Prayers of St. Brigid of Sweden. Brigid of Ireland History of Brigid of Sweden

The role of women in society in the Middle Ages was not insignificant, as we used to think about it. In all centuries, and the Middle Ages are no exception, strong and ambitious women have been born. This was Saint Brigid of Sweden. The town of Vadstena, where we stopped during our trip to Sweden, says a lot about her.

It has always been a mystery to me: by what signs was this or that person canonized as a saint?

Well, it’s more or less clear with the martyrs and Saint Francis. But with the rest it’s somehow not very good, especially with the Scandinavian characters.

However, it is absolutely clear to me that extraordinary individuals were recognized as Saints and they at least should have become famous during their lifetime. In the absence of the media, becoming famous was not easy, to put it mildly.

Brigid of Sweden became famous for two things: her revelations, which are recognized as outstanding examples of medieval literature, and the founding of a monastic order with its own charter. In addition, she made pilgrimages, gave advice to those in power and helped the suffering.

Vadstena Monastery today

The Story of Brigid of Sweden

The saint was born in 1303 into an aristocratic Swedish family. At the age of 13 she was married off. The marriage was successful. She and her husband understood each other perfectly and they had eight children.

However, Brigitte was not satisfied with the role of wife and mother; she began to have problems. Her first vision happened at the age of seven - she saw the Virgin Mary. At the age of ten she saw Christ for the first time.

In 1330, she became a maid of honor at the court of King Magnus II Eriksson of Sweden. At court, she tried to influence the king's decisions by telling him her revelations. However, the king did not listen much to her, which earned her contempt. She mentions him more than once in her revelations, not from the best side.

By the way, the Saint’s “Revelations” were written in Latin, which she did not know. It is assumed that these revelations were recorded by her confessor Peter.

These revelations are also interesting because they are devoted to purely women’s issues. For example, how to dress, why jewelry is needed and Should we obey men? Imagine, even in the Middle Ages women asked themselves this question.

She gives an unequivocal answer to this question: of course it is necessary, because a man works by the sweat of his brow. A medieval woman should not have had any other answer, although the very posing of such a question already speaks of doubts on this matter.

However, the saint subsequently resolves this contradiction in the statutes of her brotherhood.

Vadstena Monastery

Brigitte made the decision to become a nun after the death of her husband. He died in 1341 during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostelo. And as was customary in those days, she saw a “revelation.” In it, “voices” ordered her to create a monastic order.

So that Brigitte could create a monastic order, the King of Sweden allocated her land in Vadstena for a future monastery. However, the lady did not find support from Pope Clement VI. He from Avignon rejected her request to establish a new order.

The monastic order conceived by Brigid envisaged the creation of a joint monastery for men and women. At the same time, women must submit to men in spiritual matters, and men to women in economic matters. An interesting fact was that women led a reclusive lifestyle, and men preached outside the walls of the monastery.

The order was approved after her death, and her daughter Saint Catherine became the founder of the Vadstena monastery.

Now Vadstena is a small Swedish town located on Lake Vattern. The buildings of the former abbey are scattered throughout the entire block. https://www.upplevvadstena.se/en/abbey.htm

The most beautiful attraction of Vadstena is the ancient castle.

How Brigid became a Saint.

During her stay in Rome, Brigid became famous for her righteous lifestyle and mercy. In her seventieth year, she went to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Thus, she fulfilled the vow to the Virgin Mary that she had made many years ago. She died in 1373 in Rome, immediately after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her body was subsequently reburied in Vadstena.

It was through the efforts of the saint’s daughter, Catherine, that she was canonized in 1391. Brigid is revered by the Catholic Church as the patroness of Europe. However, in her homeland the famous nun has an ambiguous attitude towards her.

Queen Christina once said that she would rather be ranked among the wise than among the saints. This meant, of course, Brigid and her revelations, which Protestant Sweden considers a sign of dementia.

