From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   June 10th - Saint Brigid of Ireland (Translation of relics)   
    (Also known as Bride; Bride of the Isles; Bridget of Ireland; Bridget;   
   Brigid   
   of Kildare Brigit; Ffraid; Mary of the Gael)   
      
   Daughter of Dubtach, pagan Scottish king of Leinster, and Brocca, a   
   Christian   
   Pictish slave who had been baptized by Saint Patrick. Just before Brigid's   
   birth, her mother was sold to a Druid landowner. Brigid remained with her   
   mother   
   till she was old enough to serve her legal owner Dubtach, her father.   
      
   She grew up marked by her high spirits and tender heart, and as a child, she   
   heard Saint Patrick preach, which she never forgot. She could not bear to   
   see   
   anyone hungry or cold, and to help them, often gave away things that were   
   Dubtach's. When Dubtach protested, she replied that "Christ dwelt in every   
   creature". Dubtach tried to sell her to the King of Leinster, and while they   
   bargained, she gave a treasured sword of her father's to a leper. Dubtach   
   was   
   about to strike her when Brigid explained she had given the sword to God   
   through   
   the leper, because of its great value. The King, a Christian, forbade   
   Dubtach to   
   strike her, saying "Her merit before God is greater than ours". Dubtach   
   solved   
   this domestic problem by giving Brigid her freedom.   
      
   Brigid's aged mother was in charge of her master's dairy. Brigid took charge   
   ,and often gave away the produce. But the dairy prospered under her (hence   
   her   
   patronage of milk maids, dairy workers, cattle, etc.), and the Druid freed   
   Brigid's mother.   
      
   Brigid returned to her father, who arranged a marriage for her with a young   
   bard. Bride refused, and to keep her virginity, went to Bishop Mel, a pupil   
   of   
   Saint Patrick's, and took her first vows. Legend says that she prayed that   
   her   
   beauty be taken from her so no one would seek her hand in marriage; her   
   prayer   
   was granted, and she regained her beauty only after making her vows. Another   
   tale says that when Saint Patrick heard her final vows, he mistakenly used   
   the   
   form for ordaining priests. When told of it he replied, "So be it, my son,   
   she   
   is destined for great things."   
      
   Her first convent started with seven nuns. At the invitation of bishops, she   
   started convents all over Ireland. She was a great traveler, especially   
   considering the conditions of the time, which led to her patronage of   
   travelers,   
   sailors, etc. Brigid invented the double monastery, the monastery of Kildare   
   on   
   the Liffey being for both monks and nuns. Combeth, noted for his skill in   
   metalwork, became its first bishop; this connection and the installation of   
   a   
   bell that lasted over 1000 years apparently led to her patronage of   
   blacksmiths   
   and those in related fields.   
      
   Born 453 at Faughart, County Louth, Ireland  Died 1 February 523 at Kildare,   
   Ireland of natural causes; buried in Downpatrick, Ireland with Saint Patrick   
   and   
   Saint Columba; head removed to Jesuit church in Lisbon, Portugal   
      
   Canonized: Pre-Congregation   
      
   Name Meaning:fiery arrow (= brigid)   
      
   Patronage:   
   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, sailors, scholars, travelers, watermen,   
      
   Representation   
   Abbess, usually holding a lamp or candle, often with a cow nearby   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us. I would like an abundance   
   of   
   peace. I would like full vessels of charity. I would like rich treasures of   
   mercy. I would like cheerfulness to preside over all. I would like Jesus to   
   be   
   present. I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us. I   
   would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts. I   
   would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer   
   distress,   
   that he would bestow a good blessing upon me. I would like a great lake of   
   beer   
   for the King of Kings. I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking   
   it   
   through all eternity.   
   -Saint Brigid of Ireland   
      
   Bible quote:   
   You are they who declare yourselves just in the sight of men, but God knows   
   your   
   heart.  (St. Luke 16:15)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   HAPPINESS IS JESUS THE LORD   
      
   I wake up in the morning to face another day,   
   A day filled first with gladness,   
   For I have learned to pray.   
   I lift my eyes to Heaven,   
   and ask what I can do to   
   Face another working day   
   Along the path to You?   
   Temptations are beside me,   
   for me to cast aside;   
   For there has been a promise   
   To be Your loving bride.   
   I open wide the door, steadfastly on my way,   
   to give and take the worst and best   
   With every passing day.   
   My mission fills my heart,   
   There is no room for fear,   
   I'll always tell the story   
   Of when you came so near.   
   They'll never quite believe me,   
   Though what I say is true   
   That all these visions that I saw,   
   Were gifts that came from You!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)