Legendary Brigit brought joy and the burning presence of God.
Kathy Mulhern | posted 10/01/1998 12:00AM
I should like a great lake of ale for the King of Kings; I should like the angels of Heaven to be drinking it through time eternal." So begins Brigit's prayer as recorded in an eighth-century manuscript. The prayer goes on to describe the party as one in which "barrels of peace" and "vessels of charity" lead to good cheer. Clearly, this Brigit was no ascetic. On the contrary, Brigit's style as abbess of Kildare was that of the perfect hostess, always welcoming the great and the lowly with equal warmth, serving generously and meeting every need.
This is but one of the many aspects of Brigit's life that scholars debate—some even argue she is a complete fabrication, a Christianized version of the pagan Celtic goddess of the same name. The historical Brigit is now impossible to recover in the forest of legend and fact that has come down to us. Still, this Brigit is the one who has been revered by generations of Irish Christians.
In many respects she is the female counterpart of Patrick and is ...
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