-^ngus, the Culdee, in his
Metrical
Festilogy, at the Kalends, or ist
^s In the sixth chapter.
^s In the sixth chapter.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Brigidoe, cap, xiv.
, xv.
,pp.
623, 624.
2i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i,
Portugal. ^ There had been a foundation in her honour, at Placentia,^^ in
Italy; but,Colgancouldnotpronouncewithcertainty,whetheritexistedin his time. ^^*
In England and Scotland, the following modern churches, chapels and religious houses have been consecrated or placed under the invocation of our
great virgin saint. In the diocese of Westminster, and in the city of London, there is a St. Brigid's Church, at Baldwin's Gardens, E. G. , at Isleworth. There is a church, jointly dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Con- ception and to St. Brigid. In the diocese of Beverly, and in the great manu- facturing town of Leeds, is a church, dedicated to St. Brigid. In the diocese and great commercial town of Liverpool, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Bevington Hill, N. , there are also a seminary and schools of St. Brigid.
In the western district of Scotland, a church of St. Brigid was built, in 1871,atNewmains,inLanarkshire; andanotheratKilbirnie,Ayrshire,was erected in 1862 ; one at Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, was built in 1858. ^3
In the New World, and especially since the beginning of the present century, several churches, schools, and other religious institutions, have been built, in honour of our illustrious saint, and these have been placed under
her protection. The following enumeration, because drawn from the most recent and authentic official source,^* is deemed to be accurate, so far as it goes, and tolerably complete. We shall commence with the great Western Republic,theUnitedStatesofAmerica. Thus,inthearchdioceseofBalti- more, there is a church, dedicated to St. Brigid, at Ganton, and St. Brigid's school is to be found at Baltimore. In the diocese of Wheeling, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Murray's, Lewis County, State of Virginia. In the archdiocese of Boston, there is a St. Brigid's Church, at Abington, one at Framingham, one at Maynard, and one at Melrose. In the diocese of Burlington, there is a church of St. Brigid, at West Rutland, and parochial schoolsareattached,underthesamepatronage. InthedioceseofHartford, there is a church to St. Brigid, at Cheshire, one at Cornwall, one at Man- chester,andoneatMoodus. ThereisanacademyofSt. Brigid,atMeriden, underchargeoftheSistersofMercy. InthedioceseofPortland,thereisa church of St. Brigid at Vassalboro. In the diocese of Springfield, there is a church of St. Brigid, at East Hampton, and another at Millbury. There is another St. Brigid's Church, at Warren. In the archdiocese of Cincinatti, there is a church to St. Brigid at Xenia. In the diocese of Cleveland, and
in the city so called, there is a church of St. Brigid, now building. In the diocese of Detroit, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Northfield. In the diocese of Fort Wayne, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Logansport. In the diocese of Louisville, and in the city so called, is St. Brigid's Church. At Hickman, there is another church, dedicated to her. St. Brigid's School, in Louisville, is conducted by the Sisters of Loretto. In the diocese of Vincennes, there are churches of St. Brigid, at Liberty, and at Nebraska. In the archdiocese of Milwaukee, there is a church to St. Brigid, at Kewaskee, andoneatRidgeway. InthedioceseofGreenBay,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atNorthport. InthedioceseofLaCrosse,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atBeaverGreek,asalsooneatWestford. InthedioceseofSt. Paul,
^ In " Dissertatione de S. Brigida. " tical Register and Almanac, for the year of
^*
Brigid, chap. 50. ^4 See Sadliers' " Catholic Directory, *" **
various dioceses in the United States and
This is stated, in an Irish Life of St. our Lord, 1876. " London : 1876, 8vo.
See Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Almanac, and Ordo, for the year of our Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xv. , p. I^ord, 1876. " With full returns of the
624. ^3The
BritishAmerica. PublishedinNew 1876, 8vo.
listhasbeen
from "The Catholic Directory, Ecclesias-
York,
foregoing
extracted,
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atPleasantGrove. InthedioceseofMobile, which belongs to the province of New Orleans, there is a church of St. Brigid at Whistler, with a convent and school attached, also dedicated to St. Brigid, and attended by the Sisters of Charity. In the archdiocese of New York, are a church to St. Brigid, in the city, and also St. Brigid's Academy, with St. Brigid's Male School, taught by the Christian Brothers ; also, St. Brigid's Female School, taught by the Sisters of Charity. In the diocese of Albany, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Port Schuyler, one at Salisbury, one at Copake, and one at Skaneateles Falls. In the diocese of Brooklyn, there isachurchofSt. Brigid,atWestbury. InthedioceseofBuffalo,andinthe city so named, there is a church of St. Brigid. Again, at Cuba and at Bergen, there are churches to St. Brigid. St. Brigid's Schools in Buffalo, are under the care of the Sisters of Mercy. In the diocese of Newark, there are churches of St. Brigid, at Glassboro, at High Bridge (now building), and at Jersey City. St. Bride's Academy, Jersey City, is taught by Sisters of Charity, and they also teach in parochial schools attached. In the diocese of Ogdensburg, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Trout River. In the diocese of Rochester, and in the city of that name, there is a church of St. Brigid, and there is one in East Bloomfield. In the city, St. Brigid's Free School is taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. In the archdiocese of Philadelphia, there is a church of St. Brigid, at the Falls of Schuylkill. In the diocese of Erie, there is a church of St. Brigid, at James- town, and one at Meadville. At the latter place, is St. Brigid's Academy, under care of the Sisters of St. Joseph, besides a parochial school, under her invocation. In the diocese of Pittsburgh, and in the city so named, there is a church of St. Brigid, and one also at McNeill's Settlement, as likewise one at Wellesburgh. St. Brigid's Schools are in the city of Pittsburgh. In the diocese of Scranton, there is a Mission of St. Brigid, at Keiser Valley. In the archdiocese of St. Louis there are churches, one to St. Bridgid in the city of St. Louis, and one at Pacific City. In the city of St. Louis are St.
