When our Saint saw him, she ad- dressed him in these words " O man,
announce
to me the words of Christ
:
Jesus,ourLord.
:
Jesus,ourLord.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Dublin.
between Clondalkin and Rathcoole. In summer time, the graves in Kil- bride churchyard are almost smothered with nettles ; and, few tombstones are now there, while only a portion of the ancient church remains. ^* The choir-archgivesevidenceofitsbeingantique; while,exceptingthearching stones, which were carefully dressed, the other building stones are mostly small. The church, even when complete, seems to have been exceedingly
moir of a Map of Ireland," this parish is set
down as a rectory in the diocese of Dublin.
See Index, p. 28. The present Catholic
church stands on the site of the ancient one,
and is surrounded by the old graveyard.
Such is the traditional information given to
the writer by Rev. James Doyle, D. D. , of
St. Michan's church, Dublin, who has a ii. , p. 367.
7 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
fortheCountyofWicklow. " Sheet31. *
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
"
"W icklow.
5 The Parish extends along the left side of
the Ovoca river to the sea. See " Parlia-
moved from Kilbride. See ibid.
^4 The accompanying engraving by George A. Hanlon, Dublin, is from a drawing, taken on the spot, by Mr. John O'C.
VOL. II. —No.
3.
K
Sheets 40, 4 1 .
mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol ii. , p.
368.
^° See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionaty
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 55.
" This parish is a chapelry, and part of
the benefice of Clondalkin. See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol.
"See **Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin. " Sheet 21. '3 On Kilmactalway townland. Near CastleBagotHousearetheruinsofanother These are shown in the "Ordnance old church, within a graveyard, not far re-
thoroughlocalknowledgeoftheneighbour- hood.
. .
I30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
small ; yet, the walls were of great thickness. Around the choir-arch,^s the face of its wall is now much broken. A few ivy-tendrils creep up along the sides of this ruin. From the site, a splendid view of the Dublin mountains and of the Liffy valley may be obtained. This church appears to have taken its name from our St. Brigid ; still, it is doubtful enough, that she founded it, or that she there resided, at any particular period of her life. Although, in the city and county of Dublin, several churches and religious houses had
been dedicated to St. Brigid, probably at epochs long subsequent to her decease; yet, we could not presume to assert, that she ever founded or resided at any of those places during that interval, when she lived in the eastern and maritime part of Leinster.
In the county of Wexford, there is a Kilbride townland,^^ quite near the sea-shore, in the parish of Kiltennell,^7 and barony of Ballaghkeene. No trace of a ruined church is there to be found. ^^ Besides this, on Kilbride
townland,^9 removed some miles from the sea-shore, in the parish of Bally- huskard,^° and barony of Ballaghkeene, an old church and a graveyard are yet to be seen. There is a Kilbride townland,^^ not far from Duncannon
rort,^^ and near the sea, in the united parishes of St. James and Dunbrody, barony of Shelburne. No trace of a ruin can be discovered there, on the
Ordnance Survey Maps. Still, we may fairly infer, that in times remote, the great Patroness of Ireland had churches, chapels, or convents, dedicated
to her memory, in nearly all the foregoing townlands and parishes. A knowledge of these facts, however, will hardly help us to determine the exact place of her maritime abode.
While St. Brigid lived in her convent, beside the Irish Sea, she is said to have prepared vestments =3 for the holy Bishop Senan. He then lived in an island,^4 which was situated at an opening towards the ocean, in the western part of Ireland. ^5 A wide expanse of water surrounded that island, and it lay at a long distance from Brigid's religious establishment. Just opposite the to^vn of Kilrush, and now constituted a portion of that parish, Scattery Island ^^ and its famous ruins =7 may be seen far out into the waters of the spreading Shannon. ^^ The vestments to be used in offering up the Holy
Robinson, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
^5 A great number of old ruined churches in Ireland had been distinguished by similar
choir-arches.
^^
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wexford. " Sheet 12.
^7 This parish is also called Kilbride.
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 212, 213.
*^ The Owenvarra, which flows through Courtown demesne, falls into the sea, at the
371, 372.
