3 Certain Arch- bishops of Armagh,
administering
the affairs of this church and see, even while the great Apostle of Ireland lived, such as St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Brigida Ibernese.
" Libro SestOy
Giacomo Certani's
tsS LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
king, on behalf of the fugitive, so that this latter might be allowed to retain his possessions ; yet, the potentate would not hear her, but rejected her
request. By a judgment from above, on this very same day, the king fell out of his chariot, and died from the effects of his fall. 36 At a time, when a
great multitude of persons came to visit her, and being unprovided with a
sufficiency of victuals for their refection, St. Brigid miraculously supplied them with food. 37
The holy abbess had promised, at the hour of his death, to visit a certain magus, who had offered his possessions to God. ^^ Her promise was re- deemed ; for, when the magus lay on his bed, expecting the approach of
"
death, he said to his family :
this instant, because I see St. Brigid, clothed in white, with many others, on their way to meet me. " After such words, he received Christian baptism, and being thus admitted within the true fold, he happily departed from life. Nor could this person have been that magus, who fostered our saint, in her
young days ; since he appears to have been baptized, before his possessions
were given to Brigid. Still the matter, as related, may admit of a doubt
regarding his identity with the present magus. 39
No matter how far we may dissent from the details of various legendary
narratives, we must admit the spell of a charming treatment and a sublime moral lesson in the following story, related almost in the words of an accom-
plished writer, alluding to St. Brigid. 4° One evening, she sat with Sister Dara, or Daria,*^ a holy nun, who was blind,^^ as the sun went down ; and they talked of the love of Jesus Christ, and the joys of Paradise. '«3 Now, their hearts were so full, the night fled away whilst they spoke together, and neitherknewthatsomanyhourshadsped. Thenthesuncameupfromthe Wicklow mountains, and the pure white light made the face of earth bright and gay. Bridget sighed, when she saw how lovely were earth and sky, and while she knew that Dara's eyes were closed to all this beauty. So she bowed her head and prayed. She extended her hand and signed the dark orbs of the gentle sister. Then the darkness passed away from them, and Dara^4 saw the golden ball in the east, while all the trees and flowers
3* See this narrative in Abbate D. Giacomo
*'
Certani's
S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 549 to 553»
rum Ecclesiarum," 626 et " There pp. seq.
was an Irish virgin ol that name and a com- panion oi St. Bngid at Kildare, who is men-
tioued in that same P^our. h Life, Z. 2, C. 89. But tlie author derives the name KiU dave^ not from her, but from the oak. And
37 See
** Trias
La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Vita S. Brigidas, lib, ii. , cap. Ixxxvi. ,
Get ready all things that are necessary on
Colgan's
Ixxxvii. , p. 561. Vita Tertia S. Brigid*, in the Third Life (cap. 47) it is called Cella
cap. cxxi. , cxxii. , p. 541.
3^ The following narrative is given at more
length in Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 553 to 557.
roboris. "
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. x. , n. 119, p. 408.
39 See, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Santila Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida
Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. xv. , p. 528, cap. cxxiii. , p. 541, n. 66, p. 545. Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxxviii. , p. 561.
<° See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February i. , p. 20.
' Dempster has the extraordinary state- tnent, that Kildare was so called from the relics of a Scotch woman, Daria, mother of St. Ursula, and which had been brought to Ireland. Ussher has thoroughly refuted this Statement. See*DePrimordiisBritannica-
Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, p. 537.
* There are three saints called Daria,
Dara or Daire, in the "Martyrology of Donegal ;" one a St. Daire, a virgin, vene- rated at the 8th of August; another St. Daire, a widow, whose least occurs at the 28th of September ; and a third St. Daire Bochanna, a widow, reverenced at the 2nd of November. See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition. Table of the Martyrology, pp.
398, 399. Yet, the present holy Dara may bedistinctfromanyoftheforegoingsaints,
—Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
'Mt is said she was so from her birth.