Brigid's Christian Brothers' Schools, St. Brigid's Half-Orphan Asylum, and St. Brigid's Female Schools, conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. In the diocese of Alton, there is a church to St. Brigid at Liberty, and one at Delhi. In the diocese of Chicago, and at Bridge Port, Chicago, there is a church of St. Brigid. There is another at Tremont. In Chicago are St. Brigid's Schools for Boys under the Christian Brothers ; while, there are also St. Brigid's Schools for Girls. In the diocese of Nashville, there is a church of St. Brigid at Memphis, and schools are attached to it, under care of the Do- minicanNuns. InthedioceseofSt. Joseph,therearechurchesofSt. Brigid, at Bucklin, and at Forest City. In the Vicariate Apostolic of Kansas, there are churches of St. Brigid, at Coalfield, and at St. Brigid's. In the arch- diocese of San Francisco, and in the city so called, there is a church of St. Brigid, and one at Volcano.
The following churches, dedicated to the renowned abbess of Kildare,
are in the British possessions. In the province of Quebec, Lower Canada, and in the diocese of Three Rivers, there is a parish church of Ste. Brigitte ; in the diocese and city of Montreal, there is a church, dedicated to St. Bridget ; in the diocese of St. Hyacinth, there is a parish church, dedicated toSte. Brigide; inthedioceseofOttawa,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,at Onslow, and another at Osgood, on the Rideau, while there is a St. Brigid's School,atOttawa,inchargeofGrayNuns; inthedioceseofSt. Germainof Rimouski, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Maria. In the province of To- ronto, Upper Canada, and in the diocese of Kingstown, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Burgess. In the province of Halifax, and in the diocese of St.
John,N. B. ,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atKingstown; inthedioceseof
3l8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Chatham,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atRenousBridge; inthediocese of Charlottstown, on Lott ii, there is a church of St. Brigid. Again, in the diocese of St. John's, Newfoundland, there is a church, known as St. Bride's and Branch.
Three different days, within the year, have special festivals of St. Brigid
assignedtothem,accordingtoourIrishannalistsandhagiographers. Firsts At the year 449, the " Annals of Roscrea" state, that our saint was bom on
Wednesday,andontheeighthmoonofFebruary. Thisisattested,likewise, by an Irish Life of St. Brigid. ^s Yet, in no other record or martyrology can
we find confirmation, concerning this statement. Secondly, The Feast of a Translation of St. Patrick's, of St. Brigid's, and of St. Columbkille's Relics
occurs, on the 9th of June,^^ according to various authorities, while others assignittothedayfollowing,ortothelothofthissamemonth. ^7 Ourown respected Colgan says, he could not undertake to settle such a question,^^ as at the time of writing, he had been an exile from his country during thirty-two years, and, as a consequence, he was ignorant regarding Irish Church customs and practice, in celebrating this festival of their Translation. ^9 Thirdly, The principal festival of St. Brigid was that of her Natalis, on the ist of February, and this corresponds with the day of her death. 9° By an Indult of the Papal See,9^ the ist of February was to be observed, as a double of the second class, throughout all Ireland. In the united dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin, the feast of St. Brigid, as special patroness of these dioceses, is observed as a double of the first class, with an octave, commencing on the istofFebruary,andterminatingonthe8thdayofthesamemonth. This principal festival of St. Brigid is noticed,92 in nearly all our native and foreign Martyrologies, whether in MSS. or published.
St.
-^ngus, the Culdee, in his Metrical Festilogy, at the Kalends, or ist
^s In the sixth chapter.
8^ See Stanihurst, in "Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. 76.
^^ Ussher, referring to Down, in his
"
bably celebrated.
