Many Voices - Book Launch & Celebration of Brigit

 

What a beautiful event that was. I am very happy that I took a leaf from Geraldine Moorkens Byrne's book and turned my launch into a community celebration. I briefly introduced the launch, then read four short poems before sitting back to watch and listen as friends from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy, and the United States read and sang from their hearts to and about Brigit. It was very moving. A joyful and precious time.

The launch was held on Zoom (with ticketing help from the wonderful Ticket Tailor) and livestreamed to Facebook Live. I am happy to say that we can watch it (or rewatch it!) any time on Facebook at Brigit's Portal (my Page) or on YouTube.

Image: Mael Brigde, a white woman in a red dress, wearing black earphones, smiles as she speaks to her computer.

Twenty Day Brigid Devotion with Clann Dord Fiann (Starts Today!)

I am very keen to participate in this shared-yet-solitary daily offering to Brigit as we move toward Imbolc. What a wonderful idea! We begin in less than an hour--8 PM Irish time, noon British Columbia time--but the devotion may be done any time during each twenty-four hour period. Whatever works best for you. I'll let Clann Dord Fiann explain.

FLAMEKEEPING/ BRIGIDMAS/ IMBOLG 2019

For 2019 Clann Dord Fiann are working each evening from the 12th of January to the 31st with a 20 day devotional work with and to Brigid. As part of the extension of our work to have a public face, we invite others to join this activity if they wish. It is solitary and requires no other involvement.

Each day at 8pm (Irish time) we light a candle to Brigid and speak or sing the text of Gabhaim molta Bríghde/ I Give Praise to Brigid, a traditional Irish song and poem. This time is ideal, but need not be followed if not fitting with your life. This may be done at any time each day. We will post daily reminders at 7 daily for the 20 days. For those who would like to work with the text as gaeilge, but who do not speak the language, Gaol Naofa has a phonetic version. http://www.gaolnaofa.org/library/music/gabhaim-molta-bride/ . For the first 19 days we light and extinguish the candle after speaking Gabhaim molta Bríghde and a period of reflection. On the 20th day, Brigids eve, reeds are gathered for crosses, and an effigy of Brigid is brought to the place of the candle, be it an image or a Brideóg. An accompanying verse may be desired of this arrival of Brigid. A historical example is:

Oiche Bhríde brichíneach
Bain an ceann den croiceanach,
Gabhaigí ar na glúnaí,
Déanaigí umhlú
Is ligigí isteach Bríd Bheannaithe.
‘Sé beatha, ‘sé beatha, sé beatha.

"On St Brigid’s night
Take the head off the rushes,
Go on your knees,
Make obeisance
And let St Brigid in.
You’re welcome, you’re welcome, your welcome."

The candle is lit in a safe container and allowed to burn out in the company of Brigid, for on the 20th day Brigid keeps the flame.
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Gabhaim molta Bríghde Text (Gaeilge/ English)

Gabhaim molta Bríghde, iníon í le hÉireann
Iníon le gach tír í, molaimís go léir í.
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach, soils’ ar feadh na tíre
Ceann ar óigheacht Éireann, ceann na mban

Tig an Geimhreadh dian dubh, gearra lena géire
Ach ar lá le Bríghde, gar dúinn Earrach Éireann.
Iníon le gach tír í, molaimís go léir í.
Gabhaim molta Bríghde, iníon í le hÉireann

I give praise to Brigid, daughter of Ireland
Daughter of all lands, let us praise her.
The bright torch of Leinster, shining across the country
The leader of Ireland’s youth, leader of women.

The house of Winter is dark, cutting with its sharpness
But on Brigid’s Day, Spring in Ireland draws near to us.
I give praise to Brigid, daughter of Ireland
Daughter of all lands, let us praise her.

Oh, Dear. Sacred Beer.

Everybody loves the prayer attributed to Saint Brigit about serving ale to Jesus and his crew. I love it. But maybe this new product is going a tad too far. (AND it is an odd "translation". Although, who knows, maybe they had a different original than the one I'm familiar with. To be fair.) But I bet I will be in the minority on this one. Even sober I can't help cracking a bit of a smile at it.

That is:

I’d like to give

A lake of beer to God.

I’d love the Heavenly

Host to be tippling there

For all eternity.

