Discovering Saint Brigid: Legends, History & a Legacy of Reckless Welcome

Delve into the rich history, legends, and influence of Saint Brigid, a pivotal figure in Celtic tradition known for her generosity, hospitality, and miraculous acts. From receiving a Saint Brigid medal created by the artist Hank Schlau to encountering Brigid in unexpected places, Tara shares personal anecdotes and historical accounts that highlight Brigid's impact on Irish art, education, and spirituality. This episode features excerpts from the Celtic Daily Prayer, stories of Brigid's legendary acts, and Brigid-themed blessings, offering a reflection on the saint's call to 'reckless welcome' and the ongoing relevance of her legacy in today's world. Perfect for anyone curious about Celtic traditions or seeking spiritual inspiration.

Transcript

S6 E8 Discovering Saint Brigid: Legends, History, and a Legacy of Reckless Welcome

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: [00:00:00] Welcome to Holy Shenanigans. I'm your muse, Tara Lamont Eastman, pastor, podcaster, and practitioner of Holy Shenanigans. Here at Holy Shenanigans podcast, we are always curious and on the lookout for the ways the holy and sacred show up in our everyday lives. Thank you for joining us on this always sacred and never stuffy adventure that we call Holy shenanigans.

 If you've ever spent some time here with us at the HSP Neighborhood, you know by now that I love all things Celtic and historical, especially when it comes to the things surrounding The [00:01:00] Legend, Ministry, and Mystery. of Saint Brigid. Saint Brigid arrives at this intersection between pre Christian and Christian Celtic traditions and legends.

It is said that she was born in the doorway, in a place of transition, change, and reckless welcome. Brigid is connected with Saint Patrick, who is the male. patron saint of Ireland, but she is the feminine representation of being the patron saint of Ireland. I was introduced to St. Brigid in this mix of holy shenanigans in books, in liturgical art, and in my own interest in all things Celtic.

 In my personal research on St. Brigid, I came [00:02:00] across a jewelry maker that created little icons for various saints. The jewelry company that can be now found on Etsy is called In the Company of Saints, and they still carry the same Brigid medal. When I received my necklace, I was delighted to learn more about Brigid.

Who was baptized by St. Patrick and was noted for her wisdom. She also established a school, which is noted for the art it had produced. This combination of intelligence, hard work, and scholarship has led her to become one of the patrons of students because of her immense influence on Irish art, education, and spirituality.

 My medal is made by the artist Hank Schlau in the Company of Saints, made of pewter and is very durable. [00:03:00] This St. Brigid medal has gone with me in many travels, to many vocational changes. And seems fitting for Brigid, who is known as an artist, spiritual leader, and an advocate for all of those needing reckless welcome.

Ever since I discovered this Saint Brigid medal, I've been on the lookout for Brigid in lots of places. A few summers ago while traveling in the Hudson Valley. I randomly drove past a chapel and then went inside to find stained glass windows that included St. Patrick and St. Brigid. Last year, on February 1st, which just so happens to be St. Brigid's Day, I came across A Catholic church in Meadville, Pennsylvania, that is named for St. Brigid. I've also come [00:04:00] across her stories and legends and even some blessings to celebrate her day in books like The Celtic Daily Prayer and in the work of artist Craig Youngst. And so in honor of St.

Brigid's Day , I offer you a little bit about her history, some legends, and some prayers of welcome, reckless welcome that you may want to incorporate in this week and the days to come. So to help introduce you to Brigid, I offer some history and legends from the Celtic daily prayer from the Northumbria community, Brigid of Kildare 450 to 423, a call.

to recklessness. Many legends and few facts survive about this Irish woman who founded a community at Kildare primarily for women. [00:05:00] She was famed for her generosity and hospitality and her influence was widespread, but she remained eminently Practical. As a young woman, Brigid was in the habit of giving freely of her father's possessions and food to the poor and needy.

Her father became so frustrated that he decided to sell her to the king and bundled her into his chariot. He left her at the castle gate while he consulted with the king, and Brigid was approached by a beggar asking for alms, and she gave him her father's sword. Brigid's father and the king were amazed, and the king said he could not buy her from her father.

She is too good for me. Once, Brigid was a guest at a house when lepers came begging for food. Brigid could find no one but a young boy, [00:06:00] so she asked him for a key to the kitchen. He turned to her and was able to say, I know where it is kept, and together they fetched food and attended to the guests.

