*"
These are specially enumerated in the Hymn of St.
These are specially enumerated in the Hymn of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
"'38 The Irish Life of Brigid'39 relates, that after returning from the Synod, she went to visit her mother who was in bondage.
Some great characteristics of our holy virgin are thus alluded to in an
"
It was her anxious care to comfort the poor, to banish all distress, to relieve all wretchedness : there was no one more modest, more righteous, more humble, or more chaste ; she never looked in the face of man \ she was abstinent, she was spotless, she was prayerful, she was patient, shewasjoyfulinthecommandmentsofGod. Shewasaconsecratedshrine to receive the Body and Blood of Christ : she was the temple of God : her heart and her mind were an abiding throne for the Holy Ghost. She was bright in miracles ; her type among creatures is the dove among birds, the vine among trees, the sun amidst the stars. It is she that reHeves all who are in distress and danger ; it is she that subdues disease. It is she that restrains the angry fury of the sea. She is the Mary of Ireland. ^'^o This is not the sole highly-coloured panegyric found in our ancient literature. A
very old book of vellum, in which is found the Martyrology of Maelruain of Tallagh, and also the saints bearing the same name,'^^ with the names of
many mothers of the saints, states, that Brighit was following the manners and the life, which the holy Mary, Mother of Jesus, had practised. '^^ Such was her aptitude for devotional feeling, that she possessed every virtue which could adorn a child of Mary, or which could endear her to those who were around her. '43
CHAPTER III.
STATEMENT REGARDING ST. BRIGID's PARENTS—HER PERSONAL AND MENTAL ATTRAC- TIONS DURING HER EARLY YOUTH—ALLEGED TREATMENT BY HER PARENTS—HER GREAT CHARITY TOWARDS THE POOR—BROUGHT BEFORE DUNLAING, KING OF LEINSTER—HIS ADMIRATION OF HER VIRTUES—HER RESOLUTION TO EMBRACE A RELIGIOUS LIFE—A SUITOR PROPOSES MARRIAGE WITH ASSENT OF HER FAMILY— SHE REJECTS THIS OFFER—HER RELIGIOUS PROFESSION, AND OPINIONS ADVANCED RELATIVE TO IT—PROBABLE TIME AND PLACE—ESTABLISHMENT OF ST. BRIGID's FIRST RELIGIOUS HOUSE—SHE SELECTS THE BEATITUDE OF MERCY FOR HER SPECIAL PRACTICE—HER MIRACLES.
A SINGULAR Statement has been made,^ that the parents of Brigid ruled over
ancient biography.
'37 See " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Prima ad Acta S. Brigidse, pp. 599 to 602. In this Office, the following is a portion of
Qui per beatam Brigidam Decoravit Hiberniam, Vitam dans ejus lucidam.
the Fifth Lesson :
plaudit. "—/fo'^/, p. 600.
'38 These stanzas are as follows :—
mina a postulavit
"
Vol. II.
"
Religiosa qusedam fae-
" Haec
Quae mundo late clamit,
Hsec rosa temperantise
Cujus virtus non languit. "
'39 professor O'Looney's Copy, pp. ii, 12. ^o prom "Life of St. Brigid," in the
" Leabhar Breac," and " Book of Lismore. "
'^i By some called Homonymi.
^^^a See "The Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Dr. Todd and Rev. Dr.
Reeves, pp. 34, 35.
M3 See " The Life of St. Brigid," by an
Irish —
Priest, chap, i. , p. 13.
ut S.
secum exiret ad synodum quae collecta erat in Carnpo Liffaei, et a pater permittitur. Tunc vir quidem sanctus in synodo dormiens vidit visionem et surgens ait. Haec altera Maria, quae habitat inter nos. Respons. Virgo deportatur, honor ei amplius cumula- tur : Synodus instabat, nova Brigida Stella micabat. Sacra cohors plaudit, quia signum caelitus audit. Vers. Presbyter banc aliam denunciat esse Mariam. Sacra cohors
patre suo,
Brigidce
speculum munditise,
Christo canamus gloriam.
Chapter hi.
'
By Camerarius.
E
50 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
the Orkney islands,^ and had their residence in the province Cathensia3 in
Scotia. Under King Congall/ they helped to prevent Hengist and the Saxonss taking possession of those islands, according to the same ill-instructed ecclesiastical historian. ^ Several particulars, regarding our Saint's early youth, are supplied by Laurence of Durham, but, these are wanting in her other Acts. It is not easy to pronounce, whether some of those accounts are furnished by his own fertile imagination, or from authors, who ^vrote before his time. In various instances, however, they present a pleasing picture of virtues, that early adorned our Saint. We are told, as Brigid grew in age, she increased also in grace. Her natural endowments were likewise remarkable. She received an excellent education. To her, the Almighty granted personal gifts, which to others are often the occasion of
danger, in a spiritual sense. Whilst a mere child, her countenance was radiant with smiles, but her looks were truly angelic. These even betokened her future exalted sanctity. Her figure was moulded with a peculiar grace- fulness, while her natural intelligence caused the pagan master of her mother —for we are still left in the mirage of legend—to furnish his bond-woman's daughter opportunities for acquiring some special culture. Each day added
effulgence of beauty to Brigid's mental faculties, and to her natural bodily endowments; while,owingtoherindividualmerits,ablessingseemedtofall
on the Magus himself, who began to grow rich in possession of this world's
goods. From the very period of our Saint's infancy, it was surprising to find, that she exhibited little youthful levity. Her thoughts and actions were characterized by sound discretion, and while her lovely features beamed with a matronly reserve, she abhorred the follies of old dotards, as much as she did the amusements of young persons. All admired her justly-regulated mind, her propriety of speech, her dislike of merely terrestrial and transitory things, and her perseverance in holy practices. Worldly-minded men wondered, that she avoided all companionship with them, and women of light
character could not but feel mortified, when the holy virgin regarded them withhorror; whilethosepiousfemales,whodevotedthemselvessincerelyto God's service, felt rejoiced, when our Saint sought their company and con-
^
These are twenty-eight in number, and
they lie directly north from Caithness.
They are partly in the Northern and partly
in the German Ocean. In the old Pictish
language, they are said to have been i. , chap, ii. , p. 63. This happened, while called Ar Cath, or the Tail of Caithness.
Hence, classic writers have their denomina-
tion, Orcades. These are divided into the
North and South groups of Islands. Some
of these are called Skirrachs—corresponding
with the Irish word Skerries
chiefly barren rocks, often covered by the salt-water. Others, which abound in pas- turage, are designated Holms.
3 Now Caithness, a district in the extreme north-east of the mainland of Scotland. See an interesting account of it in Fullarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. 218 to 222.