=3 These are called "missalia indumenta,"
in St. Brigid's Fourth Life,
=* To this island, formerly called Inis
Cathuigh, and at present Scattery Island, allusion is frequently made in the Acts of St Senan, which will be found at the 8th of March.
=s Theaccompanyingengraving,byGeorge A. Hanlon, Dublin, is from a sketch taken near the scene by William F. Wakeman,
bay of Kilbride. See J. N. Brewer's who afterwards transferred it to the wood.
"
^^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland festival of the saint it is resorted to by
26
<<
crowds of " The Tourists' lUus- pilgrims. "—
trated Handbook for Ireland," p. 134.
=7 These are depicted on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Clare. " Sheet 67.
=8 A smaller island, called Inishbeg, lies
See Ordnance Survey Townland nearer to the Clare side, and a little to the
Beauties of Ireland," vol, i. , p. 389.
jj. jg ^^^ called Holy Isle
:
and on the
lor the of Wexford. " Sheets Maps County
26, 27. The church and graveyard are to be found on Sheet 26.
'°
See an account of it in "The Parlia- mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. i. , p.
173-
=' "
Maps for the County of Wexford. " Sheet AA'
='
See an account of this spot in J. N. Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. , pp.
north-east of Scattery. See ibid.
=9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap. cxv. , pp. 540, 541. Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. cap.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
Sacrifice of the Mass were placed in a chest. This, it is said, was floated outonthesea. St. BrigidfullyconfidedinHeavenlyguidance,thatitshould reach St. Senan. Her confidence was not misplaced ; for, the legend states, this chest was wafted round the Irish coast towards that part of the island, where St. Senan lived. This happened through a special direction of Providence, and the box went over sea-courses, which skilled mariners could only pass with great difficulty, and in well-appointed vessels. St. Senan had a revelation concerning this gift he was to expect. On that particular day, whenthechestfloatednearhisisland,Senansaidtohismonks "Gotothe
:
sea, and bring me whatever you shall find upon it. " His brethren found the chest, and brought it, as required, to St. Senan. ^'^ The latter told them, it
Scattery Island, and Mouth of the Shannon.
was a gift sent by St. Brigid, and he gave thanks to God, while invoking a
on the — a doubt has been thrown on the blessing holy virgin. 3° However,
ofthis 3^ credibility legend
resolved from a marvel- being very
of
lous story into a narrative divested of everything incredible 3^ —
relates to our St. — Brigid. Although
in the Acts of St. Senan, Abbot of Inis- cathy ; but there, the vestments prepared for him were made by a St. Brigid, the daughter of Conchracius, of the Mactail family, and whose cell was at a place called Clan-in- fidi, near the banks of the River Shannon. See " Acta Sanctorum
quitates. " cap. xvii. , pp. 454, 488.
34 Abbate D. Giacomo Certani—who re-
Colgan's
viii. Martii. Secunda Vita, sive Supplemen- tum Vitse S. Senani, ex Hibernico transum- tum, cap. xxxix. , p. 536, rede 532.
3* See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History
capable
— the learned Ussher inferred 33
probably that St. Senan had been established 34 at Inis-
from reading this account
cathy, befote the de^-th of Kildare's holy Abbess ; yet, it is more likely he
Ixxxi. p. 561.
3° A somewhat similar miracle is related
of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec. iv. , n. 65, pp. 449, 450.
3^ As for example, the vestments, packed in a chest, might have been shipped in the ordinary way, and have been consigned to St. Senan, whom they safely reached.
33 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
—makesSt. Senan
preside over an imaginary body of Canons Regular. See "La Santitk Prodigiosa. Vita di S.
Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 544
Hibernise,"
lates this legend
so far as it
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
did not setde there until some time after her death. 35 Hence, it seems pro- bable, that the present narrative has been taken—from -the acts of another St.
— and transferred
Brigid,3^ incorrectly
to the lives ones ofIreland'sillustriouspatroness.
not, however,
the earliest
Like the great Apostle of the Gentiles, regarding herself as subject to human infirmities, the blessed Abbess felt for the infirm. 37 On a certain
occasion, while Brigid was sitting at the door of a monastery, in which she
resided, she saw a man at the bank of an adjoining river. 3^ He was bearing
a burden, and, as he walked along, his body seemed curved. 39 Pitying his
condition, the compassionate superioress said to those around her, that all
should go to the man and help to bear his load. Coming towards him, St.
