(From the Breviary)
The holy virgin, Brigit, born in the
province of Leinster, in Ireland, of parents of noble blood and of the
Christian faith, became the mother in Christ of many consecrated virgins. While
she was yet a little child, her father saw in a vision men clothed in white
garments, pouring oil upon her head. As she reached the early years of girlhood
she chose Christ the Saviour as her Spouse, and clung to Him so ardently, from
her inmost heart, as, for His love, to give away all she had to the poor. Her
matchless beauty drew around her a multitude of suitors; and fearing that their
importunity might render impossible her purpose of devoting her life to God in
holy virginity, she prayed that her beauty might be changed into ugliness. Her
prayer was at once heard. One of her eyes became quite swollen, and her whole
face so altered, that all her suitors retired in disgust, leaving her free to
consecrate her virginity to Christ by a solemn vow.
Taking with her three young maidens, she
repaired without delay to Bishop Macheas, a disciple of St, Patrick. The good
Bishop, seeing a pillar of fire over her head, clothed her in a fair garment
and a white mantle; and reciting the Ritual prayers, received her to holy
profession, according to the Canonical form introduced into Ireland by blessed
Patrick. In the course of the ceremony, as she bent her head to receive the
sacred veil, she leant her hand on the wooden altar-step. At the moment, the
dry, seasoned wood became green and fresh; on the instant her eye was cured,
and her whole face recovered its former beauty. In process of time, her example drew young
maidens to embrace the religious life in such numbers as to cover all Ireland
with communities of nuns, of that order over which Brigit herself presided,
and upon which all the rest were dependent.
The virgin's sanctity is attested by the
miracles she wrought in her life time, as well as after death. She frequently
cleansed lepers, and by her prayers obtained cure for people sick of divers diseases;
she gave sight to one blind from his birth. An abandoned woman sought to father
her base-born child upon Bishop Brooney. The Saint, making the sign of the cross
upon the poor baby's lips, made it declare the name of its true father, thus
vindicating the Bishop's character. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, she foretold
things to come as if they were passing before her eyes.
She enjoyed the most intimate friendship of
St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, and foretold the time of his departure
from this world, and the place of his burial. She was present at his death, and
supplied the winding sheet, which she had long and carefully kept for the
purpose, in which his blessed remains were wrapped; and when she came to give
back her beautiful soul to Christ, her Spouse, she was laid in the same
grave with him.
M. F. Cusack, The Lives of Saint Columba and Saint Brigit (Dublin and London, 1877), 254-6.
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