St. Brigid of Kildare

St. Brigid, who lived in the 6th century in Ireland, has many stories and myths surrounding her life.  Some are carried from the pagan goddess Brigid, and imposed upon the historical Brigid, some are embellished by those who love her in the manner of a good story told by the Irish to make a point rather than worry about facts! 

The picture to the left is the ancient Holy Well of St. Brigid in County Kildare, Ireland.

St. Brigid was the Abbess of Kildare.  Kildare itself is the cell among the oaks...(cill meaning cell).  Her monastery housed both men and women.  She is patron of poets as well as animal husbandry.  (Today one will find the National Stud Farm for Thoroughbreds adjacent to her HOLY WELL!)  She is invoked by those seeking loving spouses, and the very word BRIDE comes from her name, as she is patroness of fertility.

The famous Cross of St. Brigid was said to be made by her while visiting a sick man.  She picked the straw off the floor and wove it into a cross, as she told the story of Jesus to the man.

One of the myths surrounding her is that she was the MIDWIFE for Mary while she gave birth to the Savior.  The chronology is way off, however, she is known under the title "Mary of the Gaels" because she "gave birth to Christ in the hearts of so many Irish."

The following hymn, from the album "Ancient Ghosts and Green Heart Songs," was written by Cait Finnegan as a prayer to St. Brigid.  The album will be available at the Rose of Sharon later this year.

"Mary of the Gaels"

C.1996  Cait Finnegan

O Mary of the Gaels, dear Abbess of Kildare

Our Irish Queen of Charity, Anamchara ever fair!

We pray to you our Bride, be with us as our guide

And if our Faith should falter, be here Bridget, at our side.

 Help us always to remember the poor we may not see

And keep us ever mindful of the gift that we may be.

Be our soul friend ever faithful, that we may not depart

From Faith in Christ, just as you taught from your own Celtic heart.

Dear Bridget, walk among us as the friend you've always been

And help us to renew our Faith and turn away from sin.

Help us take the yearnings from the depths of Celtic souls

and turn them into loving acts, every sorrow to console.

Oh keep us ever mindful of this heritage we bear

of this Celtic Faith in God most high, dear Bridget of Kildare.

And let us not be troubled or left swaying like a reed

But return to our Celtic roots and the Faith that is our creed.

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