01 February 2008

Saint Brigid of Kildare

Today the Church commemorates Saint Brigid of Kildare.

Brigid was born to a pagan chieftain and one of his Christian slaves. Named Brigid, perhaps to obtain the blessings of the goddess, she eventually became a priestess of Brid at a pagan sanctuary. There, she and her companions maintained a ritual fire in honor of Brid. While the events of Brigid's conversion are unknown, she and her companions all accepted the Christian faith. They also formed first religious community of Christian women in Ireland. Brigid converted the pagan sanctuary to a Christian shrine and transformed the ritual fire to one in honor of Christ.

Brigid was especially renowned for her kindness and love, manifested in her lavish almsgiving and in the miracles God poured out upon those in need when she would pray for them. The Book of Armagh, an ancient Irish chronicle, calls Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid “the pillars of the Irish” and says that through them both, “Christ performed many miracles.” She died peacefully in the year 525.

Prayer of the Day
Everliving God, we rejoice today in the fellowship of your blessed servant Brigid, and we give you thanks for her life of devoted service. Inspire us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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