I’d sit with the men,

The women of God

There by the lake of beer.

We’d be drinking

Good health forever

And every drop

Would be a prayer.

And now the "real" translation. (Of course, I have not read the Old Irish, myself, so what do I know?)

Aengus Cèile Dè

“I should like a great lake of ale

For the king of kings;

I should like the family of heaven

To be drinking it through time eternal.”

                             (8^th century)

Translation found in Beith, M., (1995) Healing Threads: Traditional Medicines of the Highlands and Islands. Thanks to Morgan Daimler, Pagan Portals: Brighid for this.

***

If you would like to purchase, or simply gawp at, this plaque, go to The Catholic Company site:

Saint Brigid "Lake of Beer" Tin Sign

Product Description

•     Creative tin sign themed for Ireland's faith and drink of choice 
•     Original gift idea
•     Easy to feature in a den or office 
•     Features poem by St. Brigid, Patroness of Ireland 
•     Exclusive to The Catholic Company

•    Item #: 9850126
•    Price: $16.95

Details

How about an aluminum sign that instantly enhances the character of a room? This one rouses authentic faith and good spirits.

Saint Brigid's timeless words are captured on a Guinness-inspired pint, and set against a map that traces the geography of Ireland's roving hills.

The size makes it easy to feature in home or office, and has layers of rich meaning and substance every bit as cool as St. Brigid herself.

Dimensions & Specifications

•     8" (W) x 12" (L)
•     2 side holes for easy hanging 
•     Material: Aluminum

Gracious Bride, a Blessing by A Hedge of Trees

January 25, 2009

Gracious Bride

Gracious Bride
Bless this my intent
bring it to birth on the Earthly plane
So mote it be, and blessed.

I pinch this candle of fire, your gift
may it burn more brightly in the realm of spirit
Continuing to fire my boon, for my good
and the good of all
'An it harm none, so mote it be

Blessings of Imbolc!

Brigit, you come to this world as an infant, the green newness of spring, the birth of all that nourishes us.

Welcome to my home, welcome! The door is open to you and your blessings.

Protect us, Brigit, temper us, heal and inspire. Accept our gifts, and lead us to our brightest courage, our highest aspirations, our greatest generosity.

I light your flame and share and protect it. I bring its warmth and meaning into me, and bring its warmth and meaning to the world.

Thank you for your gifts.

May the mantle of Brigit surround and protect us.

Blessings always.

Mael Brigde

Orthodox Christian Brigid Page

a page of Brigid information and links in the Festal Celebrations Gallery. “Let Us, the Faithful, Celebrate a Spiritual Feast”

Festal Celebrations’ Gallery Redeeming the time, sanctifying the day… images and ideas incorporating the Life of the Church into the home and life of the family.

Troparion - Tone 1

O holy Brigid, you became sublime through your humility,

and flew on the wings of your longing for God.

When you arrived in the eternal City and appeared before your Divine Spouse, wearing the crown of virginity, you kept your promise

to remember those who have recourse to you.

You shower grace upon the world, and multiply miracles.

Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Kontakion - Tone 4

The holy virgin Brigid full of divine wisdom,

went with joy along the way of evangelical childhood,

and with the grace of God attained in this way the summit of virtue.

She now bestows blessings upon those who come to her with faith.

O holy Virgin, intercede with Christ our God

that He may have mercy on our souls.

CD: Medieval Office for St. Brigit: Plainsong Chant

Flame of Ireland: Medieval Irish Plainchant, An Office for St. Brigit, by Canty.

Canty is the female half of Scotland's Capella Nova, a "professional vocal ensemble specialising in early (medieval and renaissance) and contemporary music". Canty was founded in 1998 by Rebecca Tavener to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Hildegard of Bingen.


from the Capella Nova website:
Our programme mostly consists of material for the Office of Matins for the Feast of St Brigit. Matins was the longest and most 'entertaining' of the Offices including a series of nine lections and responsories focussing on the life and attributes of the saint. The full Office would probably be more than two hours in length, so we present a formal, but truncated, version which includes the original lections, but cuts nine of the ten Psalms which would have been sung. The one remaining Psalm is the Venite which forms a delightful structure with its antiphon (Invitatory), alternately whole or in part, appearing between each verse...