*3 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's •' La
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 159
glittered with dew in the morning Hght. She looked a little while, and then,
Bridget prayed once more, and Dara's eyes grew dark again. 's
Among many wonderful miracles, wrought through St. Brigid, it has been observed,'^^ there was one very remarkable and great. '»7 This also was generally known. A very large and lofty tree had been cut down, in the woods, with an axe, and it had been destined for a certain purpose by arti- ficers. It seems probable, the timber had been required for some building purposes,inconnexionwiththeholyabbess'sreligiousestablishment; since, thither it was brought, according to one account. ^^ A number of strong menandoxen,withsuitablemachines,wereassembledtodrawit towards the destined place ; for, on being felled, it had settled in a position, from which it could not be detached, without the utmost difficulty, owing to its
weightandpeculiarshape. But,neitherthemen,oxennorvariousmachines, by any exertion or application, could draw this tree from the spot, where it
rested. Trustingtotheefficacyoffirmfaith,wherebymountainsaremoved,« and all things become possible to those believing, according to Christ's words in the Gospel,5° those present desisted from their efforts, and then invoked the protection and assistance of St. Brigid. Afterwards, those labourers moved the tree towards that place intended, without the least difficulty, and without human aid. Such a wonderful miracle was soon divulged, throughout all the provinces of Ireland. s^ So, she made man honourable in his labours, and
accomplished his labours. 5* By the splendid miracles she wrought, and by the consummate sanctity of her life, she brought countless souls to the
following of Christ.
CHAPTER XII.
THE DISCIPLES Ot St. BRIGID—HER HOLY CONTEMPORARIES—SHE OBTAINS PARDON FOR A MAN UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED TO DEATH—THE DROVERS AND SWINE ESCAPE FROM WOLVES-ST. BRIGID PROTECTS A YOUNG LADY, WHO WISHED TO BE A NUN—SHE RELIEVES THE ROAD-MAKERS—OTHER REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES.
Among the disciples, and honoured friends, specially patronised by the illustrious Abbess of Kildare, may be enumerated her immediate successor over the convent she had there founded, St. Darlugdacha. She survived holy Brigid only for a short term. St. Lasrea or Laisre, who was Abbess of Killaisre, St. Hynna or Kinnia, Virgin, St. Daria, Virgin, St. Blathnata or Blatha, Latinized, Flora, cook to St. Brigid, St» Conlaidh, Bishop of Kildare, St. Nennidius or Nennius, Bishop, St. Natfraicus or Nathfraich, her charioteer and chaplain, are all numbered among those, towards whom she had acted in the capacity of a Protectress. ^ Another St. Brigde, of Killbride, belongs
turning to the abbess, said :
my eyes again,
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidas, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxxix. , p. 561. Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. exxiv. , p. 541.
**
By Cogitosus.
^7 See, the BoUandists' "Atta Sancto*
him," tomus ii, Februarii. Vita ii. , S. Bri- gidae, cap. v. , p. 139*
*^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Prima S. Brigidw, sec» xxxv. , p. 517.
oSeei. Corinthiansxiii. , 2*
so See St. Mark xi. , 22, 23.
si See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. '*
Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. cxxv. , p. 541. Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, libi ii. , cap. xc. j pp. 561, 562.
^- See Wisdom x. 10*
CHAPTER XII. —' See Colgan's "Trias
Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S, Brigidae, cap. xiii. , p. 623,
" Close
dear mother, for when the world is so visible to the eyes, God is seen less clearly to the soul. " So
i6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
to this class. Besides the foregoing, we can hardly doubt, that the glorious Patroness of Kildare had a very intimate acquaintance, with many of those
holy men and women, who are ranked among the disciples of the great St. Patrick, as most of these were her contemporaries. Members of the Irish
Apostle's own family circle, who came from Britain, are likely to have been a'mong her most devoted friends.
Our saint could hardly have known St. Auxilius,^ Bishop of Killossy, now Killishee, not far from Kildare, unless, indeed, during the years of her childhood, for he departed this life, so early as a. d. 460.
