When she arrived, having blessed salt and water, of which those women partook, both were soon
restored
to health.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 516, "
Cogitosus' or Secunda Vita S. Brigidae," cap. v. , p. 519. "Tertia Vita S. Brigidae,"
68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
St. Brigid wrought many miracles, in favour of persons afflicted with leprosy and other diseases. ^ Those were reheved from their various infirmi- ties. 7 She restored to sight, by her prayers, a man who was bom blind. ^ The lame and infirm were likewise
virgin. 9
—a with her regarding woman, daughter
An instance is recorded
intervention of the — cured, through holy
only twelve years of age and born dumb coming to visit our Saint the ;
latter, stooping down with great humility, kissed the child, who exhibited by her looks and gesture an affectionate reverence of manner, which the virgin's virtues so well merited. Ignorant concerning that defect of speech, under which the child laboured, Brigid took her by the hand, and addressed some affectionate and pious inquiries, as to whether she designed taking the veil or embracing another mode of life. Her mother declared, the daughter could give no answer. Brigid rephed, she should not relinquish that child's hand, until an answer had been given.
time she forward, spoke
'°
impediment. Afterwards,
Being asked the question a second " I desire to do what wish me. " And from that
the
time, girl said,
to other St. had been
accounts, Brigid approached,
only without the least
you
she remainedinastateofcelibacy,totheveryhourofherdeath. " According
through the medium of another pious female, named Darlugdacha most probably one of her own nuns, and her immediate successor in the govern- mentofherinstituteatKildare. " Themute motherhadsecuredthe
girl's —
good —offices of this Darlugdacha, or Durlaghacha, as we also find her
called on behalf of the afflicted daughter. The restored girl afterwards remained under care of St. Brigid. ^3
Our Saint possessed the gift of multiplying in quantity various kinds of food and drink, which she either touched or blessed. Thus, we are told, when the Paschal or Easter day was near, on a certain time, Brigid wished to prepare a banquet for all the Meathian churches,^^ in various towns^s of that province, surrounding her own establishment. There was a scarcity of com prevailing in this particular district at the time, and she had only very limited means at command to enable her to effect such an object. The small quantity of beer she possessed was contained in two tubs,^*^ as she had no other vessels to hold it ; but, this beverage was divided into measures,
cap. c, p. 540. "QuartaVitaS. Brigidse,"
ibid. Also, Camerarius, p. 140.
9 See Capgrave's "Vita S. Brigidae," cap. xviii.
" See "Trias " Vita Prima Thaumaturga,
S. Brigidoe, sec. 22, p. 516. Cogitosus, or Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap. xviii. , p. 520, ibid.
"See Capgrave's "Vita S. Brigidae," cap. xxv.
" In such case, her festival occurs, also, on the 1st of February. Her acts may be seen immediately succeeding those of St. Brigid.
'3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigidoe, cap. cxxvi. , p. 541. Quarta Vita S. Brigida:, cap. xci. , p. 562, ibid.
'* This seems to indicate her living, with her religious, in the province or diocese of Meath—most likely in its western part,
'S From this statement, we may infer, how populous that district had been,
"
S. Brigidae," cap. xli. , p. 577, ibid. Cap-
lib. ii. , cap. Ixvii. , p. 560.
Quinta Vita
grave
also
that from the to the rising
states,
setting of the sun, not one drop of rain fell
*'
on St. Brigid's reapers. See Legenda
"
SanctorumAnglise, &c. , inVitaS. Brigidae,
cap. xxiii. , and also Messingham's "Flori- legium Insulse Sanctorum. " This account is
contained, likewise, in Petrus de Natalibus,
"
Mundi," and in many of St. Brigid's Offices.
*
See the Lections of her ancient Ofiice, contained in the Breviary of Aberdeen. Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
7 See, likewise, Officium S. Brigidaz, ii. Noctumo, Lect. v. De Burgo's Ofificia
Propria Sanctorum Hibemiae," p. 12. Also, at the same day, Supplementum Romani Breviarii, as used in the Irish Church, Noct. ii. , Lect. vi.
^
in Camerarius, in the
Chronica Generalis
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," St. Brigid's Office in the Breviary of Aber- Prima Vita S. Brigidae, sec. 21, p. 516. deen. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap. xii. , p. 520, Scottish Saints," p. 289.
