Saint Brigid, or to be really correct Saint Brigid of Kildare, is a saint of many names: Brigid of Ireland, Brigit, Bridget, Bridgit, Bríd, Bride, Naomh Bhríde or „Mary of the Gaels“. Living from 451 to 525 (it is said), she was an Irish nun, abbess, founder of several convents, held the rank of bishop and generally venerated as a saint. Considered as one of Ireland's patron saints, she ranks only behind Saint Patrick himself in importance. Her feast day is February 1st, also the first day of spring in Ireland.
But who was Brigid?
Brigid – A Short Biography
Traditionally, Brigid is thought to have been born at Faughart (County Louth). Her father was Dubhthach, a Leinster pagan chieftain, her mother Brocca, a Pictish Christian. Brigid was named after the goddess of Dubhthach's religion, a goddess of fire.
In 468 Brigid converted to Christianity, having been a fan of Saint Patrick's preaching for some time. Her father was not pleased when she felt a longing to enter religious life, keeping her at home first. Where she became known for her generosity and charity: Never refusing any poor who came knocking at Dubhthach's door, the household needed a steady supply of milk, flour and other essentials. Having nothing else to hand, she even gave her father's jewelled sword to a leper. Dubhthach finally gave in and sent Brigid to a convent, maybe to avoid bankruptcy.
Receiving the veil from Saint Mel, Brigid embarked on a career as convent founder, starting in Clara (County Offaly). But her activity in Kildare became most important - around the year 470 she founded Kildare Abbey, a „co-ed“ monastery for both nuns and monks. Kildare comes from cill-dara, meaning „the church of the oak“ - Brigid's cell being under a large oak tree.
As abbess, Brigid held considerable power – in fact she became a bishop in all but name. The abbesses of Kildare had an administrative authority equal to that of a bishop until 1152.
Dying in or around 525, Brigid was first buried in a tomb before the high altar of Kildare's abbey church. Later her remains are said to have been exhumed and transported to Downpatrick - to rest with the two other patron saints of Ireland, Patrick and Columba (Columcille).
Saintly Impact of Saint Brigid
In Ireland, Brigid was quickly and still is regarded as the most holy native saint after Patrick – a ranking that secured her the some ambiguous name of „Mary of the Gaels“. Brigid remains a popular name in Ireland. And hundreds of place-names in honouring Brigid are found all in both Scotland and Ireland: The ever-popular Kilbride (Church of Brigid), Templebride or Tubberbride are just a few examples.
Irish missionaries made Brigid a popular saint for converted pagans all over Europe too – especially in pre-reformation times Brigid of Kildare had many British and continental followers, though the distinction to other saints of the same name is occasionally blurry.
The Sign of Saint Brigid's Cross
According to legend, Brigid made a cross from rushes for a dying man she was keen to convert. Though the origins of this story are unknown, even today many households in Ireland have a Saint Brigid's Cross in honour of the saint. The cross may take several forms, but in its most common appearance it bears a resemblance to a fylfot or swastika.
Apart from religous reasons, keeping a Saint Brigid's Cross in its traditional place is prudent for practical purposes: It is believed that hanging the cross from the ceiling or the roof itself is a sure-fire way to preserve the home from fire. Note that one of Brigid's innovations in Kildare was an eternal fire. And that the pagan goddess she was named after was a fire goddess. Which leads us neatly to the question ...
Was Brigid a Christian or a Pagan?
A bit of both ... and the jury is still definitely out on this one. While devout Roman Catholics will tell you that there is no truth in any of the rumours, neo-pagans will claim the goddess with open arms. So, who's right?
Sharing both name and feast day with pagan goddess Brigid, Saint Brigid seems to be fictional creation based on the pagan figure. The reason? It would have made converting the Irish to Christianity that little bit easier. Taking over pagan figures and traditions was common practice of Christian missionaries.
However ... a historical Brigid may indeed have been named after the goddess and even been a converted princess. Who then was connected to the pagan goddess by Christian hagiographers keen on a revisionist version of a still popular pagan believe system.
Historians tend towards a historical nun Brigid that got caught up in the struggle between paganism and Christianity. And also in a political struggle within the church – regarding the power of Kildare over surrounding regions and other convents.
