The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-05-07
ST. BRIGlD, ABBESS OF KILDARE,
STYLED THE MARY OF
IRELAND.

st. Bl,igid was born in County Louth
in the year AL. 1t is said her parents
received Baptism from the hands OF
ST. Patrick, himself, and they were
renowned for their piety as we'll as
their noble lineage Many traditions
( cluster arorntl st. Brigid., 1t was a
; common belief that angels sang hymns
of Thanksgiving and praise AT her.
birth. clearly indicating that she was
destined for Il great mission in the
religious life. of her people. At her
baptism she. received the name of
Brigid. or Bride, which, in the Irish
language. signifies strong virtue.
Among the people of the North of
Ireland there was a tradition which
called St Brigid the sister of the
Blessed Virgin, who had come to earth
again to instill purity and faith into
the hearts of the Irish maidens, and,
indeed TO this day she is known as
the Mary of Erin.
Her religious character was formed
under the influence of ST Patrick, to
whom belongs the credit for laying
the solid foundations Of the Church
in Ireland. He instructed the Irish
youths and called them to the priest
hood, coRsecrated the Bishops, and
handed down to Others the mission
which had been given to him by the
Roman Pontiff
St. Brigid followed in his footsteps.
establishing converts throughout Ire
land Kildare is equally famous with
Bangor and Clontarf as a type of the
Irish convent in which the nuns of
Erin instructed the women of Ireland
in the branches Of higher learning.
The monasterieS and schools estab-
lished by st. Brigid vie in importance
with those of the monks in the pres
crVatiOnS0f the Gospel and the ltera-
ture Of the ancients, as well as in the
arts of illumination. So varied was
the coloring and so brilliant the
beauty of these illuminated pages
that it almost seemed as if they must
be the work of angelic hands.
The homes established by st. Brigid
were the centers of hospitality and
charity, as we'll as for the care of
dumb animals. Many instances are
narrated of her love for animals, and
it is said the lambs would follow her
as she took her walks, and would
gather around her to be fed.
Young ladies of noble birth and edu-
cation, children Of the most princely
families in Ireland, were attracted to
religion and formed that large body
of holy nuns who, in the days of Kill
dare's glory, gave up their lives to the
Z, service of God in caring for the poor
and sick and in educating the igno-
rant Like St. Patrick, she was one
of Ireland's Apostles, and her name
is associated with him in the CONVEX
, sion of Ireland .s s. ssF-a-4 syysxs-.y
AS Abbess of Kildare she is men
toned with the Archbishop of Ar
magh, and was given special seat of
honor even at the meetings Of the
Bishops She died in 531, at the adj
vanced age of 80 years, and 80 years
after st. Patrick, whose last letter to
her commanded that she visit every
part of Ireland and bless it.
She is regarded as the brightest
jewel in the crown of st. Patrick, and
the honor paid her is equal to that
paid the great Apostle. Everything
that she asked OF God was granted
her, and the Church of Erin has loved
to speak OF her as bearing in Ireland
something of the relation which the
blessed Mother bears to the whole
Church Besides being called the
"Mary of Erin" she is also known
as the Child of Prophecy" and the
"Queen of the South