"
Brigid said :
Let us bear your burden, for it causes you to stoop greatly. "
The man replied, however, that the weight of his load did not cause his
curvature, but an old malady, which had troubled him during his earlier days.
Enquiring about the name of this virgin, who accosted him, he was told she
was the he " I give thanks to God, that I
holy Brigid. Thereupon, replied ;
have found her whom I have sought. " 4° Then, he addressed our abbess,
asking her to pray to the Almighty for him, that his bodily defect might be removed. Thispiousladytoldhimtoenterahospice,whereheshouldrest for the night, and afterwards, that he should obtain his request. During that night, our Saint importuned the Almighty on his behalf. ^^ The following
shesaidtotheman "Gotothe inthenameof morning, ; river,42 and,
Jesus Christ, wash yourself, praying to God, and I promise, that you shall be able to hold your neck erect. Until I desire you to do so, take care not to
depart from that place. " Obeying the holy virgin's injunctions, that man, who had been curved for eighteen years, was miraculously restored. 43 After- wards, as in duty bound, he gave heartfelt thanks to God and to St.
44 Brigid.
On a particular day, the holy woman met an insane person, running from one place to another. In his paroxysms of frenzy, this maniac caused great annoyance to all that crossed his path.
When our Saint saw him, she ad- dressed him in these words " O man, announce to me the words of Christ
:
Jesus,ourLord. "4S AlthoughthecompanionsofSt. Brigidfearedverymuch
the result ; yet, they had great confidence in the holy Virgin's gifts of grace. The frenzied man at once became collected in his thoughts. He then said
" O holy Brigid, I obey thee. Love God, and all will
to the saintly abbess
lovethee; honourGod,andallwillhonourthee; fearGod,andallwillfear
Baiano, in Campania, there may have been
lo 546.
35 See Dr.
** Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol i. , chap, ix. , sec. iv. , n.
Supposed by Colgan, to have been St. Brigid ol Cluain-fidhe, whose life is to be found, at the 30ih of September.
3'
some natural curative in its properties
65, pp. 449, 450. 3*^
working of this miracle. ^Qcibid, pp. 312, 313.
^^ In the supplement for use of the Irish clergy, postfixed to "BreviariumRomanum,"
Lanigan's
waters, while the Abbess had her own part in the
37 See ii, xi. Corinthians,
' '
Noct. ii. ,Lect vi.
44 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
29, 30. This circumstance shows the
Pars we Hiemalis,
et variis
read,
languoribus aegrotanti-
:
place
39 Abbate D. Giacomo Certani imagines, Die. i. Februarii. Officium S. Brigidae.
could not have been Kildare.
bus sanitatem suis precibus impetravit. "
—
that St. Brigid was then engaged superin-
tending some operatives, who were building
a church or monastic establishment for her. *'
Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. xxvi. , See La Santita Prodigiosa. Vita di S. p. 553. See also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidae,
Brigida Ibemese. " Libro Quarto, p. 309. 40 See ibid. p. 310.
4' See ibid. p. 311.
4»
cap. Ivi. , p. 533, ibid. Vita Sexta S. Bri-
gidae, sec. lix. , p. 594. ibid.
