Sunday, October 18, 2009

Jane Meyer's Children's Book - The Life of Saint Brigid: Abbess of Kildare

Orthodox Christian writer Jane Meyer talks about her book on Saint Brigid, The Life of Saint Brigid: Abbess of Kildare. An audio clip and video complete the offering. Details on purchasing book are at the bottom of this post.

Audio Clip:
Trailer:

As the ministry of beloved Saint Patrick came to an end, another unlikely hero heard God’s call and ran full force the Christian race, bringing Christ to Ireland. Young Brigid, an eager and charming girl, forsook her noble birth and followed the windy road Christ had called her to. From dairymaid, to shepherdess, to the Abbess of Kildare, Saint Brigid’s story teaches us to be generous in spirit, to be tireless in our charity, and above all to seek God’s calling for our own lives. Story behind the story… Working with Zachary Lynch on The Life of Saint Patrick: Enlightener of the Irish was the inspiration for writing this story about Saint Brigid. He introduced me to this enchanting saint, and after delving into research on Brigid, I absolutely fell in love with her. Because she is such a beloved saint in Ireland, and because most of what is written about Saint Brigid is based on Irish oral tradition, I had the difficult prospect of choosing which snippets of her life to include in the book, and which to leave to out. Eventually I made my decisions (after spending a lot of time praying for illumination) based on those events in her life that most mirrored what an Orthodox nun’s life is like today, figuring that not much has changed over the years when it comes to a life of prayer. I’m fortunate to live in the neighborhood of a woman’s monastery, and have seen first-hand what heroines they are! I have see many of the nuns portray the same faith as beloved Brigid, embark on similar adventures, and attempt things that people might think are unwise or risky. These women are heiresses of Saint Brigid and the Christ she loved and served; I’m so thankful that they’re here to bless and teach us, and pray for us today!

where to buy:
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Cross-Posting: Under the Oak - A Mystery Saint Brigid at the End of September

Another fascinating Brigit blog posting from Under the Oak.

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

A Mystery Saint Brigid at the End of September

The very last day of September sees the commemoration on the Irish calendars of a Saint Brigid, who is otherwise left unidentified. O'Hanlon identifies the two main candidates who may claim to be commemorated on this day. The first is a holy woman mentioned in the Life of Saint Senan (feastday 8th March) and the second an unknown female saint associated with a holy well and church at Kilbreedy (literally 'Brigid's church') in County Laois (or Queen's County as it was called in O'Hanlon's time). I am not sure that he really proves either case convincingly, but this mystery Saint Brigid is a good example of the large number of Irish saints who are recorded in our martyrologies without any further clues to their identity.

St. Brigid, of Cluainfidhe, or perhaps of Kilbreedy, Queen's County.

In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, the feast of St. Brigitta is thus simply recorded, at the 30th of September. In the Book of Leinster copy, at this day, there is a similar entry. Without any further designation, Brigit is entered in the Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman, at this day. In the Martyrology of Charles Maguire, as in the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, the feast of a St. Brigid is entered at the 30th of September.

Among the holy women, who are recorded as having flourished in the Irish church, there is a St. Brigid, who was daughter to Conchraid, and she belonged to the family of Mactail. Colgan says, this family seems to have been derived, from the Kings of Munster, having issued from the race of Oengus, King over that province. From this line, St. Mactail the Bishop was descended. Or perhaps, the family of Mactail was derived from the O'Brien sept. Cassius, surnamed Tallins, had several sons, among whom were Blodius, Cassius, Sedneus, and Delbatius. Hence it happens, that some one of these, or of their posterity—especially Blodius' children, who inherited the chieftainship—might be considered as belonging to the family of Mactail. The word itself signifies son of Tallius. If Colgan's conjecture be correct, those circumstances connected with the family and place of her residence point out St. Brigid, who is venerated on the 30th of September, as the one mentioned in St. Senan's Second Life. From it we are able to procure the following account of her. We are told there, how St. Brigid, a holy virgin, had established herself in a cell, on the banks of the river Shannon, and at a place, called Clain in fidi, or Cluainfidhe. Whilst there, she had prepared a cloak or chasuble for St. Senan, which she desired sent to him, but had not the necessary means for transport. However, she covered the vestment with hay, and having placed it, with some letters, in an osier basket, which floated out on the river, the result was committed to a providential issue. The letters were directed to St. Senan, and contained a request, that he would send the Most Holy Sacrament to her. By a miracle of Divine Providence, and without any human direction, the basket floated out into the bed of the Shannon, which at this point was very wide; and, at length it landed on the Island shore, near the church of St. Senan. This circumstance, being revealed to the holy man, he called one of his disciples, who was a Deacon. He was desired to bring the basket, which lay on the shore, to the monastery. Having fulfilled such orders, Senan took the vestment and letters contained in the basket. He then placed therein, as we are told, two portions of salt and a pixis containing the Sacred Host. He next ordered, in the name of God, to whom every creature owes obedience, that the basket should return by the same way it had come, and restore to St. Brigid one of the lumps of salt and the pixis it contained ; and that it should bear the other portion of salt, to St. Diermit, who dwelt in the monastery of Inis-clothrand. According to St. Senan's mandate, the basket returned to St. Brigid. She took out therefrom the pixis, and one of the salt portions. Before she had time to remove the other, the basket was carried off by motion of the water; and it sailed, by a direct course, against the river's current until it arrived at Inisclothrand. Having understood what had occurred through a Divine revelation, St. Diermit went forth, and brought the basket to his monastery with much joy. He gave thanks to God, for the wonder wrought through his holy servant, St. Senan.

