Feb 1 Brigid b. 451 d. 525 (1-21 in angels and saints)

Thom and Jack,

Good morning, I love you
101208, 0854

Feast of the Immaculate Conception. There seemed to be fewer people at the 0645 Mass than usual. We certainly could have fit in the chapel. We used the church instead. I had the first reading from Genesis. I did ok. One misread. Actually, a misspoke. The people who did the next two readings read, from start to finish, no eyeball sighting at all. Too cool by half, I confess. My next stand up is the 4pm on Christmas eve. Videbimus.

I’ve not heard whether I’ll be published in January. I hope to be knee deep in a quality improvement project – in addition to the one I need to start on my life – before Christmas. So, I’d like to know if I’m to get a February submission done by the end of the year. I have half a thought to send all my submissions to all the diocesan newspapers. I wonder if someone has a blast email those. I bet several people do. Time to put myself to work. See what flies.

I’ve done three blog-ettes over the past couple of days. But they’re being held up until January. I suggest you read this past week’s News Herald. It’s on line now. I recommend the link to justiceforimmigrants.org. It gives you an excellent and thorough presentation of usccb’s positions on immigration, including the DREAM Act, which they support (and I, with a moderately well informed conscience, oppose. But, I don’t have a dog in that hunt. Ask me to help in an other way.)

With my back hurting – too much in front and not enough strength or stretching or aerobic exercise – and some project work hanging over me and Christmas wrapping and packing and sending to do, it’s time to get on with Brigid. I’m behind on Aquinas. And we have Frances de Sales and John Bosco in January. All will take more than the usual William, Thomas, John, Kenneth, and Irish saints that it’s my goal to get to each month. It’s the eighth. I’m working on January 21st. I guess I’ll be into February before we get into January. But, my goal is to be into the saints’ month before I turn in my NH submission. Didn’t happen this month.


January 21

Brigid b. 451 d, 525

Brigid, one of the Patrons of Ireland. Queen of the South: the Mary of the Gael

Brigid was the daughter of a Ri, not a high Ri or a low Ri, a middling Ri, but a Ri nonetheless. Brigid had a slave . Her father was Dubhthach, an Irish chieftain of Leinster.. Patrick had converted the Irish by the time Brigid came of age. She decided as a young girl to become a nun, to live the life of a virgin, married to Christ, to serve Him and her people through the church. The Church must have played havoc with the Irish clans by enticing so many of our women to lead not as Irish Warrior Princesses but as Abbesses. Don’t tell me that our women do not have influence or status in our Church.

The legend goes that this beautiful Irish lass asked God to make her ugly so that the suitors would stop coming. So that her father couldn’t give her away even if she were disposed to allowing that to happen. God granted the wish.

It’s not an uncommon story about women saints – asking to be disfigured so as not to be attractive, to avoid/get out of the attentions due them as women, as daughters of royalty, as potential chattel in the politics of the day. It’s a dramatic leap to these measures from Jesus’ giving us the advice to get rid of the things that cause us to sin – there weren’t a few times that I suggested we throw something of yours away if you could not use it correctly or if you could not keep your mind on what you were suppose to be doing instead of the tempting item. Such a threat, more than once carried out, comes from a revered Irish and Catholic tradition. At least I didn’t ugly you up or poke out your eye.

When Brigid received the veil from St Macaille, she received back her beauty. I love the legend’s potential messages. ‘When we are dedicated to God, He makes us beautiful’ is one storyline I suggest you try out with this.

About 468, Brigid went with Macaille to follow St Mel into Meath, along with seven other virgins [seven? Of course seven!], Brigid erected her Convent of Cill-Dara [Kildare] under a mighty oak. Oak? Of course an Oak. To take on the Druids and to reassure any doubting Celts that the Christian God honored them and their traditions.

The oratory at Cill Dara became the center of religion and learning. This was the first convent of strict religious observance in Ireland. They grew into a cathedral city.

Brigid founded two monastic institutions, one for men, and the other for women, and appointed St. Conleth as spiritual pastor of them. Notice who’s in charge here. You’ll be better off if you find yourself a Brigid to be the guiding light of your life.

Brigid chose St. Conleth "to govern the church along with herself". Thus, for centuries, Kildare was ruled by a double line of abbot-bishops and of abbesses, the Abbess of Kildare being regarded as superioress general of the convents in Ireland.

You think women aren’t important in our church, our culture, our clan, our lives? Think again. Your challenge, living isolated from the clan and cut off from the collective unconscious, is to find the right Brigid for you. The path to discovery is clear enough. Going through the briar patch alone is one of those cut off your noses to spite your faces things. [one of grandma’s favorite expressions. Though she could have done with a prettier nose.]

Brigid was a patroness of students. She, e.g., founded a school of art, including metal work and illumination, over which St. Conleth presided.

When dying, St. Brigid was attended by St. Ninnidh, who was ever afterwards known as "Ninnidh of the Clean Hand" because he had his right hand encased with a metal covering to prevent its ever being defiled, after being the medium of administering the viaticum to Ireland's Patroness. What are you doing with your hands? Why would you seek to keep yourself undefiled? Not just your hands.

Brigid’s friendship with St. Patrick is attested by the following paragraph from the "Book of Armagh", “Between St. Patrick and St. Brigid, the columns of the Irish, there was so great a friendship of charity that they had but one heart and one mind. Through him and through her Christ performed many miracles.” With whom are you best friends? How much charity is in the foundation of your friendships? What miracles does Christ perform through you? Tap into Brigid – and Patrick – to find the miracles you are called to give us.

I love you,
Dad