Caption Young people from post primary schools across the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin form a human Saint Brigid’s Cross on the Curragh racecourse, Co Kildare (picture courtesy of Bishop Denis Nulty)
The past year has been memorable in many ways as we honoured Saint Brigid in this 1,500th anniversary of her death. Indeed many authorities date her death at 525AD, so the celebrations continue!
Last week I was delighted to be associated with the welcome for the pilgrims from Saint Brigid’s Church, Noorbeek, Netherlands. Noorbeek’s association with Brigid goes back to her intercession during a cattle plague 400 years ago. Earlier in the year it was great to send a greeting to Wiesbaden in Germany, to a parish under the patronage of Brigid.
We come across Saint Brigid’s churches, schools, clubs and halls not just here in Ireland but in many parts of mainland Europe, including the Netherlands and Germany. Each of them with an association to our Saint Brigid, who took her veil at Croghan, where I celebrated Mass last night. Each of them is connected to Saint Brigid who is carved centrefold on my cathedra here in the Cathedral.
My first association with Saint Brigid was every February seeing a fresh Saint Brigid’s Cross being placed on the wall of our milking parlour at home. Years later, I came to understand more of Brigid and her patronage of cows. Did it help with the milk yield or indeed the progeny? I am not sure, but what I now realise is that this was something which went far beyond the shores of Ireland, with scholarly evidence suggesting that this tradition was well practiced across dairy farms in France[1].
The eternal flame of Brigid remains lit in Solas Bhríde, Kildare. The largest Saint Brigid’s Cross is in Saint Brigid’s Church, Kildare; it was the one used at the ‘Jubilee Year 2000’ diocesan celebrations on the Curragh, led by Bishop Larry Ryan. Last year I installed a relic of Saint Brigid in that church in Kildare, a great moment for all.
Also, who could forget the thousands of young people from post primary schools, from all over our diocese, who formed the human Saint Brigid’s Cross on the Curragh racecourse (pictured)!
The Saint Brigid’s Camino in Monasterevin has clearly established itself into our diocesan calendar for the new February public holiday in honour of Saint Brigid, now in its third year.
And don’t forget the postage stamps, one honouring Naomh Bríd, and the second the Imbolc, the ancient Celtic holiday celebrating the first stirrings of new life. It is been a great year, honouring the 1,500th Anniversary of a remarkable life.
Mark’s Gospel has the family of Jesus worried about Him. It is a moment where Jesus seems to ignore their concern but teaches us “anyone who does the will of my God, that person is my brother and sister and mother”[2]. He enlarges beautifully our understanding of family.
We know ourselves that sometimes – often indeed it is within our own family – that most unrest, misunderstandings and tension emerges. Even the family of Jesus had their moment. That is why the ‘Pause for Peace’, promoted by young Peace Ambassadors attending Kildare Town Community School is so necessary today. We are invited to pause for peace at 12 noon. In a world that is so often bruite agus briste, let us make this moment special this La Fheile Bríde. This is now a global movement that celebrates Saint Brigid, the peacemaker.
In Brigid’s day there was much domestic strife, where clan feuds were common. She was often called to mediate between rival factions, to bring healing and reconciliation. There is a story told that she caused enough confusion between two rival factions one day that she fooled each side into thinking it had won, thereby ending the battle without bloodshed.
We don’t need to be reminded of the conflict areas in our world today. The ‘Pause for Peace’ allows us to do just that, pause and pray. As we welcomed this year as the ‘Jubilee Year of Hope’ in our diocese on the evening of the feast of the Holy Family, I announced the first designated Pilgrimage Site in our diocese was our own homes.
I often think that the context of family can, for some, be the most challenging of all. It’s in the family we need to practice mercy, not just biting our lips and saying nothing, but reaching out in love to the one who is hurting. It is in the home that peace begins.
I am delighted to announce this morning a second ‘Jubilee Year Diocesan Place of Pilgrimage’ is to the Saint Brigid’s Relic, installed a year ago at Saint Brigid’s Church, Kildare, the place of Brigid. This pilgrimage allows us to celebrate Brigid in the Church of the Oak, Cill Dara, where she established two monasteries, one for men and one for women. It was the place she collaborated with Saint Conleth, the first Bishop of our diocese.
Returning to our theme of peace, as we pause at noon today, we pray:
“Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of peace to you”[3].
A Naoimh Bhríd, guí orainn. St. Brigid, pray for us. Amen.
ENDS
- Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, delivered this homily at 10.00am Mass today in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, to celebrate the Feast of Saint Brigid, patron saint of the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin and co-patron of Ireland.