Brigid led a group of women who had decided to become holy nuns, and she asked Bishop Mel to bless their taking of the veil. Brigid held back out of humility, but the bishop saw the Spirit of God descend upon her and called her forward. Laying hands upon her, he said, I have no power in this matter. God has ordained Brigid.

 And so it came to pass. That by the intervention of the Holy Spirit in the form of ordaining a bishop was read over Brigid. A poor leper came to Brigid one day and asked her for a cow. Brigid looked at him and asked, Which would you [00:07:00] rather have to take the cow or to be healed of your leprosy? The man chose, I would rather be healed than own all the cows in the world.

So Brigid prayed. Stretched out her hand, and the leper was made whole. This is a blessing attributed to Brigid. May God, our Father, our strength and light, Bless you with what you most need, Beyond even all you would ask, For the weather is always right, For sowing of good seed. Brigid's penchant for reckless welcome.

The blessings listed in this Celtic prayer book are for house and doorway, living room, kitchen, bedroom, bedroom of a single person, and for a married couple. There is [00:08:00] also a connection with Brigid and the hearth or fireplace or a warm place. Come to a warm place in this house. Come in the name of Christ.

My heart and I agree welcome in the name of the Lord. There is a fiery power in the gentle heart of the spirit. Our hearts are agreed. So as we kneel at the hearth and call on the sacred three to save shield and surround us and our kin, this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night. Every single night, as you can hear in this blessing, it is obvious that Brigid was not just famous for the perpetual fire that burned in the monastery of Kildare, but for hospitality [00:09:00] and welcome in all people's homes.

 The fascination with St. Brigid of Kildare. It is also represented in the Carmina Gaudica a sacred text at the intersection of pre Christian and Celtic Christian traditions. I discovered this piece of writing recently on a prayer card from artist Craig Yngst. It reads, Each day I remember the source of the mercies you have bestowed upon me.

gently and generously. Each day may I be fuller in love to yourself. Each thing I have received from you it came. Each thing for which I hope from your love it will come. Each thing I enjoy it is of your bounty. Each thing I ask comes of your disposing. [00:10:00] Holy God loving Father Of the world everlasting.

Grant me to have of you this living prayer. Lighten my understanding, kindle my will. Begin my doing. Insight my love, strengthen my weakness in fold my desire, if ever there is a blessing or a prayer to invoke the spirit of Brigid's Reckless welcome. I hear it in these ancient sacred Celtic texts, don't you?

In a world that is longing for safe spaces of welcome for all peoples, I think St. Brigid's words are what we need. God bless the poor, God bless the sick, and bless our human race. [00:11:00] God bless our food, God bless our drink, all homes. All homes, O God, embrace. This kind of calling of Brigid to reckless welcome calls for tenacity, doesn't it?

And so I leave you with one more legend in regards to St. Brigid. Before she had the land for the community that she would build, known as Kildare, she gathered all of her strength and tenacity and went to a landowner, telling him that God was going to give her the land. For this place to be built the landowner not wanting to give her any land Laughed and said well, I see that cloak that you're wearing Brigid I will give you the amount of land that that cloak covers Brigid smiled a knowing [00:12:00] smile and she unfurled her cloak that rolled out and over the hills of the land that would become the property of Known as Kildare, as a shelter for many women.

The man was in shock and he did give her the land. What a wonderful way to begin her ministry and legacy of Reckless Welcome. And so to inspire and encourage this ongoing calling to Reckless Welcome, I bid you blessings to you and yours for this St. Brigid's Day. Thank [00:13:00] you to the Celtic Daily Prayer artist, Craig Yingst, and the sacred text of the Carmina Gadlica in the efforts of celebrating this day.

 I am your Holy Shenanigans Muse, Tara Lamont Eastman. Thank you for joining us this week for Holy Shenanigans that surprise, encourage, redirect, and turn life upside down, all in the name of love. This is an unpredictable spiritual adventure that is always sacred, but never stuffy. Thanks to Ian Eastman for sound editing and production.

 You can help the Holy Shenanigans continue by supporting our podcast at www. buymeacoffee. com backslash Tara L. Eastman. Until next time, may the reckless [00:14:00] welcome and all these stories of Brigid help us to live into this practice at every doorway. Christ, in our coming and in our leaving, be the door and the keeper for us and all who live and work within this place this day and every day.

Ever and always, north, south, east, west, work together for what is best, each one precious in their own way, support my steps this very day.