Among the many ways that St. Brigid of Kildare loved, three stand out.
One: Brigid loved being generous.
Two: Brigid loved cows. In fact, cows made her love God more. She is often depicted in art with a white cow that has red ears.
Three: Brigid loved people, especially the poor. She is to have said, “It is in the name of Christ that I feed the poor, for Christ is in the body of every poor person.”
St. Brigid loved and miracles happened. Many of these miracles have to do with providing food and drink for pilgrims, animals and the poor. Researching Brigid’s life and telling her stories often causes me to reflect on my own lifestyle choices. Once I told the story of Brigid churning butter. As a young girl, Brigid would divide the butter into twelve balls for the twelve Disciples of Christ. Then she would give the balls of butter away to the poor. When the supervising adult would check on her, knowing full well that Brigid had given precious butter away, the butter would not be missing. I mentioned St. Brigid the other day to a young girl who had listened to the story over a year ago. The young girl retold, with much animation, the whole St. Brigid butter story. I hope the story will stick and the young girl, like St. Brigid, will be bold in her generosity.
A few years ago I heard the following poem/prayer by St. Brigid on National Public Radio. I would like to share it with you. The prayer offers a glimpse into the interior life of a woman whose story lives on today, transforming lives of young and old, challenging all to love.
I’d like to give a lake of beer to God.
I’d love the Heavenly
Host to be tippling there
For all eternity.
I’d love the people of Heaven to live with me,
To dance and sing.
If they wanted, I’d put at their disposal
Vats of suffering.
White cups of love I’d give them,
With a heart and a half;
Sweet pitchers of mercy I’d offer
To every man.
I’d make Heaven a cheerful spot,
Because the happy heart is true.
I’d make the men contented for their own sake
I’d like Jesus to love me too.
I’d like the people of heaven to gather
From all the parishes around,
I’d give a special welcome to the women,
The three Marys of great renown.
I’d sit with the men, the women of God
There by the lake of beer
We’d be drinking good health forever
And every drop would be a prayer.
The image at the top is the Day Chapel Tapestry of the Church of the Annunciation, Clonard, Ireland
Leave a Reply