The date of the manuscript might have tempted us to perform this material using late-Medieval techniques such as applied measures and improvised harmonies. We have steadfastly resisted doing this, wishing to present the Office in a much more archaic manner, befitting the great antiquity of the sources of the Brigit legends...

...Manuscript 80, from the library of Trinity College Dublin, is the main source relied upon for this recording. It is a fifteenth-century noted breviary, i.e., one which includes notation for the chant melodies. Although we do not know the details of its provenance, it was compiled probably in the fifteenth century and is believed to have been used in the parish of Kilmoone, Co- Meath, from at least 1470 until 1604...

...The wire-strung clairseach was the essential art Instrument of Medieval Ireland. This ancient harp was characterised by a sound box carved from a single block of timber, a substantial arm reinforced with thick metal bands, a stout forepiltar, and brass wire strings. Played with the fingernails, the strings gave a satisfying sustain, which ancient writers described as sounding like bells. Such harps were played in Ireland at least as early as the 10th century, and they appear to have been used in liturgical settings to provide an intoning pitch for the singing of plainsong, to give instrumental preludes or interludes, and to accompany the performance of devotional poetry. As an accompanist, my role is to support both the tonal centre and the emotion of the music. During the Responsories I provide a gentle line of counter-melody which moves in the same direction as the plainsong, but which also offers a subtle. independent commentary on the text. The Lections give an ideal opportunity to accompany a singer as a Medieval storyteller, to present the miracles of the saint's life in a dramatic way, with moments which range from furious decorative filigree to sections of serene, introspective solemnity...

In the notes about Brigit's legends, they state:

We have one favourite miracle that does not appear in this Office, nor in any of the most ancient sources. It was included in O'Hanlon's 'Lives of the Irish Saints' (1800), however, and we would like to think that it belongs to an earlier tradition. When St Brigit was on a visit to Limerick, she called at a chief's house only to find him away from home. Seeing harps hanging on the walls, she asked the young men of the house to play for her. They explained that there were no harpists present, but attempted to play when Brigit's nuns jokingly suggested that the saint would bless their hands. At that point, they suddenly became able to play like trained musicians. Afterwards they became professional harpists, and their descendants played for the kings of Ireland.

'Almighty and everlasting God, who choosest the weak things of this world that thou mayest overthrow the strong, give us in this feast of St Brigit strength of mind and body, that we may with all our heart run to thee. and serve thee in body always.' (Prayer at the end of the Office for the Feast of St Brigit)

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BREAKING NEWS:

Due to the take over of Sanctuary/ASV Gaudeamus by Universal we are unable at the moment to obtain stocks of the following titles. (see right) This is a temporary situation, so watch this space for updates.

The Complete Carver Volumes 1, 2 & 3 Columba Most Holy of Saints The Miracles of St Kentigern Laudes Deo Sacred Music for Mary Queen of Scots The Thistle and the Rose Flame of Ireland Felix Femina

She Receives the Flame from Her Sister

this morning i was assigning shifts to two Daughters of the Flame who are returning to tending Brigit's flame after a time away.

i was telling each who was passing the flame to them, and who they would be passing it to, and who was tending the flame in the other two cells at the same time as them. contemplating the beauty of this endless sharing i was moved to write this prayer:

she receives the flame

she receives the flame from her sister
opens her palms
accepts it
it lights the planes and curves of her face

Brigit
Blessed One
Grace-Giving Goddess

she receives the flame from her sister
it enters her heart
enters thoughts and eyes
all is blessed in her regard
with the flame of Brigit within

Brigit
Blessed One
Grace-Giving Goddess

she receives the flame from her sister
they circle the same altar
continents apart
the same flame animating them to joyous life

Brigit
Blessed One
Grace-Giving Goddess

Brigit and Her Sisters sit together
They share the vat of beer and laughter
the crucible of creation and insight
the healing poem sang upon the world's wounds

Brigit
Blessed One
Grace-Giving Goddess

Their Children receive their manifold blessings
and receiving give
the flame that enters is the flame that passes on
to the next and the next and the next

Brigit
Blessed One
Grace-Giving Goddess

she receives the flame from her sister
from their Goddess they receive Her flame
tend it love it nurture it
pass it on to the next and the next
and the next

mael brigde 2007