Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

Brigid of Kildare

1,943 bytes added, 03:47, December 8, 2007
added hymns, Orthodox ext. links, rm. extra links
[[Image:Brigid.jpg|right|frame|St. Brigid of Kildaire]]
Saint Our venerable Mother '''Brigid of Kildare''' or Brigid of Ireland (Brigit, Bridget, Bridgit, Bríd , or Bride) (; Irish: Naomh Bhríde) (c. 451 -525) was an Irish Christian [[nun]], [[abbess]], and founder of several convents[[convent]]s. St. Brigid's [[feast day]] is [[February 1]], and with St. [[Patrick of Ireland]] ([[March 17]]) and St. [[Columba of Iona]] ([[June 9]]) , is one of the three [[patron saint]]s of Ireland. The three are buried together in Downpatrick in County Down, deep within the famous Hill of Down.
==Hagiography==
The earliest extensive life of Brigid is the ''Vita Brigitae'' of Cogitosus and is thought to have been written no later than AD 650.
According to tradition, Brigid was born at Faughart near Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. According to her biographers her parents were Dubhthach, a pagan chieftain of Leinster, and Brocca, a Christian Pictish slave who had been [[baptism|baptized ]] by St. [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]]. Some accounts of her life suggested that Brigid's mother was in fact Portuguese, kidnapped by Irish pirates and brought to Ireland to work as a slave in much the same way as Patrick. Brigid was given the same name as one of the most powerful goddesses of the pagan religion which her father Dubhthach practisedpracticed; Brigid was the goddess of fire, whose manifestations were song, craftsmanship, and poetry, which the Irish considered the flame of knowledge.
===Sainthood===
Whether she was raised a Christian or converted in 468, as some accounts say, is unknown, but she was inspired by the preaching of Saint Patrick from an early age. Despite her father's opposition she was determined to enter religious life. Numerous stories testify to her piety. She had a generous heart and could never refuse the poor who came to her father's door. Her charity angered her father: he thought she was being overly generous to the poor and needy when she dispensed his milk, butter, and flour to all and sundry. When she finally gave away his jewel-encrusted sword to a leper, Dubtach Dubhthach realized that perhaps her disposition was best suited to the life of a nun. Brigid finally got her wish and she was sent to a convent.
[[Image:Fosses-la-Ville.jpg|thumb|left|"La chapelle Sainte-Brigide" in Fosses-la-Ville.|150px]]
Brigid received the veil from St. Mael of Ardagh and professed vows dedicating her life to [[Christ]]. She is believed to have founded a convent in Clara, her first: other foundations followed. But it was to be in Kildare that her major foundation would emerge. Around 470 she founded a double [[monastery]], for nuns and monks, on the plains of Kildare or Cill-Dara, "the church of the oak," her cell being made under a large oak tree. As abbess of this foundation she wielded considerable power, but proved to be a wise and prudent superior.
Brigid received the veil from [[Saint Mel]] and professed vows dedicating her life to [[Christ]]. She is believed to have founded a convent in Clara - her first: other foundations followed. But it was to be in Kildare that her major foundation would emerge. Around 470 she founded a double [[monastery]], for nuns and monks, on the plains of Kildare or Cill-Dara, "the church of the oak", her cell being made under a large oak tree. As Abbess of this foundation she wielded considerable power, but proved to be a wise and prudent superior. Brigid was famous for her common-sense and most of all for her holiness: in her lifetime she was regarded as a saint. The Abbey of Kildare became one of the most prestigious monasteries in Ireland, famed throughout Christian Europe. In the [[scriptorium]] of the monastery, for example, the lost illuminated manuscript the [[Book of Kildare]] may have been created —if it was not the existing [[Book of Kells]], as many suppose.
===Death and impact===
She died at Kildare around 525 and was buried in a tomb before the high altar of her abbey church. After some time her remains were exhumed and translated to Downpatrick to rest with the two other patron saints of Ireland, St. [[Patrick of Ireland]] and St. [[Columba of Iona]]. Her skull was extracted and brought to Lisbon, Portugal , by two Irish noblemen, where it remains. There is widespread devotion to her in Ireland where she is known as the "Mary of the Gael" and the [[veneration ]] of St. Brigid was brought to Europe by Irish [[missionary|missionaries]], such as [[Foillan]], in the centuries after her death. In Belgium there is a chapel (7th-10th century) dedicated to Sainte-Brigide at Fosses-la-Ville.