^ King Congall I. , who was the forty- fourth monarch of Scotland, according to Buchanan, succeeded Constantine I. After a reign of twenty-two years. King Congall I. died A. D, 501. See "Renim Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 133 fo 135. In the list of Pictish Kings, as furnished by Rev,
after the Romans
—which are
toria," lib. v. , pp. 125 to 131. The Picts and Scots had made so many inroads on the
Dr. J. F. S. Gordon, we find no such name, "
See Scotichronicon," vol. i. , pp. 5, 6.
s Plengist invaded Britain in 449. See
Dr. Lingard's
"
History of England," vol.
Eugene or Evan, the forty- first Scottish king, was on the throne. He died A. D. 452. See Buchannan's "Rerum Scoticarum His-
more southern
abandoned Britain, that King Vortigern in- vited the Saxons, under Hengist and Horsa, to make head against their enemies. This success, however, resulted in the final sub- jugation of the ancient Britons to the Saxon
power, yet not without a prolonged and vigorous resistance. In some parts of Wales
and Scotland, notwithstanding, the Britons seem to have held not inconsiderable terri- lories. See Rev. Thomas Innes' "Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland. " Book i. , sees. XLix. to Liii. , pp. 88 to 95.
^ See "De Statu Hominis vetcris simul
ac novae Ecclesize, et Sanctis Regni Scotice," lib. i,, cap. iii. , sec, ii. , p. 141.
Britons,
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 51
versation. This most amiable child, from her earliest years, began to understand, that modesty should be the companion and guardian of all her
while, her most earnest desires were directed to cultivate this lily of female perfection. In her angelic countenance, in her words and her motions, in her gait, gestures, dress and actions, she exhibited that greatest adornment of her sex ; but, those exterior appearances were supplied from the deep springs of her stainless soul, which would not admit there a single trace of impurity to leave any impress. She conceived herself, as bound to remove from the gaze of men, whatever might be calculated to afford them occasion for sin ; and she knew, that the Almighty diligently searches the secrets of hearts, to judge how far the roots of evil passion make progress. A virgin, not alone in name, but in truth, Brigid left nothing undone to increase her merits in God's sight, while she desired nothing, which a true Christian should avoid procuring.
All these virtues, however, did not screen our Saint from the envy and persecution of her father's wife—thus runs the fable—when, with her nurse, she had been sent to her first home by the Magus. It usually happens, either through himself or through his instruments, the Devil pursues with malignity those most loved by God, and principally, with a view to pervert their understanding. Hence, our Saint's step-mother was accustomed to find fault with everything said or done by this unoffending child. Often were injurious words and even cruel stripes inflicted on the innocent creature. Not content with such a tyrannical course of conduct, by her incessant and secret denunciation, that wicked woman excited the Saint's father to adopt a like treatment towards a daughter he had heretofore so much loved. Thus, instead of finding a natural protector in the person of her parent, Brigid found a tyrant : from being much attached to his daughter, her father became a persecutor ; his love was changed to dislike, and his kindness into the grossest injustice. However, his wife could not urge him to sell his daugh-
ter, as a slave ; yet, she endeavoured to render the girl's position almost as intolerable, by directing her to engage in most servile and laborious offices. It is said, that moved by his wife's persuasions, her father imposed an obli- gation of tending swine upon his young daughter. 7 Without a murmur, she accepted such a humiliating employment, to become reconciled under those injuries inflicted by her father, and partially to escape from the malevolent attempts of her step-mother. The young maid frequently meditated on Christ's passion, and thence derived most salutary thoughts. She consi- dered, that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of being compared to the glories of that kingdom, which Christ shall reveal to His perfect ones. So, spending much time out-of-doors, while engaged at an humble employment,
she did not neglect her duties to God. When at home, she was either
occupied in prayer, or in relieving the wants of the poor. ^ During a time thus spent, it chanced that her herd of swine dispersed while grazing, so that
some escaped the supervision of their young guardian. At this moment, two thieves who were passing observed the opportunity afforded them to make a
seizure. Accordingly, these men drove away two of the swine as a prey. But, it so happened, that Dubthach was distantly seen by the robbers ap-
proaching them ; whereupon, fearing merited punishment, they betook them- selves to flight. On coming to that spot, where his swine had been aban- doned, the master soon discovered, that these were a portion of his herd.
7 See "Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish the Saints," vol. ii. , p-ebruary I,"p. i6. Priest,cbap. ii. ,p. 15. Likewise,Mrs. AnastasiaO'Bynie's Saints
other virtues
;
®See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of of Ireland," part ii. , p. 14.
52 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Having concealed them for a moment, he proceeded to the place where his daughter was. Meantime, at first concealing his anger, under an affected
hilarity and in words calmly expressed, soon he changed this assumed coun- tenance and tone, by asking his daughter, if she could account for the entire number of swine entrusted to her care, without the loss of a single animal. The holy maiden, having full faith in Almighty power, entreated her father toexamineandseeifhehadthefullnumber. Carefullycountingtheherd,
\J)ubtacJi found inckided those swine he had concealed. Astonished at such a^4£sult, tfie cHieftain then returned to his home. 9
Our pious nlaid bore her trials with patience and constancy ; while
humility induced her on all occasions to refer her meritorious actions entirely
to God, as she knew that all human virtues have their origin in the bestowal
of Divine Grace. And, as she had not received these heavenly gifts in vain,
Brigid zealously co-operated with them. She advanced each day towards
the highest degree of perfection. The more humility endeared her to the
Almighty, the more was His glory manifested through her, in the miracles
which were wrought. Brigid's virtues are greatly extolled by her pane- ^°
All these good dispositions, however, were not a sufficient protec-
gyrists.
tion from her step-mother's enmity. This woman even took occasion to find fault with the girl's excellent qualities, for she envied that good repute, which was justly due to our Saint's merits. " Such malignity seemed to in- crease each day, and reproaches were redoubled, when it had been reported miracles were wrought, on occasion of that theft which had been committed, and at the time of her nurse's infirmity. Thenceforward, envy began to assume the characteristics of a fixed hatred. All the efforts of a wicked woman's malice were directed towards the further persecution of an innocent child, on whom a variety of laborious occupations were imposed. Not only was the virgin employed as swine-herd, but she was obliged to bake, to cook, to weave, to tend sheep and to engage in harvest labours. Still more humiliating and onerous offices were exacted from her. These must have been sufficient to break the spirit and constitution of any child, even less eminently gifted and constituted than our Saint. Yet, Brigid considered no work more servile, than that of sin ; and, therefore, she patiently commenced, prudently continued, and admirably executed, her various heavy tasks. The legend proceeds to state, that the hatred and envy of St. Brigid's step- mother, once aroused, could not easily be dispelled ; and, as the holy virgin's o^vn mother had become a free woman, efforts were made to reduce her innocent daughter to a state of servitude. As some plausible pretext was even wanting for this purpose, after an anxious scrutiny into the maiden's life, no single word or action of her step-daughter being open to reproach, resort was had to calumnies and intrigue. " The whole tenor of this sweet child's life was one of blameless virtue ; yet, it was sought to give a false colouring to her good actions, and to represent them as worthy of blame and punishment. Itwassaid,althoughpossessingnopropertyofherown,that Brigid notwithstanding bestowed large alms on the poor, and hence she must havestolen,whatshedidnotrightlygiveaway. Toherhusband,thestep-
9 This is more briefly related in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, pp. 9, 10.
*"
These are specially enumerated in the Hymn of St. Brogan Cloen. vSee Colgan's ••Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Bri-
been the daughter of a bard and of a beauti- ful captive, tells us, the latter was chased, like another Agar, t)y her master, and at the suggestion of his wife. See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, i. , p. 462.