Already in our century, Swedish scientists decided to examine two skulls kept in Vadstena Cathedral in order to test the assumption that St. Brigid had a benign brain tumor, which would explain her “visions.” However, as a result, it turned out that the skulls did not belong to relatives and, in general, the difference between the deceased women was 200 years. So it is not possible to clarify which relics are fake.

She is revered in Ireland as the Blessed Virgin Herself. The holiday in honor of St. Brigid is one of the most beloved in Ireland. The image of this Christian saint merges with the ancient Celtic goddess Brigit, the patroness of women in childbirth, herds and agricultural labors. There is a legend that says that Saint Brigid was the mother of the Blessed Virgin herself. In the image of this saint, two seemingly opposite traditions are intertwined: folk and Christian. After all, Brigid was revered in ancient Ireland as a pagan deity.

On the eve of St. Brigid's Day in villages, a vessel with milk or cottage cheese is placed on the windowsill so that the saint, passing by, will bless the work of the owners. Often beggars eat the food offered for blessing. But during her earthly life Saint Brigid fed the beggars and also hosted wanderers and vagabonds for the night. Saint Brigid is also considered the patroness of students and those who want to become a priest. Her life is sometimes indistinguishable from an ancient epic.

Saint Brigid was the daughter of a Druid from Leinster and a Christian woman from the Pictish tribe. The woman, the mother of Saint Brigid, was distinguished by her extraordinary beauty. She was a royal slave, but then the king gave her to a famous poet, who sold her to a druid. Thus, the very birth of the saint is surrounded by ancient mystery. According to legend, during the birth of Saint Brigid, the room was illuminated with heavenly light, and her mother was informed that her child would become an extraordinary saint. The girl grew up beautiful, wise and strict. One day, while traveling with her mother, Saint Brigid met her father. The king, struck by the girl’s beauty and intelligence, took her into his house as a servant. Saint Brigid carefully performed all her duties, although her treatment was very strict. Saint Brigid was faithful to the Christian faith, in which she was raised by her mother, who received Holy Baptism from Patrick himself. The girl had to resist the pagan way of life. However, she believed in Christ so much and was so wise that divine grace apparently accompanied her. According to legend, on the eve of one celebration she was given the task of filling all the vessels in the pantry with milk. But even all the cows in the royal pens together could not produce so much milk. Saint Brigid retired to pray to God in a small cell next to the pantry, and her prayers were heard. Then Oka filled the remaining empty vessels with water, overshadowed them with the holy cross, and the water in them turned into milk. This is a miracle: filling the vessels with milk or beer was then performed repeatedly. When asked how she managed to do this, the girl answered that the Lord Jesus Christ did it. Saint Brigid was distinguished by her extraordinary generosity while still living in her mother’s house. One day she distributed to the poor the entire supply of butter that was in the house. Fearing her mother's wrath, Brigid prayed to God, and the oil filled the empty vessels again. Another time she took off her cloak and shoes to give to a beggar. When she lived in the house of King Dubtah, her father, she gave his sword to a leper.

There is a legend about how Saint Bridget refused marriage for the sake of Christ. She was the daughter of a king, smart, beautiful and well brought up. In addition, she had reached the age at which people usually got married at that time. Soon one of the Ulster kings wooed Saint Brigid and even began to threaten that he would write a song of reproach against her. But Saint Brigid was not afraid, on the contrary. She tore out her left eye and held it out in her palm to the king. He was scared; he could not take the one-eyed girl as his wife. So as soon as he refused, Saint Brigid again inserted the torn out eye into the socket, it grew back and began to see again. When she tried to renew the matchmaking, the girl replied: “I belong to Christ and have already been betrothed to him in Holy Baptism.” Like Christ Himself, like the saints of the first centuries of Christianity, she chose a celibate life.