===Saint Brigid's Cross===
[[Image:St Brigid cross.png|right|80pxthumb|Saint 100px|St. Brigid's Cross]]Similar to the association between St. Patrick and the shamrock, a cross made of rushes was linked with Brigid. Legend has it she made the cross from rushes she found on the ground beside a dying man in order to [[convert]] him. It is interesting that this legend does not appear in any of the oldest sources and to this day its origin remains lost in the oral tradition. It remains the custom in many houses in Ireland to have a St. Brigid's Cross in honor of the saint. The cross takes many forms and is technically classed by folk crafts experts as a "plaited"; however, the technologies utilized can extend beyond plaiting to weaving and other forms. According to tradition a new cross is made each [[feast day]] of St. Brigid (February 1), and the old one is burned to keep fire from the house, yet customs vary by locality and family. Many homes have multiple crosses preserved in the ceiling, the oldest blackened by many years of hearth fires. Some believe that keeping a cross in the ceiling or roof is a good way to preserve the home from fire which was always a major threat in houses with thatch and wood roofs.
Similar to the association between Saint Patrick and the shamrock, a ==Hymns==[[Troparion]] ([[Brigid's cross|cross made of rushesTone]]1) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=100406] was linked with :O holy Brigid. Legend has it she made the cross from rushes she found , you became sublime through your humility,:and flew on the ground beside a dying man in order to convert himwings of your longing for God. It is interesting that this legend does not appear :When you arrived in any of the oldest sources eternal City and to this day its origin remains lost in appeared before your Divine Spouse,:wearing the oral tradition. It remains the custom in many houses in Ireland crown of virginity,:you kept your promise:to remember those who have a Saint Brigid's Cross in honor of recourse to you.:You shower grace upon the saint. The cross takes many forms and is technically classed by folk crafts experts as a "'plaitedworld," however the technologies utilized can extend beyond plaiting to weaving and other formsmultiply miracles. According to tradition a new cross is made each feast day of St. Brigid :Intercede with [[February 1Christ]], and the old one is burned to keep fire from the house, yet customs vary by locality, and family. Many homes have multiple crosses preserved in the ceiling the oldest blackened by many years of hearth fires. Some believe our God that keeping a cross in the ceiling or roof is a good way to preserve the home from fire which was always a major threat in houses with thatch and wood roofsHe may save our souls.
[[Kontakion]] (Tone 4) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID==Liturgy===100406]:The holy virgin Brigid full of divine wisdom,:went with joy along the way of evangelical childhood,:and with the grace of God/ attained in this way the summit of virtue.:She now bestows blessings upon those who come to her with faith.:O holy Virgin, intercede with Christ our God:that He may have mercy on our souls.
The [[troparionApolytikion]] to her is in (Tone 14) [http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=1957]:''O holy Brigid, thou didst become sublime through thy humility, and didst fly on Having learned of things divine by the wings words of thy longing for God. When Patrick, :thou didst arrive hast proclaimed in the Eternal City and appear before thy Divine Spouse, wearing West the crown good tidings of virginity, thou didst keep thy promise to remember those who have recourse to thee. Thou dost shower grace upon the world, and dost multiply miracles. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.'' The corresponding [[kontakion]] is in Tone 4:Wherefore, we venerate thee, O Brigid, :''The holy virgin Brigid full of divine wisdom, went with joy along the way of evangelical childhood, and with the grace of God attained in this way the summit of virtue. Wherefore she now bestows blessings upon those who come entreat thee to her with faith. O holy Virgin, intercede with Christour God that He may have mercy on our soulsbe saved.''
Kontakion (Tone 3) [http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=1957]
:At the Church of the Oak, thou didst establish thy sacred monasteries
:for those that took up the Tree of life,
:even the Precious Cross, upon their shoulders.
:And by thy grace-filled life and love of learning,
:thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold and didst thereby nourish the faithful.
:O righteous Mother Brigid, intercede with Christ, the True Vine, that He save our souls.
==Extended biography==
Differing biographies written by different authors, give conflicting accounts of her life, however three of those biographies agreed that she had a slave mother in the court of her father, Dubhthach, a king of Leinster. Perhaps the most ancient account of her life is by Saint St. [[Broccan Cloen]]:
<blockquote>
</blockquote>
One, the "Life of Brigid" dates from the closing years of the [[eighth century]], and is held in the Dominican friary at Eichstat in Bavaria. It expounds the metrical life of Saint St. Brigid, and versified it in Latin.
Brigid's small oratory at Cill-Dara (Kildare) became a centre center of religion and learning, and developed into a cathedral city. She founded two monastic institutions, one for men, and the other for women, and appointed Saint St. [[Conleth]] as spiritual pastor of them. It has been frequently stated that she gave canonical jurisdiction to [[Saint St. Conleth]], [[Bishop of Kildare]], but, as the [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] Archbishop Healy points outin ''Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars'', she simply "selected the person to whom the Church gave this jurisdiction,", and her biographer tells us distinctly that she chose Saint St. Conleth "to govern the church along with herself.". Thus, for centuries, Kildare was ruled by a double line of abbot-bishops and of abbesses, the Abbess of Kildare being regarded as superioress general of the convents in Ireland.