"See "Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, ii. , pp. 15, 16.
sees,
"The Count de Montalembert, whose
gidsE,
3, 4, 11, 12, p. 515.
fancy leans to the legend of Brigid having
February t. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 53
mother represented a probability of his house being robbed by his own daughter, as she abstracted all the value it contained to enrich others, and this under the guise of piety. Thus, it was urged, while the maiden extended her bounty towards strangers, her own father was likely to be reduced to great poverty, unless he took suitable precautions against such a result. Hence, the step-mother reasoned, that prevention being better than cure, her husband should obviate this state of things, as it must prove vain to mend matters, when he must be in actual need. In order to prevent the absolute poverty of his family, advice was given to sell his daughter as a slave, and if he rejected this counsel, it was represented, he must soon experience those difficulties, attendant on a complete loss of property. By these and similar arguments, the insidious woman wrought on her husband's mind, and in a short time, effecting the estrangement of his affections from the holy maiden, she excited prejudices against Brigid. As it formerly happened, when the enemies of Daniel the Prophet represented him praying to God, in opposition to the king's edict ;^3 so was it now said, that the Saint gave alms for God's sake, but at the expense of her father. And, as Daniel had been delivered to the jaws of lions to be devoured, so was Brigid about to be sold as a slave to strangers ; yet, since both were found faithful to God, therefore did the Almighty liberate them from a fate to which they had been respectively doomed. Brigid'sfather,however,wouldonlyconsenttosellhisdaughterto a king or chief, as being herself of noble birth. With this view, a chariot was prepared, which Dubtach drove to the neighbouring castle, where his king, named Dunlang, then dwelt. "^ When he had arrived at this place, Dubtach left his daughter in the chariot without, while he entered the castle to pay his liegerespects. Afterdiscoursingawhileonstateaffairsandthingsofmoment, their conversation was directed to less important topics. Dubtach then added, that he had with him a virgin, who was to be sold, and that if it pleased the king to purchase her, there was every reason to believe she should not occupy the lowest place in his estimation among his other female servants. In reply to the king's inquiries, Dubtach acknowledged, also, that she was his own daughter. The king asked his reason for selling her, and was told, that her parents feared she should make him a poor man, since she abstracted all his worldly substance to bestow it on the poor. ^s Thereupon, those who attended the king said
:
^^
alms from the daughter, when she presented him with her parent's sword. Her father afterwards introduced Brigid to the king, but, on learning what she had done, Dubtach felt greatly concerned at the loss of his sword. This was one of great value, and the more prized, as it had been a present from theKingofLeinster,whomhethenvisited. Dubtachorderedthemendicant to be followed, that his sword might be recovered. Then conducting his
daughter to the king, the chief angrily complained about the loss he had
^3 Daniel vi. character of this whole narrative preceding ;
^4 In a note, we are told by Colgan, that for, our Saint is there represented as con- the king, whom her father visited, was founding ideas of charitable actions in prac-
" The good report of this your daughter has reached all parts of Ireland, and raised her immeasurably in our estima- tion; and,itisverystrange,thatyouherfathershouldaccuseherofbeing guilty, when all strangers concur in praising her. " Whereupon, the king commanded her to be brought into his presence. We are told again, while Brigid's father delayed within his dynast's castle, a poor man came to ask
Dunlang, King of Leinster, as appears from an Irisli Life of St. Brigid, cap. xiv. See
"
"Trias Thaumaturga, n. lo, p. 543.
tice with actual sins of injustice, not credit-
able to her moral or religious perceptive faculties. These are not the sole objections that may be taken, against such an incon- gruous and incredible story, imder all its laboured and inventive characteristics.
^5 See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February i, p. 16.
'^ We can arrive at the easily
legendary
54 LIVES OF 2HE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
sustained through her. Looking upon the young maid, the king greatly admired her candour and gravity of countenance, her habit and deportment, before asking why she gave that sword to a beggar, which he had presented
"
Do not wonder that I have bestowed what was in my keeping on the poor, since, were it in my power to do so, I
should give all possessed by you, O king, and by my father, to them ; for, I the Almighty will confer eternal rewards on those, who for His sake give
" This virgin is too holy and . exalted to be either bought or sold, and I have not even means for purchasing her, because she is more precious than any amount of silver or gold. ^^ As for that good sword which she gave to the poor man, I shall present you with one equally valuable ; and, if you abide by my advice, you will allow her to follow the bent of her own inclinations/'^^ Approving this advice, and being honoured with gifts, Dubtach returned
home with his daughter, whose freedom was thus assured. ^°
In continuation of this same narrative, it is stated, that having thus ob- tained her freedom, the virgin of Christ could conceive no state of servitude worse than to abuse her liberty. Wherefore, her human was exchanged for
a Divine service. She consecrated herself by vow to Jesus, the Spouse of Virgins,^^ and being now more at leisure to indulge the bent of her inclina- tions, she considered all former religious exercises of too little value in the sight of God. She macerated her body with increased vigils and fasting. Her mind began to soar with greater ease and fervour to pious contemplation and Divine love. She imitated the industry of the bee, which, wandering through pleasant gardens, collects their sweet juices from various flowers, in order to produce a still more luscious essence, in the loaded hive. The holy girl is said to have visited the houses of pious virgins, and to have culled admirable practices of virtue from the conduct of each, with a view of adapt- ing them to her own spiritual improvement. Such was her charity, and
indefatigable zeal in visiting the sick, that whenever she heard about any of
those holy women being confined to a bed of illness, Brigid immediately hastened to afford consolation to the invalid. Nor did she leave the patient, until this latter had either been restored to health, or had terminated a mor- tal career.
In various accounts, it is related, that Brigid had been sought in marriage from her parents. ^^ Her great wisdom, not less than her personal attrac- tions, caused a general admiration. "^3 A bard suitor, called Dubthach, the son of Luguir, is said to have proposed for her in marriage. This man had been very celebrated for his learning^-* and innocence of life. ^s He was
Baring-Gould's
" See "Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish
to her father. Our Saint answered,
temporal riches. "'7 Then turning to Dubtach, the king exclaimed
:
^^ This anecdote is related in L. Tachet
de Barneval's "Historic Legendaire de 1'
Irlande," chap, viii. The writer adds, that
as St. Patrick represented Christian and Priest, chap, ii. , pp. 23, 24.
apostolic perfection, St. Brigid personified mercy and charity. See p. 75.
