Life of St. Brigid, virgin : first abbess of Kildare, special patroness of Kildare Diocese, and general patroness of Ireland

1877·18.6 MB·English

by  O'Hanlon, John, 1821-1905

MB8HHBMI
o co

m

LIFE
OF
ST. BRIGID,
FIRST ABBESS OF KILDARE,
SPECIAL PATRONESS OF KILDARE DIOCESE, AND
GENERAL PATRONESS OF IRELAND.
BY THE
REV. JOHN O HANLON, M.R.I. A
ILLUSTRATED \\ITH TIIIRTKEV ENGRAVINGS ox WOOD.
DUBLIN:
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOSEPH DOLLARD,
13 & 14 DAME STREET, AND DAME LANE.
1877- v
|W|N

CONTENTS.
PREFACE
... iii
CHAPTER I. Introduction Authors Han and Treatment Authorities,
ancient and modern, for the Life of St. Brigid Critical
Remarks The Holy Virgins Parentage Place and Date
ofherBirth ... ... " ... ... ... ... I
CHATTER II. The Scotch Claim to St. Brigids Birth examined Probable
Origin of this Error Refutation Early and supernatural
Indications of Brigids Sanctity Her Spirit of Prophecy
manifested Her infantile Virtues Her probable Acquaint
ance with St. Patrickduring Childhood Her Resolution to
live a Virgin Her Characteristics and Comparison to the
Blessed Virgin Maryby the Irish ... ... ... 33
CHAPTER III. Statement regarding St. Brigids Parents Her personal and
mental Attractions during her early Youth Alleged Treat
ment by her Parents Hergreat Charity towards the Poor
Brought before Dunlaing, KingofLeinster His Admiration
of her Virtues Her Resolution to embrace a Religious Life
A Suitorproposes Marriage with Assent of her Family
She rejects this Offer Her Religious Profession, and
Opinions advanced relative to it Probable Time and Place
Establishment of St. Brigids first Religious House She
selectsthe Beatitudeof Mercyforher special Practice Her
Miracles ... ... ... ... ... ... 49
CHAPTER IV. Remarkable Manifestations ofProvidence in St. Brigids Regard
She cures many diseased and afflicted Persons Her
Bountiesand Hospitality She visits St. Ibar Bishop Mels
Religious Intimacy with St. Brigid Her Miracles in Theba
or Teffia Said to have met St. Patrick at Tailtin Her
Powerover Demons ... ... ... ... ... 67
CHAPTER V. At St. Lasaras Convent St. Brigid\vorks Miracles Her Excur
sion to Munster with Bishop Ere The Holy Abbessvisits
Connaught Her Labours and Austerities while there The
PeopleofLeinsterrequest herto return She complies, and
re-crosses the Shannon She resolveson building her great
Establishmentat Kildare ... ... ... ... 77
CHAPTER VI. Kings of Ireland in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries Condition
ofLeinsterafterthe Middleof the Fifth Century Kildare
Period when selected by St. Brigid for her chief Monastery
Gradual Growth and Importance of the Place Instances
ofher Protection ... ... ... ... ... 93
CHAPTER VII. St. Brigids Intimacy with St. Patrick Armagh Foundation
of St. Brigid there Her Miracles Vision regarding St.
Patricks last Resting-place Her Spirit of sublime Recol
lection and hergreat Charity She desires the Introduction
ofthe Roman Rite for Ireland ... ... ... ... 104
CHAPTER VIII. Illand, the warrior Prince of Leinster St. Brigid visits her
Father, Dubtach, and protectshis Family Favoursaccorded
tothe Holy Abbess Shevisits King Illandand blesses him
The Victories of this Dynast over his Enemies The
Borumha Laighean Wars throughout Ireland during St.
Brigids Lifetime Death of King Illand Victoryobtained
after his Death by the Lagenians, throughthespecialPro
tectionofSt. Brigid ... ... ... ... ... 115
CONTENTS,
viii
CHAPTER IX. Different Places called Kilbridc, on the Eastern and South-
Eastern Coast of ancient Leinster, where the Holy Abbess
may have lived St. Brigid and St. Senan St. Brigid
restoresa Cripple AninsaneMan VariousMiracleswhich
were wrought through her Merits She prevents Bloodshed
between Conall and Cairbre She saves Conall from his
Enemies ... ... ... ... 128
CHAPTER X. Ancient Irish Hospitality Bishop BroonsVisitto St. Brigid
The Eight Bishops of Tullach na n-Espuc Holy Brigids
Lovefor thePoor HergenerousGood Nature HerGentle
ness of Manner Illustration of such Characteristics Her
Chaplain, Natfroich St. Ninnidh St. Conleath appointed
Bishop ofKildare ... ... ... ... ... 1-10
CHAPTER XI. St. Brigids Benignity and Prudence Rewards miraculously
bestowed on the Poorandon her Entertainers St. Ilinna
Miraculous Occurrences St. Darias Sightpartially restored
Faithin St. Brigids Intercessionjustified ... ... 154
CHAPTER XII. The Disciples of St. Brigid Her holy Contemporaries She
obtains Pardon for a Man unjustly condemned to Death
The Drovers and Swine escape from Wolves St. Brigid
protects a young Lady, who wished to be a Nun She
relievesthe Road-makers OtherremarkableOccurrences ... 159
CHAPTER XIII. St. Brigids reputed Residence at Glastonbury The early
Practice of Writing and Illuminating in Ireland Writings
ascribed to St. Brigid The Conventual RuleandDiscipline,
under which herself and her Nuns lived Her Charity in
relieving the Poor Her Modesty, herself-sacrificing Spirit,
her Liberality, her Gifts ofMindand Person, herPowers for
healing the Sick and Infirm, her Vigils, and her Care for
Subjects ... ... ... ... ... ... 169
CHAPTER XIV. Vision of St. Brigid regarding her approaching Death Her
Preparation St. Nennid administers the last Sacraments to
her The Year and Day of St. Brigids Departure The
Placewhere it occurred Kildare and its Religious Founda
tions St. Brigids Shrine and Relics Honour paid toher
Memory ... ... ... ... ... ... 177
CHAPTER XV. Miracles wrought at Kildare after St. Brigids Death The
Falcon St. Brigids Relics are removed to Down Remark
able Discovery of the Bodiesof St. Patrick, St. Brigid and
St. Columkille in that City Solemn Translation to a
magnificent Tomb Kildare and its Traditions Desecration
ofholy Remains at Down Reputed Removal ofSt. Brigids
Head to Austria, and afterwardsto Lisbon ... ... lS6
CHATTER XVI. Ancient Churches, Chapels, Religious Institutions, and Places
dedicated to, or called after, St. Brigid, in Ireland Holy
Wells and Objects associated with her Memory Modern
Churches, Chapels,andConvents, dedicatedtoher Religious
Ordersplacedunderher Patronage ... ... ... 193
CHAPTER XVII. Churchesand Religious Institutesdedicated to St. Brigid, inthe
British Islands, inancient and modern Times, as also on the
ContinentofEurope,and in America Festivals, Commemo
rations, Offices, Hymns, Relics, Usages, and popular
Memorials, referringtoher Conclusion " ... ... 211