Catherine Nicolette;
Bridgid is an Irish holy woman. It is told she was the daughter of an Irish chieftain and a Christian slave.
Her father was Dubtach, descendent of Con of the Hundred Battles, and her mother Brotseach of the House of O'Connor.
It is told that her mother was sold to a Druid around the time of Bridgid's birth - some accounts say just before, others just after her birth. Bridgid was brought up in her father's household.
Bridgid is an Irish holy woman. It is told she was the daughter of an Irish chieftain and a Christian slave.
Her father was Dubtach, descendent of Con of the Hundred Battles, and her mother Brotseach of the House of O'Connor.
It is told that her mother was sold to a Druid around the time of Bridgid's birth - some accounts say just before, others just after her birth. Bridgid was brought up in her father's household.
Bridgid was known for her kindness and sense of justice.
She followed the Christian religious path of life, and in 480 AD arrived with her nuns in the present day Kildare.
She decided to build her abbey on Druim Criadh (the ridge of the clay) rising above the Curragh plain there, under a great oak tree.
Hence came the present town's name Kildare - Cill Dara, the cell or church of the oak.
She followed the Christian religious path of life, and in 480 AD arrived with her nuns in the present day Kildare.
She decided to build her abbey on Druim Criadh (the ridge of the clay) rising above the Curragh plain there, under a great oak tree.
Hence came the present town's name Kildare - Cill Dara, the cell or church of the oak.
Medieval times
In medieval times abbeys of Franciscans and Carmelites were stationed in Kildare.
St. Bridgid's Cathedral is located on the original grounds of St Bridgid's wooden church.
The present Cathedral was built between 1223 and 1230. It was restored to its present form from 1875 to 1896.
In medieval times abbeys of Franciscans and Carmelites were stationed in Kildare.
St. Bridgid's Cathedral is located on the original grounds of St Bridgid's wooden church.
The present Cathedral was built between 1223 and 1230. It was restored to its present form from 1875 to 1896.
Celtic icon
Bridgid is an icon of Celtic spirituality, and she has long been associated with Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus the Christ.
Bridgid is known affectionately as 'The Mary of the Gael'. She was known for her firm and good character.
Her outstanding hospitality has been illustrated in this poem cited in Robert Van de Weyers' book, Celtic Fire.
Bridgid is an icon of Celtic spirituality, and she has long been associated with Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus the Christ.
Bridgid is known affectionately as 'The Mary of the Gael'. She was known for her firm and good character.
Her outstanding hospitality has been illustrated in this poem cited in Robert Van de Weyers' book, Celtic Fire.
'Brigid's Feast
I should like a great lake of finest ale
For the King of kings.
I should like a table of the choicest food
For the family of heaven.
Let the ale be made from the fruits of faith,
And the food be forgiving love.
I should welcome the poor to my feast,
For they are Gods children.
I should welcome the sick to my feast,
For they are God's joy.
Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place,
And the sick dance with the angels.
God bless the poor,
God bless the sick,
And bless our human race.
God bless our food,
God bless our drink,O God, embrace.'
I should like a great lake of finest ale
For the King of kings.
I should like a table of the choicest food
For the family of heaven.
Let the ale be made from the fruits of faith,
And the food be forgiving love.
I should welcome the poor to my feast,
For they are Gods children.
I should welcome the sick to my feast,
For they are God's joy.
Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place,
And the sick dance with the angels.
God bless the poor,
God bless the sick,
And bless our human race.
God bless our food,
God bless our drink,O God, embrace.'
St Bridgid's Cross
Bridgid wove a cross out of rushes which is famous throughout Ireland and is known as St Bridgid's cross.
It is a beautifully interwoven symbol of the love of Jesus the Christ for all humanity.
Bridgid wove a cross out of rushes which is famous throughout Ireland and is known as St Bridgid's cross.
It is a beautifully interwoven symbol of the love of Jesus the Christ for all humanity.
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| St Bridgid's Cross |
St Bridgid's Well
St Bridgid's Well is located close to the Black Abbey, near the site of the Millrace which was used by her.
This well is set within green fields and clouds of wildflowers and greenly Celtic trees.
A sense of mystery and calm pervades the holy site which is a place of pilgrimage.
Water makes muted music through the well site, and there is a stone well area with a cross. Pilgrims tie prayer cloths to the tree, and the multicoloured linen strips flutter in the soft breeze. Prayer stones mark the site, and a statue of Bridgid stands tall in the midst of the site.
A picture of Jesus the Christ stands before a stone shrine, where pilgrims have left items symbolic of their prayer.
A green chapel of branches has been grown around a prayer seat, and it seems almost as if there is a chapel within the nature wherein the pilgrim can worship.
St Bridgid's Well is located close to the Black Abbey, near the site of the Millrace which was used by her.
This well is set within green fields and clouds of wildflowers and greenly Celtic trees.
A sense of mystery and calm pervades the holy site which is a place of pilgrimage.
Water makes muted music through the well site, and there is a stone well area with a cross. Pilgrims tie prayer cloths to the tree, and the multicoloured linen strips flutter in the soft breeze. Prayer stones mark the site, and a statue of Bridgid stands tall in the midst of the site.
A picture of Jesus the Christ stands before a stone shrine, where pilgrims have left items symbolic of their prayer.
A green chapel of branches has been grown around a prayer seat, and it seems almost as if there is a chapel within the nature wherein the pilgrim can worship.
Flower floating
Beautifully - today - as I knelt before Bridgid's Well and remembered all readers of Lumiere Charity and Marian Praise - a pilgrim had left a soft white flower floating on the water of the well. As I closed my eyes, a sense of deepest peace pervaded me.
I blessed my forehead with the water of the well, and as I left the area a calm remained with me.
Beautifully - today - as I knelt before Bridgid's Well and remembered all readers of Lumiere Charity and Marian Praise - a pilgrim had left a soft white flower floating on the water of the well. As I closed my eyes, a sense of deepest peace pervaded me.
I blessed my forehead with the water of the well, and as I left the area a calm remained with me.
If you are in Ireland, or visit this wonderful isle, why not make a prayer visit to this beautiful well shrine quietly waiting, as it has for centuries, deep in the Irish fields.
Links to find out more about the wonderful Bridgid of Ireland;
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/IRELAND/2002-02/1012574186
Here is a link to make your own St Bridgid's Cross. With grateful thanks to Fish Eaters website for this free weaving pattern..
http://www.fisheaters.com/stbrigidscross.html
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| A devoted pilgrim had left a flower floating on the well water |
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| At the beautiful well, a place of mystery and prayer |
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| Sculpture of St Bridgid at the well |
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| A prayer stool amid the soft Irish greenery at the well |
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