3 Certain Arch- bishops of Armagh, administering the affairs of this church and see, even while the great Apostle of Ireland lived, such as St. Binan or Benignus, who died, November the 9th,4 a. d. 468,5 and St. Jarlath who went to heaven, February the iith,^A. D. 482,7 may have known and conversed with our saint. Their position and office, as ruling over the Irish Church, and St. Brigid's active services to religion, not in one particular district, but in several places, far apart from each other, warrant the foregoing inference. Even these survivors of St. Patrick in the See of Armagh, Cormac, who died on the J 7th of February,^ a. d. 49 7,9 Dubtach I. , who departed, a. d. 512'° or 5r3;" and Ailild I. , who died on the 13th of January," a. d. 525*3 or
526 ;'+ were probably accustomed to receive visits from St. Brigid, or to
correspond with her, regarding various obligations and duties of her subjects, living in the different convents she had founded.
Several very eminent persons, living at her time, either visited or corres-
pondedwithSt. Brigid. HearingaboutthefameofGildas,'^shesentarequest to him by a messenger, that he would be pleased to transmit a token, which might often remind her of the donor's talents and sanctity. Gildas complied with this request, and sent her a small bell, cast by himself. This memorial our saint received with great pleasure. She attached more than ordinary importance to his gift, owing to the circumstance of having received it, from a person so remarkable and so holy. ^^ It seems probable, that Gildas, at this time, was a young man, and residing in the city of Armagh, where he is said to have ably discharged the duties of a professor. Again, it may be observed, the holy virgin, St. Brigid, must have been advanced in years, and approaching the close of her mortal career, when she asked for and obtained that much prized souvenir of friendship. In like manner, she must have been in the decline of Hfe, when St. Brendan*7 of Clonfert paid her a visit, in order to obtain instruction, on some religious questions. In the legend of
«" See his Life at the 27th of August.
3 According to Ussher's Index Chronolo-
gicus, p. 531. See "Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. "
* See his Life at that date. 5 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus* cula," &c. Appendix vi. , p. 384.
of Armagh," pp. 34, 35.
^ '*
"'
nise," xi. Februarii. Vita S. lerlathei, sive
Hierlatii, pp. 307, 308.
^
See his feast at that day.
9 See /3/t/,, xvii. Februarii. Acta S. Cor-
maci, pp. 358, 359.
" See Villanueva's " Sancti Patricii, Iber-
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus- cula," &c Appendix vi. , p. 384.
*' Arch*
See his Life at that day. "
1 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
"See Harris' vol. Ware,
St. Brendan, on acknowledging to her he never crossed over seven ridges, without thinking of God, learned in return from the devoted virgin, that from the first moment she had formed an idea of God, she never once diverted her from the
i. , bishops of Armagh," pp. 36, 37,
attention
of His holy presence. See pp. 45, 46.
sense
"Archbishops
History of Ireland. " Appendix, p. 405. 's See his Acts at the 29th of January.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber*
niaB," xxix. Januarii, p. 183.
^^ See his Life at the i6th of May. In
Professor Bryan O'Looney's MS. Life of St» Brigid, an interesting anecdote is told, that
See his Life at that date.
'3 gge Villanueva's " Santi Patricii, Ibcr*
'* See Rev. P. Carew's " Ecclesiastical J.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i6i
his Acts, it is related, that he had this interview, after having returned from Britain, whither Brendan had gone to see St. Gildas, in his monastery.
Even then, the fame of this latter holy man was very generally proclaimed. While sailing back to Ireland, St. Brendan witnessed a wonderful portent at
sea, and he wished to have St. Brigid's explanation, regarding such a very extraordinary occurrence. '^ No earthly affection or occupation ever caused interruptionofherthinkingonGod. ThissheconfessedtoSt. Brendan,at a spiritual conference, which took place between them. With Brigid's exposition he was greatly edified. Then, bestowing mutual benedictions, St. Brendan took leave of her, and proceeded on his way towards the Con- naught province.
During his earlier career, St. Finian,'9 afterwards the holy Bishop of Clonard, is said to have preached before St. Brigid and her religious daughters. This must have happened near the close of her career.
