A note – Pre-congregational
For the first 1100 years of the Church, any bishop could declare a saint without any approval from the Vatican. Resultantly, some persons of dubious character became saints. In the 12th century, the pope ended the practice and stated that only a pope could declare a saint, establishing ‘The Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints. ‘This congregation in the Vatican investigates all propositions for sainthood and makes recommendations to the pope. Individuals declared saints by early bishops are, therefore, called pre-congregational.
All Celtic and Old English Saints for February
1 February
St. Brigid of Kildare
St. Cinnia of Ulster
St. Derlugdach of Kildare
St. Crewenna
St. Jarlath of Armagh
St. Kinnia
St. Brigid of Kildare, Abbess & Virgin
(Bride, Bridget, Brigit, Ffraid)- -Pre-Congregational
We implore Thee, by the memory of Thy Cross’s hallowed and most bitter anguish, make us fear Thee, make us love Thee, O Christ. Amen.
–Prayer of Saint Brigid
Born at Faughart (near Dundalk) or Uinmeras (near Kildare), Louth, Ireland, c. 450; died at Kildare, Ireland, c. 525; the feast of her translation is June 10.
Saint Brigid was unique, and that is what each of us is meant to be—original works of the All-Powerful Imagination. Unfortunately, the need to be liked by others consumes the majority of us. Instead of being open to God’s creative power and flowering to give Him the delicious aroma of our unique lives, we conform to the usual. We fail to recognise the splendour of offering God the gift of who we were created to be.
Brigid lacked that fault. She got things done. She had a welcome for everyone trying to help them be originals, too. She was so generous that she gave away the clothes from her back. She never shied away from hard work or intense prayer. She would brush aside the rules–even the rules of the Church–if it was necessary to bring out the best in others. Perhaps for this reason, the saint who never left Ireland is venerated throughout the world as the prototype of all nuns. She bridged the gap between Christian and pagan cultures.
Brigid saw the beauty and goodness of God in all His creation: cows made her love God more, and so did wild ducks, which would come and light on her shoulders and hands when she beckoned to them. Well-liked by both her followers and the nearby peasants.; Brigid also possessed considerable power because she oversaw a double monastery (with monks and nuns).
Her main virtues were gentleness, compassion, and a joyful, devoted disposition that won the respect of everyone she knew. Brigid was a powerful evangelist who cheerfully and joyfully partnered with all the saints of that time to promote the Gospel. Since Brigid enjoyed such widespread adoration in Europe, mediaeval knights looking for the ideal woman picked her as their role model. The result portrayed Brigid as the epitome of the feminine ideal, and as a result, the word “bride” entered the English language.(This is doubtful ‘bride’ probably originates from the Old German word “bryd,” which means bride.
There aren’t many historical descriptions of Saint Brigid’s life because most of them, which date back to the 7th century, focus on miracles and tales, some of which have roots in paganism and Irish legend, leaving us with a lasting impression of her personality. Brigid was probably born in eastern Ireland sometime in the middle of the fifth century. The claim is that her parents were of low birth, conversely, others claim that they were Dubhthach, a Leinster-based Irish chieftain, and Brocca, a slave in his household; narratives say St. Patrick baptised them both.
At a very young age, Brigid gave her life to God. She was veiled as a nun by Saint Macaille at Croghan and consecrated as Abbess by Bishop Saint Mel at Armagh.
- Answers. (n.d.). What is pre-congregation canonization? [online] Available at: https://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_pre-congregation_canonization.
- www.celticsaints.org. (n.d.). Celtic and Old English Saints – 1 February. [online] Available at: https://www.celticsaints.org/2023/0201a.html [Accessed 29 Jan. 2023].
- Image Brigid of Kildare. (2023, January 28). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid_of_Kildare