Of the thirteen saints bearing this name, as mentioned by our Irish Martyrologists, Colgan supposed the circumstance already related can only apply to that St. Brigid, who was venerated on the 30th of September. However, in the Third and Fourth Lives of St. Brigid, such anecdote was transferred to her, with this variation, that the basket or box was entrusted to the ocean, and had to pass over a very great round and extent of sea. Such a transaction—in which there is nothing improbable—was transformed into a marvellous story, which has probably helped to give rise to the opinion, that Senan was established at Inniscatthy before the death of St. Brigid.

A St. Brighit, or Bride, seems to have been venerated in the Parish of Bordwell, Queen's County. There had been a pattern at a Bride's Well, not far from the old church and castle of Kilbreedy, and it was held between the close of harvest and the month of November. Of this I was assured by an old man— in 1870 considerably over 80 years of age— but he could not recollect the exact day on which the pattern had been kept. No other saint bearing the name of Brigid seems so likely to correspond with her to whom allusion has been here made. The old church of Kilbreedy lies about a mile from Rathdowney. Measured outside the old walls, it is 50 feet in length, by 24 feet in breadth. The walls of limestone are nearly four feet in thickness, and were well built, but only the lower portions now remain. The church and grave-yard are evidently very ancient ; but both have been enclosed by a modern and well-built wall, with an iron-gate set up for entrance. Many graves and magnificent hawthorn trees are within the grave-yard enclosure. The remarkable fort of Middlemount rises to a considerable elevation, at some little distance, and on the opposite side of the high road. Concentric and diminishing circular fosses surround it, and ascend to the terminating irregular cone.

The festival of Brighit is set down, without further clue for identification, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 30th day of September.
Posted by Brigit at 12:07
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Monday, October 05, 2009

Brighid Sources, offered by Celtic Reconstructionists at LiveJournal




An interesting conversation ensues in answer to the following posting:

Another Question about Brighid Sources
Following up on my earlier question about sources of information on Brighid as goddess, I wonder if I could ask the experts in Irish mythology a specific question.

Brighid is not mentioned often in the myths. Which ones DO mention her?

I'm attempting to compile for myself as complete a collection of Brighid reference materials as possible, and don't want to overlook anything. And I'm a far cry from an expert on Irish mythology.

Thank you.

Jean

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Links to Websites and Publications (Institute of Feminism and Religion)


© Institute for Feminism and

Religion. All rights reserved.



Websites and Publications

This page lists other websites that relate to feminist theology.

Papers by Mary Condren, National Director

Publication Details:

“Sacrifice and Political Legitimation: The Production of a
Gendered Social Order”,Journal of Women’s History,
Spring, (1995),

“Mercy Not Sacrifice: Toward a Celtic Theology”, Feminist
Theology No. 15, May 1997.

“Sacred Spaces” published in German as "Von Menschen-
hand gemacht: Die gesellschaftliche Konstruktion heiliger
Orte" in Schlangenbrut: streitschrift für feministische und
religioös interessierte frauen Nr. 66 17. Jg. 1999, pp.28-31.

“Brigit: Soulsmith for the New Millennium,” pp. 39-49. Special
Issue of Irish Journal of Feminist Studies, Cork University
Press, 2002. Volume 4, Number 2. Also published in
Concilium: In the Power of Wisdom eds. María Pilar Aquino
and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, vol. 5, (London: SCM
Press, 2000), pp.107-119, and in Irish Spirit ed. Patricia
Monaghan, (Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 2001): 120-133.

(Forthcoming in) “Melting Hearts of Stone,” (2007) in Lisa
Isherwood and Kathleen McPhillips (eds.) Post-Christian
Feminisms: A Critical Appraisal. Ashgate Press.