45 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's "La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida
Certani thinks, that like the baths at
mundavit,
leprosos saepius
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIISITS, 133
thee. "46 When he had spoken these words, he fled away, with loud out- cries,47
One rainy day, after serving as a shepherdess, St. Brigid had returned to her cell, her garments being saturated with rain. -*^ After a while, the sun
began to shine, and one of its rays penetrating the wall of this cell, appeared to our saint as a line,'»9 for holding clothes. 5° On this she placed her moist
garments. 5^ At the time, a certain wise and pious man preached God's holy
word, while the Saint's attention was so entirely engaged by his precepts of
instruction, that totally forgetful of all earthly concerns, midnight found her in the same entranced attitude. ^' To this unusual period the sun's rays re- mained within her cell,53 while the garments of our holy abbess hung thereon, until a certain inmate of the house reminded her respecting that error of visual sense. 54 This miracle is alluded to in various offices of St. Brigid. ss In some of her lives, it is added, that certain persons, journeying by night through the Liffey plains, related how they saw these rays brightening the whole cham- paign, until those arrived, in the middle of the night, at St. Brigid's ceU. Then, all gave thanks to God, and admired all the miraculous manifestations
of Brigid's sanctity. s^
In honour of a certain great festival, the holy Abbess had prepared a
sumptuous banquet. Yet, before the time for its intended consumption had arrived, she distributed the viands among some poor visitors. The nuns of
our Saint's monastery regretted this occurrence, as many persons were ex-
pected to come, on occasion of their solemnity. Brigid prayed to the Lord
that night ; and, it so happened, a rich inhabitant, living within that district,
had been conveying in waggons certain viands,57 which were provided for
that rich
neigh- Concerning this circumstance, God's devoted servant, being preternaturally admonished, went out to meet him, and to enquire about his destination. The fortuitous visitor was inspired to offer the whole of his store to the Abbess, and he told her,
the 58 king.
lost the
bour came directly to the gate of St. Brigid's monastery.
going incident, also adds :
"Was there ever "
Having
way, however,
it
yet chanced,
Ibernese. " Libro Quinto, pp. 341 to 343. 4^ The Rev. S. Baring-Gould, who, in his account of St. Brigid, relates the fore-
si See Camerarius, "De Statu Ilominis Veteris simul ac novae Ecclesiae, et Sanctis Regni Scotiae," lib. i. , cap. iii. , sec. ii. , p. 140.
^2 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's "La
"
a better sermon preached in fewer words ?
—"Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. February Santitk Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida
1st, p. 20.
47 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
VitaQuarta S. Brigidas. Lib. ii. , cap. xxxv. ,
Ibernese," Libro Sesto, pp. 479, 480.
^4 The account in the Third Life coincides with that recorded in the text. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " See Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. xcii. , p. 539. This miracle is related, likewise, in the Fifth Life, with a greater amount of amplification, ibid. Vita Quinta S. Brigidae, cap. xliii. ,pp. 577, 578. See, also. Vita Sexta S. Brigidae, sec. vii. ,
p. 555. Also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap.
exactly
Ixv. , p. 534.
48 "
Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii,, cap. xv. , p. 552. In the First Metrical Life, we are told, she returned from tending her sheep. This duty had caused the rain to drench her garments. Ibid. Vita Prima S. Brigidae, sec. 17, p. 516.
49 In the Second Life, this same occupa-
p. 583, ibid.
^s Petrus de Natalibus has a similar ac-
count. See also De " Officia Pro- Burgo's
tion is as a cause for her assigned
exposure
to the shower ; but, it is there stated, that pria Sanctorum Hiberniae. i. Februarii,
through a defect of vision, she saw not a OfficiumS. Brigidae, Noct. ii , Lect. v. ,p. 12.
"
line, but a tree, taking the form of a sun- s^ See,
beam. —/(! 5zV! ^. Vita SecundaS. Brigidae, cap. tia S. Brigidae, cap, xciii. , p. 539. Vita
vii. , p, 519,
5° The legends in several cases—as in the
present instance— give us an insight regard- ing many domestic usages of our ancestors.
QuartaS. Brigida;, lib. ii. , cap. xvi. , p. 552. ^7 And, as we are informed, these were
furnished to celebrate that festival,
^s Probably the King of Leinster. His
53 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
"
Lives of
the Saints," vol. ii. February i. , p. 19.
Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Ter-
134 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
it was a Providential circumstance, that he had thus strayed, although in a well-known country. He promised, likewise, to prepare some other provi- sions for his lord, the king. Receiving an account of what had happened, the latter transferred that villager, with all his family, to serve God and the
holy virgin, Brigid, as a perpetual vassal, living on her own property. The king, moreover, sent another waggon, loaded with provisions, for the use of our saint, on occasion of this great solemnity, so that she was fully enabled to supply the wants of all her guests.
between Clondalkin and Rathcoole. In summer time, the graves in Kil- bride churchyard are almost smothered with nettles ; and, few tombstones are now there, while only a portion of the ancient church remains. ^* The choir-archgivesevidenceofitsbeingantique; while,exceptingthearching stones, which were carefully dressed, the other building stones are mostly small. The church, even when complete, seems to have been exceedingly
moir of a Map of Ireland," this parish is set
down as a rectory in the diocese of Dublin.
See Index, p. 28. The present Catholic
church stands on the site of the ancient one,
and is surrounded by the old graveyard.
Such is the traditional information given to
the writer by Rev. James Doyle, D. D. , of
St. Michan's church, Dublin, who has a ii. , p. 367.
7 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
fortheCountyofWicklow. " Sheet31. *
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
"
"W icklow.
5 The Parish extends along the left side of
the Ovoca river to the sea. See " Parlia-
moved from Kilbride. See ibid.
^4 The accompanying engraving by George A. Hanlon, Dublin, is from a drawing, taken on the spot, by Mr. John O'C.
VOL. II. —No.
3.
K
Sheets 40, 4 1 .
mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol ii. , p.
368.
^° See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionaty
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 55.
" This parish is a chapelry, and part of
the benefice of Clondalkin. See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol.
"See **Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin. " Sheet 21. '3 On Kilmactalway townland. Near CastleBagotHousearetheruinsofanother These are shown in the "Ordnance old church, within a graveyard, not far re-
thoroughlocalknowledgeoftheneighbour- hood.
. .
I30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
small ; yet, the walls were of great thickness. Around the choir-arch,^s the face of its wall is now much broken. A few ivy-tendrils creep up along the sides of this ruin. From the site, a splendid view of the Dublin mountains and of the Liffy valley may be obtained. This church appears to have taken its name from our St. Brigid ; still, it is doubtful enough, that she founded it, or that she there resided, at any particular period of her life. Although, in the city and county of Dublin, several churches and religious houses had
been dedicated to St. Brigid, probably at epochs long subsequent to her decease; yet, we could not presume to assert, that she ever founded or resided at any of those places during that interval, when she lived in the eastern and maritime part of Leinster.
In the county of Wexford, there is a Kilbride townland,^^ quite near the sea-shore, in the parish of Kiltennell,^7 and barony of Ballaghkeene. No trace of a ruined church is there to be found. ^^ Besides this, on Kilbride
townland,^9 removed some miles from the sea-shore, in the parish of Bally- huskard,^° and barony of Ballaghkeene, an old church and a graveyard are yet to be seen. There is a Kilbride townland,^^ not far from Duncannon
rort,^^ and near the sea, in the united parishes of St. James and Dunbrody, barony of Shelburne. No trace of a ruin can be discovered there, on the
Ordnance Survey Maps. Still, we may fairly infer, that in times remote, the great Patroness of Ireland had churches, chapels, or convents, dedicated
to her memory, in nearly all the foregoing townlands and parishes. A knowledge of these facts, however, will hardly help us to determine the exact place of her maritime abode.
While St. Brigid lived in her convent, beside the Irish Sea, she is said to have prepared vestments =3 for the holy Bishop Senan. He then lived in an island,^4 which was situated at an opening towards the ocean, in the western part of Ireland. ^5 A wide expanse of water surrounded that island, and it lay at a long distance from Brigid's religious establishment. Just opposite the to^vn of Kilrush, and now constituted a portion of that parish, Scattery Island ^^ and its famous ruins =7 may be seen far out into the waters of the spreading Shannon. ^^ The vestments to be used in offering up the Holy
Robinson, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
^5 A great number of old ruined churches in Ireland had been distinguished by similar
choir-arches.
^^
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wexford. " Sheet 12.
^7 This parish is also called Kilbride.
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 212, 213.
*^ The Owenvarra, which flows through Courtown demesne, falls into the sea, at the
371, 372.
=3 These are called "missalia indumenta,"
in St. Brigid's Fourth Life,
=* To this island, formerly called Inis
Cathuigh, and at present Scattery Island, allusion is frequently made in the Acts of St Senan, which will be found at the 8th of March.