89 Yet, we find the feast of the Transla-
tion of St. Patrick's Relics, set down at the loth of June ; while, at the same day, we read, in the emendator of Usuard, or in the "Carthusian Martyrology:" "Apud Sco-
"Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum,
cap. vii. , p. 791, cites the following passage,
from lect. vi. , Officii Translationis, printed tiam Translatio S. Patricii, Episcopi et
"
at Paris, A. D. 1620 : "Tempore vero trans-
lationis eorum in dicta Ecclesia praesidebunt
quindecim Episcopi cum Abbatibus, Prae-
positis, Decanis, Archidiaconibus, Prioribus,
aliisque viris orthodoxis quam plurimis, his notes : "Ex Canisio hac die, quae Trans-
statuentes diem translationis dictorum sanc- torum ab universis Christi fidelibus per Hi- berniam constitutis quarto Idas Junii per singulos annos celebrari et transferentes festum S. Columbte in crastinum octavarum istarum reliquiarum istarum. " Ussher ob- serves, that for "quarto Idus," we should
read, "quinto Idus;" and, this emendation seems to be suggested by the words of the
his German Martyrology. In Catalogo Generali," Ferrarius, citing Canisius, gives a similar account, and he afterwards adds in
lationis est. Natalis enim die 17. Martii,
ut in Martyrologio Romano, colitur. Est autim ille Patricius celeberrimus Episcopus, Hibernia Primas, et miraculis illustris : cu- jus corpus Duni urbe Hibernica, olim con- ditum erat una cum comporibus Sanctorum Columbae Abbatis, et Brigidaj Virginis. Cujus rei distichon apud Hectorem Boetium Icgitur hoc
" Hi tres in Duno tumulo tumulantur in uno,
Brigida, Patricius, atque Columba plus. "
9° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigida), cap. xi. , pp. 620, 621.
text bae. "
"transferentes festum S. Colum-
itself,
^ Colgan remarks, that if the loth of June be not meant, why should St. Co- lumba's feast, which fell "in quiritum Idus," or on the 9th day of June, be transferred to the feast of the before-mentioned translation, which seems to have
and
not on that day, but on the fourth of the Ides, correspond- ing with the loth of June, when it was pro-
'-" date Bearing
1
fallen,
August 6th, issued by Pope Pius IX.
854,
CanisiuS has a like entry, in
Confessoris.
'' ""
s^ At the 1st of February.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 219
of February, mentions this illustrious cenobiarch of pious women, with a dis-
The" of 9^ the tinguishing eulogy. 93 Martyrology Tallaght," composed by
same St. ^ngus and St. Molruan, records the eternal rest of St. Brigid, as taking place in the seventieth year of her age, and on the Kalends of Febru-
ary. Likewise, the Calendar of Cashel, Charles Maguire, Fitzsimons, and other hagiographists, treat about our saint and her festival, at the ist of
February. Besides these notices, in that ancient Martyrology, kept in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin, the memory of St. Brigid,
virgin, is noted, with particular eulogy, at the Kalends, or ist day of Febni- ary. 95 Her office was celebrated with the reading of nine lessons. This day
was regarded as the one of her Dormition, Deposition,9^ or Death. The martyrologist avers, that she went to join the Heavenly choirs of angels, and Christ, for whose love she wrought, after performing signs and miracles, after renowned works of mercy and alms-deeds, after pure humility and benevolence, devoted to God, and after an illustrious example afforded to other virgins of chastity and of holiness. If the great works of this noble virgin were to be written in full, the martyrologist declares, he should be obliged to write a book of an unusual size. A still later composition, the Martyrology of Donegal^? records, on this day, the celebration of the festival of Brighit, virgin, abbess of Cill-Dara.
The Roman Martyrology,9^ and Father Stephen White,99 commemorate
this renowned virgin, at the ist of February. In the anonymous catalogue of Irish saints, published by O'Sullivan Beare,''°° the name of St. Brigida occurs. In Henry Fitzsimon's list, it is also to be found at this date. ^°^ Reference is made to Surius, and to notes in the Roman Martyrology, as edited by Baronius. ^°^ Convaeus- observes, in relation to this saintly virgin, at the same day, that she was of royal race. ^°3 in several ancient Martyrologies
the feast of this holy virgin is recorded. Veijerable Bede, in noting it, remarks,thatSt. Brigid'sLifehadbeendistinguishedformiracles. ^°^ Rabanus
9^ The following rann^ transcribed from the "Leabhar Breac," with its English translation, has been kindly furnished to
^s At this day, the Roman Martyrology says: "In Scotia S. Brigidse Virginis, quae cum lignum altaris tetigisset, in testi-
the writer, the Irish Professor, — monium
by Bryan Virginitatis
suae statim viride fac-
O'Looney, of the Catholic University
"O. kl. moi\Aic CAtAiriT) -pebyvAi,
"PlAOff TnAiACi^ mA]\ n-5let)en'o ;
blM^ic bAn DAtcc n-tiAlAiin, Cent) cAiT) CAibtec n-e^Aenn.
They ennoble the Kalends of February,
A shower of martyrs, great, resplendent; Bridget the great illustrious woman, The chaste head of the nuns of Erin.