St. Iserninus,^° at Kilcullen, most probably was intimate with our saint, although in her Acts, no notice of him occurs. However, he was her con-
temporary,2i and his place, not far removed from Kildare, is at the present
Church of the Sacred Heart and of St. Brigid, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
time happily marked by a very noble parochial church, of Gothic design,^
'S "
See Acta Sancti Brendani. " Edited Lives of the Saints of British Armorica.
by Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran, D. D. , Those Acts have been reproduced, with
Bishop of Ossory. Vita S. Brendani, cap. Jfvii. , pp. 16, 17.
'9 See his Life at the 12th of December.
=°
This saint is considered by Colgan to have been identical w^ith St. Sezin, whose Acts are given by Albert le Grande, in his
notes appended, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemise," vi. Martii. Vita S.
Sezini, pp. 477 to 479.
='
See his Life at the 6th of March.
== This was furnished by J. J. MacCarthy,
architect, of Dublin.
Vol. II.
M
l62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
and of exquisite proportions, which appropriately takes St. Brigid, the Mary of Ireland, for joint patron, united with the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. =^3 The venerable Iserninus died in the year 469. =+
St. Ailbe, Bishop of Emly,^5 visited St. Brigid, more than once, to receive her opinions regarding matters of a spiritual nature, as her prudence and judgment gave her a high character among all her contemporaries. '^ St. Fiech, Bishop of Sletty, most probably held interviews with the holy Abbess of Kildare, and he is reputed to have composed a hymn in her praise. He seems to have outlived her for some years. St. Kieran,'7 the Patron Bishop of Ossory, lived not far from Kildare, and most probably he had a personal knowledge of St. Brigid ; for, he is thought to have survived her, and to have lived, until the middle of the sixth century. '^ St. Tighernach, Bishop of Clogher,'9 was the god-son of St. Brigid, while she resided at Kildare, and the infant was baptized by St. Conleth. 3° The foregoing would not nearly exhaust a list of her pious and distinguished familiars, while the enumeration and comparison of other names, with periods and places, might probably add considerably to the completeness of her large social circle.
The saddest memorials of the world and of its fleeting pleasures are the
parted friends, who drop away from us to the grave, and who precede us thither, while we travel to the same goal. It is not well known, as we have already stated, how many of the ancient and patriarchal missionaries in Ireland enjoyed the friendship and confidence of St. Brigid, besides those speciallymentionedinherActs. HerearlypatronMel,BishopofArdagh,3' departedtoblissabouttheyear487. 3^ Cianan,BishopofDuleek,33followed in or about the year 488. 34 Bishop Maccaille,35 who gave the veil to our holy abbess, died a. d. 489. 36 Bishop Melchu or Maolchu37 most probably departed this life, before the close of the fifth century. 38 The illustrious
=3 This beautiful church has been erected °s His Life occurs at the 12th of Sep* by the zealous and pious pastor, Rev. tember.
Matthew P. Langan, P. P. of Kilcullen. The first stone was laid by His Eminence Paul CuUen, Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin, on the 5 th of August, 1869; while, the de-
St. Ailbe is said to have died A. D. 541. **
by the same venerated Prince of the Church, took place on the 8th of September, 1872. The build- ing material used on the exterior is TuUa-
'7 See his Acts at the 5th of March.
=^ See Dr. ** Ecclesiastical His« Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sec. 2, and n. 31, pp. 8, 9.
»9 See his Life at the 4th of April. The
dication
ceremony, performed
more limestone, of the best description. The close of his life is set down at A. D. 548.
''
interior is most elegantly furnished with See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Martyrology
marble altars, and with details of architec- ture or decorations, in a suitable style. The church, towards the close of 1875, was per-, fectly completed, both externally and in- ternally, with the exception of the grand tower and spire, to be joined to the nave, by a cloistral entrance. The detached building will represent the presbytery, when completed, but, it has yet to be built ; however, under direction of the energetic and amiable pastor, we believe, this portion of
of Donegal," pp. 94, 95.
3° See his Life at the 3rd of May.
3' See his Life at the 6th of February.
3' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 152, 153.
33 See his Life at the 24th of November.
^ See ibid.
35 See his Life at the 25th of April.
3^ "
See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales UI-
the work will not be
long delayed.
The
Mannensis. "
37 Although some persons rank Saints Ere, Mel and Melchuo, among St. Brigid's dis- ciples, Colgan thinks, they ought rather be
'*
accounted her directors.
