St. Brigid of Ireland Brigid lived while the Irish religion was forming the institution of Christianity. The name Brigid was the name of the Celtic sun goddess. It is believed that Brigid was born into slavery and was converted to Christianity by St. Patrick sometime during her childhood. She was freed when she showed it was impossible to stop her from giving alms. Brigid's only desire was "to satisfy the poor, to expel every hardship, …showed first 75 words of 201 total…

…showed last 75 words of 201 total…spiritual center for pilgrims. Brigid induced a bishop to join her community and to share her leadership. According to legend, though the Church resisted, the bishop ordained Brigid as a bishop. Whether the historical facts are true or not, the tale tells a lot of Brigid's status in the Irish conscience, and perhaps the effort to rectify the exclusion of such an extraordinary woman from the ranks of apostolic authority. Bibliography 1. All Saints. Robert Ellsberg. 1997.