While living at her father's court, Saint Brigid performed many miracles and deeds of mercy. Her fame spread throughout the area. Over time, the king agreed to give her freedom. Thus, Saint Brigid was given the opportunity to devote her life entirely to the service of Christ, works of mercy and prayer. She went with a small retinue of seven girls to northern Leinster and received a monastic robe from the hands of Bishop Michael. The first monastery she founded, in Kil Daire, was distinguished by its poverty of furnishings and economy. But Saint Brigid encouraged the sisters, taught patience, supported the exhausted, healed the sick, and tried to be everything to everyone. Her whole life is a single example of mercy. Her fame had already spread throughout Ireland.

Once on Easter Eve in Kil Daire there was only a bag of malt, a tub and two tubs for making beer. In the district of Kil Daire Mag Talach there were eighteen temples that wanted to organize Easter festivities with a refreshing and cheerful drink. Despite the lack of utensils and raw materials, Saint Brigid blessed the brewing of beer. The wort was placed in one tub, and beer was prepared in the other tub. The tub was used to collect beer from the first tub and carry it to the temple courtyards. And while the sisters were carrying a tub of beer to the courtyard, new wort was fermenting in one tub, and beer was maturing in another tub. So all eighteen temples received enough of the strengthening drink for the Easter holidays.

Saint Brigid was not afraid to treat lepers - people rejected by society. In no other life are there so many varied cases of healing from leprosy as in the life of Saint Brigid of Kildare. Sometimes the mentally ill were brought to her; Saint Brigid, like the Savior Himself, did not disdain anyone; she saw the image of God in everyone. She also had the gift of prudence. Sometimes they turned to her almost as a judge, when all hopes for earthly justice were exhausted. Tradition says that once several lepers came to Saint Brigid for healing. Saint Brigid foresaw discord between them. And therefore, first she healed one, the one who thanked God. However, he began to boast that he was healed before the others and, having boasted, he fell ill again. But then he repented of his vain boasting and was again cleansed of leprosy. Then Saint Bridget healed his comrades as well. When the quarrel between the lepers resumed, the leprosy returned to those who were jealous of their friend, and the one who praised God was completely freed from leprosy.

Students and priests in Ireland sought Saint Brigid for help and support. She was considered an old woman, a vessel of wisdom and many other gifts. She is often called a woman bishop; after all, from the beginning of the Saxon conquest of the fifth and sixth centuries, Ireland found itself cut off from the continental church and had to survive in very difficult conditions. One bishop asked Saint Brigid how she prayed. According to legend, Saint Brigid replied that from her youth her heart became engaged to Christ and she never asked for this gift back. The feast day of Saint Brigid of Kildare is celebrated on 1 February.

(Natalia CHERNYKH. From the book “The Green Island of Saints”)

via kamenah

Biography

About the life of St. Brigid, little reliable information has survived.

Three lives of St. have reached us. Brigit (the author of one of which was Cilian of Ireland), preserved in a large number of manuscripts and variants. Two Lives written in Latin, which are commonly called Vita I, or Vita Prima, And Vita II. The third life is written in Old Irish - Vita III, or Betu Brigde (BB). All these texts have a complex manuscript tradition. First Life ( Vita I) was written between 650 and 725 BC. However, the first life, according to medievalists, is not the most ancient. In its style and themes it is typical of Irish hagiographic literature of the eighth and subsequent centuries. Second Life ( Vita II), the smaller in volume, is one of four works of hagiographic literature of the seventh century that have an author - he was Cogitos of Kildare (lat. Cogitosus, memory April 18).

According to her life, which is largely legendary, her father was the pagan king of Leinster, and her mother was a Pictish slave converted to Christianity by St. Patrick.

Brigid is glorified not only for her miracles, but also for her kindness and mercy: she distributes food to the poor, heals the sick, and refuses help to no one.