=s Theaccompanyingengraving,byGeorge A. Hanlon, Dublin, is from a sketch taken near the scene by William F. Wakeman,
bay of Kilbride. See J. N. Brewer's who afterwards transferred it to the wood.
"
^^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland festival of the saint it is resorted to by
26
<<
crowds of " The Tourists' lUus- pilgrims. "—
trated Handbook for Ireland," p. 134.
=7 These are depicted on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Clare. " Sheet 67.
=8 A smaller island, called Inishbeg, lies
See Ordnance Survey Townland nearer to the Clare side, and a little to the
Beauties of Ireland," vol, i. , p. 389.
jj. jg ^^^ called Holy Isle
:
and on the
lor the of Wexford. " Sheets Maps County
26, 27. The church and graveyard are to be found on Sheet 26.
'°
See an account of it in "The Parlia- mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. i. , p.
173-
=' "
Maps for the County of Wexford. " Sheet AA'
='
See an account of this spot in J. N. Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. , pp.
north-east of Scattery. See ibid.
=9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap. cxv. , pp. 540, 541. Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. cap.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
Sacrifice of the Mass were placed in a chest. This, it is said, was floated outonthesea. St. BrigidfullyconfidedinHeavenlyguidance,thatitshould reach St. Senan. Her confidence was not misplaced ; for, the legend states, this chest was wafted round the Irish coast towards that part of the island, where St. Senan lived. This happened through a special direction of Providence, and the box went over sea-courses, which skilled mariners could only pass with great difficulty, and in well-appointed vessels. St. Senan had a revelation concerning this gift he was to expect. On that particular day, whenthechestfloatednearhisisland,Senansaidtohismonks "Gotothe
:
sea, and bring me whatever you shall find upon it. " His brethren found the chest, and brought it, as required, to St. Senan. ^'^ The latter told them, it
Scattery Island, and Mouth of the Shannon.
was a gift sent by St. Brigid, and he gave thanks to God, while invoking a
on the — a doubt has been thrown on the blessing holy virgin. 3° However,
ofthis 3^ credibility legend
resolved from a marvel- being very
of
lous story into a narrative divested of everything incredible 3^ —
relates to our St. — Brigid. Although
in the Acts of St. Senan, Abbot of Inis- cathy ; but there, the vestments prepared for him were made by a St. Brigid, the daughter of Conchracius, of the Mactail family, and whose cell was at a place called Clan-in- fidi, near the banks of the River Shannon. See " Acta Sanctorum
quitates. " cap. xvii. , pp. 454, 488.
34 Abbate D. Giacomo Certani—who re-
Colgan's
viii. Martii. Secunda Vita, sive Supplemen- tum Vitse S. Senani, ex Hibernico transum- tum, cap. xxxix. , p. 536, rede 532.
3* See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History
capable
— the learned Ussher inferred 33
probably that St. Senan had been established 34 at Inis-
from reading this account
cathy, befote the de^-th of Kildare's holy Abbess ; yet, it is more likely he
Ixxxi. p. 561.
3° A somewhat similar miracle is related
of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec. iv. , n. 65, pp. 449, 450.
3^ As for example, the vestments, packed in a chest, might have been shipped in the ordinary way, and have been consigned to St. Senan, whom they safely reached.
33 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
—makesSt. Senan
preside over an imaginary body of Canons Regular. See "La Santitk Prodigiosa. Vita di S.
Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Sesto, pp. 544
Hibernise,"
lates this legend
so far as it
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
did not setde there until some time after her death. 35 Hence, it seems pro- bable, that the present narrative has been taken—from -the acts of another St.
— and transferred
Brigid,3^ incorrectly
to the lives ones ofIreland'sillustriouspatroness.
not, however,
the earliest
Like the great Apostle of the Gentiles, regarding herself as subject to human infirmities, the blessed Abbess felt for the infirm. 37 On a certain
occasion, while Brigid was sitting at the door of a monastery, in which she
resided, she saw a man at the bank of an adjoining river. 3^ He was bearing
a burden, and, as he walked along, his body seemed curved. 39 Pitying his
condition, the compassionate superioress said to those around her, that all
should go to the man and help to bear his load. Coming towards him, St.
