Another Saint of Ireland

A close connection to St. Patrick through her mother and would later in life work to continue these same teachings along side him.

St. Brigid of Kildare

Feast day: February 1
Birth: 451
Death: 525
Patron of Ireland, dairymaids, cattle, midwives, Irish nuns, and newborn babies
Slave

It is believed that Brigid's mother (Brocca) was one of St. Patrick's first converts.  However, she was a slave and gave birth to the chieftain's child.  The wife of the chieftain had Brocca and Brigid sold to a Druid landowner.  Brigid was a sickly child and could only be fed milk from a "a white cow with red ears."  Throughout her childhood, Brigid showed kindness and care for all those in need.

When she was about ten-years-old, Brigid was returned to her father's home, as he was her legal master. Her charity did not end when she left her mother, and she donated his possessions to anyone who asked.  Her father quickly became resentful of her giving, and took her to the king to be sold.  As the men were discussing a selling price, Brigid had her father's jeweled sword sold in order to aid a needy family.  The king saw her generosity and convinced her father to give her freedom..."Her merit before God is greater than ours."

Brigid returned to the Druid and her mother, who was in charge of the Druid's dairy. Brigid took over and often gave away milk, but the dairy prospered despite the charitable practice, and the Druid eventually freed Brocca.

Brigid had long since dedicated herself to God's vocation of chastity.  However, the Druid had arranged her to be married.  Legend has it Brigid prayed that her beauty be taken so no one would want to marry her, and the prayer was granted. It was not until after she made her final vows that her beauty was restored.

It is believed that Saint Patrick heard her final vows, and he accidentally used the form for ordaining priests. When the error was brought to his attention, he simply replied, "So be it, my son, she is destined for great things."

Brigid and seven friends organized communal consecrated religious life for women in Ireland and she founded two monastic institutions, one for men and one for women. Brigid invited a hermit called Conleth to help her in Kildare as a spiritual pastor.  She later founded a school of art that included metalwork and illumination, which Conleth led as well. It was at this school that the Book of Kildare, which the Gerald of Wales praised as "the work of angelic, and not human skill," was beautifully illuminated.

There is evidence that Brigid was a good friend of Saint Patrick's and that the Trias Thaumaturga claimed, "Between St. Patrick and Brigid, the pillars of the Irish people, there was so great a friendship of charity that they had but one heart and one mind. Through him and through her Christ performed many great works."

She died of natural causes on February 1st.