Giacomo Certani's
tsS LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
king, on behalf of the fugitive, so that this latter might be allowed to retain his possessions ; yet, the potentate would not hear her, but rejected her
request. By a judgment from above, on this very same day, the king fell out of his chariot, and died from the effects of his fall. 36 At a time, when a
great multitude of persons came to visit her, and being unprovided with a
sufficiency of victuals for their refection, St. Brigid miraculously supplied them with food. 37
The holy abbess had promised, at the hour of his death, to visit a certain magus, who had offered his possessions to God. ^^ Her promise was re- deemed ; for, when the magus lay on his bed, expecting the approach of
"
death, he said to his family :
this instant, because I see St. Brigid, clothed in white, with many others, on their way to meet me. " After such words, he received Christian baptism, and being thus admitted within the true fold, he happily departed from life. Nor could this person have been that magus, who fostered our saint, in her
young days ; since he appears to have been baptized, before his possessions
were given to Brigid. Still the matter, as related, may admit of a doubt
regarding his identity with the present magus. 39
No matter how far we may dissent from the details of various legendary
narratives, we must admit the spell of a charming treatment and a sublime moral lesson in the following story, related almost in the words of an accom-
plished writer, alluding to St. Brigid. 4° One evening, she sat with Sister Dara, or Daria,*^ a holy nun, who was blind,^^ as the sun went down ; and they talked of the love of Jesus Christ, and the joys of Paradise. '«3 Now, their hearts were so full, the night fled away whilst they spoke together, and neitherknewthatsomanyhourshadsped. Thenthesuncameupfromthe Wicklow mountains, and the pure white light made the face of earth bright and gay. Bridget sighed, when she saw how lovely were earth and sky, and while she knew that Dara's eyes were closed to all this beauty. So she bowed her head and prayed. She extended her hand and signed the dark orbs of the gentle sister. Then the darkness passed away from them, and Dara^4 saw the golden ball in the east, while all the trees and flowers
3* See this narrative in Abbate D. Giacomo
*'
Certani's
S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 549 to 553»
rum Ecclesiarum," 626 et " There pp. seq.
was an Irish virgin ol that name and a com- panion oi St. Bngid at Kildare, who is men-
tioued in that same P^our. h Life, Z. 2, C. 89. But tlie author derives the name KiU dave^ not from her, but from the oak. And
37 See
** Trias
La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Vita S. Brigidas, lib, ii. , cap. Ixxxvi. ,
Get ready all things that are necessary on
Colgan's
Ixxxvii. , p. 561. Vita Tertia S. Brigid*, in the Third Life (cap. 47) it is called Cella
cap. cxxi. , cxxii. , p. 541.
3^ The following narrative is given at more
length in Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's " La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 553 to 557.
roboris. "
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. x. , n. 119, p. 408.
39 See, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Santila Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida
Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. xv. , p. 528, cap. cxxiii. , p. 541, n. 66, p. 545. Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxxviii. , p. 561.
<° See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February i. , p. 20.
' Dempster has the extraordinary state- tnent, that Kildare was so called from the relics of a Scotch woman, Daria, mother of St. Ursula, and which had been brought to Ireland. Ussher has thoroughly refuted this Statement. See*DePrimordiisBritannica-
Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, p. 537.
* There are three saints called Daria,
Dara or Daire, in the "Martyrology of Donegal ;" one a St. Daire, a virgin, vene- rated at the 8th of August; another St. Daire, a widow, whose least occurs at the 28th of September ; and a third St. Daire Bochanna, a widow, reverenced at the 2nd of November. See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition. Table of the Martyrology, pp.
398, 399. Yet, the present holy Dara may bedistinctfromanyoftheforegoingsaints,
—Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
'Mt is said she was so from her birth.
