Brigid, Abbess of Kildare
1 February -- Commemoration
If celebrated as a Lesser Festival,
Common of Religious, page 494
Brigid (also known as Bride) was born in the latter part of
the fifth century, of humble origin just five miles from
Kildare. She was to become first a nun in the monastery
there and then its Abbess. She is believed to have been
baptised by St Patrick and the
stories of her portray a woman of great compassion. She is
even said to have been consecrated a bishop by Bishop Ibor,
because of her resemblance to the Virgin Mary, but this may
have been put abroad to support the claim of the primacy of
the Abbey of Kildare. By her prayers and miracles, she is
reputed to have strongly influenced the formation of the
Church throughout Ireland, where she is, with St Patrick,
the patron saint. She died in about the year 525.