'^
=3 See Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les
Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. ,
The foregoing narrative is found related
in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, where
Dunlaing is called the son of Enna. See land's chief poets, in the fifth century.
pp. 1$, 16.
*9 See " Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Quinta Vita S. Brigidae, cap. ix. , xii. , xiv. , XV. , xvi. ,xvii. , xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , pp. 569 to
also briefly related in the Third lAie. —Ibid. Vita Tenia S.
Some of the Poems, attributed to him, have been published in the Rev. John Shearman's
"
Loca Patriciana," No. vi. "Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaiological Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth
Series, No. 19, July, 1874, pp. 183 to 196. =s Such account is contained in the Irish
Life of St. Brigid, chapter xv. , as quoted by Colgan.
Priest, chap, ii. , pp. 21 to 23.
"° "
S73-.
Some of those circumstances are Brigidae, cap. xvi. , p. 528.
^^ See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. ii. , February I, p. i6.
chap. i. , p. 462.
= He is generally known as one of Ire-
*' Lives of
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 55
among the foremost of Leogaire's courtiers'*^ to render public honour to St. Patrick, and to believe in Christ, as may be seen in the Life of our Irish
Various versions of St. Brigid having been sought in marriage
belief. '^ An Irish Life of the — that Virgin simply states,
On a certain day, while she hastened on some errand of mercy, we are informed, that Brigid met her brothers on the way. These were four in number. Oneofthem,namedBaithen,seemstohaveinheritedtheperse- cuting disposition of his mother, and he is said to have addressed the others
in these terms " I know not what sort of superstitious vanity urges our
:
sister to travel from place to place ; she avoids all familiarity with men,
moreover, obstinately living and seeming disposed to persevere in a state of life repugnant to natural feeHng. She will not gratify father or brothers with any hope of her bearing children ; but, preferring her own will to that of the Almighty, and her own laws to those of nature, she loves a state of virginity, with our family dishonour and privation, to the more honourable condition of becoming mother over a numerous offspring. But, my brothers, let us put an end to this egregious folly, and consulting our family interests, we must overcome her designs, seeking for some noble, as a suitable husband
for her. This, I have no doubt, can easily be accomplished. Thus, shall he become the son-in-law of our father, as also a friend and an ally to our-
Apostle. =^7 survive in
popular —was a man of
'9 which indicates
her suitor
accepted that her own birth was respectable, both on her father's and mother's side. This proposal is stated to have been acceptable both to Dubtach and to his sons. 3°
good family,
if the narrative be
selves. " But, the other young men interposed on her behalf and said
:
" It
is neither manly nor brotherly to persecute our young sister, especially as she has made the better choice, while resolving to leave terrestrial for hea- venly things, and as she hath chosen Christ to be her spouse, rather than man. Would it not be base for us, and dishonourable as brothers, to divert our sister from her holy purpose, even if we could effect such an object ? Should we fail to do so, must it not be equally disgraceful to make an
attempt, over which her constancy must prevail, thus showing that a single
*'
Proximus huic fuerat juvenis, qui jura
parentum
Unicacurafuit; pulsabatvirginisaures
Per se, perque patrem, per fratres atque sorores,
place,
this happened, a much frequented station used to be held, until the landed proprietor cut down certain bushes by the stream, and altered the whole local appearance. It is
2*
Colgan remarks, however, that when
tunities of a young marriage suitor, by set- ting out one night for Castletown Church, which, it is said, was also called Cibb b]\6in. She passed by a small river, taking its rise at Sliabh Guilenn, and running in a south- east direction, between Faughart Hill and Castletown, falling into the bay of Dundalk. She knelt by the banks of this stream, and
Brigid had arrived at a marriageable age, this Dubthach must have been advanced in
"
years. See Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia
Vita S. Ihigidae, cap. xvii. , and n. ii, pp. 528, 529, 543.
^7 The Sixth Hexameter Life of our Saint commences its narrative of the foregoing
: circumstances with these lines —
her
pursuer. At the
where
remained at Gill b|\6iri, while her sister Munera muneribus promittens addere continued to live at Gill mui^e, or Fough-
plura,
Auribus purpureas, argenti pondera, ves-
tes,
Divitiasque domus, millenos praedia, servos. "
art. See
^^ Thus, the people about Faughart have a tradition, that while St. Brigid and her sister lived in a church at this place, the holy virgin was obliged to shun the impor-
"
^o /(5/^. See, likewise, Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 288.
escaped
said, that after this circumstance, St. Brigid
'*
Louth Letters containing Infor- mation relative to the Antiquities of the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1835-1836," vol. i. ,
pp. 287, 288.
=9 Such is the account in Professor
O'Looney's MS. Life of St. Brigid, pp. 15, 16.
56 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February t.
girl may obtain a victory over four men ? Let our sister serve God in the
way she purposes, and, by our goodness towards her, let us seek her happi- ness, for if we attempt to disturb it, the guilt will rest on our souls. " This
discussionbecameexceedinglyanimatedasthesubjectofitapproached. A quarrel seemed likely to ensue, when the holy virgin, who had come up to
them, besought the Almighty most earnestly to restore peace among her brothers, and to manifest His Providence in her regard. 3^ Immediately, as
the legend relates, one of her eyes became distempered, and it disappeared. 3' So shocking an occurrence, attended with a consequent deformity of features, which before had been so singularly beautiful, caused that brother, who had so anxiously sought to engage her in a married state to change his intentions. Her other brethren, who had contended for our Saint's freedom of choice, on seeing her beautiful features thus sadly disfigured and injured, felt the
greatest compassion for her. They cried out, that this privation could not
have happened, if she had not been opposed in her desire of leading a single
life. 33 They lamented, likewise, no water was near, to wash stains of blood, which trickled from her face, thus to assuage her pain, if they could not repair that injury, endured by their beloved sister. 34 But, the Virgin of Christ, knew that her holy Spouse would be her protector. That she might not leave her brothers anxious and inconsolable on her account, Brigid de- sired them to dig the ground where they stood. With full reliance in the Divine clemency, our Saint offered her prayers to heaven, when He, who formerly produced water from the desert rock, at the stroke of His prophet,3S now brought forth a stream from the dry soil, to reward the confidence of His favoured child. Her three friendly brothers, amazed at this miracle, and full of fraternal affection towards their sister, at once began to apply that water to wash her bleeding face, when to their still greater astonishment, both her eyes seemed perfect, as before the late privation. 3^ Full of joy at
this discovery, they gave thanks to God. But, the brother, who inherited his mother's malignant and intractable nature, made use of reproachful ex- pressions towards them and towards our Saint. For such reproaches, how- ever, he was miraculously punished, by the instant loss of one of his eyes. This chastisement humbled him so much, that henceforward no serious obstacle was interposed to prevent his sister from following the bent of her inclinations, and that course of her life, decreed by heaven. 37
The whole course of Brigid's career was destined to be traced out by
signs from heaven.
