St. Brigid's Day 2020

Saint Brigid of Kildare is a saint of many names including

Brigid of Ireland and Mary of the Gaels but who was St. Brigid who is honored in Ireland?

St. Brigid was an Irish nun, abbess, founder of several convents and is venerated as a saint. Today, St. Brigid is considered to be one of Ireland's patron saints ranking only - and only by a small margin - behind St. Patrick himself in importance. Her feast day, Saint Brigid's Day, is February 1st - the first day of spring in Ireland.

Traditionally, St. Brigid is thought to have been born in Faughart. Her father was a pagan chieftain, her mother a Pictish Christian. St. Brigid was named after the pagan goddess Brigid, a goddess of fire.

A follower of St. Patrick, Brigid converted to Christianity.

Her father wasn't pleased when she wanted to enter the religious life. He thought by keeping her at home this would end it but this didn't stop St. Brigid - she became known for her generosity, never refusing the poor who came to the house. Once, she even gave her father's jeweled sword to a leper. Her father finally gave in and sent St. Brigid to a convent, maybe to avoid bankruptcy.

Receiving the veil from St. Mel, St. Brigid embarked on a career as a nun and convent founder which included the founding Kildare Abbey.

As an abbess St. Brigid held considerable power - in fact, she became a bishop in all but name.

The Abbess of Kildare had an administrative authority equal to a bishop until 1152.

Dying around 525 St. Brigid was first buried in Kildare's Abbey church. Later her remains are said to have been exhumed and transported to Downpatrick to rest with another patron saint of Ireland,

Saint Patrick.

One of the traditions of St. Brigid's Day is to make a St. Brigid's Cross. These are easy to make and are usually made from fresh rushes. They're in cross shape with a square shape in the middle with four arms coming along each side.

It's believed that the St. Brigid’s Cross protects the home from harm.