Irish Catholicism is almost synonymous with the island’s most famous bishop: St. Patrick. Irish culture is celebrated throughout the world on his feast day, and the shamrock (which he apocryphally used to explain the Trinity) has become Ireland’s most famous symbol. St. Patrick is so well-known that it often comes as a surprise when one learns Ireland actually has another beloved patron saint. That saint is St. Brigid, virgin and abbess, who is often portrayed next to Patrick in church art and whose distinct image is often prominently displayed in Irish homes.
Born to a pagan chieftain and a slave woman who was baptized by St. Patrick himself, St. Brigid was born into slavery. She showed great piety and care for the poor from an early age, and occasionally gave away her father’s possessions to the poor. This enraged him, and he treated her cruelly until the King of Leinster ordered him to grant her freedom. Once she was emancipated, the local bishop gave her permission to establish a monastery at the site of an ancient pagan shrine, and she began her religious life as the abbess of seven nuns.
Brigid’s monastery was a great success and her nuns were especially noted for their charity towards the island’s poor. Eventually, Brigid founded a monastery for men and chose the hermit Conleth (who was later canonized) to be its abbot. Conleth and Brigid then co-founded the Diocese of Kildare and built its cathedral together. Conleth was consecrated as its first bishop. Brigid, however, continued to assist in the management of the diocese. For centuries thereafter, Kildare was co-ruled by the bishop and the abbess of Brigid’s monastery.
Brigid was associated with a number of miracles throughout her life, many taking the form of fantastical stories common to Irish folklore. Perhaps the most famous concerned her asking the King of Leinster for a plot of land on which to build her monastery. When the king laughed at her question, Brigid prayed that God would assist her and give her a way to convince the king for land. She then re-phrased her question, asking the king to give her only the land that her cloak could cover. Amused by what he considered a silly request, the king agreed. Four of Brigid’s nuns then took each corner of the cloak and pulled it in each direction, until it miraculously expanded to the size of several acres. The king, realizing the power of Brigid’s religion, gave her all the land she requested and then converted to Christianity himself.
Brigid became well-known in her lifetime for her holiness and leadership ability. She was often called on to resolve disputes between local kings at a time when women were given no role in government. Her religious leadership was also notable and many of her nuns went on to become canonized saints themselves, including her successor as abbess, St. Dar Lugdach. In addition to her miracle with the cloak, Brigid was said to be able to control the wind and rain with her prayers, and was believed to turn water into beer.
Today Brigid is often known as Mary of the Gael, recognizing the degree of holiness she held. Her feast day is celebrated on February 1, and in Ireland, this day is recognized as the first day of spring. (It replaced the Gaelic festival of Imbolc, which marked the beginning of spring in pagan times.) In addition to being Patroness of Ireland, Brigid is recognized as the patron saint of children with unmarried parents and children born into abusive homes because of her status as a slave in childhood. She is also a patron of the poor, nuns, poets, scholars, brewers, and mariners.
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