There is a worldwide resurgence of interest in Brigid of Kildare according to Sr. Mary Minehan CSB. This is leading many individuals and groups to draw inspiration from Brigid’s well of spirituality. The stories and legends that abound about her are being told and retold with a new relevance for our time. Many are looking to this woman as a model, a source of encouragement and inspiration in facing the issues that confront our country and world today. Together with Patrick and Columcille, Brigid is one of the most ancient Celtic figures whose spirit seeks to awaken us to new life and awareness today.
Brigid, in keeping with her Celtic roots, was wonderfully attuned to nature and the seasons. Her feast day marks the beginning of spring. It speaks of new beginnings, as the ground is prepared for seed, new lambs are born, and the first signs of new spring appear. It was an ancient custom to implore Brigid’s blessing of protection for land and crops. Brigid was very much a woman connected with the elements of earth, air, water and fire, elements on which all life, plants, animals and we humans depend for our daily sustenance. Unfortunately, to-day we see the devastation of our planet, as Pope Francis states in his Encyclical, Laudato Si, “Due to an ill-considered exploitation of nature, humanity runs the risk of destroying it and becoming in turn a victim of this degradation”. The pursuit of wealth and power is causing irreparable damage to our planet.
St. Brigids Cathedral, Kildare
Many environmental groups are drawing inspiration from the reverence and respect which Brigid had for the land. Like Brigid, Pope Francis is calling us today to awaken to the reality that “Earth is our common home, we ourselves come from the earth, our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters”.
Brigid had an extraordinary concern and compassion for the poor of her day, the reason her spirituality is so relevant for today’s world. Pope Francis is also challenging us to hear again within ourselves “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”.
For Brigid, Christ was seen in every poor person she met. There is a Brigidine legend which tells this story. One day when Brigid was on a long journey, she stopped by the wayside for a rest. A wealthy lady, when she heard that Brigid was in the vicinity, brought her a beautiful basket of choice apples. No sooner had the gift been presented than a group of poor people came by begging for food. Without hesitation, Brigid distributed the basket of apples to them. The lady was utterly disgusted with Brigid and said, “I brought those apples for you and not for them”. Brigid’s reply was, “What’s mine is theirs”.
Individuals and concerned groups can draw wisdom and example from Brigid in terms of how she responded to the poor of her day. We can reflect on the implications this legend of Brigid has for our world today? What are the implications for example for the north/south divide, a world where twenty five percent of the earth’s population own and consume seventy five percent of the world’s resources! “For human beings to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation, for human beings to degrade the integrity of earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests or destroying its wetlands; for human beings to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its air and its life-these are sins” Laudato Si.
One of the major issues confronting us today is a widening poverty gap as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. This attitude of destruction and exploitation of nature is in stark contrast to Brigid’s love for the earth and the poor of the land.
The several hundred poems and legends with regard to Brigid, identify her as patroness of the dairy herd, (Brigid of the Kine), of fertility, poetry and song. She is deeply rooted in the land, and connected with the cycles of the seasons, identifying very much with the energy and new life in spring. For many years now Brigid has been the focus of much inspiration for woman’s spirituality in Ireland and also in Europe and America, where there is a revival of interest, especially when celebrating the Millennium when the light of Brigid was brought across the world.
I live in the parish of Clonard in Wexford town. In 2001, the parish priest invited twelve women from the parish to create a tapestry of Brigid. They worked over a period of two years, with the artist who designed the tapestry. The tapestry is primarily based on Brigid’s love for the natural environment, and it is much a celebration of the beauty and diversity of nature as it is to honour Brigid, Goddess and Saint. The tapestry is based on the four elements, earth, air, fire and water.
Tapestry of St Brigid
The tapestry beautifully depicts and celebrates the abundance of nature. Brigid is believed to have built her first monastery in the shade of an oak grove, hence “Cill Dara” (Kildare) the church of the oak. The oak tree, like the hawthorn, was much revered in ancient days. In the tapestry, the roots of the oak tree connect all the way across the design to become part of Brigid herself, emphasising her deep connection to earth.
