Collect for 3 Sundays before Lent
Father, by the leadership of your blessed servant Brigid you strengthened the Church in this land: As we give you thanks for her life of devoted service, inspire us with new life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 2: 1-9
Matthew 5: 13 – 20
This week offers a new Bank Holiday in Ireland. Always welcome – and this one in particular has been too long coming. Patrick has long had his – Brigid, of at least equal significance in Irish history – deserves the same.
But who exactly was she? Well, it depends who you ask.
Some would refer to her as the Pagan Goddess Brid (meaning ‘the High One). She was known as the Goddess of poetry and wisdom, who first introduced the tradition of ‘Keening’ on the death of her son. She was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the mythical supernatural race that inhabited Ireland at the dawn of time, and was among other things, a protector of domesticated animals. The pagan festival of Imbolc on February 1 is regarded as the first day of Spring.
A different Folklore tradition says her father was a Chieftain, her mother a slave. The pregnant woman, who had been baptised by St. Patrick, was sold on to a Druid, who in turn became himself a Christian. Brigid grew up as farm worker, churning butter and shepherding the sheep. She subsequently was consecrated and eventually became an Abbess, founding a Monastery in Kildare and consecrating men and women across Ireland as well as performing many miracles – including turning water into beer. She is the Patroness of Ireland and of healers, poets, blacksmiths, livestock and dairy workers, among others.
And perhaps it is her example of living the Christian life – being salt and light, living the Gospel in the language of the ordinary men and women of her culture that we rightly celebrate as the example in our own lives..
A St Brigid prayer
May the mantle of God’s peace
cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Just as Brigid was a voice for the wounded and the weary,
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
Amen.
And here’s how to make a Brigid cross:
Previous Posts
Praying Together 30th August 2026
Just like those early disciples and apostles there’s an important work to continue. You and I are part of that bunch of followers – ordinary people – let’s keep that in mind – as we reach out to others, each and every day of our lives.
Praying Together 23rd August 2026
Cambridge dictionary definition: ‘Conform’ – to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society.
Praying Together 16th August 2026
We share the shame of both if we fail to address the divisive hatred within our own purportedly Christian ‘tribe’ before condemning others. For Scripture also says Judge not lest ye yourself be judged (Matthew 7:1). Jesus Himself makes it clear that hypocrisy has no place in a Kingdom founded upon love.
Praying Together 9th August 2026
Trusting Jesus and obeying His call takes commitment, it takes faith, it takes the courage to face antagonism, discomfort and sometimes suffering.
Praying Together 26th July 2026
Just cling to the promise that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Pray Together 19th July 2026
We define hope as ‘to want something to happen or to be true, and have a good reason to think that it might’.
Praying Together 12th July 2026
But the real task to which godparents promise is to ensure that the newly-baptised are supported in their Christian growth, by prayer, advice and example.
Praying Together 5th July 2026
We obey His command, but not as slaves – instead, he invites us to be willing servants, alongside the freedom to always ask and reason together with Him as we choose our actions. Therein lies the path to Wisdom, and in God’s Wisdom lies gentleness, humility and rest for our souls.
Praying Together 21st June 2026
‘You are of more value than many sparrows.’
Yes perhaps we are – but that doesn’t mean that sparrows have no value at all.
Praying Together 31st May 2026
Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’.
Praying Together 17th May 2026
‘Somethin’s comin’, don’t know what it is, but it is gonna be great’
Praying Together 10th May 2026
This week I offer a report of our Archbishop John’s Introductory address to this week’s General Synod. It speaks for itself. I wish certain political leaders would read it too.