"^
jj^ fy^o. barrel, according to Lections of
in the first — instance,
February i. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 69
and distributed among eighteen neighbouring churches or monasteries. It
served for the abundant refreshment of those in attendance there, during
Holy Thursday, Easter Sunday, and the week following. ^7 At another time, according to custom. Bishop Maccaille paid the Saint a visit, being accom- panied, however, with an unusual retinue of clerics. Brigid joyfully and hospitablyreceivedthem. HavingheardthewordofGodproclaimedby them, she prepared to minister in turn for the corporal refection of her guests. She placed whatever viands she could procure on the table ; yet,
with the exception of a very small quantity of beer, contained in a vessel, she had no other kind of drink than water,^^ However, presuming on God's goodness, she made a sign of the cross over the beverage, when it was miraculously increased, so as to satisfy more than the wants of all her as- sembled guests. And, we are told, that several vessels were filled, with the contents of this particular measure, through the holy virgin's merits ; as formerly the Almighty had filled the widow's cruise of oil, through the Prophet Elias. ^9 The bishop and his clerics departed, after having expe- rienced the hospitality of their pious hostess, and even more gratified because of her merits and the miracle she wrought, than with any corporeal enter- tainment she afforded them. ^^
It happened, that a scarcity of com prevailed in the Lifiey's plains, on a certain occasion, and St. Brigid was requested by her nuns to visit St. Ibar'^ —a bishop who then dwelt in the plain of Gesille^^—to ask him for corn. Our Saint assented, and on her arrival, she was joyfully received by this holy bishop. However, when Brigid and her companions came, he had nothing for their entertainment, but stale bread and some bacon. Although this visit took place in Lent, both saints partook of such fare ; but, two of the nuns, who accompanied our Saint, refused to eat portions of bacon set beforethem. Amiraculousoccurrence,however,reprovedtheirrecusancy. St. Brigid heard of it, and she greatly blamed her nuns in St. Ibar's presence. She ordered them, at the same time, to go out of doors, and to commence a
" Let us fast with
God. " The Almighty heard their prayers, and soon afterwards a second
miracle was wrought. Bread was set before them, and when blest, it was partaken of by the saints. ^3 Bishop Ibar asked Brigid the cause for this her
penitential
fast. Then said
Brigid :
them,
and to pray
^7 See "Trias Colgan's
" Thaumaturga,
^^ This account is also in briefly given
Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Bri-
gid, pp. 19, 20.
^9 iii. Kings xvii. 17.
=° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quinta S. Brigidae, cap. xxxvi. , p. 575.
^'^
Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. xxi,, p. 529. It is said, that the quantity supplied "ad clausulam Paschae. " This seems to mean, to the following Sunday, or " Dominica in Albis," which closes the Easter Octave.
Ibid, n. 15, p. 543. During the same Easter,
it is stated, that a certain leper came to
her, and demanded the gift of a cow. But,
not being able to afford him this present,
Brigid asked, if ;. he should pray to God,
that he might be healed from leprosy; when
the leper replied, that he would esteem such
favour as the greatest of all gifts. The plains. It was connected with a tragic and Saint then blessed some water, with which
she sprinkled the leper's body, and he was immediately cured of his disease. He gave thanks to God, and remained with St. Brigid, to the time of his death. — /i^/aT, cap. xxv. , p. 529. This seems to be the same miracle, which is a little more diflusely and differently related, in the "Vita Quinta S. Brigidse," cap. xxxiii. , pp. 574, 575, ibid.
unnatural incident, in our early history ; for old chronicles state, that Heremon, King of Ireland, there slew his brother Heber, when contending about the respective boundaries of their provinces. See iVliss M. F. Cusack's " Illustrated History of Ireland," chap, v. , and n. 7, p. 78.
"^ in the Third Life is mentioned a very wonderful transformation "in duos Eucheas
""^ For further particulars, on this subject, Colgan refers to the Life of St. Ibar, which he intended to have published, at the 23rd of April.
This "Campus Gesilli," called Mag- gesille, in Irish, was situated in the district of
Hi Falgi or Oflfaly, not far from the LifTy's
70 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Lenten visit. Then she told him her desire to obtain a supply of corn.
" O Brigid, if you had seen and known the quan- tity of corn in our possession, you should find, that the amount of our gift to
" This is not the
The bishop smiling said
:
must be small. " The
for you have twenty-four waggon-loads of grain in your barn. " Although the bishop had only a very small quantity at first, yet on enquiry, he found the prediction of the holy abbess verified. He gave thanks to God, and then he divided the heaps. Ibar retained twelve waggon-loads for his own use, reserving the remaining twelve for Brigid and her sisterhood. ^^ It would seem, that this visit of the Abbess had been returned by Bishop Ibar, for in the Sixth Life of our Saint it is related, how he then celebrated Mass in a solemn manner for all the people^s who were there. ^*^ In the Third Life of our holy Abbess of Kildare, we find the following recorded miracles. One of her nuns had been afflicted with a severe illness, and this patient asked for a little milk. *7 But, Brigid's community had no cow to afford it ; when, the Saint told a companion to fill with cold water, and then to give the ves- sel to the sufferer. Such an order having been complied with, it was found replenished with milk, and warm as if this had been just drawn from the cow. ^^ When the sick nun tasted this beverage, she recovered. Two females, belonging to her own family, and who were paralysed, lived near St. Brigid. These asked the holy abbess to visit and heal them. She complied with their request.
When she arrived, having blessed salt and water, of which those women partook, both were soon restored to health. Afterwards, two Britons, who were blind, had been conducted by their servant, a leper, to the gate of that church, near which the Saint dwelt. They asked her to healthem. Shethentoldthemtoentertherefectoryandtoeat,whileshe
you
virgin replied,
case,
at
present,
should for their salvation. pray
cried " You heal the out,
They indignantly
sick of your own family, but you neglect strangers and attend only to prayer. "
in pascha & in natalitiis Domini. " But, in
a note on this passage, Colgan remarks, that the text is here vitiated ; for, in the Book of the Island, "oblatas panis" is read for "duos Eucheas," and in the Fourth
"
Life, lib. ii. , cap. xxii. ,
while in both these Acts are wanting the words, "in pascha & in natalitiis Domini. " The author of the Third Life would seem to insinuate, in Colgan's opinion, that those miraculously transmuted portions of bread were usually exhibited on the festivals of
both saints partook of meat, during Lent, was owing to a prevailing scarcity of other
prescribed food, and owing to a dispensation from usual Lenten observances. The nuns
of St. Brigid, rejecting their permission, seem to have given way to a species of vain
glory, preferring to obedience the practice of their customary Lenten mortifications.