Some great characteristics of our holy virgin are thus alluded to in an
"
It was her anxious care to comfort the poor, to banish all distress, to relieve all wretchedness : there was no one more modest, more righteous, more humble, or more chaste ; she never looked in the face of man \ she was abstinent, she was spotless, she was prayerful, she was patient, shewasjoyfulinthecommandmentsofGod. Shewasaconsecratedshrine to receive the Body and Blood of Christ : she was the temple of God : her heart and her mind were an abiding throne for the Holy Ghost. She was bright in miracles ; her type among creatures is the dove among birds, the vine among trees, the sun amidst the stars. It is she that reHeves all who are in distress and danger ; it is she that subdues disease. It is she that restrains the angry fury of the sea. She is the Mary of Ireland. ^'^o This is not the sole highly-coloured panegyric found in our ancient literature. A
very old book of vellum, in which is found the Martyrology of Maelruain of Tallagh, and also the saints bearing the same name,'^^ with the names of
many mothers of the saints, states, that Brighit was following the manners and the life, which the holy Mary, Mother of Jesus, had practised. '^^ Such was her aptitude for devotional feeling, that she possessed every virtue which could adorn a child of Mary, or which could endear her to those who were around her. '43
CHAPTER III.
STATEMENT REGARDING ST. BRIGID's PARENTS—HER PERSONAL AND MENTAL ATTRAC- TIONS DURING HER EARLY YOUTH—ALLEGED TREATMENT BY HER PARENTS—HER GREAT CHARITY TOWARDS THE POOR—BROUGHT BEFORE DUNLAING, KING OF LEINSTER—HIS ADMIRATION OF HER VIRTUES—HER RESOLUTION TO EMBRACE A RELIGIOUS LIFE—A SUITOR PROPOSES MARRIAGE WITH ASSENT OF HER FAMILY— SHE REJECTS THIS OFFER—HER RELIGIOUS PROFESSION, AND OPINIONS ADVANCED RELATIVE TO IT—PROBABLE TIME AND PLACE—ESTABLISHMENT OF ST. BRIGID's FIRST RELIGIOUS HOUSE—SHE SELECTS THE BEATITUDE OF MERCY FOR HER SPECIAL PRACTICE—HER MIRACLES.
A SINGULAR Statement has been made,^ that the parents of Brigid ruled over
ancient biography.
'37 See " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Prima ad Acta S. Brigidse, pp. 599 to 602. In this Office, the following is a portion of
Qui per beatam Brigidam Decoravit Hiberniam, Vitam dans ejus lucidam.
the Fifth Lesson :
plaudit. "—/fo'^/, p. 600.
'38 These stanzas are as follows :—
mina a postulavit
"
Vol. II.
"
Religiosa qusedam fae-
" Haec
Quae mundo late clamit,
Hsec rosa temperantise
Cujus virtus non languit. "
'39 professor O'Looney's Copy, pp. ii, 12. ^o prom "Life of St. Brigid," in the
" Leabhar Breac," and " Book of Lismore. "
'^i By some called Homonymi.
^^^a See "The Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Dr. Todd and Rev. Dr.
Reeves, pp. 34, 35.
M3 See " The Life of St. Brigid," by an
Irish —
Priest, chap, i. , p. 13.
ut S.
secum exiret ad synodum quae collecta erat in Carnpo Liffaei, et a pater permittitur. Tunc vir quidem sanctus in synodo dormiens vidit visionem et surgens ait. Haec altera Maria, quae habitat inter nos. Respons. Virgo deportatur, honor ei amplius cumula- tur : Synodus instabat, nova Brigida Stella micabat. Sacra cohors plaudit, quia signum caelitus audit. Vers. Presbyter banc aliam denunciat esse Mariam. Sacra cohors
patre suo,
Brigidce
speculum munditise,
Christo canamus gloriam.
Chapter hi.
'
By Camerarius.
E
50 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
the Orkney islands,^ and had their residence in the province Cathensia3 in
Scotia. Under King Congall/ they helped to prevent Hengist and the Saxonss taking possession of those islands, according to the same ill-instructed ecclesiastical historian. ^ Several particulars, regarding our Saint's early youth, are supplied by Laurence of Durham, but, these are wanting in her other Acts. It is not easy to pronounce, whether some of those accounts are furnished by his own fertile imagination, or from authors, who ^vrote before his time. In various instances, however, they present a pleasing picture of virtues, that early adorned our Saint. We are told, as Brigid grew in age, she increased also in grace. Her natural endowments were likewise remarkable. She received an excellent education. To her, the Almighty granted personal gifts, which to others are often the occasion of
danger, in a spiritual sense. Whilst a mere child, her countenance was radiant with smiles, but her looks were truly angelic. These even betokened her future exalted sanctity. Her figure was moulded with a peculiar grace- fulness, while her natural intelligence caused the pagan master of her mother —for we are still left in the mirage of legend—to furnish his bond-woman's daughter opportunities for acquiring some special culture. Each day added
effulgence of beauty to Brigid's mental faculties, and to her natural bodily endowments; while,owingtoherindividualmerits,ablessingseemedtofall
on the Magus himself, who began to grow rich in possession of this world's
goods. From the very period of our Saint's infancy, it was surprising to find, that she exhibited little youthful levity. Her thoughts and actions were characterized by sound discretion, and while her lovely features beamed with a matronly reserve, she abhorred the follies of old dotards, as much as she did the amusements of young persons. All admired her justly-regulated mind, her propriety of speech, her dislike of merely terrestrial and transitory things, and her perseverance in holy practices. Worldly-minded men wondered, that she avoided all companionship with them, and women of light
character could not but feel mortified, when the holy virgin regarded them withhorror; whilethosepiousfemales,whodevotedthemselvessincerelyto God's service, felt rejoiced, when our Saint sought their company and con-
^
These are twenty-eight in number, and
they lie directly north from Caithness.
They are partly in the Northern and partly
in the German Ocean. In the old Pictish
language, they are said to have been i. , chap, ii. , p. 63. This happened, while called Ar Cath, or the Tail of Caithness.
Hence, classic writers have their denomina-
tion, Orcades. These are divided into the
North and South groups of Islands. Some
of these are called Skirrachs—corresponding
with the Irish word Skerries
chiefly barren rocks, often covered by the salt-water. Others, which abound in pas- turage, are designated Holms.
3 Now Caithness, a district in the extreme north-east of the mainland of Scotland. See an interesting account of it in Fullarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. 218 to 222.
^ King Congall I. , who was the forty- fourth monarch of Scotland, according to Buchanan, succeeded Constantine I. After a reign of twenty-two years. King Congall I. died A. D, 501. See "Renim Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 133 fo 135. In the list of Pictish Kings, as furnished by Rev,
after the Romans
—which are
toria," lib. v. , pp. 125 to 131. The Picts and Scots had made so many inroads on the
Dr. J. F. S. Gordon, we find no such name, "
See Scotichronicon," vol. i. , pp. 5, 6.
s Plengist invaded Britain in 449. See
Dr. Lingard's
"
History of England," vol.
