Who was St. Brigid?
St. Brigid's Feast Day is February 1.
She grew up a milkmaid and cowherd in bondage
to the Druids. So many apocryphal fancies have
been used to embellish her life story that it is
impossible to reconstruct an accurate biography.
We do know there was a Druid shrine to a
goddess where a perpetual flame burned. Brigid
did not extinguish this flame when she founded a
Christian religious community on the site now
called Kildare, Ireland. The religious community
included both men and women according to the
custom of the Celtic church. She served as
Abbess of this order and as tradition has it she
was consecrated bishop in order to serve as
Abbess. Such consecrations of women were not
unknown among the Celtic Christians. Brigid was
renowned for her virtue, piety and hospitality.
She was so loved and honored among the Gaelic
people that she was called "Mary of the Gael."
She grew up a milkmaid and cowherd in bondage
to the Druids. So many apocryphal fancies have
been used to embellish her life story that it is
impossible to reconstruct an accurate biography.
We do know there was a Druid shrine to a
goddess where a perpetual flame burned. Brigid
did not extinguish this flame when she founded a
Christian religious community on the site now
called Kildare, Ireland. The religious community
included both men and women according to the
custom of the Celtic church. She served as
Abbess of this order and as tradition has it she
was consecrated bishop in order to serve as
Abbess. Such consecrations of women were not
unknown among the Celtic Christians. Brigid was
renowned for her virtue, piety and hospitality.
She was so loved and honored among the Gaelic
people that she was called "Mary of the Gael."
Used by permission of the artist, Kathrin Burleson
St. Brigid's
Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church
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