Vita S. li. lii. , Brigidie," cap.
sec. xlvii. , p. 592, ibid.
*5 <'Ibarus ad cellam vir sanctus venerat
alma
Dicere missarum populis sollemnia
cunctis. "
^ Immediately after the lines previously
quoted, Colgan says, that certain portions of the Poem seem to be missing. The last line is marked, as if for a note, which, how- ever, has been omitted in the proper place.
See "Vita Sexta S. Brigidte," sec. lii. , p. ""
593. Trias Thaumaturga.
=^7 In the Lections in St, Brigid's Office
taken from the Breviary of Aberdeen, we find a similar statement made in reference to this remarkable recovery. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
=« In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life this account is given, pp. 19, 20,
Easter and of the Nativity, for a commemo- ""
ration. And, by the term Eucheas may be understood the Eucharistic breads, not
sacramentally consecrated, or perhaps only blessed bread, or resembling the Eucharistic
species. However, that account in the Fourth Life, as given in the text, seems to
controvert his opinion, regarding their pre- servation, for any popular exposition.
»*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, cap. liv. , pp, 552, 553, and nn. 27, 28, p. 543, ibid. Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xxiii. , xxiv. , P' 553» i^d. The foregoing incidents are somewhat differently given in the Fifth Life, where we are told, Ibar had not more than four or five measures of com in his bam, when Brigid first arrived. The reason, why
in duos panes ;"
See "
Quinta p. 580, ibid.
See, also, an account of this miracle in the "Vita Sexta S. Brigidee,"
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 71
She received this reproof by meekly going out from the church, and taking blessed water to them. When she had sprinkled them with it, the leper was cleansed and the blind men saw. All three praised God, and returned thanks for such benefits as He there bestowed on them.
A woman came one day to St. Brigid. That visitor drove a cow, with its calf, which had been intended as an offering for the abbess. However, the calfstrayedawayintoaverythickwood. Findingshecbuldnotdrivethe cow without it, the woman called out with a loud voice, that Brigid might assist her. Immediately, the cow went gently with her conductor, and direct to the virgin's house. Brigid then told the woman to feel in no way con- cerned about the calf, which should soon follow in the traces of its dam. Another day, when the Octave of Easter had closed,=9 Brigid said to her
" Hath that beer reserved for our Easter been given out, for solemnity
nuns,
I am solicitous regarding Bishop Mel, and the guests of Christ T The nuns replied, that God would send them a sufficiency. Then they brought on their shoulders a vessel filled with water to the Saint, that she might bless it, according to her usual custom. Supposing it to be beer, their abbess said, " We give thanks to God, who hath reserved this for our bishop. " On exa- mination, it was found, that water had been changed into such a beverage, as had been mentioned by the Saint. 3° At a certain time, likewise, she suffered from sore eyes ; and on hearing about her affliction, the same Bishop Mel sent a message she should visit him, so that both might seek a physician to heal her. Brigid said, although not desiring to visit a corporal physician, yet she would act as the bishop directed. It so happened, the Saint fell from her chariot, into the ford of a certain river,3'^ whilst on her way with the bishop to seek the practitioner. Her head struck against a stone, and a great quantity of blood began to flow from her wound. 3^ After such an accident, that medical professor whom they sought, met them on their way. 33
: PlacinghishandontheSaint'shead,hecriedout "Oholyvirgin,aphysi-
cian infinitely superior to me hath healed thy head, and always seek that physician, who is able to expel all manner of disease from thee. " Bishop
Melthensaidtoher "Ishallneveragainadviseyoutoseekanyhuman
:
physician. "34
The fame of Brigid's holiness, in a short time, caused this wonder-worker
to be known and universally admired by the bishops, clergy, reHgious, and people of Ireland. Her miracles had most beneficial effects on the newly- converted Christians, while they caused a great many conversions among thePagans. St. Melandotherdistinguishedprelatesheldwithherfrequent spiritual conferences and took her counsel. 35 After the foregoing occurrences, as related by her biographers, Bishops Mel and Melchu, with St. Brigid,36
=5 This account occurs in Professor O'Loo- Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. xxvii. , xxviii. , ney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 19, 20. p; 529. See, also, Vita Quinta S. Brigid®,
3° This miraculous occurrence is more cap. xlvii. , xlviii. , and n. 12, pp. 578, 579,
minutely detailed, in the Fifth Life, chap. xxxvi.
3^ This is briefly stated in the Lections of the Breviary of Aberdeen for St. Brigid's Office. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
3^ The Third Life adds, that when it was mixed with water, two mute women were restored to the use of speech.