*3 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's •' La
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 159
glittered with dew in the morning Hght. She looked a little while, and then,
Bridget prayed once more, and Dara's eyes grew dark again. 's
Among many wonderful miracles, wrought through St. Brigid, it has been observed,'^^ there was one very remarkable and great. '»7 This also was generally known. A very large and lofty tree had been cut down, in the woods, with an axe, and it had been destined for a certain purpose by arti- ficers. It seems probable, the timber had been required for some building purposes,inconnexionwiththeholyabbess'sreligiousestablishment; since, thither it was brought, according to one account. ^^ A number of strong menandoxen,withsuitablemachines,wereassembledtodrawit towards the destined place ; for, on being felled, it had settled in a position, from which it could not be detached, without the utmost difficulty, owing to its
weightandpeculiarshape. But,neitherthemen,oxennorvariousmachines, by any exertion or application, could draw this tree from the spot, where it
rested. Trustingtotheefficacyoffirmfaith,wherebymountainsaremoved,« and all things become possible to those believing, according to Christ's words in the Gospel,5° those present desisted from their efforts, and then invoked the protection and assistance of St. Brigid. Afterwards, those labourers moved the tree towards that place intended, without the least difficulty, and without human aid. Such a wonderful miracle was soon divulged, throughout all the provinces of Ireland. s^ So, she made man honourable in his labours, and
accomplished his labours. 5* By the splendid miracles she wrought, and by the consummate sanctity of her life, she brought countless souls to the
following of Christ.
CHAPTER XII.
THE DISCIPLES Ot St. BRIGID—HER HOLY CONTEMPORARIES—SHE OBTAINS PARDON FOR A MAN UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED TO DEATH—THE DROVERS AND SWINE ESCAPE FROM WOLVES-ST. BRIGID PROTECTS A YOUNG LADY, WHO WISHED TO BE A NUN—SHE RELIEVES THE ROAD-MAKERS—OTHER REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES.
Among the disciples, and honoured friends, specially patronised by the illustrious Abbess of Kildare, may be enumerated her immediate successor over the convent she had there founded, St. Darlugdacha. She survived holy Brigid only for a short term. St. Lasrea or Laisre, who was Abbess of Killaisre, St. Hynna or Kinnia, Virgin, St. Daria, Virgin, St. Blathnata or Blatha, Latinized, Flora, cook to St. Brigid, St» Conlaidh, Bishop of Kildare, St. Nennidius or Nennius, Bishop, St. Natfraicus or Nathfraich, her charioteer and chaplain, are all numbered among those, towards whom she had acted in the capacity of a Protectress. ^ Another St. Brigde, of Killbride, belongs
turning to the abbess, said :
my eyes again,
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidas, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxxix. , p. 561. Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. exxiv. , p. 541.
**
By Cogitosus.
^7 See, the BoUandists' "Atta Sancto*
him," tomus ii, Februarii. Vita ii. , S. Bri- gidae, cap. v. , p. 139*
*^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Prima S. Brigidw, sec» xxxv. , p. 517.
oSeei. Corinthiansxiii. , 2*
so See St. Mark xi. , 22, 23.
si See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. '*
Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. cxxv. , p. 541. Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, libi ii. , cap. xc. j pp. 561, 562.
^- See Wisdom x. 10*
CHAPTER XII. —' See Colgan's "Trias
Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S, Brigidae, cap. xiii. , p. 623,
" Close
dear mother, for when the world is so visible to the eyes, God is seen less clearly to the soul. " So
i6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
to this class. Besides the foregoing, we can hardly doubt, that the glorious Patroness of Kildare had a very intimate acquaintance, with many of those
holy men and women, who are ranked among the disciples of the great St. Patrick, as most of these were her contemporaries. Members of the Irish
Apostle's own family circle, who came from Britain, are likely to have been a'mong her most devoted friends.
Our saint could hardly have known St. Auxilius,^ Bishop of Killossy, now Killishee, not far from Kildare, unless, indeed, during the years of her childhood, for he departed this life, so early as a. d. 460.