One of the most famous stories about Brigid relates the response of a local Chieftain to her request to give her land on which to build a monastery – “Whatever your cloak will cover you can have”. So having prayed, she threw her cloak on the ground, whereupon it spread and spread until it covered the lands of Kildare. The Chieftain was a man of his word and thus, the first monastery was built. This story is beautifully portrayed in the design. The cloak which protects Brigid is also the land out of which the great oak grows.
The tapestry now forms a meditative focus in the day chapel at the Church of the Annunciation, Clonard, Wexford.
Thirteen years ago, I attended a workshop on St Brigid in Dowdstown House, Dalgan Park, Navan. It was there I got the inspiration to start a St. Brigid group in Clonard Parish, Wexford Town.
I advertised by word of mouth, and armed with a bundle of rushes arrived to see twenty five people gathered for the ritual. We had a very meaningful celebration with music, song and Brigid, as well as teaching the group how to make Brigid’s crosses.
On the eve of Brigid the following year, we had the celebration in the day chapel, attended by about fifty people. It was very special as we were able to incorporate all the elements from the Brigid tapestry into the celebration of the ritual. The next year we had the privilege of having Noirin Ni Riain who sings with the monks of Glenstal.
Each year the celebration of Brigid has gone from strength to strength, growing numbers coming to celebrate the feast of Brigid. Last year there was an attendance of about five hundred people, highlighting how much people nowadays appreciate the experience of ritual. A large number of people from the parish are now involved in the preparation for the feast of Brigid, from the making of Brigid crosses for everyone, to the cutting of pieces of cloth for the “brat bride” (Brigid’s cloth); the decoration of the altar, where you will see a spring garden with daffodils and primroses, with a display of baskets of fruit and vegetables, a milk churn, a bee hive, a well, a tree overlooking the well, where people hang a symbol in return for healing, and of course our excellent folk choir.
The parish priest officiates, and is very in tune with the ritual, celebrating the four elements. So much so that it is customary for the parish priest to loan his circular barbeque, (similar to a wok) for the element of fire. With the help of cotton wool and some methylated spirit, we usually have a huge fire on the altar, symbolising the light of Brigid for the world! People love to get the Brigid crosses, and the brat Bride for themselves and their sick relatives, trusting in the healing powers of Brigid.
The preparation of the altar is usually done on the Friday before the feast. Large Brigid crosses made from willow by a local craftsman, decorate the Church for the Sunday Masses. During the following week, all the classes from the local schools, are brought to the Church where they have a ritual around the story of Brigid and all the symbols on the altar, representing aspects of her life.
The Brigidine Sisters in Kildare have kept the flame of Brigid alight down through the ages. Kildare town has become a popular destination for thousands of pilgrims and visitors, local and international, interested in the traditions, values and customs associated with Brigid of Kildare. The growing numbers had created an urgent need for a larger Centre.
In response, the Brigidine Sisters have created and built a magnificent Centre which is ecologically sustainable. The design of the new centre was inspired by the evocative imagery of Brigid’s legacy and legends, incorporating the vision and passion of the Brigidines to unfold the legacy of Brigid, focusing on ecological concerns “faced as we are with Global environmental deterioration”. Laudato Si
In the grounds of the Centre are hermitages, to provide an opportunity for pilgrims to stay and to experience solitude and quiet in a nurturing atmosphere.
In September of 2015, a group of about twenty four of us from the INTERCONNECTEDNESS Group in the Southern Province went on a day’s pilgrimage to Kildare where we were hosted by the Brigidine Sisters. It was a wonderful experience to be brought on a tour of the new Centre, but it was more impressive to hear of the enthusiasm and vision which gave birth to the Solas Bhride centre and hermitages. In some ways it seemed miraculous and providential. The group enjoyed their visit very much, especially the ritual in the Brigid garden around the well. There was a moment of great excitement when we discovered the tree in the garden, sown by Thomas Berry some years ago!
Prayer to St Brigid
Brigid,
You were a woman of peace; you brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness. You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,
And may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and the weary
Strengthen what is weak within us. Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen.
Information about Solas Bhride: www.solasbhride.ie
Mary O’Dwyer rsm
Southern Province