33 These accounts are also given in Pro- fessor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 19 to 22.
34 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
640, ibid. In the latter Life, it is stated, St. Jbrigid suffered from a pain in her head. That physician, to whom Mel sent her, was Bishop Echeus, Echenus or Echianus, of whom it is said, he was skilled in the know- ledge and practice of various diseases, and in the remedies for their cure,
35 See "The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, iv. , pp. 39, 46.
36 From the poetical description in our Saint's Sixth Life, it would seem, that this journey had been undertaken in the middle of the Summer] season, and with a view of
72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
proceeded towards the plain of Theba,37 or Teffia, where the aforesaid prelate,
Mel, had a large monastery. s^ During this journey, the favoured virgin wrought
many miracles. 39 The ancient principality of Anghaile4° seems to have been 1 their point of destination. While the Virgin and her companions dwelt
there, the King of Thebaic gave a banquet, at some distance from their
dwelling. An awkward servant, on approaching the royal table to remove a precious vessel of priceless material and workmanship,42 chanced to let it
fall, when it was immediately broken in pieces. 43 Full of anger, this king arbitarily ordered him to be bound and put to death. But, on hearing about such a cruel and an unjust sentence. Bishop Mel sought the king to intercede for that captive. The chief, however, would not grant his petition. Then Mel gathered up the fragments of the broken vessel, and brought them to St. Brigid. He asked her to repair it, and she effected this task. 44 The captive was subsequently liberated ; while the fame of such a miracle diffused itself throughout that part of the country. 45
Near this place, St. Brigid was asked to visit another pious virgin,46 called Briga,47and at the house of this latter. Her house was at a place called Kilbrige. 4^ Our saint accepted such an invitation at the time, as she had often done on similar occasions. Arrivingatthehouse,shewasreceivedwithgreatjoyandhonour. Accordingtotheusualcustomoftreatingguests,herfeetwerewashed; and, after the water had been removed, it cured another nun, whose feet were
assisting at a council held by St. Patrick.
At this Synod, many prelates were present, from remote places. Regarding those bis- hops and our Saint, it is added : —
" Cum quibus ilia suis perrexitsanctapuellis;
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Hu- idhrin. " Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 277, p. xxxviii.
4' The King of Longford, he is rather in-
rutilus torrentia sol
ardent confinia Cancri, Fit calor in terris, fervet sol igneus astris. "
37 Colgan says of Thebe or Theba, that it was a plain known as Teffia or Teffa, other-
by an Irish Priest, chap, iv. , p. 41.
4^ The writer of her Third Life this says,
vessel among our ancestors was called *'"
Septiformis Calyx. It might be a curious subject for enquiry, to ascertain the exact form and material of this cup or chalice. Have we amongst our ancient vessels any of a peculiar shape, to which this and the following description jnight apply? The many-sided mether, ordrinking cup of the ancient Irish, may have been one of its
43 From this account, we may infer, that the material was either glass or pottery- ware.
44 This account is contained, but in a brief way, in the Lections of the Breviary of Aberdeen. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
45 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigida;, cap. xxix. , pp. 529, 530. Sexta Vita S. Brigidae, sees, xxvi. , xxvii. , pp. 587, 588.
4^ She is called Brigid the daughter of Conaille [Congal] in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of the Saint, pp. 21, 22.
47 This Briga or Brigh is supposed to have been venerated at the 21st of January, or again her feast may be found at the 9th of March.
4« See "The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, iv,, p. 42,
Tempore quo rum
gemino-
Sidera perlustrat ;
wise called Anghaile, in the county of Long- "
ford. See "Trias Thaumaturga, Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, n. i6, p. 543.
38 This monastery was Ardagh, whic—h afterwards grew into an Episcopal See. Ibid, n. 17.
39 In favour of the blind, lame and af- flicted. We are told, also, that during the progress of herself and of her companions,
**
rectis properando gressibus ibant
Fluminis ad ripam cujusdam nomine Bannae. "
It seems more probable, however, that Baruac should be the reading, as probably the River Barrow is meant.
4° The Muintir-Fearghaill or family of the O'Ferralls were its chief lords for many
centuries, although in point of genealogy, the O'Quinns of the same race were their seniors. They had sometimes sovereignty over that sub-section of Fergus's race, on the east side of the Shannon. Still, they never ruled over the whole race of Fergus, who had large territories in Connaught, as likewise in Thomond and Kerry. See "The Topographical Poems of John
class. It is said to have been "a richly "
exactly called in the
"
Life of St. Brigid,"
ornamented vessel in Professor Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 21, 22.
O'Looney's
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 73
crippled. <5 One day a woman came to our saint, with a present of apples,so whileBrigiddweltintheplainofTheba. Beforethatwomanlefttheplace, some lepers came up demanding alms. Brigid told the woman to divide
" I forlepers,butforyourselfandforyournuns. " Sucharemarkdispleased
our saint, and she rebuked that woman for her want of charity, telling her at the same time, her trees should never afterwards bear fruit. s' On returning to her house, the woman found not a single apple remaining in her orchard ; although,onlyashorttimebefore,hertreeswerebendingwithfruit. Thence- forward, her garden remained barren, according to St. Brigid's prediction, s^
At another time, St. Brigid journeyed through the plain of Thebe in her chariot, when, with many cattle, she saw a man, his wife and whole family, labouring and bearing heavy burthens. These greatly wearied them, as the heat of summer was then excessive. Compassionating these people, our saint gave them the horses, which were under her own chariot, to assist their efforts. At this time, with her nuns, she sat down on the way-side.
this fruit with them.
