The Feast Day of Saint Brigid

The Feast Day of Saint Brigid

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Brigid, also known as Imbolc.

Brigid of Kildare, or Brigid of Ireland is the patroness saint of Ireland, one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. She founded the significant abbey of Kildare as well as other convents of nuns.

We do not have a great deal of historical detail about Saint Brigid and her life. Much of the story we have is based in anecdotes and tales of her miracles rooted in Celtic folklore. Brigid was the daughter of a chieftain and a slave woman, and was raised in a druid’s household before becoming a consecrated virgin.

Some historians believe Saint Brigid is a Christianization of Celtic goddess Brigid. The Feast Day of Saint Brigid was originally a pre-Christian festival called Imbolc which marked the beginning of spring.

There is debate over whether Saint Brigid actually existed as a real person.

One prayer attributed to Saint Brigid begins:

I would wish a great lake of ale for the King of Kings; I would wish the family of heaven to be drinking it throughout life and time.

I would wish the men of Heaven in my own house; I would wish vessels of peace to be given to them.

I would wish joy to be in their drinking; I would wish Jesu to be here among them.

Saint Brigid’s story includes her founding the monastery in Kildare around the year 480. The monastery included two monasteries, one for men and one for women. For centuries, Kildare was administered by an abbot-bishop and an abbess. The Abbess of Kildare is regarded as superior general of the monasteries in Ireland and is accorded episcopal honor.

Is Brigid Still a Saint?

There is some controversy about Brigid’s sainthood, which stands to reason if there is doubt about her existence.

Many sources doubt her canonization was authorized by the institutional church. Brigid is a saint who was recognized by the people around her, who knew her, rather than church authorities. The shared administration of the monastery in Kildare also causes some to object.

I believe Brigid’s story is a lesson for us to learn and put into practice. She is an example to us whether or not her sainthood was acknowledged by church authorities, whether or not she actually lived.

Brigid’s story highlights the ways spiritual life tends to overflow the boundaries in which we try to enclose it. Regardless of whether we are paying attention, spiritual life is at work in people like Brigid. It may not be popular with officials who want to keep things organized in separate categories and boxes. The fact is spiritual life draws men and women to practice what they believe in fresh ways.

Whether we appreciate it or not, Brigid’s example inspires people to live into spiritual life.

Brigid is an excellent reflection of Celtic spirituality. More organic and less hierarchical than the established church, Celtic Christianity applies the truths of Christianity in the fertile soil of Celtic society.

The story of Saint Brigid tends to complement the story of her friend Saint Patrick. The miracles attributed to Brigid are primarily humble actions which heal, feed hungry people, and rescue people from violence.

Brigid also appears to be a saint ahead of her time. The shared governance of the monasteries in Kildare could be an example for us to follow. In addition, as we struggle to find ways to deal with climactic changes, Celtic spirituality gives us wisdom to put into practice.

Celebrating Brigid’s Day

How will we find ways to follow Brigid’s example today?

Depending on the weather, there may be ways to spend time today appreciating nature. We may be able to take a walk in a woods, or along a beach, or on a mountain. Some of us might visit a park. We might be able to plant a tree, or pay attention to our houseplants.

Some of us might need to take a more longer term view. We could plan something we would like to plant in a month or two, or a longer visit to nature during February or March.

There may be a creative new way we can learn to work together like Brigid to discover today. We may have someone with whom we need to reconnect and reconcile. Today may be a day for us to ask for, or offer, forgiveness. It may the day our reflection guides us into new insights, new questions, or a new way of doing things.

There may be something we need to forget and put behind us today.

If nothing else, we can take some time today to reflect on Saint Brigid. We can look her up and learn something more about her, whatever there is to find out. It could be a day for us to sit still and listen, waiting for her example to speak to us.

Saint Brigid is an inspiring person. If we take time to reflect and listen we will begin to follow her example. We will see we do not need someone else to tell us how to celebrate her day. Listening to Brigid will be all the direction we need.

The Joy of Uncertainty

The uncertainty of historic information about Saint Brigid does not reduce the power and influence of her example for us.

We do not know much about the real person Brigid of Kildare, or even whether she actually was a real person. What we do know id how her story inspires us to put what we believe into practice.

Brigid did not have any social media accounts. We do not even know what she looked like, or whether she was really alive. What we do know is how her example and the stories about her can inspire us.

Her story is true, even if it is not necessarily accurate.

How will we celebrate the life of Saint Brigid today?

When will we take time to allow Saint Brigid to inspire us this month?

[Image by amandabhslater]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual director in Southern California. He is a recovering assistant district attorney and associate university professor and is a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is http://StrategicMonk.com and his email address is StrategicMonk@gmail.com.