In Brigid’s hands there is practically no shortage of meat, butter, and food for the guests; there is enough food and drink for everyone. These stories echo the gospel miracle of the five loaves and fishes, on the one hand, and the properties of the pagan fertility goddess Brigid. To ensure there is enough milk for all guests, her cows are milked three times a day. But her main talent is brewing:

It happened before Easter: “What should we do? - Brigitte asked her girls. - We have a bag of malt. We need to let it ferment, because we cannot be left without beer on Easter. There are eighteen churches in Mag Talah. How to give them beer for Easter, a holiday in honor of the Lord, so that it is a drink and not a meal? Besides, we don’t have blood vessels.” It was true. There was only one tub and two tubs in the house. "Fine. Let's cook." Here's what was done: the wort was prepared in one tub, it was placed in another to ferment; and what was put in the second tub to ferment, and from it they filled the tub and took it to each church in turn and returned back, but although they returned quickly, the tub managed to be filled with beer. Eighteen full buckets were emptied from the tub and this was enough for Easter. And not a single church lacked for the holidays from Easter to St. Thomas Sunday, thanks to the labors of Brigid.

St. died Brigid is in the monastery she founded in the city, but is buried in Downpatrick next to St. Patrick, together with whom she is considered the patron saint of Ireland.

Veneration of St. Brigid's message quickly spread, first throughout Ireland and then throughout the Western Church. Memory of St. Brigid of Ireland in the Catholic Church - February 1, in the Orthodox Church - January 23, Art. Art.

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Born in Ireland
Deaths in Ireland
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Born in 451
Deaths on February 1
Died in 525
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Christian saints of the 6th century
Saints of Ireland
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See what “Brigid of Ireland” is in other dictionaries:

Brigitte is a feminine name of Celtic origin. In some languages it is written with two or one "g". Famous speakers Brigitte Schersenfeld (1584 1736) Swedish memoirist Brigitte Bardot (born 1934) ... ... Wikipedia

- “Heritage Floor” is a composition that forms a single object with the installation “Dinner Party” by Judy Chicago, paying tribute to the achievements and hardships of women’s work and having the shape of a triangular banquet table for 39... ... Wikipedia

The straw cross used as an amulet and as a symbol is called the "Cross of St. Brigid", linking the tradition of its use with the Christian saint. But we understand that the roots here are much deeper and it is not surprising that the tradition and beliefs associated with a simple product made from straw are preserved to this day.

Christians called Saint Brigid a woman who, according to legend, wove this cross on the deathbed of her father (according to another version, a rich pagan), who, having learned about the meaning of this symbol, decided to accept Baptism before his death. Over time, the woman was canonized because she had also committed There are many other charitable deeds; the monument to her still stands today. Now Saint Brigid of Ireland is considered the patron saint of Ireland, just like Saint Patrick.

This cross has become an almost unofficial symbol of Ireland, and its shape clearly demonstrates the pagan symbolism of the solstice. Usually made from reed stems or straw, there is a wicker square in the center, from which rounded rays extend.

Many rituals were previously associated with the cross. Sometimes this symbol still decorates the homes of Catholics, especially in rural areas. Many believe that the cross of St. Brigitte protects the house from fires.

Such crosses are traditionally made on February 1; this day in Gaelic is called Lá Fhéile Bhríde (the feast of St. Brigid). However, before Christianity came to Ireland, another Brigid or Brighid was revered there - a Celtic goddess who is associated with the holiday of Imbolc, since it is one of the key Sabbaths of the year and includes some fire rituals in the celebration, and Brighid is the goddess of fire. This can be seen even in the Christian image at the very beginning of the article - the saint is holding a bowl of burning coals in her hands, although Christians, of course, put a different meaning into this.

However, I was interested in what is the reason for using straw to weave a cross?

Here we see preserved elements of the magic of Bread.
Imbolc on the Wheel of the Year - a cycle of witch holidays associated with the agricultural calendar - is exactly opposite Lammas, the Festival of Bread and Harvest, which is celebrated on August 1st. Therefore, the symbols of these two celebrations are the Goddess in her two forms: the Mother of Bread in August - a mature, fertile woman, the image of the rich harvest that the earth gave to people; The Virgin of Bread in February is a young, virgin goddess, a bride who has yet to awaken to life from sleep under a warm winter snow blanket, just as the earth wakes up in spring. According to Celtic myths, it was believed that in winter, when all living things freeze and nature is silent, the Goddess, personifying nature, she stayed in the Land of Spirits (or Avalon, Annona), where she rested and regained her youth. In Greek mythology, later, we see a similar motif in the story of Demeter, abducted into the underworld.