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 516, "
Cogitosus' or Secunda Vita S. Brigidae," cap. v. , p. 519. "Tertia Vita S. Brigidae,"
68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
St. Brigid wrought many miracles, in favour of persons afflicted with leprosy and other diseases. ^ Those were reheved from their various infirmi- ties. 7 She restored to sight, by her prayers, a man who was bom blind. ^ The lame and infirm were likewise
virgin. 9
—a with her regarding woman, daughter
An instance is recorded
intervention of the — cured, through holy
only twelve years of age and born dumb coming to visit our Saint the ;
latter, stooping down with great humility, kissed the child, who exhibited by her looks and gesture an affectionate reverence of manner, which the virgin's virtues so well merited. Ignorant concerning that defect of speech, under which the child laboured, Brigid took her by the hand, and addressed some affectionate and pious inquiries, as to whether she designed taking the veil or embracing another mode of life. Her mother declared, the daughter could give no answer. Brigid rephed, she should not relinquish that child's hand, until an answer had been given.
time she forward, spoke
'°
impediment. Afterwards,
Being asked the question a second " I desire to do what wish me. " And from that
the
time, girl said,
to other St. had been
accounts, Brigid approached,
only without the least
you
she remainedinastateofcelibacy,totheveryhourofherdeath. " According
through the medium of another pious female, named Darlugdacha most probably one of her own nuns, and her immediate successor in the govern- mentofherinstituteatKildare. " Themute motherhadsecuredthe
girl's —
good —offices of this Darlugdacha, or Durlaghacha, as we also find her
called on behalf of the afflicted daughter. The restored girl afterwards remained under care of St. Brigid. ^3
Our Saint possessed the gift of multiplying in quantity various kinds of food and drink, which she either touched or blessed. Thus, we are told, when the Paschal or Easter day was near, on a certain time, Brigid wished to prepare a banquet for all the Meathian churches,^^ in various towns^s of that province, surrounding her own establishment. There was a scarcity of com prevailing in this particular district at the time, and she had only very limited means at command to enable her to effect such an object. The small quantity of beer she possessed was contained in two tubs,^*^ as she had no other vessels to hold it ; but, this beverage was divided into measures,
cap. c, p. 540. "QuartaVitaS. Brigidse,"
ibid. Also, Camerarius, p. 140.
9 See Capgrave's "Vita S. Brigidae," cap. xviii.
" See "Trias " Vita Prima Thaumaturga,
S. Brigidoe, sec. 22, p. 516. Cogitosus, or Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap. xviii. , p. 520, ibid.
"See Capgrave's "Vita S. Brigidae," cap. xxv.
" In such case, her festival occurs, also, on the 1st of February. Her acts may be seen immediately succeeding those of St. Brigid.
'3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigidoe, cap. cxxvi. , p. 541. Quarta Vita S. Brigida:, cap. xci. , p. 562, ibid.
'* This seems to indicate her living, with her religious, in the province or diocese of Meath—most likely in its western part,
'S From this statement, we may infer, how populous that district had been,
"
S. Brigidae," cap. xli. , p. 577, ibid. Cap-
lib. ii. , cap. Ixvii. , p. 560.
Quinta Vita
grave
also
that from the to the rising
states,
setting of the sun, not one drop of rain fell
*'
on St. Brigid's reapers. See Legenda
"
SanctorumAnglise, &c. , inVitaS. Brigidae,
cap. xxiii. , and also Messingham's "Flori- legium Insulse Sanctorum. " This account is
contained, likewise, in Petrus de Natalibus,
"
Mundi," and in many of St. Brigid's Offices.
*
See the Lections of her ancient Ofiice, contained in the Breviary of Aberdeen. Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
7 See, likewise, Officium S. Brigidaz, ii. Noctumo, Lect. v. De Burgo's Ofificia
Propria Sanctorum Hibemiae," p. 12. Also, at the same day, Supplementum Romani Breviarii, as used in the Irish Church, Noct. ii. , Lect. vi.
^
in Camerarius, in the
Chronica Generalis
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," St. Brigid's Office in the Breviary of Aber- Prima Vita S. Brigidae, sec. 21, p. 516. deen. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap. xii. , p. 520, Scottish Saints," p. 289.