Eugene or Evan, the forty- first Scottish king, was on the throne. He died A. D. 452. See Buchannan's "Rerum Scoticarum His-
more southern
abandoned Britain, that King Vortigern in- vited the Saxons, under Hengist and Horsa, to make head against their enemies. This success, however, resulted in the final sub- jugation of the ancient Britons to the Saxon
power, yet not without a prolonged and vigorous resistance. In some parts of Wales
and Scotland, notwithstanding, the Britons seem to have held not inconsiderable terri- lories. See Rev. Thomas Innes' "Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland. " Book i. , sees. XLix. to Liii. , pp. 88 to 95.
^ See "De Statu Hominis vetcris simul
ac novae Ecclesize, et Sanctis Regni Scotice," lib. i,, cap. iii. , sec, ii. , p. 141.
Britons,
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 51
versation. This most amiable child, from her earliest years, began to understand, that modesty should be the companion and guardian of all her
while, her most earnest desires were directed to cultivate this lily of female perfection. In her angelic countenance, in her words and her motions, in her gait, gestures, dress and actions, she exhibited that greatest adornment of her sex ; but, those exterior appearances were supplied from the deep springs of her stainless soul, which would not admit there a single trace of impurity to leave any impress. She conceived herself, as bound to remove from the gaze of men, whatever might be calculated to afford them occasion for sin ; and she knew, that the Almighty diligently searches the secrets of hearts, to judge how far the roots of evil passion make progress. A virgin, not alone in name, but in truth, Brigid left nothing undone to increase her merits in God's sight, while she desired nothing, which a true Christian should avoid procuring.
All these virtues, however, did not screen our Saint from the envy and persecution of her father's wife—thus runs the fable—when, with her nurse, she had been sent to her first home by the Magus. It usually happens, either through himself or through his instruments, the Devil pursues with malignity those most loved by God, and principally, with a view to pervert their understanding. Hence, our Saint's step-mother was accustomed to find fault with everything said or done by this unoffending child. Often were injurious words and even cruel stripes inflicted on the innocent creature. Not content with such a tyrannical course of conduct, by her incessant and secret denunciation, that wicked woman excited the Saint's father to adopt a like treatment towards a daughter he had heretofore so much loved. Thus, instead of finding a natural protector in the person of her parent, Brigid found a tyrant : from being much attached to his daughter, her father became a persecutor ; his love was changed to dislike, and his kindness into the grossest injustice. However, his wife could not urge him to sell his daugh-
ter, as a slave ; yet, she endeavoured to render the girl's position almost as intolerable, by directing her to engage in most servile and laborious offices. It is said, that moved by his wife's persuasions, her father imposed an obli- gation of tending swine upon his young daughter. 7 Without a murmur, she accepted such a humiliating employment, to become reconciled under those injuries inflicted by her father, and partially to escape from the malevolent attempts of her step-mother. The young maid frequently meditated on Christ's passion, and thence derived most salutary thoughts. She consi- dered, that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of being compared to the glories of that kingdom, which Christ shall reveal to His perfect ones. So, spending much time out-of-doors, while engaged at an humble employment,
she did not neglect her duties to God. When at home, she was either
occupied in prayer, or in relieving the wants of the poor. ^ During a time thus spent, it chanced that her herd of swine dispersed while grazing, so that
some escaped the supervision of their young guardian. At this moment, two thieves who were passing observed the opportunity afforded them to make a
seizure. Accordingly, these men drove away two of the swine as a prey. But, it so happened, that Dubthach was distantly seen by the robbers ap-
proaching them ; whereupon, fearing merited punishment, they betook them- selves to flight. On coming to that spot, where his swine had been aban- doned, the master soon discovered, that these were a portion of his herd.
7 See "Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish the Saints," vol. ii. , p-ebruary I,"p. i6. Priest,cbap. ii. ,p. 15. Likewise,Mrs. AnastasiaO'Bynie's Saints
other virtues
;
®See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of of Ireland," part ii. , p. 14.
52 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Having concealed them for a moment, he proceeded to the place where his daughter was. Meantime, at first concealing his anger, under an affected
hilarity and in words calmly expressed, soon he changed this assumed coun- tenance and tone, by asking his daughter, if she could account for the entire number of swine entrusted to her care, without the loss of a single animal. The holy maiden, having full faith in Almighty power, entreated her father toexamineandseeifhehadthefullnumber. Carefullycountingtheherd,
\J)ubtacJi found inckided those swine he had concealed. Astonished at such a^4£sult, tfie cHieftain then returned to his home. 9
Our pious nlaid bore her trials with patience and constancy ; while
humility induced her on all occasions to refer her meritorious actions entirely
to God, as she knew that all human virtues have their origin in the bestowal
of Divine Grace. And, as she had not received these heavenly gifts in vain,
Brigid zealously co-operated with them. She advanced each day towards
the highest degree of perfection. The more humility endeared her to the
Almighty, the more was His glory manifested through her, in the miracles
which were wrought. Brigid's virtues are greatly extolled by her pane- ^°
All these good dispositions, however, were not a sufficient protec-
gyrists.
tion from her step-mother's enmity. This woman even took occasion to find fault with the girl's excellent qualities, for she envied that good repute, which was justly due to our Saint's merits. " Such malignity seemed to in- crease each day, and reproaches were redoubled, when it had been reported miracles were wrought, on occasion of that theft which had been committed, and at the time of her nurse's infirmity. Thenceforward, envy began to assume the characteristics of a fixed hatred. All the efforts of a wicked woman's malice were directed towards the further persecution of an innocent child, on whom a variety of laborious occupations were imposed. Not only was the virgin employed as swine-herd, but she was obliged to bake, to cook, to weave, to tend sheep and to engage in harvest labours. Still more humiliating and onerous offices were exacted from her. These must have been sufficient to break the spirit and constitution of any child, even less eminently gifted and constituted than our Saint. Yet, Brigid considered no work more servile, than that of sin ; and, therefore, she patiently commenced, prudently continued, and admirably executed, her various heavy tasks. The legend proceeds to state, that the hatred and envy of St. Brigid's step- mother, once aroused, could not easily be dispelled ; and, as the holy virgin's o^vn mother had become a free woman, efforts were made to reduce her innocent daughter to a state of servitude. As some plausible pretext was even wanting for this purpose, after an anxious scrutiny into the maiden's life, no single word or action of her step-daughter being open to reproach, resort was had to calumnies and intrigue. " The whole tenor of this sweet child's life was one of blameless virtue ; yet, it was sought to give a false colouring to her good actions, and to represent them as worthy of blame and punishment. Itwassaid,althoughpossessingnopropertyofherown,that Brigid notwithstanding bestowed large alms on the poor, and hence she must havestolen,whatshedidnotrightlygiveaway. Toherhusband,thestep-
9 This is more briefly related in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, pp. 9, 10.
*"
These are specially enumerated in the Hymn of St. Brogan Cloen. vSee Colgan's ••Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Bri-
been the daughter of a bard and of a beauti- ful captive, tells us, the latter was chased, like another Agar, t)y her master, and at the suggestion of his wife. See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, i. , p. 462.