5^ On the 1st of February, we find entered
in Dr. Kelly's "Martyrology of Tallagh," "Dormitatio S. Brigidse, Ixx. anno setatis
suae," p. xiv.
95 See the work, edited by John Clarke
Crosthwaithe and Rev. Dr. Todd. Intro- duction,pp. xlvii. ,liii. ,andpp. 62,84,85.
9^ The English Martyrology says: "In Hibernia depositio S. Brigidae Virginis," &c.
97 See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 34 to 37.
turn est. "
99 See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap,
:
iv. , p. 39, cap. v. , pp. 71, 72. ^°° *'
See Historige Catholicse Ibemiffl
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 49.
^°^ ^^^
See ibid,\ cap. xii. , p. 53.
Baronius remarks, that Bede, Usuard, Ado, and other Martyrologists, agree. He also says, that Surius, in his first tome, has some acts relating to our saint ; while, in an old MS. copy, belonging to St. Cecilia's
monastery, beyond the Tiber, her Acts were written, at greater length, by Cogitosus, in 24 distinct chapters. Appended to this Life were some verses.
^°3 He adds, that she was venerated at
Lisbon, the chief city of Portugal, where her sacredrelicswerepreserved,andwerea—n-
nually exposed "Jubilsei celebratione. " See z^^zV/. , cap. x. , p. . 47.
^°4 "Apud Scotiam S. Brigidse virginis ; cuj us vita miraculis claruit ; quae cum lignum tetigisset, viride factum est. "
220 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Maurus has a notice of her nativity. '°5 St. Ado of Vienne has a record in his Martyrology, and exactly like that of Bede. Usuard extended, or the
Carthusian Martyrology, at the ist of February, remarks on her renowned
miracles. ^°^ St. Notker has a similar notice to that of Raban, with an addi-
tion about the wood of the altar becoming green, in recognition of her
purity. '°7 The Blessed Marianus O'Gorman calls our saint, the Arch-Virgin
or Chief of the Irish Virgins. ^°^ And the Martyrology of Salisbury states her great merits. '°9 Wandelbertus Prumiensis,"° Galasinus,"^ and Mola-
nus,"2 in their respective Martyrologies, as also Hermanus Gruen, have noticesofthisholyvirgin,attheistdayofFebruary. "3 Otherauthorities, if cited, should prove too tedious for enumeration. "4
In various antiphonaries, office books,"^ kalendars, and martyrologies, her name and feasts are inscribed. Likewise notices are to be met with, in those ecclesiastical remains, which serve to manifest the great reverence paid her memory by the clergy, in different dioceses, throughout Ireland.
The office of St. Brigid appears to have been recited in times the most
remote, not alone in the diocese of Kildare, as special patroness, but through- out the various other dioceses of Ireland, as also in the British Isles, and on thecontinentofEurope. Theold"BreviariumChorisopotensis"ofBritish Armorica, had an office of St. Brigid, having nine lessons. Her feast was celebrated at Cologne, as a double, and in the church, bearing her name.
los " In Hibernia Nativitas Brigidse, quae nativitas magnorum meritorum et sanctitatis
esse praedicatur. "
io6 <«
jj^ Scotia S. Brigidse Virginis cujus Vita miraculis claruit. "
107 "In Hibernia Nativitas S. Brigidse Virginis quae multorum meritorum et sanc- titatis esse praedicatur, adeo ut cum lignum altaris tetigisset viride fit effectum. "
io8««3rigida Archivirgo, seu caput vir- ginum Hibemiae. "
'°3 < « In Scotia festum S. Brigidse Vir- ginis, cujus vita virtutibus et miraculis fuit valde famosa. " —
Belgii, et eorum Chronica recapitulatio. " "3 At the same day, in MS. Chartucie
"4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xi. , pp. 620, 621.
"5 The follovi'ing notices refer to her Offices and Feasts. A MS. of T. C. D,, classed B. 1,1, contains at February ist, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virginis non martyris iii. lect. i A MS. classed B. 3, i, at the same date, enters in its Kalendar, Sanctse Brigi- dse Virginis non Martyris Duplex fifi ix. lect. A MS. classed B. i, 4, contains at February the 1st, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virginis non Martyris, ix. lect. , in its Kalendar. Another entry, at February ist Kal. is Sanctse Brigi- dse Virg. ix. lect. A calendar in Trinity College in MS. , marked, B. 3, 9, has in the list of its Irish saints, at February the 1st, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virg. non mart, iii. lect. A MS. classed B. 3, 10, registers at February the Ist, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virg. A MS. classed B. 3, 12, contains at Februarii, Kal. Brigidse Virg. ix. lect. A MS. classed B. 3, 13, contains at Feb- ruary 1st, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virg. non mart. ix. lect. In the Kalendar of a Roman Psaltery, classed among the MSS. , B. 3, 14, at February ist, Kal. is noted Brigidie Vir- ginis. In another, classed B.