"^
jj^ fy^o. barrel, according to Lections of
in the first — instance,
February i. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 69
and distributed among eighteen neighbouring churches or monasteries. It
served for the abundant refreshment of those in attendance there, during
Holy Thursday, Easter Sunday, and the week following. ^7 At another time, according to custom. Bishop Maccaille paid the Saint a visit, being accom- panied, however, with an unusual retinue of clerics. Brigid joyfully and hospitablyreceivedthem. HavingheardthewordofGodproclaimedby them, she prepared to minister in turn for the corporal refection of her guests. She placed whatever viands she could procure on the table ; yet,
with the exception of a very small quantity of beer, contained in a vessel, she had no other kind of drink than water,^^ However, presuming on God's goodness, she made a sign of the cross over the beverage, when it was miraculously increased, so as to satisfy more than the wants of all her as- sembled guests. And, we are told, that several vessels were filled, with the contents of this particular measure, through the holy virgin's merits ; as formerly the Almighty had filled the widow's cruise of oil, through the Prophet Elias. ^9 The bishop and his clerics departed, after having expe- rienced the hospitality of their pious hostess, and even more gratified because of her merits and the miracle she wrought, than with any corporeal enter- tainment she afforded them. ^^
It happened, that a scarcity of com prevailed in the Lifiey's plains, on a certain occasion, and St. Brigid was requested by her nuns to visit St. Ibar'^ —a bishop who then dwelt in the plain of Gesille^^—to ask him for corn. Our Saint assented, and on her arrival, she was joyfully received by this holy bishop. However, when Brigid and her companions came, he had nothing for their entertainment, but stale bread and some bacon. Although this visit took place in Lent, both saints partook of such fare ; but, two of the nuns, who accompanied our Saint, refused to eat portions of bacon set beforethem. Amiraculousoccurrence,however,reprovedtheirrecusancy. St. Brigid heard of it, and she greatly blamed her nuns in St. Ibar's presence. She ordered them, at the same time, to go out of doors, and to commence a
" Let us fast with
God. " The Almighty heard their prayers, and soon afterwards a second
miracle was wrought. Bread was set before them, and when blest, it was partaken of by the saints. ^3 Bishop Ibar asked Brigid the cause for this her
penitential
fast. Then said
Brigid :
them,
and to pray
^7 See "Trias Colgan's
" Thaumaturga,
^^ This account is also in briefly given
Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Bri-
gid, pp. 19, 20.
^9 iii. Kings xvii. 17.
=° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quinta S. Brigidae, cap. xxxvi. , p. 575.
^'^
Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. xxi,, p. 529. It is said, that the quantity supplied "ad clausulam Paschae. " This seems to mean, to the following Sunday, or " Dominica in Albis," which closes the Easter Octave.
Ibid, n. 15, p. 543. During the same Easter,
it is stated, that a certain leper came to
her, and demanded the gift of a cow. But,
not being able to afford him this present,
Brigid asked, if ;. he should pray to God,
that he might be healed from leprosy; when
the leper replied, that he would esteem such
favour as the greatest of all gifts. The plains. It was connected with a tragic and Saint then blessed some water, with which
she sprinkled the leper's body, and he was immediately cured of his disease. He gave thanks to God, and remained with St. Brigid, to the time of his death. — /i^/aT, cap. xxv. , p. 529. This seems to be the same miracle, which is a little more diflusely and differently related, in the "Vita Quinta S. Brigidse," cap. xxxiii. , pp. 574, 575, ibid.
unnatural incident, in our early history ; for old chronicles state, that Heremon, King of Ireland, there slew his brother Heber, when contending about the respective boundaries of their provinces. See iVliss M. F. Cusack's " Illustrated History of Ireland," chap, v. , and n. 7, p. 78.
"^ in the Third Life is mentioned a very wonderful transformation "in duos Eucheas
""^ For further particulars, on this subject, Colgan refers to the Life of St. Ibar, which he intended to have published, at the 23rd of April.
This "Campus Gesilli," called Mag- gesille, in Irish, was situated in the district of
Hi Falgi or Oflfaly, not far from the LifTy's
70 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Lenten visit. Then she told him her desire to obtain a supply of corn.
" O Brigid, if you had seen and known the quan- tity of corn in our possession, you should find, that the amount of our gift to
" This is not the
The bishop smiling said
:
must be small. " The
for you have twenty-four waggon-loads of grain in your barn. " Although the bishop had only a very small quantity at first, yet on enquiry, he found the prediction of the holy abbess verified. He gave thanks to God, and then he divided the heaps. Ibar retained twelve waggon-loads for his own use, reserving the remaining twelve for Brigid and her sisterhood. ^^ It would seem, that this visit of the Abbess had been returned by Bishop Ibar, for in the Sixth Life of our Saint it is related, how he then celebrated Mass in a solemn manner for all the people^s who were there. ^*^ In the Third Life of our holy Abbess of Kildare, we find the following recorded miracles. One of her nuns had been afflicted with a severe illness, and this patient asked for a little milk. *7 But, Brigid's community had no cow to afford it ; when, the Saint told a companion to fill with cold water, and then to give the ves- sel to the sufferer. Such an order having been complied with, it was found replenished with milk, and warm as if this had been just drawn from the cow. ^^ When the sick nun tasted this beverage, she recovered. Two females, belonging to her own family, and who were paralysed, lived near St. Brigid. These asked the holy abbess to visit and heal them. She complied with their request.
When she arrived, having blessed salt and water, of which those women partook, both were soon restored to health. Afterwards, two Britons, who were blind, had been conducted by their servant, a leper, to the gate of that church, near which the Saint dwelt. They asked her to healthem. Shethentoldthemtoentertherefectoryandtoeat,whileshe
you
virgin replied,
case,
at
present,
should for their salvation. pray
cried " You heal the out,
They indignantly
sick of your own family, but you neglect strangers and attend only to prayer. "
in pascha & in natalitiis Domini. " But, in
a note on this passage, Colgan remarks, that the text is here vitiated ; for, in the Book of the Island, "oblatas panis" is read for "duos Eucheas," and in the Fourth
"
Life, lib. ii. , cap. xxii. ,
while in both these Acts are wanting the words, "in pascha & in natalitiis Domini. " The author of the Third Life would seem to insinuate, in Colgan's opinion, that those miraculously transmuted portions of bread were usually exhibited on the festivals of
both saints partook of meat, during Lent, was owing to a prevailing scarcity of other
prescribed food, and owing to a dispensation from usual Lenten observances. The nuns
of St. Brigid, rejecting their permission, seem to have given way to a species of vain
glory, preferring to obedience the practice of their customary Lenten mortifications.
