Many legends and few facts survive about this Irish woman who founded a community at Kildare primarily for women. Famed for her generosity and hospitality, 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 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. 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 – I could never win her obedience.’

Once Brigid was the guest at a house when lepers came begging for food. Brigid could find no one about but a young dumb boy. So she asked him for the 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 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 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 rather, to take a cow or 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.