Saint Brigid
St Brigid of Kidare was one of the high goddesses worshipped
throughout the Celtic world, commonly in triple form. Her name means
something like "the high one" and is found in many Celtic name
formations (for example the several tribes, in Gaul, Britain and
elsewhere known as Brigantes). She is the patron of poetry, music,
learning , healing, and above all fertility. One of the very early
churches of the east midlands originally known as Civias Brigidae,
was founded in Co.Kildare probably as early as the fifth century. Its
foundress is said to have been a bondswomen, Brigid whose attributes
are those of the great goddess. Her festival was on February 1st the
old Celtic quarterly feast of Imbolc the name may refer to Belly or
bag the feast marked according to an early text "the beginning of the
lactation of the ewes" corresponding to the Roman Lupercalia, the
Hindu Holi. Cicitas Brigidae may have been presided over by a female
bishop, who gave way in due course to an abbess with a male bishop as
her coadjutor.
Many of the Legends about Brigid not least because the Druid goddess
of fertility was celebrated on the same feast day, and stories about
the two have come to be linked.
It seems that Brigid having been baptised by Patrick himself, was
determined to lead a religious life against the wishes of her parents.
Eventually her father is said to have taken her to the King of
Leinster, hoping to sell her into slavery. As Brigid waited outside
the castle, a leper came to beg for alms, and when her father
returned, he found she had given away his sword. the King declared
that at Brigid's goodness was untameable, and that he was therefore
unwilling to hinder her service to God.
There is a conflicting account (Probably because it is hard to
separate the historical Brigid, who died in the first quarter of the
sixth century, and whose feast is on the 1st of February, from the
spiritual Brigid, who has affinity with the mother of the Celtic gods
and with the Virgin Mary). that her father was Fiech a disciple of
the druidic bard Dubtach who was a harper and singer, according to
tradition was baptised and eventually became a bishop.
Brigid was a born leader, and soon after establishing her cell at
Kildare others joined her. With 12 disciples, she asked the
travelling bishop, Mel, to pray for god's blessing on them as they
took their vows as nuns. As the bishop lifted his arm in blessing he
saw tongues of fire descending on Brigids head, and the Holy Spirit
caused him to speak over her the words of consecration of a bishop.
Whatever the truth of this story, Brigid travelled widely, holding
some authority within the church which enabled her to preach to rich
and poor alike, and to speak at church synods. The Monastery at
Kildare became largest settlement in Ireland, renown for its generous
hospitality and fondly known as "the City of the Poor".
Many miracles of healing occurred relating to Brigid, one bishop
described her as "the Mary of the Gaels
