Saint Brigid of Ireland

Life story

Brigid lived in Ireland around the end of the fifth century and the start of the sixth; the dates of about 451 for her birth and about 525 for her death are only approximate and traditional. No record was written immediately after her death, and the oldest biographies, such as the one by Cogitosus composed around the middle of the seventh century, already include much oral material. Historians therefore accept her as a real person while remaining cautious about the particulars of her life.

According to tradition, she was born near Dundalk in the north-east of Ireland and chose early to dedicate her life to God. She founded a community of women at Kildare, whose Irish name means church of the oak, and it grew into a major centre where both men and women lived under the authority of an abbess. Kildare gradually became an important place of pilgrimage and learning. The accounts praise her generosity to the poor, and many stories of miracles involving cattle and butter are told, but these are legends that cannot be verified.

Brigid died around 525 and was buried at Kildare, where the monastery church later drew many pilgrims. Her feast on 1 February has been kept since very early times. The cross woven from rushes that bears her name is still made on that day in Ireland. She is regarded as one of the three patrons of Ireland, together with Patrick and Columba, and her name has been given to countless churches and people in that region.

Works and witness

• Founded a monastic community at Kildare in Ireland
• Abbess of a monastery housing both men and women
• Her life was written by Cogitosus around the mid-seventh century
• The rush cross linked to her is still made on 1 February
• One of the three patrons of Ireland

Patron of

Ireland

Saints from the same country

Saint Patrick, Saint Columba, Saint Columbanus, Saint Oliver Plunkett

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Cogitosus, Vita Sanctae Brigitae
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.