ST. BRIGID of KILDARE



Her life, according to Oengus the Culdee.

Fragment of an abecedarian hymn by Ultan of Ardbraccan:

Xps in nostra insula quae vocatur Hibernia
Ostensus est hominibus maximis mirabilibus
Quae perfecit per felicem coelestis vitae virginem
Precellentem pro merito magno in mundi circulo.

Ymnus iste angelicae summaeque Sanctae Brigitae
Fari non valet omnia virtutum mirabilia
Quae nostris nunquam auribus si sint facta audivimus
Nisi per istam Virginem Mariae sanctae similem.

Zona sanctae militiae sanctos lumbos praecingere
Consueuit diurno nocturno quoque studio
Consummato certamine sumpsit palmam victoriae
Refulgens magno splendore ut sol in coeli culminae.

Audite virginis laudes sancta quoque merita
Perfectionem quam promisit viriliter impleunt
Xpi matrem se spopondit dictus et fecit factis
Brigita aut amata veri Dei regina.  Englished by Mary Francis Cusack:

Christ in our isle was shown to men,
By Brigit's saintly life;
Excelling all who came before,
She conquered in the strife.

Like her no other saint was found,
But Jesu's mother blest;
Her virtues and her wondrous fame
Can never be expressed.

With holy fervour girdled round,
The victor's palm she gains;
And like the glorious sun above,
In heaven refulgent reigns.

Then listen to this virgin's praise:
To Christ she gave her vow,
Faithful she kept it; her reward
Is reigning with Him now.