Brigid also founded a school of art, including metal work and illumination, over which Conleth presided. The Kildare scriptorium produced the [[Book of Kildare]], which elicited high praise from Giraldus Cambrensis, but which has disappeared since the [[Reformation]]. According to Giraldus, nothing that he had ever seen was at all comparable to the book, every page of which was gorgeously illuminated, and he concludes by saying that the interlaced work and the harmony of the colours colors left the impression that "all this is the work of angelic, and not human skill.".
Brigid is at times known as "the Patroness of Ireland" and "Queen of the South: the Mary of the Gael" by a writer in the "Leabhar Breac.". Brigid died leaving a cathedral city and school that became famous all over Europe. In her honor Saint St. [[Ultan of Ardbraccan]] wrote a hymn commencing:
<blockquote>
</blockquote>
The sixth life of the saint is attributed to Coelan, an Irish monk of the eighth century, and it derives a peculiar importance from the fact that it is prefaced by Saint St. [[Donatus of Fiesole|Donatus]], also an Irish monk, who became Bishop of Fiesole in 824. Donatus refers to previous lives by Ultan and [[Aileran]]. When dying, Brigid was attended by Saint St. [[Ninnidhof Inismacsaint]], who was afterwards known as "Ninnidh of the Clean Hand" because he had his right hand encased with a metal covering to prevent it ever being defiled, after being the medium of administering the [[last rites]] to "Ireland's Patroness.Brigid was interred at the right of the high altar of Kildare Cathedral, and a costly tomb was erected over her. Over the years her shrine became an object of veneration for pilgrims, especially on her feast day, February 1. About the year 878, owing to the Scandinavian raids, Brigid's [[relics]] were taken to Downpatrick, where they were interred in the tomb of Patrick and Columba. The relics of the three saints were discovered in 1185, and on June 9 of the following year were reinterred in Downpatrick Cathedral.
Brigid was interred at the right In Ireland today, after 1500 years, "Mary of the high altar of Kildare CathedralGael" remains a popular saint, and Brigid remains a costly tomb was erected over hercommon female Christian name. Over the years her shrine became an object Moreover, hundreds of veneration for pilgrims, especially on place-names in her feast dayhonor are to be found all over both Scotland and Ireland, February 1e. About the year 878g. East Kilbride, Kilbride, Brideswell, owing to the Scandinavian raidsTubberbride, Brigid's relics were taken to DownpatrickTemplebride, where they were interred etc. Places named Brideswell and Tupperbride commemorate in their names the tomb presence of Patrick and Columbaa sacred well ("Tobar" in Gaelic) dedicated to Brigid. The relics of the three saints were discovered in 1185Brigid's hand is preserved at Lumiar near Lisbon, Portugal, since 1587, and on June 9 of the following year were reinterred in Downpatrick Cathedralanother relic is at St. Martin's Cologne.
In Ireland today, after 1500 years, "Mary of the Gael" remains a popular saint, and Brigid remains a common female Christian name==Source==*[http://en. Moreover, hundreds of place-names in her honor are to be found all over both Scotland and Ireland, ewikipedia.gorg/w/index. East Kilbride, Kilbride, Brideswell, Tubberbride, Templebride, etc. Places named Brideswell and Tupperbride commemorate in their names the presence php?title=Brigid_of_Kildare&oldid=175167925 ''Brigid of a sacred well ("Tobar" in Gaelic dedicated to Brigid. BrigidKildare''s hand is preserved at Lumiar near Lisbon, Portugal, since 1587, and another relic is at St. Martin's Cologne.Wikipedia]
==External links==
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=100406 Venerable Brigid (Bridget) of Ireland] ([[OCA]])*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=1957 Bridget of Ireland] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://www.stnina.org/journal/art/1.4.10 On Holiness, Authority, and St. Brigit of Kildare] by Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald in ''The St. Nina Quarterly''*[http://www.roca.org/OA/107/107e.htm A Gift of Hospitality - Saint Brigid, Abbess of Kildare] by Mary Dugan Doss ([[ROCA]])*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/b/cap11.htm Saint Brigid of Kildare] icon and brief description*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/irishorthodoxchurch.aspx#brigid A Brief History of the Irish Orthodox Church: Saint Brigid of Kildare]*[http://www.stbridgets-dyserth.co.uk St Bridget and St Cwyfan Parish Church, Dyserth](Anglican)
*[http://www.stbrigids-kilbirnie.com/Pages/SaintBrigid.html St. Brigid's Catholic Church with St. Brigid's story]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02784b.htm St. Brigid in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1917)]
*[http://www.allsaintsbrookline.org/celtic/saints/brigid.html St Brigid:] more detail from her legend(Episcopal)
*[http://www.blather.net/shitegeist/2005/09/return_to_st_br.htm St. Brigid's Well, Liscannor]
*[http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:cTVT6yvgSLoJ:www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T201010.sgml+Vita+Brigitae&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us&client=firefox-a Cache of "On the Life of St. Brigit (Leabhar Breac)"]
===Saint Brigid's cross===
interwiki, renameuser, Administrators
9,194
edits

Navigation menu