St. brigid of kildare
Our patronress
is at the heart of our parish
Saint Brigid Quick Facts
- Feast Day - February 1
- Patron saint of Ireland, newborn babies, midwives, Irish nuns, dairymaids, and cattle.
- As a child, St. Brigid herded sheep, pigs, and cattle and grew to love animals; she is frequently pictured with a cow. (See the statue of her in our church's entrance).
- As abbess, St. Brigid ranked above the abbot who governed the monks; that’s why she’s often shown carrying a bishop's hooked staff (as in our statue). Some early accounts state that Brigid was consecrated a bishop by St. Mel.
- She was named after Brigit (or Brigantia), an ancient Celtic goddess of poetry, crafts, prophecy, and divination.
- Did you know that in 2024, we celebrate the 1,500th anniversary of her death. Click the link below to learn more about St. Brigid and how they are celebrating her in Ireland.
Following in St. Patrick's footsteps
In fact, St. Brigid was one of many holy men and women who continued St. Patrick's tireless work of converting the Celtic pagans after his death. Brigid was raised in the mid-5th century in Faughart, Ireland. Her father was a pagan chief and her mother a slave. At one point, her father wished her to marry the King of Ulster, but she refused and eventually won his permission to become a nun. In time, the king of Lienster recognized Brigid had a beautiful soul and gifted her a large plain in Kildare, Ireland. Brigid built many convents in Ireland, but Kildare was the most famous for housing both monks and nuns.
St. Brigid exemplifies the concept of weaving together our diverse community into a cohesive tapestry which represents the many blessings experienced through our parish activities and programs. A woman of great faith, St. Brigid is revered for her gentleness, piety, and charity to the poor. She was once called to the bedside of a dying pagan chief to speak to him about God and Christ's love for mankind. To illustrate her point, she picked some of the reeds covering the dirt floor and wove them into a cross, which she then used to help him understand how Christ died.
Want to explore more?
Did you know that our church logo was inspired by St. Brigid? Test your knowledge of her in our fun quiz, listen to Sara McRae's Irish fiddle music or watch this three-minute video that explores her life and show some beautiful images of her depicted in art.
Prayer to St. Brigid
St. Brigid, you were a woman of peace. You brought harmony where there was conflict. You brought light into the darkness. You brought hope to the downcast. May the mantle of our peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in the world. Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made. St. Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and weary. Strengthen what is weak within us. Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens. May we grown each day into greater wholeness in mind, body, and spirit. Amen.