Article appearing in The Irish Times - Jan 31, 2005 by Mary Condren

Article appearing in The Irish Times - August 16, 2004 by Mary Condren

You can download these papers and read them with Adobe Acrobat
READ, which is free software.

Brigit: Soulsmith for a New Millenium

Final Annunciation.pdf

Sacred Spaces
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CJ Chow's Brigid's Flame


C. J. Chow of Toronto, Canada has devoted a website to Brigid and to healing. Brigid's Flame offers information, links, and consultations, as well as a link to C.J.'s blog: Pneumatised! AN EVER-CHANGING LIFE INSPIRED BY THE PNEUMA.


ABOUT ME

I am a Chinese Canadian living in Toronto, Canada, who follows a unique, eclectic spirituality. First and foremost, I am pagan. I have found that being pagan has given me freedom to explore many different spiritualities (or maybe that's just my personality... hm...) At the very least, the path that I follow has led me to explore different mythologies, from classic Greco-Roman to Mesoamerican (Mayan, Incan, Aztec). I've always held it to be important to learn and explore different spiritual paths. My studies, though generally on pagan/Wiccan paths, include Native traditions, Buddhism, Taoism, Celtic mythology and spirituality, Mesoamerican mythology and basically any other mythologies out there.

I have a great interest in healing and wellness. I believe that healing takes place on the spiritual level first and that much suffering and pain can be avoided by taking good care of oneself. Taking care of oneself includes spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I hold a black belt in taekwondo and I highly recommend martial arts to people because it works on all these levels. During the summer of 2002, I suffered a knee injury, putting my martial arts on hold. I underwent knee surgery and rehabilitation. It was going through this that sparked my interest in healing and subsequently, I sought not just reiki treatment, but to be attuned to reiki. I was attuned to reiki level one by Nancy Peel nearly a year ago. Healing however is not just an individual need, healing is also needed on a larger scale. The world itself needs to be healed - there is just too much suffering. This is the basic idea behind this website and my work...

POEMS FOR BRIGID

Below are two pieces from the Carmina Gadelica about Brigid. The original from the Carmina is shown followed immediately by a modern translation and interpretation. Sources are listed after each section.

SLOINNTIREACHD BHRIDE1

Sloinneadh na Ban-naomh Bride, Lasair dhealrach oir, muime chorr Chriosda. Bride nighinn Dughaill duinn, Mhic Aoidh, mhic Airt, mhic Cuinn, Mhic Crearair, mhic Cis, mhic Carmaig, mhic Carruinn.

Gach la agus gach oidhche Ni mi sloinntireachd air Bride, Cha mharbhar mi, cha spuillear mi, Cha charcar mi, cha chiurar mi, Cha mhu dh' fhagas Criosd an dearmad mi.

Cha loisg teine, grian, no gealach mi, Cha bhath luin, li, no sala mi, Cha reub saighid sithich, no sibhich mi, Is mi fo chomaraig mo Naomh Muire Is i mo chaomh mhuime Bride.

http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/corpus/Carmina/G70.html

GENEALOGY OF BRIGIT

The genealogy of the holy maiden Brigit, Radiant arrow of flame, noble foster-mother of gods, Brigit the daughter of the Dagda, Dagda the Good God, the son of Ethlinn, Ethlinn the daughter of Balor, Balor the king of the Fomoire.

Every day and every night That I say the genealogy of Brigit, I shall not be killed, I shall not be injured, I shall not be enchanted, I shall not be cursed, Neither shall my power leave me.

No earth, no sod, no turf shall cover me, No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me, No water, no lake, no sea shall drown me, No air, no wind, no vapour shall sicken me, No glamour out of Faery shall o'ertake me, And I under the protection of the holy maiden, My gentle foster-mother, my beloved Brigit.

http://www.shadowsrealm.com/paganshadows/carmina/index2.html#70

BRIDE BAN-CHOBHAIR2

Thainig thugam cobhair Moire gheal is Bride; Mar a rug Anna Moire, Mar a rug Moire Criosda, Mar a rug Eile Eoin Baistidh Gun mhar-bhith dha dhi, Cuidich thusa mise 'm asaid, Cuidich mi a Bhride!

Mar a gheineadh Criosd am Moire Comhliont air gach laimh, Cobhair thusa mise, mhoime, An gein a thoir bho 'n chnaimh; 'S mar a chomhn thu Oigh an t-solais, Gun or, gun odh, gun ni, Comhn orm-sa, 's mor m' othrais, Comhn orm a Bhride!

http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/corpus/Carmina/G71.html

BRIGIT THE AID-WOMAN

There came to me assistance, Danu fair and Brigit; As Danu bore the Dagda, As Dagda's wife bore Brigit, As Brigit bore Ruadan Without flaw in him, Aid thou me in mine unbearing, Aid me, O Brigit!