2i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i,
Portugal. ^ There had been a foundation in her honour, at Placentia,^^ in
Italy; but,Colgancouldnotpronouncewithcertainty,whetheritexistedin his time. ^^*
In England and Scotland, the following modern churches, chapels and religious houses have been consecrated or placed under the invocation of our
great virgin saint. In the diocese of Westminster, and in the city of London, there is a St. Brigid's Church, at Baldwin's Gardens, E. G. , at Isleworth. There is a church, jointly dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Con- ception and to St. Brigid. In the diocese of Beverly, and in the great manu- facturing town of Leeds, is a church, dedicated to St. Brigid. In the diocese and great commercial town of Liverpool, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Bevington Hill, N. , there are also a seminary and schools of St. Brigid.
In the western district of Scotland, a church of St. Brigid was built, in 1871,atNewmains,inLanarkshire; andanotheratKilbirnie,Ayrshire,was erected in 1862 ; one at Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, was built in 1858. ^3
In the New World, and especially since the beginning of the present century, several churches, schools, and other religious institutions, have been built, in honour of our illustrious saint, and these have been placed under
her protection. The following enumeration, because drawn from the most recent and authentic official source,^* is deemed to be accurate, so far as it goes, and tolerably complete. We shall commence with the great Western Republic,theUnitedStatesofAmerica. Thus,inthearchdioceseofBalti- more, there is a church, dedicated to St. Brigid, at Ganton, and St. Brigid's school is to be found at Baltimore. In the diocese of Wheeling, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Murray's, Lewis County, State of Virginia. In the archdiocese of Boston, there is a St. Brigid's Church, at Abington, one at Framingham, one at Maynard, and one at Melrose. In the diocese of Burlington, there is a church of St. Brigid, at West Rutland, and parochial schoolsareattached,underthesamepatronage. InthedioceseofHartford, there is a church to St. Brigid, at Cheshire, one at Cornwall, one at Man- chester,andoneatMoodus. ThereisanacademyofSt. Brigid,atMeriden, underchargeoftheSistersofMercy. InthedioceseofPortland,thereisa church of St. Brigid at Vassalboro. In the diocese of Springfield, there is a church of St. Brigid, at East Hampton, and another at Millbury. There is another St. Brigid's Church, at Warren. In the archdiocese of Cincinatti, there is a church to St. Brigid at Xenia. In the diocese of Cleveland, and
in the city so called, there is a church of St. Brigid, now building. In the diocese of Detroit, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Northfield. In the diocese of Fort Wayne, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Logansport. In the diocese of Louisville, and in the city so called, is St. Brigid's Church. At Hickman, there is another church, dedicated to her. St. Brigid's School, in Louisville, is conducted by the Sisters of Loretto. In the diocese of Vincennes, there are churches of St. Brigid, at Liberty, and at Nebraska. In the archdiocese of Milwaukee, there is a church to St. Brigid, at Kewaskee, andoneatRidgeway. InthedioceseofGreenBay,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atNorthport. InthedioceseofLaCrosse,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atBeaverGreek,asalsooneatWestford. InthedioceseofSt. Paul,
^ In " Dissertatione de S. Brigida. " tical Register and Almanac, for the year of
^*
Brigid, chap. 50. ^4 See Sadliers' " Catholic Directory, *" **
various dioceses in the United States and
This is stated, in an Irish Life of St. our Lord, 1876. " London : 1876, 8vo.
See Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Almanac, and Ordo, for the year of our Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xv. , p. I^ord, 1876. " With full returns of the
624. ^3The
BritishAmerica. PublishedinNew 1876, 8vo.
listhasbeen
from "The Catholic Directory, Ecclesias-
York,
foregoing
extracted,
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atPleasantGrove. InthedioceseofMobile, which belongs to the province of New Orleans, there is a church of St. Brigid at Whistler, with a convent and school attached, also dedicated to St. Brigid, and attended by the Sisters of Charity. In the archdiocese of New York, are a church to St. Brigid, in the city, and also St. Brigid's Academy, with St. Brigid's Male School, taught by the Christian Brothers ; also, St. Brigid's Female School, taught by the Sisters of Charity. In the diocese of Albany, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Port Schuyler, one at Salisbury, one at Copake, and one at Skaneateles Falls. In the diocese of Brooklyn, there isachurchofSt. Brigid,atWestbury. InthedioceseofBuffalo,andinthe city so named, there is a church of St. Brigid. Again, at Cuba and at Bergen, there are churches to St. Brigid. St. Brigid's Schools in Buffalo, are under the care of the Sisters of Mercy. In the diocese of Newark, there are churches of St. Brigid, at Glassboro, at High Bridge (now building), and at Jersey City. St. Bride's Academy, Jersey City, is taught by Sisters of Charity, and they also teach in parochial schools attached. In the diocese of Ogdensburg, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Trout River. In the diocese of Rochester, and in the city of that name, there is a church of St. Brigid, and there is one in East Bloomfield. In the city, St. Brigid's Free School is taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. In the archdiocese of Philadelphia, there is a church of St. Brigid, at the Falls of Schuylkill. In the diocese of Erie, there is a church of St. Brigid, at James- town, and one at Meadville. At the latter place, is St. Brigid's Academy, under care of the Sisters of St. Joseph, besides a parochial school, under her invocation. In the diocese of Pittsburgh, and in the city so named, there is a church of St. Brigid, and one also at McNeill's Settlement, as likewise one at Wellesburgh. St. Brigid's Schools are in the city of Pittsburgh. In the diocese of Scranton, there is a Mission of St. Brigid, at Keiser Valley. In the archdiocese of St. Louis there are churches, one to St. Bridgid in the city of St. Louis, and one at Pacific City. In the city of St. Louis are St.