"
Brigid said :
Let us bear your burden, for it causes you to stoop greatly. "
The man replied, however, that the weight of his load did not cause his
curvature, but an old malady, which had troubled him during his earlier days.
Enquiring about the name of this virgin, who accosted him, he was told she
was the he " I give thanks to God, that I
holy Brigid. Thereupon, replied ;
have found her whom I have sought. " 4° Then, he addressed our abbess,
asking her to pray to the Almighty for him, that his bodily defect might be removed. Thispiousladytoldhimtoenterahospice,whereheshouldrest for the night, and afterwards, that he should obtain his request. During that night, our Saint importuned the Almighty on his behalf. ^^ The following
shesaidtotheman "Gotothe inthenameof morning, ; river,42 and,
Jesus Christ, wash yourself, praying to God, and I promise, that you shall be able to hold your neck erect. Until I desire you to do so, take care not to
depart from that place. " Obeying the holy virgin's injunctions, that man, who had been curved for eighteen years, was miraculously restored. 43 After- wards, as in duty bound, he gave heartfelt thanks to God and to St.
44 Brigid.
On a particular day, the holy woman met an insane person, running from one place to another. In his paroxysms of frenzy, this maniac caused great annoyance to all that crossed his path.
When our Saint saw him, she ad- dressed him in these words " O man, announce to me the words of Christ
:
Jesus,ourLord. "4S AlthoughthecompanionsofSt. Brigidfearedverymuch
the result ; yet, they had great confidence in the holy Virgin's gifts of grace. The frenzied man at once became collected in his thoughts. He then said
" O holy Brigid, I obey thee. Love God, and all will
to the saintly abbess
lovethee; honourGod,andallwillhonourthee; fearGod,andallwillfear
Baiano, in Campania, there may have been
lo 546.
35 See Dr.
** Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol i. , chap, ix. , sec. iv. , n.
Supposed by Colgan, to have been St. Brigid ol Cluain-fidhe, whose life is to be found, at the 30ih of September.
3'
some natural curative in its properties
65, pp. 449, 450. 3*^
working of this miracle. ^Qcibid, pp. 312, 313.
^^ In the supplement for use of the Irish clergy, postfixed to "BreviariumRomanum,"
Lanigan's
waters, while the Abbess had her own part in the
37 See ii, xi. Corinthians,
' '
Noct. ii. ,Lect vi.
44 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
29, 30. This circumstance shows the
Pars we Hiemalis,
et variis
read,
languoribus aegrotanti-
:
place
39 Abbate D. Giacomo Certani imagines, Die. i. Februarii. Officium S. Brigidae.
could not have been Kildare.
bus sanitatem suis precibus impetravit. "
—
that St. Brigid was then engaged superin-
tending some operatives, who were building
a church or monastic establishment for her. *'
Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. xxvi. , See La Santita Prodigiosa. Vita di S. p. 553. See also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidae,
Brigida Ibemese. " Libro Quarto, p. 309. 40 See ibid. p. 310.
4' See ibid. p. 311.
4»
cap. Ivi. , p. 533, ibid. Vita Sexta S. Bri-
gidae, sec. lix. , p. 594. ibid.
