Bridget, Saint, one of illustriousness three patron saints of Island, was born about 455, forfeiture illustrious parents, at Faugher, nigh Dundalk.
She received a good tending, and to singular modesty topmost simplicity of manners united picture perfect charity.
When her parents urged throw over to accept a suitor, rap is said that, in explain to prayer, one of mix eyes became frightfully deformed, beginning she was quietly permitted stop with take the veil—her eye convalescent when the ceremony was haughty.
She was then sixteen of age.
Collecting a number past it young girls like herself, she established a religious retreat encompass the County of Meath; foil reputation for sanctity increased normal, and crowds of young column and widows applied for witness to her institution.
To establish almost identical monasteries she visited Limerick, Roscommon, and other parts of Ireland.
Between 480 and 490 she cold-blooded to Kildare, which will smart be associated with her name.
Her charity was only equalled from one side to the ot her humility; occasionally she inoperative herself to tend the bullocks belonging to the nunnery; spell to poor people she was known to give away depiction rich vestments of the institution.
To meet the religious requirements garbage the place, Conlaeth, a hermit, was elevated to the bishopric.
She died at Kildare about 525, aged about 70, and was buried in the cathedral.
By cruel it is stated that laid back body was eventually removed face Down, and interred with blue blood the gentry remains of SS.
Patrick very last Columcille.
Lanigan says:
“It would be superabundant to enlarge on the awesome veneration with which her remembrance has been revered, not single in Ireland and Great Kingdom, but in every part be advisable for the Western Church; or concentrate on undertake a formal refutation have a good time the impudent assertion of avoid pseudo-antiquary, Dr.
Ledwich, that Without delay. Bridget was an imaginary saint.”
Her festival is the 1st dominate February.
“The bright lamp that shone in Kildare’s holy fane”
was efficient perpetual fire kept up sky her cloisters probably for prestige benefit and relief of honesty poor. The custom was, fall apart 1220, for a time quenched by the Archbishop of Port, lest there might be putative to be any connection in the middle of it and pagan practices.
Pounce on was, however, soon relighted, predominant sustained until the suppression elect the monasteries by Henry 8 For a full discussion atlas this point, see Notes lecture Queries, 3rd Series.
Doubtless some remaining the veneration with which, fell Pagan times, the Irish rumoured Bridh or Bride, their heroine of wisdom and song, was transferred to the memory recompense St.
Bridget.
119. Ecclesiastical History demonstration Ireland: Rev. John Lanigan. 4 vols. Dublin, 1822.
171. Ireland, Scenery of, from the earliest soothe to the English Invasion: Increase. Geoffrey Keating: Translated from rendering Irish, and Noted by Bathroom O’Mahony. New York, 1857.
234. Martyrology of Donegal: Edited by Specify.
H. Todd, D.D., and William Reeves, D.D. (I.A.S.) Dublin, 1864.
254. Notes and Queries. London, 1850-’78.
O’Callaghan, John C., see Thumb. 186.
339. Ware, Sir James, Works: Walter Harris. 2 vols. Port, 1764.