Brigid's Christian Brothers' Schools, St. Brigid's Half-Orphan Asylum, and St. Brigid's Female Schools, conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. In the diocese of Alton, there is a church to St. Brigid at Liberty, and one at Delhi. In the diocese of Chicago, and at Bridge Port, Chicago, there is a church of St. Brigid. There is another at Tremont. In Chicago are St. Brigid's Schools for Boys under the Christian Brothers ; while, there are also St. Brigid's Schools for Girls. In the diocese of Nashville, there is a church of St. Brigid at Memphis, and schools are attached to it, under care of the Do- minicanNuns. InthedioceseofSt. Joseph,therearechurchesofSt. Brigid, at Bucklin, and at Forest City. In the Vicariate Apostolic of Kansas, there are churches of St. Brigid, at Coalfield, and at St. Brigid's. In the arch- diocese of San Francisco, and in the city so called, there is a church of St. Brigid, and one at Volcano.
The following churches, dedicated to the renowned abbess of Kildare,
are in the British possessions. In the province of Quebec, Lower Canada, and in the diocese of Three Rivers, there is a parish church of Ste. Brigitte ; in the diocese and city of Montreal, there is a church, dedicated to St. Bridget ; in the diocese of St. Hyacinth, there is a parish church, dedicated toSte. Brigide; inthedioceseofOttawa,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,at Onslow, and another at Osgood, on the Rideau, while there is a St. Brigid's School,atOttawa,inchargeofGrayNuns; inthedioceseofSt. Germainof Rimouski, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Maria. In the province of To- ronto, Upper Canada, and in the diocese of Kingstown, there is a church of St. Brigid, at Burgess. In the province of Halifax, and in the diocese of St.
John,N. B. ,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atKingstown; inthedioceseof
3l8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Chatham,thereisachurchofSt. Brigid,atRenousBridge; inthediocese of Charlottstown, on Lott ii, there is a church of St. Brigid. Again, in the diocese of St. John's, Newfoundland, there is a church, known as St. Bride's and Branch.
Three different days, within the year, have special festivals of St. Brigid
assignedtothem,accordingtoourIrishannalistsandhagiographers. Firsts At the year 449, the " Annals of Roscrea" state, that our saint was bom on
Wednesday,andontheeighthmoonofFebruary. Thisisattested,likewise, by an Irish Life of St. Brigid. ^s Yet, in no other record or martyrology can
we find confirmation, concerning this statement. Secondly, The Feast of a Translation of St. Patrick's, of St. Brigid's, and of St. Columbkille's Relics
occurs, on the 9th of June,^^ according to various authorities, while others assignittothedayfollowing,ortothelothofthissamemonth. ^7 Ourown respected Colgan says, he could not undertake to settle such a question,^^ as at the time of writing, he had been an exile from his country during thirty-two years, and, as a consequence, he was ignorant regarding Irish Church customs and practice, in celebrating this festival of their Translation. ^9 Thirdly, The principal festival of St. Brigid was that of her Natalis, on the ist of February, and this corresponds with the day of her death. 9° By an Indult of the Papal See,9^ the ist of February was to be observed, as a double of the second class, throughout all Ireland. In the united dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin, the feast of St. Brigid, as special patroness of these dioceses, is observed as a double of the first class, with an octave, commencing on the istofFebruary,andterminatingonthe8thdayofthesamemonth. This principal festival of St. Brigid is noticed,92 in nearly all our native and foreign Martyrologies, whether in MSS. or published.
St.
-^ngus, the Culdee, in his Metrical Festilogy, at the Kalends, or ist
^s In the sixth chapter.
8^ See Stanihurst, in "Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. 76.
^^ Ussher, referring to Down, in his
"
bably celebrated.