Vita S. li. lii. , Brigidie," cap.
sec. xlvii. , p. 592, ibid.
*5 <'Ibarus ad cellam vir sanctus venerat
alma
Dicere missarum populis sollemnia
cunctis. "
^ Immediately after the lines previously
quoted, Colgan says, that certain portions of the Poem seem to be missing. The last line is marked, as if for a note, which, how- ever, has been omitted in the proper place.
See "Vita Sexta S. Brigidte," sec. lii. , p. ""
593. Trias Thaumaturga.
=^7 In the Lections in St, Brigid's Office
taken from the Breviary of Aberdeen, we find a similar statement made in reference to this remarkable recovery. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
=« In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life this account is given, pp. 19, 20,
Easter and of the Nativity, for a commemo- ""
ration. And, by the term Eucheas may be understood the Eucharistic breads, not
sacramentally consecrated, or perhaps only blessed bread, or resembling the Eucharistic
species. However, that account in the Fourth Life, as given in the text, seems to
controvert his opinion, regarding their pre- servation, for any popular exposition.
»*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, cap. liv. , pp, 552, 553, and nn. 27, 28, p. 543, ibid. Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xxiii. , xxiv. , P' 553» i^d. The foregoing incidents are somewhat differently given in the Fifth Life, where we are told, Ibar had not more than four or five measures of com in his bam, when Brigid first arrived. The reason, why
in duos panes ;"
See "
Quinta p. 580, ibid.
See, also, an account of this miracle in the "Vita Sexta S. Brigidee,"
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 71
She received this reproof by meekly going out from the church, and taking blessed water to them. When she had sprinkled them with it, the leper was cleansed and the blind men saw. All three praised God, and returned thanks for such benefits as He there bestowed on them.
A woman came one day to St. Brigid. That visitor drove a cow, with its calf, which had been intended as an offering for the abbess. However, the calfstrayedawayintoaverythickwood. Findingshecbuldnotdrivethe cow without it, the woman called out with a loud voice, that Brigid might assist her. Immediately, the cow went gently with her conductor, and direct to the virgin's house. Brigid then told the woman to feel in no way con- cerned about the calf, which should soon follow in the traces of its dam. Another day, when the Octave of Easter had closed,=9 Brigid said to her
" Hath that beer reserved for our Easter been given out, for solemnity
nuns,
I am solicitous regarding Bishop Mel, and the guests of Christ T The nuns replied, that God would send them a sufficiency. Then they brought on their shoulders a vessel filled with water to the Saint, that she might bless it, according to her usual custom. Supposing it to be beer, their abbess said, " We give thanks to God, who hath reserved this for our bishop. " On exa- mination, it was found, that water had been changed into such a beverage, as had been mentioned by the Saint. 3° At a certain time, likewise, she suffered from sore eyes ; and on hearing about her affliction, the same Bishop Mel sent a message she should visit him, so that both might seek a physician to heal her. Brigid said, although not desiring to visit a corporal physician, yet she would act as the bishop directed. It so happened, the Saint fell from her chariot, into the ford of a certain river,3'^ whilst on her way with the bishop to seek the practitioner. Her head struck against a stone, and a great quantity of blood began to flow from her wound. 3^ After such an accident, that medical professor whom they sought, met them on their way. 33
: PlacinghishandontheSaint'shead,hecriedout "Oholyvirgin,aphysi-
cian infinitely superior to me hath healed thy head, and always seek that physician, who is able to expel all manner of disease from thee. " Bishop
Melthensaidtoher "Ishallneveragainadviseyoutoseekanyhuman
:
physician. "34
The fame of Brigid's holiness, in a short time, caused this wonder-worker
to be known and universally admired by the bishops, clergy, reHgious, and people of Ireland. Her miracles had most beneficial effects on the newly- converted Christians, while they caused a great many conversions among thePagans. St. Melandotherdistinguishedprelatesheldwithherfrequent spiritual conferences and took her counsel. 35 After the foregoing occurrences, as related by her biographers, Bishops Mel and Melchu, with St. Brigid,36
=5 This account occurs in Professor O'Loo- Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. xxvii. , xxviii. , ney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 19, 20. p; 529. See, also, Vita Quinta S. Brigid®,
3° This miraculous occurrence is more cap. xlvii. , xlviii. , and n. 12, pp. 578, 579,
minutely detailed, in the Fifth Life, chap. xxxvi.
3^ This is briefly stated in the Lections of the Breviary of Aberdeen for St. Brigid's Office. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
3^ The Third Life adds, that when it was mixed with water, two mute women were restored to the use of speech.
