I was born in the year 453 at Faughart, County Louth, Ireland.Daughter of Dubtach, pagan Scottish king of Leinster, and Brocca, a Christian Pictish slave who had been baptized by Saint Patrick. Just before my birth, my mother was sold to a Druid landowner. I remained with my mother till I was old enough to serve my legal owner Dubtach,my father.I grew up marked by my high spirits and tender heart, and as a child, I heard Saint Patrick preach, which I never forgot. I could not bear to see anyone hungry or cold, and to help them, often gave away things that were Dubtach's. When Dubtach protested, I replied that "Christ dwelt in every creature". Dubtach tried to sell me to the King of Leinster, and while they bargained, I gave a treasured sword of my father's to a leper. Dubtach was about to strike me when I explained that I had given the sword to God through the leper, because of its great value. The King, a Christian, forbade Dubtach to strike me, saying "Her merit before God is greater than ours". Dubtach solved this domestic problem by giving me my freedom.
My aged mother was in charge of her master's dairy. I took charge ,and often gave away the produce. But the dairy prospered under me (hence my patronage of milk maids, dairy workers, cattle, etc.), and the Druid freed my mother.I returned to my father, who arranged a marriage for me with a young bard. I refused, and to keep my virginity, went to Bishop Mel, a pupil of Saint Patrick's, and took my first vows. I prayed that my beauty be taken from me so no one would seek my hand in marriage; my prayer was granted, and I regained my beauty only after making my vows. Another tale says that when Saint Patrick heard my final vows, he mistakenly used the form for ordaining priests. When told of it he replied, "So be it, my son, you are destined for great things."My first convent started with seven nuns. At the invitation of bishops, I started convents all over Ireland. I was a great traveller, especially considering the conditions of the time, which led to my patronage of travellers, sailors, etc. I invented the double monastery, the monastery of Kildare that I ran on the Liffey river being for both monks and nuns. My Patronage includes babies; blacksmiths; boatmen; cattle; chicken farmers; children whose parents are not married; dairymaids; dairy workers; fugitives; infants; Ireland; Leinster, Ireland; mariners; midwives; milk maids; newborn babies; nuns; poets; poultry farmers; poultry raisers; printing presses; sailors; scholars; travellers; watermen
Rig this Fire as The Good Christ rigs us all,
with Mary at the head and Brigid at the heart