"See "Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish Priest, chap, ii. , pp. 15, 16.
sees,
"The Count de Montalembert, whose
gidsE,
3, 4, 11, 12, p. 515.
fancy leans to the legend of Brigid having
February t. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 53
mother represented a probability of his house being robbed by his own daughter, as she abstracted all the value it contained to enrich others, and this under the guise of piety. Thus, it was urged, while the maiden extended her bounty towards strangers, her own father was likely to be reduced to great poverty, unless he took suitable precautions against such a result. Hence, the step-mother reasoned, that prevention being better than cure, her husband should obviate this state of things, as it must prove vain to mend matters, when he must be in actual need. In order to prevent the absolute poverty of his family, advice was given to sell his daughter as a slave, and if he rejected this counsel, it was represented, he must soon experience those difficulties, attendant on a complete loss of property. By these and similar arguments, the insidious woman wrought on her husband's mind, and in a short time, effecting the estrangement of his affections from the holy maiden, she excited prejudices against Brigid. As it formerly happened, when the enemies of Daniel the Prophet represented him praying to God, in opposition to the king's edict ;^3 so was it now said, that the Saint gave alms for God's sake, but at the expense of her father. And, as Daniel had been delivered to the jaws of lions to be devoured, so was Brigid about to be sold as a slave to strangers ; yet, since both were found faithful to God, therefore did the Almighty liberate them from a fate to which they had been respectively doomed. Brigid'sfather,however,wouldonlyconsenttosellhisdaughterto a king or chief, as being herself of noble birth. With this view, a chariot was prepared, which Dubtach drove to the neighbouring castle, where his king, named Dunlang, then dwelt. "^ When he had arrived at this place, Dubtach left his daughter in the chariot without, while he entered the castle to pay his liegerespects. Afterdiscoursingawhileonstateaffairsandthingsofmoment, their conversation was directed to less important topics. Dubtach then added, that he had with him a virgin, who was to be sold, and that if it pleased the king to purchase her, there was every reason to believe she should not occupy the lowest place in his estimation among his other female servants. In reply to the king's inquiries, Dubtach acknowledged, also, that she was his own daughter. The king asked his reason for selling her, and was told, that her parents feared she should make him a poor man, since she abstracted all his worldly substance to bestow it on the poor. ^s Thereupon, those who attended the king said
:
^^
alms from the daughter, when she presented him with her parent's sword. Her father afterwards introduced Brigid to the king, but, on learning what she had done, Dubtach felt greatly concerned at the loss of his sword. This was one of great value, and the more prized, as it had been a present from theKingofLeinster,whomhethenvisited. Dubtachorderedthemendicant to be followed, that his sword might be recovered. Then conducting his
daughter to the king, the chief angrily complained about the loss he had
^3 Daniel vi. character of this whole narrative preceding ;
^4 In a note, we are told by Colgan, that for, our Saint is there represented as con- the king, whom her father visited, was founding ideas of charitable actions in prac-
" The good report of this your daughter has reached all parts of Ireland, and raised her immeasurably in our estima- tion; and,itisverystrange,thatyouherfathershouldaccuseherofbeing guilty, when all strangers concur in praising her. " Whereupon, the king commanded her to be brought into his presence. We are told again, while Brigid's father delayed within his dynast's castle, a poor man came to ask
Dunlang, King of Leinster, as appears from an Irisli Life of St. Brigid, cap. xiv. See
"
"Trias Thaumaturga, n. lo, p. 543.
tice with actual sins of injustice, not credit-
able to her moral or religious perceptive faculties. These are not the sole objections that may be taken, against such an incon- gruous and incredible story, imder all its laboured and inventive characteristics.
^5 See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February i, p. 16.
'^ We can arrive at the easily
legendary
54 LIVES OF 2HE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
sustained through her. Looking upon the young maid, the king greatly admired her candour and gravity of countenance, her habit and deportment, before asking why she gave that sword to a beggar, which he had presented
"
Do not wonder that I have bestowed what was in my keeping on the poor, since, were it in my power to do so, I
should give all possessed by you, O king, and by my father, to them ; for, I the Almighty will confer eternal rewards on those, who for His sake give
" This virgin is too holy and . exalted to be either bought or sold, and I have not even means for purchasing her, because she is more precious than any amount of silver or gold. ^^ As for that good sword which she gave to the poor man, I shall present you with one equally valuable ; and, if you abide by my advice, you will allow her to follow the bent of her own inclinations/'^^ Approving this advice, and being honoured with gifts, Dubtach returned
home with his daughter, whose freedom was thus assured. ^°
In continuation of this same narrative, it is stated, that having thus ob- tained her freedom, the virgin of Christ could conceive no state of servitude worse than to abuse her liberty. Wherefore, her human was exchanged for
a Divine service. She consecrated herself by vow to Jesus, the Spouse of Virgins,^^ and being now more at leisure to indulge the bent of her inclina- tions, she considered all former religious exercises of too little value in the sight of God. She macerated her body with increased vigils and fasting. Her mind began to soar with greater ease and fervour to pious contemplation and Divine love. She imitated the industry of the bee, which, wandering through pleasant gardens, collects their sweet juices from various flowers, in order to produce a still more luscious essence, in the loaded hive. The holy girl is said to have visited the houses of pious virgins, and to have culled admirable practices of virtue from the conduct of each, with a view of adapt- ing them to her own spiritual improvement. Such was her charity, and
indefatigable zeal in visiting the sick, that whenever she heard about any of
those holy women being confined to a bed of illness, Brigid immediately hastened to afford consolation to the invalid. Nor did she leave the patient, until this latter had either been restored to health, or had terminated a mor- tal career.
In various accounts, it is related, that Brigid had been sought in marriage from her parents. ^^ Her great wisdom, not less than her personal attrac- tions, caused a general admiration. "^3 A bard suitor, called Dubthach, the son of Luguir, is said to have proposed for her in marriage. This man had been very celebrated for his learning^-* and innocence of life. ^s He was
Baring-Gould's
" See "Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish
to her father. Our Saint answered,
temporal riches. "'7 Then turning to Dubtach, the king exclaimed
:
^^ This anecdote is related in L. Tachet
de Barneval's "Historic Legendaire de 1'
Irlande," chap, viii. The writer adds, that
as St. Patrick represented Christian and Priest, chap, ii. , pp. 23, 24.
apostolic perfection, St. Brigid personified mercy and charity. See p. 75.