45 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's "La
Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida
Certani thinks, that like the baths at
mundavit,
leprosos saepius
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIISITS, 133
thee. "46 When he had spoken these words, he fled away, with loud out- cries,47
One rainy day, after serving as a shepherdess, St. Brigid had returned to her cell, her garments being saturated with rain. -*^ After a while, the sun
began to shine, and one of its rays penetrating the wall of this cell, appeared to our saint as a line,'»9 for holding clothes. 5° On this she placed her moist
garments. 5^ At the time, a certain wise and pious man preached God's holy
word, while the Saint's attention was so entirely engaged by his precepts of
instruction, that totally forgetful of all earthly concerns, midnight found her in the same entranced attitude. ^' To this unusual period the sun's rays re- mained within her cell,53 while the garments of our holy abbess hung thereon, until a certain inmate of the house reminded her respecting that error of visual sense. 54 This miracle is alluded to in various offices of St. Brigid. ss In some of her lives, it is added, that certain persons, journeying by night through the Liffey plains, related how they saw these rays brightening the whole cham- paign, until those arrived, in the middle of the night, at St. Brigid's ceU. Then, all gave thanks to God, and admired all the miraculous manifestations
of Brigid's sanctity. s^
In honour of a certain great festival, the holy Abbess had prepared a
sumptuous banquet. Yet, before the time for its intended consumption had arrived, she distributed the viands among some poor visitors. The nuns of
our Saint's monastery regretted this occurrence, as many persons were ex-
pected to come, on occasion of their solemnity. Brigid prayed to the Lord
that night ; and, it so happened, a rich inhabitant, living within that district,
had been conveying in waggons certain viands,57 which were provided for
that rich
neigh- Concerning this circumstance, God's devoted servant, being preternaturally admonished, went out to meet him, and to enquire about his destination. The fortuitous visitor was inspired to offer the whole of his store to the Abbess, and he told her,
the 58 king.
lost the
bour came directly to the gate of St. Brigid's monastery.
going incident, also adds :
"Was there ever "
Having
way, however,
it
yet chanced,
Ibernese. " Libro Quinto, pp. 341 to 343. 4^ The Rev. S. Baring-Gould, who, in his account of St. Brigid, relates the fore-
si See Camerarius, "De Statu Ilominis Veteris simul ac novae Ecclesiae, et Sanctis Regni Scotiae," lib. i. , cap. iii. , sec. ii. , p. 140.
^2 See Abbate D. Giacomo Certani's "La
"
a better sermon preached in fewer words ?
—"Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. February Santitk Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida
1st, p. 20.
47 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
VitaQuarta S. Brigidas. Lib. ii. , cap. xxxv. ,
Ibernese," Libro Sesto, pp. 479, 480.
^4 The account in the Third Life coincides with that recorded in the text. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " See Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. xcii. , p. 539. This miracle is related, likewise, in the Fifth Life, with a greater amount of amplification, ibid. Vita Quinta S. Brigidae, cap. xliii. ,pp. 577, 578. See, also. Vita Sexta S. Brigidae, sec. vii. ,
p. 555. Also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap.
exactly
Ixv. , p. 534.
48 "
Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii,, cap. xv. , p. 552. In the First Metrical Life, we are told, she returned from tending her sheep. This duty had caused the rain to drench her garments. Ibid. Vita Prima S. Brigidae, sec. 17, p. 516.
49 In the Second Life, this same occupa-
p. 583, ibid.
^s Petrus de Natalibus has a similar ac-
count. See also De " Officia Pro- Burgo's
tion is as a cause for her assigned
exposure
to the shower ; but, it is there stated, that pria Sanctorum Hiberniae. i. Februarii,
through a defect of vision, she saw not a OfficiumS. Brigidae, Noct. ii , Lect. v. ,p. 12.
"
line, but a tree, taking the form of a sun- s^ See,
beam. —/(! 5zV! ^. Vita SecundaS. Brigidae, cap. tia S. Brigidae, cap, xciii. , p. 539. Vita
vii. , p, 519,
5° The legends in several cases—as in the
present instance— give us an insight regard- ing many domestic usages of our ancestors.
QuartaS. Brigida;, lib. ii. , cap. xvi. , p. 552. ^7 And, as we are informed, these were
furnished to celebrate that festival,
^s Probably the King of Leinster. His
53 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
"
Lives of
the Saints," vol. ii. February i. , p. 19.
Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Ter-
134 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
it was a Providential circumstance, that he had thus strayed, although in a well-known country. He promised, likewise, to prepare some other provi- sions for his lord, the king. Receiving an account of what had happened, the latter transferred that villager, with all his family, to serve God and the
holy virgin, Brigid, as a perpetual vassal, living on her own property. The king, moreover, sent another waggon, loaded with provisions, for the use of our saint, on occasion of this great solemnity, so that she was fully enabled to supply the wants of all her guests.
