WALKING WITH THE SAINTS l ST. BRIDGET OF IRELAND, SECOND PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND l FEBRUARY 1

WALKING WITH THE SAINTS l ST. BRIDGET OF IRELAND, SECOND PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND l FEBRUARY 1 Normally, people want to appear presentable, pleasing and beautiful. They, in fact, try every means to be so. But our saint today was different. She was born to a rich Irish couple with a singular beauty, but when she was grown up, she asked the Lord to take away that beauty so as to avoid all flattering attentions of suitors and to escape marriage since she wanted to offer herself totally to God. Born in County Louth, Ireland about 450, she showed signs of sanctity from her youth. She was loved by everyone around her, on account of her virtues, amiable character and her serene and obedient disposition. She also loved the poor and was always available to help them. God granted her prayer by allowing her to lose an eye through a disease. She became ugly and those who admired her and pursued her turned away in disgust and pity for her. Her father was also disappointed, but being a good Christian, he was disposed and happy to permit her to enter religious life. She entered the convent and it was Bishop St. Mel, an early disciple of St. Patrick, who gave her the veil. Once she put on the veil for a religious, a miracle happened. Her deformed face became beautiful again. As a religious, she was exemplary in her prayer life, in the practice of the vows, and in making penance and sacrifices. Bridget founded the monastery of Kildaire, the first religious house for women in Ireland, where she presided for many years. She also established communities in other parts of the country. Her holy life gave her the privilege to make miracles which was a great influence in the growth of the Church in Ireland. The Sign of the Cross seemed to be the means by which she performed wonders. St. Bridget was generous, energetic and happy, so she wanted to make people especially those distressed to be joyful. Once, one of her friends brought her a basket of choice apples. She immediately distributed them to the crowd of sick people who surrounded her. The friend did not expect her to do that, so she surprisingly exclaimed: “The apples were for you, not for them.” Bridget simply answered: “What is mine, is theirs.” When she was eighty-seven years old, she was warned of her approaching death, which took place at Kildaire, on February 1, 523, where she was also buried. When the Danes invaded and burned Kildaire, her relics were carried to Downpatrick, where the body of St. Patrick reposed. St. Bridget is considered the Second Patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, being the first.        Virtue: piety, simplicity, humility, obedience, commitment, courage, charity, and compassion Prayer: “Lord, may St. Bridget kindle our love for You, and for the poor and the needy.”