'^
=3 See Le Comte de Montalembert's "Les
Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. ,
The foregoing narrative is found related
in Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, where
Dunlaing is called the son of Enna. See land's chief poets, in the fifth century.
pp. 1$, 16.
*9 See " Life of St. Brigid," by an Irish
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Quinta Vita S. Brigidae, cap. ix. , xii. , xiv. , XV. , xvi. ,xvii. , xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , pp. 569 to
also briefly related in the Third lAie. —Ibid. Vita Tenia S.
Some of the Poems, attributed to him, have been published in the Rev. John Shearman's
"
Loca Patriciana," No. vi. "Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaiological Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth
Series, No. 19, July, 1874, pp. 183 to 196. =s Such account is contained in the Irish
Life of St. Brigid, chapter xv. , as quoted by Colgan.
Priest, chap, ii. , pp. 21 to 23.
"° "
S73-.
Some of those circumstances are Brigidae, cap. xvi. , p. 528.
^^ See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. ii. , February I, p. i6.
chap. i. , p. 462.
= He is generally known as one of Ire-
*' Lives of
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 55
among the foremost of Leogaire's courtiers'*^ to render public honour to St. Patrick, and to believe in Christ, as may be seen in the Life of our Irish
Various versions of St. Brigid having been sought in marriage
belief. '^ An Irish Life of the — that Virgin simply states,
On a certain day, while she hastened on some errand of mercy, we are informed, that Brigid met her brothers on the way. These were four in number. Oneofthem,namedBaithen,seemstohaveinheritedtheperse- cuting disposition of his mother, and he is said to have addressed the others
in these terms " I know not what sort of superstitious vanity urges our
:
sister to travel from place to place ; she avoids all familiarity with men,
moreover, obstinately living and seeming disposed to persevere in a state of life repugnant to natural feeHng. She will not gratify father or brothers with any hope of her bearing children ; but, preferring her own will to that of the Almighty, and her own laws to those of nature, she loves a state of virginity, with our family dishonour and privation, to the more honourable condition of becoming mother over a numerous offspring. But, my brothers, let us put an end to this egregious folly, and consulting our family interests, we must overcome her designs, seeking for some noble, as a suitable husband
for her. This, I have no doubt, can easily be accomplished. Thus, shall he become the son-in-law of our father, as also a friend and an ally to our-
Apostle. =^7 survive in
popular —was a man of
'9 which indicates
her suitor
accepted that her own birth was respectable, both on her father's and mother's side. This proposal is stated to have been acceptable both to Dubtach and to his sons. 3°
good family,
if the narrative be
selves. " But, the other young men interposed on her behalf and said
:
" It
is neither manly nor brotherly to persecute our young sister, especially as she has made the better choice, while resolving to leave terrestrial for hea- venly things, and as she hath chosen Christ to be her spouse, rather than man. Would it not be base for us, and dishonourable as brothers, to divert our sister from her holy purpose, even if we could effect such an object ? Should we fail to do so, must it not be equally disgraceful to make an
attempt, over which her constancy must prevail, thus showing that a single
*'
Proximus huic fuerat juvenis, qui jura
parentum
Unicacurafuit; pulsabatvirginisaures
Per se, perque patrem, per fratres atque sorores,
place,
this happened, a much frequented station used to be held, until the landed proprietor cut down certain bushes by the stream, and altered the whole local appearance. It is
2*
Colgan remarks, however, that when
tunities of a young marriage suitor, by set- ting out one night for Castletown Church, which, it is said, was also called Cibb b]\6in. She passed by a small river, taking its rise at Sliabh Guilenn, and running in a south- east direction, between Faughart Hill and Castletown, falling into the bay of Dundalk. She knelt by the banks of this stream, and
Brigid had arrived at a marriageable age, this Dubthach must have been advanced in
"
years. See Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia
Vita S. Ihigidae, cap. xvii. , and n. ii, pp. 528, 529, 543.
^7 The Sixth Hexameter Life of our Saint commences its narrative of the foregoing
: circumstances with these lines —
her
pursuer. At the
where
remained at Gill b|\6iri, while her sister Munera muneribus promittens addere continued to live at Gill mui^e, or Fough-
plura,
Auribus purpureas, argenti pondera, ves-
tes,
Divitiasque domus, millenos praedia, servos. "
art. See
^^ Thus, the people about Faughart have a tradition, that while St. Brigid and her sister lived in a church at this place, the holy virgin was obliged to shun the impor-
"
^o /(5/^. See, likewise, Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 288.
escaped
said, that after this circumstance, St. Brigid
'*
Louth Letters containing Infor- mation relative to the Antiquities of the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1835-1836," vol. i. ,
pp. 287, 288.
=9 Such is the account in Professor
O'Looney's MS. Life of St. Brigid, pp. 15, 16.
56 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February t.
girl may obtain a victory over four men ? Let our sister serve God in the
way she purposes, and, by our goodness towards her, let us seek her happi- ness, for if we attempt to disturb it, the guilt will rest on our souls. " This
discussionbecameexceedinglyanimatedasthesubjectofitapproached. A quarrel seemed likely to ensue, when the holy virgin, who had come up to
them, besought the Almighty most earnestly to restore peace among her brothers, and to manifest His Providence in her regard. 3^ Immediately, as
the legend relates, one of her eyes became distempered, and it disappeared. 3' So shocking an occurrence, attended with a consequent deformity of features, which before had been so singularly beautiful, caused that brother, who had so anxiously sought to engage her in a married state to change his intentions. Her other brethren, who had contended for our Saint's freedom of choice, on seeing her beautiful features thus sadly disfigured and injured, felt the
greatest compassion for her. They cried out, that this privation could not
have happened, if she had not been opposed in her desire of leading a single
life. 33 They lamented, likewise, no water was near, to wash stains of blood, which trickled from her face, thus to assuage her pain, if they could not repair that injury, endured by their beloved sister. 34 But, the Virgin of Christ, knew that her holy Spouse would be her protector. That she might not leave her brothers anxious and inconsolable on her account, Brigid de- sired them to dig the ground where they stood. With full reliance in the Divine clemency, our Saint offered her prayers to heaven, when He, who formerly produced water from the desert rock, at the stroke of His prophet,3S now brought forth a stream from the dry soil, to reward the confidence of His favoured child. Her three friendly brothers, amazed at this miracle, and full of fraternal affection towards their sister, at once began to apply that water to wash her bleeding face, when to their still greater astonishment, both her eyes seemed perfect, as before the late privation. 3^ Full of joy at
this discovery, they gave thanks to God. But, the brother, who inherited his mother's malignant and intractable nature, made use of reproachful ex- pressions towards them and towards our Saint. For such reproaches, how- ever, he was miraculously punished, by the instant loss of one of his eyes. This chastisement humbled him so much, that henceforward no serious obstacle was interposed to prevent his sister from following the bent of her inclinations, and that course of her life, decreed by heaven. 37
The whole course of Brigid's career was destined to be traced out by
signs from heaven.