One of the variants of the "Cross", only three-pointed.
If in August, after the harvest, the Celts used straw from the last sheaf to weave a female figurine, the embodiment of the Goddess, then usually this figurine was kept all winter in darkness and silence in the attic, as if reproducing the outline of the myth. The goddess slept all winter...
Then by spring she was reincarnated in a new hypostasis - like the young Moon, like a young virgin from the image of the Triune, where she is equal and strong, like the Mother, like the Old Woman - and turned into the Virgin of Bread.
It must be said that it was not only crosses that were woven for February 1st. These could be any straw figurines, with different names - and similar figurines can still be worn at crafts fairs, and not only in Ireland. The tradition of honoring bread as the main culture that gives life is also common among the Slavs.
During Imbolc, in principle, even a simple bunch of ears of corn can symbolize the maiden hypostasis of the Goddess. In addition, the same figurine, woven from the grain of the last sheaf, can simply be dressed up as a bride. Any other wheat straw figurine was simply called a “bread doll.” Before weaving, soak the spikelets in cool water for flexibility.
One of the earliest forms of bread pupa is the vertical spiral. Even simpler options are the “Love Sign” or “Lover’s Knot”, they are made simply by braiding the straws. The most complex are the “Welsh Fans”, which sometimes become even more complex if they are combined into a circle of several pieces.
The meaning of all these bread maulets, including St. Brigid's Cross, was to use them as protective and fertility amulets, and according to Rhiannon Ryall, author of West Country Wicca, men covered the roof of a house straws, they hung a pair of such figures in opposite ridges of the roof as protective talismans, with one of the dolls symbolizing the Goddess and the other God.
Based on Pauline Campanelli's "The Return of Pagan Traditions."
The goddess Bride (Brigid, Brigid), whose name means “Bride”, is a typical image of the universal goddess of fertility.
According to Celtic beliefs, on the next Sabbath, May 1 or Beltane, the Bride Goddess will unite with her groom god, or as he was also called the Oak King... The Oak King has power from Christmastide until the summer solstice, when he is defeated by the Oak King. Holly (holly), symbolizing the waning Sun in the second half of the year.

"Brigid - (in Britain Brigantia), daughter of the Dagda, was an important female deity of Ireland, patroness of poetry, crafts and healing, helping women during childbirth. Sometimes the name Brigid refers to three female deities who patronize wisdom, the art of healing and blacksmithing.

There is a tradition to represent Brigid as a bird with a human head, or three birds - cranes or roosters.

In Ireland, there is a tradition of burying a live chicken near three streams in order to gain the favor of Brigid (later the Christian saint Brigid).

In the Irish sagas, Brigid is represented as the wife of Bres, a god of half-Fomorian origin, for some time after the first battle of Moytura with the Fir Bolg tribe, who stood at the head of the Tribes of the Goddess Danu. Brigit gave birth to three sons from Bres.

In the north of England, Brigid is revered under the name Brigantia, which means “top, queen.” She was especially worshiped by the Brigantes, who dominated the north of England before the arrival of the Romans. Brigantia is the goddess of prosperity, healing, war and water.

In Gaul the goddess is known as Brigindo. This indicates the common Celtic basis of the goddess and the antiquity of the tradition of worshiping her.

Brigid is often contrasted with her mother Anu (Dana). Brigid's holiday - Imbolc - is celebrated on February 1, the time when sheep produce milk.

Perhaps it was she who Caesar called the Gallic Minerva.

About Saint Brigid of Ireland, ibid.:
“Little reliable information has survived about the life of St. Brigid.

