St. Brigid of Ireland (453-524) is one of the patrons of Ireland, along with St. Patrick and St. Columba. She was an Irish Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several monasteries. She is one of the early female leaders in our Church and was known for her charity to the poor. Today she is best known through her association with Ireland and the St. Brigid’s Cross, named after her. The St. Brigid’s Cross is a cross made from weaving rushes or straw. They were often made on St. Brigid’s feast day and were then placed in the thatch roofs of the countryside as a protection. Today you can still find St. Brigid’s Crosses, but more often on a wall as a reminder of faith. St. Brigid’s feast day (February 1), celebrated as Imbolc in Gaelic Ireland, coincided with the pagan feast of the beginning of spring. St. Brigid is often confused with the pagan goddess of the same name and shares many attributes with her. In modern times, Brigid has been revered as a feminist figure because of the leadership positions she held in a patriarchal time (she was described by her contemporaries as a bishop).
Questions for Reflection:
- Many people still have a St. Brigid’s Cross in their homes. What objects in your home have special spiritual meaning to you? What do you think makes them meaningful to you?
- Brigid represents the connection between Christian and pagan mythology. Where do you find connections between different faiths?