As Lugh was conceived of Ethlinn Full perfect on every hand, Assist thou me, foster-mother, The conception to bring from the bone; And as thou didst aid the Mother of the Gods, Without gold, without corn, without kine, Aid thou me, great is my sickness, Aid me, O Brigit!

http://www.shadowsrealm.com/paganshadows/carmina/index2.html#71

The following is a modern poem about the goddess Brigid. However, I have noticed the title of the poem uses the modern name "Bridget" instead of Brigid which leaves me to speculate the poem is also dedicated to someone named Bridget Bright.

BRIDGET BRIGHT by Hedgewytch

She is known as Brigid Bright, Goddess who shines against the night. At Cille Dara, at the setting sun, Her sacred flame is kept by one. Nineteen times the earth turns round, As sacred springs come forth the ground. Twenty times the sun has burned, And now the Goddess has returned. Alone she tends her thrice-bright flame, Born of her heart that bears her name. The Dagda knows Brigid as Daughter, Triple Blessed by fire and water. Poets call her name to inspire. And healers oft gain from her fire. Wayland too would know her well As hammer and anvil ring like a bell. A sorrowful cry did she give meaning, When first she brought to Eire keening. Oh Sacred Fire against darkest night, Burn for Brigid, for Brigid Bright! Fire in the head...to quicken us. Fire in the cauldron...to heal us. Fire in the forge of the heart...to temper us.

"Bridget Bright" was found on the following sites: http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_po.html?a=usfl&id=902 http://www.earthspiritpagans.org/

The following was not written for the goddess Brigid (at least as far as I know), but the lyrics in this song are so beautiful and remind me of Brigid that I wanted to include the chorus here. The song is"Shine" by Hungry Lucy. The lyrics are by Christa Belle and can be found at www.hungrylucy.com.

Shine this light down on me forever My open eyes are so alive Break through these walls that leave me useless All of my fears have gone away

FOOTNOTES

1. Piece 70 from the Carmina Gadelica. 2. Piece 71 from the Carmina Gadelica.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Holy Sacred Sock

Okay. I don't normally put gewgaws and whatsits in this blog because although they're cool, shopping isn't really what it's all about spiritually, in my books.

But this is just too weird to miss.


Earthy greens and the warm tones of fall leaves stripe recall the highlands and sacred flames of the woman of Irish myth. RocknSocks label, made in the USA.$15.00 US
Please choose your preferred style:
Fiber Content: 85% regenerated cotton/acrylic/polyester, 10% nylon, 5% elastic.
Machine wash, tumble dry low.
Sizing Tips: 21 inches from heel to top of cuff.
Label says these fit US shoe size women's 6-11 and men's 7-10.
These fit a 19 inch calf fantastically as a knee high!
Additional Info: Image courtesy of RocknSocks.
RocknSocks creates original and unique socks made in the U.S.A. with regenerated cotton yarns. Regenerated cotton is a recycled textile made using a unique manufacturing process that conserves land, water, and energy.

Thanks to Vannah of the Daughters of the Flame for this one!
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Saturday, September 19, 2009

Under the Oak: A Blogger Named Brigit

St. Bridget by Ó Dubáin

A very special blog exists out there. It's called Under the Oak.

Under the Oak has at time of writing no less than 45 posts tagged St. Bridget, among a total of 306 posts altogether, yet the blog was started only nine months ago - to the day, in fact, on 19 January 2009.

The blogger, who calls herself only Brigit, is diligent and apparently tireless. There is surely a lifetime's worth of information to explore already on her site.

This was her first posting:

Monday, 19 January 2009

Under the Oak

Welcome to Under the Oak, a blog dedicated to the saints of Ireland and especially to our national patroness, Saint Brigid of Kildare. It was under the oak at Kildare that tradition claims Saint Brigid founded her famous monastery - a house of hospitality, learning and prayer. It was also under the oak, the oak of Mamre, that the Righteous Patriarch Abraham provided hospitality for the three heavenly visitors.

I hope, please God, to make available materials relating to the lives of the Irish saints - hagiographies, prayers, hymns - and to the early Irish church in general.

May we all be under the protection of the Most Holy Trinity and under the mantle of Brigid!


I leave you to explore this smith's treasury of information. As a teaser, I will give you the list of her tags, an impressive collection, indeed!

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