89 Yet, we find the feast of the Transla-
tion of St. Patrick's Relics, set down at the loth of June ; while, at the same day, we read, in the emendator of Usuard, or in the "Carthusian Martyrology:" "Apud Sco-
"Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum,
cap. vii. , p. 791, cites the following passage,
from lect. vi. , Officii Translationis, printed tiam Translatio S. Patricii, Episcopi et
"
at Paris, A. D. 1620 : "Tempore vero trans-
lationis eorum in dicta Ecclesia praesidebunt
quindecim Episcopi cum Abbatibus, Prae-
positis, Decanis, Archidiaconibus, Prioribus,
aliisque viris orthodoxis quam plurimis, his notes : "Ex Canisio hac die, quae Trans-
statuentes diem translationis dictorum sanc- torum ab universis Christi fidelibus per Hi- berniam constitutis quarto Idas Junii per singulos annos celebrari et transferentes festum S. Columbte in crastinum octavarum istarum reliquiarum istarum. " Ussher ob- serves, that for "quarto Idus," we should
read, "quinto Idus;" and, this emendation seems to be suggested by the words of the
his German Martyrology. In Catalogo Generali," Ferrarius, citing Canisius, gives a similar account, and he afterwards adds in
lationis est. Natalis enim die 17. Martii,
ut in Martyrologio Romano, colitur. Est autim ille Patricius celeberrimus Episcopus, Hibernia Primas, et miraculis illustris : cu- jus corpus Duni urbe Hibernica, olim con- ditum erat una cum comporibus Sanctorum Columbae Abbatis, et Brigidaj Virginis. Cujus rei distichon apud Hectorem Boetium Icgitur hoc
" Hi tres in Duno tumulo tumulantur in uno,
Brigida, Patricius, atque Columba plus. "
9° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigida), cap. xi. , pp. 620, 621.
text bae. "
"transferentes festum S. Colum-
itself,
^ Colgan remarks, that if the loth of June be not meant, why should St. Co- lumba's feast, which fell "in quiritum Idus," or on the 9th day of June, be transferred to the feast of the before-mentioned translation, which seems to have
and
not on that day, but on the fourth of the Ides, correspond- ing with the loth of June, when it was pro-
'-" date Bearing
1
fallen,
August 6th, issued by Pope Pius IX.
854,
CanisiuS has a like entry, in
Confessoris.
'' ""
s^ At the 1st of February.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 219
of February, mentions this illustrious cenobiarch of pious women, with a dis-
The" of 9^ the tinguishing eulogy. 93 Martyrology Tallaght," composed by
same St. ^ngus and St. Molruan, records the eternal rest of St. Brigid, as taking place in the seventieth year of her age, and on the Kalends of Febru-
ary. Likewise, the Calendar of Cashel, Charles Maguire, Fitzsimons, and other hagiographists, treat about our saint and her festival, at the ist of
February. Besides these notices, in that ancient Martyrology, kept in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin, the memory of St. Brigid,
virgin, is noted, with particular eulogy, at the Kalends, or ist day of Febni- ary. 95 Her office was celebrated with the reading of nine lessons. This day
was regarded as the one of her Dormition, Deposition,9^ or Death. The martyrologist avers, that she went to join the Heavenly choirs of angels, and Christ, for whose love she wrought, after performing signs and miracles, after renowned works of mercy and alms-deeds, after pure humility and benevolence, devoted to God, and after an illustrious example afforded to other virgins of chastity and of holiness. If the great works of this noble virgin were to be written in full, the martyrologist declares, he should be obliged to write a book of an unusual size. A still later composition, the Martyrology of Donegal^? records, on this day, the celebration of the festival of Brighit, virgin, abbess of Cill-Dara.
The Roman Martyrology,9^ and Father Stephen White,99 commemorate
this renowned virgin, at the ist of February. In the anonymous catalogue of Irish saints, published by O'Sullivan Beare,''°° the name of St. Brigida occurs. In Henry Fitzsimon's list, it is also to be found at this date. ^°^ Reference is made to Surius, and to notes in the Roman Martyrology, as edited by Baronius. ^°^ Convaeus- observes, in relation to this saintly virgin, at the same day, that she was of royal race. ^°3 in several ancient Martyrologies
the feast of this holy virgin is recorded. Veijerable Bede, in noting it, remarks,thatSt. Brigid'sLifehadbeendistinguishedformiracles. ^°^ Rabanus
9^ The following rann^ transcribed from the "Leabhar Breac," with its English translation, has been kindly furnished to
^s At this day, the Roman Martyrology says: "In Scotia S. Brigidse Virginis, quae cum lignum altaris tetigisset, in testi-
the writer, the Irish Professor, — monium
by Bryan Virginitatis
suae statim viride fac-
O'Looney, of the Catholic University
"O. kl. moi\Aic CAtAiriT) -pebyvAi,
"PlAOff TnAiACi^ mA]\ n-5let)en'o ;
blM^ic bAn DAtcc n-tiAlAiin, Cent) cAiT) CAibtec n-e^Aenn.
They ennoble the Kalends of February,
A shower of martyrs, great, resplendent; Bridget the great illustrious woman, The chaste head of the nuns of Erin.