3 Certain Arch- bishops of Armagh, administering the affairs of this church and see, even while the great Apostle of Ireland lived, such as St. Binan or Benignus, who died, November the 9th,4 a. d. 468,5 and St. Jarlath who went to heaven, February the iith,^A. D. 482,7 may have known and conversed with our saint. Their position and office, as ruling over the Irish Church, and St. Brigid's active services to religion, not in one particular district, but in several places, far apart from each other, warrant the foregoing inference. Even these survivors of St. Patrick in the See of Armagh, Cormac, who died on the J 7th of February,^ a. d. 49 7,9 Dubtach I. , who departed, a. d. 512'° or 5r3;" and Ailild I. , who died on the 13th of January," a. d. 525*3 or
526 ;'+ were probably accustomed to receive visits from St. Brigid, or to
correspond with her, regarding various obligations and duties of her subjects, living in the different convents she had founded.
Several very eminent persons, living at her time, either visited or corres-
pondedwithSt. Brigid. HearingaboutthefameofGildas,'^shesentarequest to him by a messenger, that he would be pleased to transmit a token, which might often remind her of the donor's talents and sanctity. Gildas complied with this request, and sent her a small bell, cast by himself. This memorial our saint received with great pleasure. She attached more than ordinary importance to his gift, owing to the circumstance of having received it, from a person so remarkable and so holy. ^^ It seems probable, that Gildas, at this time, was a young man, and residing in the city of Armagh, where he is said to have ably discharged the duties of a professor. Again, it may be observed, the holy virgin, St. Brigid, must have been advanced in years, and approaching the close of her mortal career, when she asked for and obtained that much prized souvenir of friendship. In like manner, she must have been in the decline of Hfe, when St. Brendan*7 of Clonfert paid her a visit, in order to obtain instruction, on some religious questions. In the legend of
«" See his Life at the 27th of August.
3 According to Ussher's Index Chronolo-
gicus, p. 531. See "Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. "
* See his Life at that date. 5 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus* cula," &c. Appendix vi. , p. 384.
of Armagh," pp. 34, 35.
^ '*
"'
nise," xi. Februarii. Vita S. lerlathei, sive
Hierlatii, pp. 307, 308.
^
See his feast at that day.
9 See /3/t/,, xvii. Februarii. Acta S. Cor-
maci, pp. 358, 359.
" See Villanueva's " Sancti Patricii, Iber-
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus- cula," &c Appendix vi. , p. 384.
*' Arch*
See his Life at that day. "
1 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
"See Harris' vol. Ware,
St. Brendan, on acknowledging to her he never crossed over seven ridges, without thinking of God, learned in return from the devoted virgin, that from the first moment she had formed an idea of God, she never once diverted her from the
i. , bishops of Armagh," pp. 36, 37,
attention
of His holy presence. See pp. 45, 46.
sense
"Archbishops
History of Ireland. " Appendix, p. 405. 's See his Acts at the 29th of January.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber*
niaB," xxix. Januarii, p. 183.
^^ See his Life at the i6th of May. In
Professor Bryan O'Looney's MS. Life of St» Brigid, an interesting anecdote is told, that
See his Life at that date.
'3 gge Villanueva's " Santi Patricii, Ibcr*
'* See Rev. P. Carew's " Ecclesiastical J.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i6i
his Acts, it is related, that he had this interview, after having returned from Britain, whither Brendan had gone to see St. Gildas, in his monastery.
Even then, the fame of this latter holy man was very generally proclaimed. While sailing back to Ireland, St. Brendan witnessed a wonderful portent at
sea, and he wished to have St. Brigid's explanation, regarding such a very extraordinary occurrence. '^ No earthly affection or occupation ever caused interruptionofherthinkingonGod. ThissheconfessedtoSt. Brendan,at a spiritual conference, which took place between them. With Brigid's exposition he was greatly edified. Then, bestowing mutual benedictions, St. Brendan took leave of her, and proceeded on his way towards the Con- naught province.
During his earlier career, St. Finian,'9 afterwards the holy Bishop of Clonard, is said to have preached before St. Brigid and her religious daughters. This must have happened near the close of her career.
St. Iserninus,^° at Kilcullen, most probably was intimate with our saint, although in her Acts, no notice of him occurs. However, he was her con-
temporary,2i and his place, not far removed from Kildare, is at the present
Church of the Sacred Heart and of St. Brigid, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
time happily marked by a very noble parochial church, of Gothic design,^
'S "
See Acta Sancti Brendani. " Edited Lives of the Saints of British Armorica.
by Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran, D. D. , Those Acts have been reproduced, with
Bishop of Ossory. Vita S. Brendani, cap. Jfvii. , pp. 16, 17.
