Brigid of Ireland 		February 1
Abbess
Brigid is remembered in particular for her compassionate care of the people of Ireland. Her name is variously given as Brigid, Bridget, and Bride. Virtually no reliable historical facts about her are known. Even the date of her death (525) is only approximate. The “Lives” of Brigid are mainly the miracles she is reputed to have performed and stories about her. Nevertheless, even these materials shed interesting light on the part she plays in the affections of the Irish people.
Brigid is portrayed as a person of deep compassion, and the scope of this shows something of the hopes and fears of the Irish people of her day. According to tradition, Brigid was born near Kildare and was baptised by Patrick. She became a nun and set up and presided over the monastery of Kildare as its abbess. As a result, Kildare became significant in the spread of Christianity in Ireland. The stories of her compassion include episodes of the multiplication of food for the poor, and, on one occasion, of turning water into beer to satisfy the thirst of some visiting clergy. In other legends she is identified with the Virgin Mary (“Mary of the Gael”), since Brigid looked just like the Mary that Bishop Ibor saw in a vision on the night before he met Brigid.
The development of the stories about Brigid seems to have had much to do with the promotion of the importance and even supremacy of Kildare in the church in Ireland. In Ireland and in places on the continent of Europe influenced by Ireland, Brigid became second only to Patrick in significance.
For Liturgical Use
Brigid was the abbess of Kildare and second only to Patrick in significance as a saint to the Irish people. Little reliable information is available on her life, but the legends and stories about her portray her as holy and compassionate, with a deep love of the poor. She died about 525.
Sentence
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.	Matthew 5:16
Collects
Creator of life and light,
you call your people
to holiness of life and a compassionate spirit;
grant that like Brigid of Kildare
we may show your love to the poor and the hungry
and follow with zeal and devotion the way
of your Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

Blessed are you holy God
in Brigid, abbess of Kildare,
who in her time
kept alive the church’s prayer;
may we in our time do the same.
Psalms	66:1-11	119:129-136
Readings
Job 28:20-28		Fear of the Lord is wisdom
James 1:22-27		Pure and faultless religion
Luke 12:22-31		God’s care for all
Post Communion Sentence
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.	Matthew 5:7