5^ On the 1st of February, we find entered
in Dr. Kelly's "Martyrology of Tallagh," "Dormitatio S. Brigidse, Ixx. anno setatis
suae," p. xiv.
95 See the work, edited by John Clarke
Crosthwaithe and Rev. Dr. Todd. Intro- duction,pp. xlvii. ,liii. ,andpp. 62,84,85.
9^ The English Martyrology says: "In Hibernia depositio S. Brigidae Virginis," &c.
97 See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 34 to 37.
turn est. "
99 See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap,
:
iv. , p. 39, cap. v. , pp. 71, 72. ^°° *'
See Historige Catholicse Ibemiffl
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 49.
^°^ ^^^
See ibid,\ cap. xii. , p. 53.
Baronius remarks, that Bede, Usuard, Ado, and other Martyrologists, agree. He also says, that Surius, in his first tome, has some acts relating to our saint ; while, in an old MS. copy, belonging to St. Cecilia's
monastery, beyond the Tiber, her Acts were written, at greater length, by Cogitosus, in 24 distinct chapters. Appended to this Life were some verses.
^°3 He adds, that she was venerated at
Lisbon, the chief city of Portugal, where her sacredrelicswerepreserved,andwerea—n-
nually exposed "Jubilsei celebratione. " See z^^zV/. , cap. x. , p. . 47.
^°4 "Apud Scotiam S. Brigidse virginis ; cuj us vita miraculis claruit ; quae cum lignum tetigisset, viride factum est. "
220 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
Maurus has a notice of her nativity. '°5 St. Ado of Vienne has a record in his Martyrology, and exactly like that of Bede. Usuard extended, or the
Carthusian Martyrology, at the ist of February, remarks on her renowned
miracles. ^°^ St. Notker has a similar notice to that of Raban, with an addi-
tion about the wood of the altar becoming green, in recognition of her
purity. '°7 The Blessed Marianus O'Gorman calls our saint, the Arch-Virgin
or Chief of the Irish Virgins. ^°^ And the Martyrology of Salisbury states her great merits. '°9 Wandelbertus Prumiensis,"° Galasinus,"^ and Mola-
nus,"2 in their respective Martyrologies, as also Hermanus Gruen, have noticesofthisholyvirgin,attheistdayofFebruary. "3 Otherauthorities, if cited, should prove too tedious for enumeration. "4
In various antiphonaries, office books,"^ kalendars, and martyrologies, her name and feasts are inscribed. Likewise notices are to be met with, in those ecclesiastical remains, which serve to manifest the great reverence paid her memory by the clergy, in different dioceses, throughout Ireland.
The office of St. Brigid appears to have been recited in times the most
remote, not alone in the diocese of Kildare, as special patroness, but through- out the various other dioceses of Ireland, as also in the British Isles, and on thecontinentofEurope. Theold"BreviariumChorisopotensis"ofBritish Armorica, had an office of St. Brigid, having nine lessons. Her feast was celebrated at Cologne, as a double, and in the church, bearing her name.
los " In Hibernia Nativitas Brigidse, quae nativitas magnorum meritorum et sanctitatis
esse praedicatur. "
io6 <«
jj^ Scotia S. Brigidse Virginis cujus Vita miraculis claruit. "
107 "In Hibernia Nativitas S. Brigidse Virginis quae multorum meritorum et sanc- titatis esse praedicatur, adeo ut cum lignum altaris tetigisset viride fit effectum. "
io8««3rigida Archivirgo, seu caput vir- ginum Hibemiae. "
'°3 < « In Scotia festum S. Brigidse Vir- ginis, cujus vita virtutibus et miraculis fuit valde famosa. " —
Belgii, et eorum Chronica recapitulatio. " "3 At the same day, in MS. Chartucie
"4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xi. , pp. 620, 621.
"5 The follovi'ing notices refer to her Offices and Feasts. A MS. of T. C. D,, classed B. 1,1, contains at February ist, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virginis non martyris iii. lect. i A MS. classed B. 3, i, at the same date, enters in its Kalendar, Sanctse Brigi- dse Virginis non Martyris Duplex fifi ix. lect. A MS. classed B. i, 4, contains at February the 1st, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virginis non Martyris, ix. lect. , in its Kalendar. Another entry, at February ist Kal. is Sanctse Brigi- dse Virg. ix. lect. A calendar in Trinity College in MS. , marked, B. 3, 9, has in the list of its Irish saints, at February the 1st, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virg. non mart, iii. lect. A MS. classed B. 3, 10, registers at February the Ist, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virg. A MS. classed B. 3, 12, contains at Februarii, Kal. Brigidse Virg. ix. lect. A MS. classed B. 3, 13, contains at Feb- ruary 1st, Kal. Sanctse Brigidse Virg. non mart. ix. lect. In the Kalendar of a Roman Psaltery, classed among the MSS. , B. 3, 14, at February ist, Kal. is noted Brigidie Vir- ginis. In another, classed B.
