By Patrick J. Passmore
Dublin, Ireland, Feb 1, 2025 / 05:00 am
In Ireland, February 1st not only marks the beginning of spring but also the celebration of “Lá Fhéile Bríde” – St. Brigid’s Day. For Irish Catholics, this day holds great significance as St. Brigid is one of Ireland’s three patron saints alongside St. Patrick and St. Colmcille.
Since 2023, the feast day has been recognized as a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, known as “St. Brigid’s Day/Imbolc bank holiday” by the Irish government. This day has been used to honor the achievements of Irish women and has led to various celebrations of St. Brigid, often portrayed as a pre-Christian goddess.
In a statement released on January 30, government minister Patrick O’Donovan encouraged the public to engage in a series of events, omitting any mention of Christianity or Catholicism.
The secular appropriation of the story of St. Brigid by the government has stirred some controversy, as it ignores the Christian aspect of St. Brigid and focuses solely on her Celtic roots. Father Owen O’Gorman expressed concerns about the secularization of feast days, urging the Church to help people connect with the true essence of these saints.
Highlighting the significance of St. Brigid, O’Gorman drew a parallel between her and Sister Clare Crockett, an Irish nun who he believes embodied the spirit of St. Brigid as a founding mother figure.
Brigid,” Strong shared. “It is a way of passing on our faith and keeping alive the memory of this remarkable saint who continues to inspire us today.”
The Legacy of St. Brigid and Sister Clare
As the cause for canonization of Sister Clare is opened in Spain, the life of St. Brigid is once again brought to the forefront for a new generation. Sister Clare, who was deeply immersed in a secular culture, found it challenging to detach her heart from it. However, she now serves as an example of spiritual motherhood, following in the footsteps of St. Brigid.
St. Brigid, known as the spiritual mother of Ireland, embodies virtues such as hospitality, generosity, and love for Christ. Through her intercession, she continues to inspire women in Ireland and beyond. Sinéad Strong, founder of Catholic Mothers Ireland, has drawn upon the life of St. Brigid as a source of strength for her organization.
For Strong, St. Brigid’s simplicity and service to the less fortunate resonate deeply. As a mother of seven children, she finds solace in St. Brigid’s patronage of newborn babies, especially those who have been lost. By celebrating St. Brigid’s Day Mass for parents of miscarried and stillborn babies, Catholic Mothers Ireland honors the legacy of this remarkable saint.
The iconic St. Brigid’s cross symbolizes the saint’s evangelization and compassion for others. Legend has it that Brigid created a cross out of reeds to bring salvation to a dying pagan chieftain, showcasing the power of her simple yet profound faith.
Every year, Catholic Mothers Ireland organizes events where mothers and children come together to learn the art of making St. Brigid’s crosses. These crosses are then blessed by a priest on her feast day, continuing the tradition and spreading the message of faith and hope.
Strong emphasized the importance of passing on the stories and traditions of St. Brigid to future generations, ensuring that her legacy lives on. Just as Sister Clare re-proposes St. Brigid’s life to a new generation, so too do organizations like Catholic Mothers Ireland strive to keep the spirit of this beloved saint alive in the hearts of many.
