Saint Brigid of Kildare, also known as Brigid of Ireland or Brigit, was one of Ireland’s most beloved and important saints.
She lived during the 5th and 6th centuries and is often regarded as the patroness of Ireland, alongside Saint Patrick and Saint Columba.
Early life of Saint Brigid
Born in 451 AD in Faughart, near Dundalk in County Louth, Brigid's father was a pagan chieftain named Dubhthach, and her mother, Brocca, was a Christian slave. They named their daughter after one of the Pagan Goddesses. This goddess was the goddess of fire, her manifestations were song, craftsmanship, and poetry. Irish people considered this as the flame of knowledge.
Brigid was raised in a Christian environment and is said to have been devout from a young age, showing remarkable charity and care for the poor. Known to have a big heart and she could never refuse the poor when they came to her door. However, her father resented this. He disagreed with her actions and thought she was being overly generous. She had a thing of giving away her father's milk and flour to the less fortunate. After receiving permission from her father, she took religious vows and became a nun.
Brigid founded a convent at Kildare named "Church of the Oak," around 480 AD. It developed into one of Ireland's most significant hubs for education and spirituality.
The monastery at Kildare, which she founded with the help of Bishop Conleth, became a double monastery for men and women. Brigid served as abbess, and Kildare became a center of faith, education, and culture. The monastery was also known for its scriptorium, where monks produced illuminated manuscripts similar to the famous Book of Kells.
Miracles of Saint Brigid
Numerous miracles are attributed to Saint Brigid, emphasizing her compassion for the poor and her close connection to nature.
One of the most famous miracles associated with Saint Brigid is when she turned water into beer. According to legend, during a visit by unexpected guests, Brigid had nothing to serve them. With her usual generosity and divine intervention, she transformed water into beer to ensure her guests were properly cared for.
St Brigid's cloak
A widely told miracle involves the legend of St Brigid’s cloak. She approached a local king to ask for land on which to build her monastery in Kildare. The king was hesitant and told her she could have as much land as her cloak would cover. Brigid spread her cloak on the ground, and miraculously, it expanded to cover a vast area. Astonished by this miracle, the king granted her the land.
In the monastery a sacred flame was kept burning in her honor. According to legend, this eternal flame burned continuously for centuries after her death, tended by her nuns. The flame was believed to be miraculous and was only extinguished during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII in the 16th century. It was rekindled in the 20th century as a symbol of peace and Brigid’s enduring legacy.
Generosity & charity
Known for her generosity to the poor, Brigid often performed miracles related to food. One story recounts how she gave away all of her mother’s butter to the needy. When her mother scolded her, Brigid prayed, and the butter was miraculously replenished. In another instance, she is said to have multiplied bread and bacon to feed a large group of hungry people.
Her father, who was displeased with her constant charity, took her to the king to sell her into slavery thinking this would put an end to her giving. While waiting for the king, Brigid gave away her father's jeweled sword to a beggar. Instead of punishing her, the king was impressed by her generosity and set her free.
Healing powers
She is also known for her healing powers. Many stories describe her curing people of various ailments such as healing a man who was mute by touching his lips. IN another story she restored sight to the blind, including a man who had lost his sight in an accident. Brigid also healed lepers and provided comfort to the sick, often through simple gestures like prayers or blessings.
Animals
St Brigid had a deep connection with animals. Legend says she tamed a wild boar that had been terrorizing the local population. After she blessed the animal, it became docile and no longer harmed people. Similarly, there are stories of her calming wild horses and other creatures.
St Brigid’s Cross traditions
One of the most enduring symbols associated with Brigid is the Brigid’s Cross, made from rushes, a design inspired by the pagan sun wheel.
According to legend, Brigid wove the first cross from reeds while comforting a dying pagan chieftain, explaining the Christian faith to him. Moved by her compassion and message, he converted to Christianity before his death. The cross is still hung in Irish homes today as a symbol of protection against fire and evil. One possible motive for this belief is the popularity of thatched cottages in rural Ireland which could easily catch fire.
Legacy of St Brigid
Brigid is believed to have died around 524 AD. She was laid to rest in a tomb before the high altar in her abbey church in Kildare. When the Vikings invaded Ireland her remains were moved to Downpatrick, where they are said to rest alongside Saint Patrick and Saint Columba of Iona.
The skull of St Brigid was transported to Church of Saint John The Baptist in Lumiar outside of Lisbon, Portugal, by three Irish Knights. They remained with St Brigid's relic until they died and were interred in the tomb.
The tomb of St Brigid's skull and the 3 Irish Irish Knights remains today with an inscription reading
Here in these three tombs lie the three Irish knights who brought the head of St. Brigid, Virgin, a native of Ireland, whose relic is preserved in this chapel. In memory of which, the officials of the Table of the same Saint caused this to be done in January A.D. 1283.
In 2024 a bone fragment was gifted to St Brigid’s parish church in Kildare.
Saint Brigid's feast day is celebrated on February 1, which also coincides with the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, marking the beginning of spring. She is the patron saint of Ireland, as well as of dairymaids, midwives, blacksmiths, poets, and healers. Her influence extended far beyond her lifetime, and many churches, schools, and places in Ireland are dedicated to her.