33 These accounts are also given in Pro- fessor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 19 to 22.
34 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
640, ibid. In the latter Life, it is stated, St. Jbrigid suffered from a pain in her head. That physician, to whom Mel sent her, was Bishop Echeus, Echenus or Echianus, of whom it is said, he was skilled in the know- ledge and practice of various diseases, and in the remedies for their cure,
35 See "The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, iv. , pp. 39, 46.
36 From the poetical description in our Saint's Sixth Life, it would seem, that this journey had been undertaken in the middle of the Summer] season, and with a view of
72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
proceeded towards the plain of Theba,37 or Teffia, where the aforesaid prelate,
Mel, had a large monastery. s^ During this journey, the favoured virgin wrought
many miracles. 39 The ancient principality of Anghaile4° seems to have been 1 their point of destination. While the Virgin and her companions dwelt
there, the King of Thebaic gave a banquet, at some distance from their
dwelling. An awkward servant, on approaching the royal table to remove a precious vessel of priceless material and workmanship,42 chanced to let it
fall, when it was immediately broken in pieces. 43 Full of anger, this king arbitarily ordered him to be bound and put to death. But, on hearing about such a cruel and an unjust sentence. Bishop Mel sought the king to intercede for that captive. The chief, however, would not grant his petition. Then Mel gathered up the fragments of the broken vessel, and brought them to St. Brigid. He asked her to repair it, and she effected this task. 44 The captive was subsequently liberated ; while the fame of such a miracle diffused itself throughout that part of the country. 45
Near this place, St. Brigid was asked to visit another pious virgin,46 called Briga,47and at the house of this latter. Her house was at a place called Kilbrige. 4^ Our saint accepted such an invitation at the time, as she had often done on similar occasions. Arrivingatthehouse,shewasreceivedwithgreatjoyandhonour. Accordingtotheusualcustomoftreatingguests,herfeetwerewashed; and, after the water had been removed, it cured another nun, whose feet were
assisting at a council held by St. Patrick.
At this Synod, many prelates were present, from remote places. Regarding those bis- hops and our Saint, it is added : —
" Cum quibus ilia suis perrexitsanctapuellis;
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Hu- idhrin. " Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 277, p. xxxviii.
4' The King of Longford, he is rather in-
rutilus torrentia sol
ardent confinia Cancri, Fit calor in terris, fervet sol igneus astris. "
37 Colgan says of Thebe or Theba, that it was a plain known as Teffia or Teffa, other-
by an Irish Priest, chap, iv. , p. 41.
4^ The writer of her Third Life this says,
vessel among our ancestors was called *'"
Septiformis Calyx. It might be a curious subject for enquiry, to ascertain the exact form and material of this cup or chalice. Have we amongst our ancient vessels any of a peculiar shape, to which this and the following description jnight apply? The many-sided mether, ordrinking cup of the ancient Irish, may have been one of its
43 From this account, we may infer, that the material was either glass or pottery- ware.
44 This account is contained, but in a brief way, in the Lections of the Breviary of Aberdeen. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints," p. 289.
45 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigida;, cap. xxix. , pp. 529, 530. Sexta Vita S. Brigidae, sees, xxvi. , xxvii. , pp. 587, 588.
4^ She is called Brigid the daughter of Conaille [Congal] in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of the Saint, pp. 21, 22.
47 This Briga or Brigh is supposed to have been venerated at the 21st of January, or again her feast may be found at the 9th of March.
4« See "The Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, iv,, p. 42,
Tempore quo rum
gemino-
Sidera perlustrat ;
wise called Anghaile, in the county of Long- "
ford. See "Trias Thaumaturga, Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, n. i6, p. 543.
38 This monastery was Ardagh, whic—h afterwards grew into an Episcopal See. Ibid, n. 17.
39 In favour of the blind, lame and af- flicted. We are told, also, that during the progress of herself and of her companions,
**
rectis properando gressibus ibant
Fluminis ad ripam cujusdam nomine Bannae. "
It seems more probable, however, that Baruac should be the reading, as probably the River Barrow is meant.
4° The Muintir-Fearghaill or family of the O'Ferralls were its chief lords for many
centuries, although in point of genealogy, the O'Quinns of the same race were their seniors. They had sometimes sovereignty over that sub-section of Fergus's race, on the east side of the Shannon. Still, they never ruled over the whole race of Fergus, who had large territories in Connaught, as likewise in Thomond and Kerry. See "The Topographical Poems of John
class. It is said to have been "a richly "
exactly called in the
"
Life of St. Brigid,"
ornamented vessel in Professor Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 21, 22.
O'Looney's
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 73
crippled. <5 One day a woman came to our saint, with a present of apples,so whileBrigiddweltintheplainofTheba. Beforethatwomanlefttheplace, some lepers came up demanding alms. Brigid told the woman to divide
" I forlepers,butforyourselfandforyournuns. " Sucharemarkdispleased
our saint, and she rebuked that woman for her want of charity, telling her at the same time, her trees should never afterwards bear fruit. s' On returning to her house, the woman found not a single apple remaining in her orchard ; although,onlyashorttimebefore,hertreeswerebendingwithfruit. Thence- forward, her garden remained barren, according to St. Brigid's prediction, s^
At another time, St. Brigid journeyed through the plain of Thebe in her chariot, when, with many cattle, she saw a man, his wife and whole family, labouring and bearing heavy burthens. These greatly wearied them, as the heat of summer was then excessive. Compassionating these people, our saint gave them the horses, which were under her own chariot, to assist their efforts. At this time, with her nuns, she sat down on the way-side.
this fruit with them.