Three lives of St. have reached us. Brigit, preserved in a large number of manuscripts and variants. Two lives are written in Latin, which are usually called Vita I, or Vita Prima, and Vita II. The third life is written in Old Irish - Vita III, or Betu Brigde (BB). All these texts have a complex manuscript tradition. The first Life (Vita I) was written between 650 and 725. However, the first life, according to medievalists, is not the most ancient. In its style and themes it is typical of Irish hagiographic literature of the eighth and subsequent centuries. The second life (Vita II), smaller in volume, is one of four works of hagiographic literature of the seventh century that have an author - he was Cogitosus (lat. Cogitosus).

According to her life, which is largely legendary, her father was the pagan king of Leinster, and her mother was a Pictish slave converted to Christianity by St. Patrick.

Brigid is glorified not only for her miracles, but also for her kindness and mercy: she distributes food to the poor, heals the sick, and refuses help to no one.

In Brigid’s hands there is practically no shortage of meat, butter, and food for the guests; there is enough food and drink for everyone.

These stories echo the gospel miracle of the five loaves and fishes, on the one hand, and the properties of the pagan fertility goddess Brigit. To ensure there is enough milk for all guests, her cows are milked three times a day. But her main talent is brewing:

This happened before Easter: “What should we do?” Brigid asked her girls. “We have a bag of malt. We need to let it ferment, because we cannot be left without beer on Easter. There are eighteen churches in Mag Talah. How to give beer for Easter, a holiday in honor of the Lord, so that it is a drink and not a meal? Besides, we don’t have vessels.” It was true. There was only one tub and two tubs in the house. "Okay. Let's cook." Here's what was done: the wort was prepared in one tub, it was placed in another to ferment; and what was put in the second tub to ferment, and from it they filled the tub and took it to each church in turn and returned back, but although they returned quickly, the tub managed to be filled with beer. Eighteen full buckets were emptied from the tub and this was enough for Easter. And not a single church lacked for the holidays from Easter to St. Thomas Sunday, thanks to the labors of Brigid.

"St. Brigid's Cross" above the church doors.
It is known that around 468 she converted to Christianity. Around 480, she founded a monastery in the town of Kildare on the site of a former pagan sanctuary of the Druids (Irish: Cill Dara - Temple of the Oak). St. died Brigid in the monastery she founded in 525, but was buried in Downpatrick next to St. Patrick, together with whom she is considered the patron saint of Ireland.

In the Orthodox tradition - the Venerable Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, Princess of Ireland.

About the life of St. Brigid, little reliable information has survived.

Three lives of St. have reached us. Brigit, preserved in a large number of manuscripts and variants. Two lives are written in Latin, which are usually called Vita I, or Vita Prima, and Vita II. The third life is written in Old Irish - Vita III, or Betu Brigde (BB). All these texts have a complex manuscript tradition. The first Life (Vita I) was written between 650 and 725. However, the first life, according to medievalists, is not the most ancient. In its style and themes it is typical of Irish hagiographic literature of the eighth and subsequent centuries. The second life (Vita II), smaller in volume, is one of four works of hagiographic literature of the seventh century that have an author - he was Cogitosus (lat. Cogitosus).

According to her life, which is largely legendary, her father was the pagan king of Leinster, and her mother was a Pictish slave converted to Christianity by St. Patrick.

Brigid is glorified not only for her miracles, but also for her kindness and mercy: she distributes food to the poor, heals the sick, and refuses help to no one.

it is known that around 468 she converted to Christianity. Around 480, she founded a monastery in the town of Kildare on the site of a former pagan sanctuary of the Druids (Irish: Cill Dara - Temple of the Oak). Brigita repeatedly visited Kilbride, where she met Brigita, who is still revered in those parts. Brigid was the adoptive mother of another revered Irish saint, Darlughdach.

St. died Brigid in the monastery she founded in 525, but was buried in Downpatrick next to St. Patrick, together with whom she is considered the patron saint of Ireland.