,
one for men and one for women. and
ECill-Dara was ruled by a double line
OF Abbot-Bishops and Abbesses OF
Kildare.
ST. Brigid eventually became rec
ognized as the Superior General of
the converts in Ireland She was not
only a woman of very great piety.
but was also a patron Of the arts and
sciences, From the great institution
at Kildare came the wondrous book
or the gospels known as the Book
OF Kildare. This magnificent work
OF art is rightly regarded as one OF
the wonders of the age in which II
was produced. It's pages are gor-
geously illuminated, its penmanship
perfect. One great writer has said
Il was the work of angels, so perfect
Is every detail of the interlacing OF
the colors and embellishments. When
she died she left a convent and
Cathedral which became famous all
over Europe.
St. Ultan wrote a hymn in her
honor, in which these words occur
in the melOdeous old Gaelic Ian
guage: ''In our island of Hibernia
Christ has made known TO man
through the great miracles which He
performed through the happy virgin
Brigid, OF celebrated life, famous for
her merits throughout the whole
world"
The remains Of Brigid were in
TERED at the right OF the high altar
In the Cathedral OF Kildare. In after
years her shrine was the object OF the
generation Of pilgrims, especially on
her feast, February /. About the
year SIS, owing TO the deyastations
made by the Danes, her remains were
removed to the tomb Of st. Patrick
at Downpatrick, and near that Of St.
Columbcille. This fact was made
known in an old Irish ballad in the
lines:
Three glorious saints one grave doth
fill.
Patrick, Brigid and Columcille."
She is honored in Ireland. next to
the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother OF
God, and many graces have been
brought about through her interces-
sion. While the fame OF ST. Brigid
at one time filled most of Europe
today unfortunately, outside Of Ire
land, there are few deyotiOns In her
honor. Those who would know
more about this great and holy vir-
gin should read her life, and those
who are unable 10 do this should read
some Of her edyfying prayers, print
ed In English In many prayer books
These prayers indicate her character
as scholar and also her deep deyo-
ton.
Irish women are justly proud OF
81. Brigid, but they are not alone in
this admiration, for her hand Is pre-
served as a holy relic az LUMBAR
near Lisbon, Portugal, and another
relic Is at St. Martins. near Cologne,
Germany. Portuguese and German
women also venerate the Irish saint
no deyout person could help doing 50