'9 See his Life at the 12th of December.
=°
This saint is considered by Colgan to have been identical w^ith St. Sezin, whose Acts are given by Albert le Grande, in his
notes appended, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemise," vi. Martii. Vita S.
Sezini, pp. 477 to 479.
='
See his Life at the 6th of March.
== This was furnished by J. J. MacCarthy,
architect, of Dublin.
Vol. II.
M
l62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
and of exquisite proportions, which appropriately takes St. Brigid, the Mary of Ireland, for joint patron, united with the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. =^3 The venerable Iserninus died in the year 469. =+
St. Ailbe, Bishop of Emly,^5 visited St. Brigid, more than once, to receive her opinions regarding matters of a spiritual nature, as her prudence and judgment gave her a high character among all her contemporaries. '^ St. Fiech, Bishop of Sletty, most probably held interviews with the holy Abbess of Kildare, and he is reputed to have composed a hymn in her praise. He seems to have outlived her for some years. St. Kieran,'7 the Patron Bishop of Ossory, lived not far from Kildare, and most probably he had a personal knowledge of St. Brigid ; for, he is thought to have survived her, and to have lived, until the middle of the sixth century. '^ St. Tighernach, Bishop of Clogher,'9 was the god-son of St. Brigid, while she resided at Kildare, and the infant was baptized by St. Conleth. 3° The foregoing would not nearly exhaust a list of her pious and distinguished familiars, while the enumeration and comparison of other names, with periods and places, might probably add considerably to the completeness of her large social circle.
The saddest memorials of the world and of its fleeting pleasures are the
parted friends, who drop away from us to the grave, and who precede us thither, while we travel to the same goal. It is not well known, as we have already stated, how many of the ancient and patriarchal missionaries in Ireland enjoyed the friendship and confidence of St. Brigid, besides those speciallymentionedinherActs. HerearlypatronMel,BishopofArdagh,3' departedtoblissabouttheyear487. 3^ Cianan,BishopofDuleek,33followed in or about the year 488. 34 Bishop Maccaille,35 who gave the veil to our holy abbess, died a. d. 489. 36 Bishop Melchu or Maolchu37 most probably departed this life, before the close of the fifth century. 38 The illustrious
=3 This beautiful church has been erected °s His Life occurs at the 12th of Sep* by the zealous and pious pastor, Rev. tember.
Matthew P. Langan, P. P. of Kilcullen. The first stone was laid by His Eminence Paul CuUen, Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin, on the 5 th of August, 1869; while, the de-
St. Ailbe is said to have died A. D. 541. **
by the same venerated Prince of the Church, took place on the 8th of September, 1872. The build- ing material used on the exterior is TuUa-
'7 See his Acts at the 5th of March.
=^ See Dr. ** Ecclesiastical His« Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sec. 2, and n. 31, pp. 8, 9.
»9 See his Life at the 4th of April. The
dication
ceremony, performed
more limestone, of the best description. The close of his life is set down at A. D. 548.
''
interior is most elegantly furnished with See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Martyrology
marble altars, and with details of architec- ture or decorations, in a suitable style. The church, towards the close of 1875, was per-, fectly completed, both externally and in- ternally, with the exception of the grand tower and spire, to be joined to the nave, by a cloistral entrance. The detached building will represent the presbytery, when completed, but, it has yet to be built ; however, under direction of the energetic and amiable pastor, we believe, this portion of
of Donegal," pp. 94, 95.
3° See his Life at the 3rd of May.
3' See his Life at the 6th of February.
3' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 152, 153.
33 See his Life at the 24th of November.
^ See ibid.
35 See his Life at the 25th of April.
3^ "
See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales UI-
the work will not be
long delayed.
The
Mannensis. "
37 Although some persons rank Saints Ere, Mel and Melchuo, among St. Brigid's dis- ciples, Colgan thinks, they ought rather be
'*
accounted her directors.
