,,!   ,,life ,,( ,,sa9t ,,bridget       
,,virg9 ,,& ,,abbess   ,,patroness ,,(  
,,irel&   ,o h[ beautiful is ! *a/e     
g5]ation ) glory6 = ! memory !re( is    
immortal3 because x is kn[n ) ,god & )  
m51 & x triumphe?1 cr[n$ = ev]4 ,,wisd4 
iv1 #a4  ,,next to ! glori\s ,/4        
,patrick1 ,/4 ,bridget--:om we may      
consid] 8 spiritual daught] 9 ,*ri/--has
 ev] be5 held 9 s+ul> v5]ation 9 ,irel&4
 ,ev5 9 ! neighbor+ k+doms ( ,engl& &   
,scotl&1 z a =eign writ] affirms1 ?is   
great sa9t has1 aft] ! glori\s ,virg9   
,"m ( ,god1 be5 s+ul>ly honor$ & rev]$4 
#a ,a pity1 !n1 x is1 t we "k s little (
 h] hi!rto1 & t our means ( kn[+ mu* are
 /ill s scanty4 ,we are n able to give m
 ?an a biographical sket*1 b ! facts are
 s int]e/+1 & above all s edify+1 z w 9 
"s measure comp5sate = _! fewness4 ,to  
comm5ce1 !n1 our acc\nt ( ! great       
patroness ( ,irel&3   ,,nativity ,,(    
,,/4 ,,bridget--,,h] ,,e>ly             
,,piety--,,%e ,,embraces ,,! ,,religi\s 
,,/ate ,,& ,,f\nds ,,sev]al             

,,mona/]ies--,,h] ,,sa9tly ,,dea?4      
,,ab\t ! ye> ( our ,"l1 #dec1 0 ,/4     
,bridget born4 ,! place ( h] nativity 0 
,to*>d or ,taugh]1 9 ! vic9ity (        
,dundalk1 ?\gh h] illu/ri\s fa!r1       
,dubta*1 & h] "m ,brocessa or ,brotsea*1
 ( ! noble h\se ( ,o',connor1 usually   
resid$ 9 ,le9/]4 ,dur+ h] y\? e         
att5tion1 :i* p>5ts ( di/+ui%$ rank &   
em95t piety c\ld employ1 0 assidu\sly   
paid to h] education4 ,great ?+s 7      
expect$ f h]2 dur+ h] infancy h] pi\s   
fa!r _h a vision1 9 :i* he saw m5 clo!d 
9 :ite g>m5ts p\r+1 z x 71 a sacr$      
ungu5t on h] head1 !reby prefigur+ h]   
future sanctity4 ,:ile yet v "y1        
,bridget1 = ! love ( ,*ri/ our ,"l1 :om 
%e *ose = h] sp\se1 & to :om %e 0       
closely unit$ 9 he>t & _s1 be/[$ e ?+ at
 h] disposal on ,8 suff]+ memb]s1 !     
poor1 & 0 ! edification ( all :o knew   
h]4 ,%e 0 surpass+ly beautiful2 & fe>+1 
9 consequ5ce1 t ef=ts might be made by  
h] _m suitors to dissolve ! sacr$ v[ by 
:i* %e _h b\nd h]self to ! ,"l1 %e      

bes\ght ,him to r5d] h] de=m$1 & to     
deprive h] ( t gracefulness ( p]son :i* 
_h ga9$ = h] su* admiration4 ,h]        
petition 0 in/antly he>d1 = h] eye      
became swoln1 & h] :ole c\nt5ance s     
*ang$1 t %e 0 p]mitt$ to foll[ h]       
vocation 9 peace1 & m>riage ) h] 0 no m 
?\ght (4  ,aft] a %ort int]val1 & :5 %e 
0 ab\t tw5ty ye>s old1 #b ! "y virg9    
made kn[n to ,maccaille a bi%op1 & a    
disciple ( ,/4 ,patrick1 & :o _h se5 ov]
 h] head a pill> ( fire1 h] det]m9ation 
to live only to ,*ri/ ,jesus1 h] heav5ly
 ,bridegroom1 & he q approv$ ( h] pi\s  
resolve1 & cons5t$ to receive h] sacr$  
v[s4 ,on ! appo9t$ day1 ! solemn c]emony
 ( h] pr(ession 0 p]=m$1 aft] ! mann]   
introduc$ by ,/4 ,patrick1 ! bi%op putt+
 up _m holy pray]s1 & inve/+ ,bridget ) 
a sn[-:ite habit & a cloak ( ! same     
color1 aft] %e _h put (f h] secul>      
ornam5ts4 ,:ile %e incl9$ h] head on ?is
 happy occasion to receive ! sacr$ veil1
 a miracle ( a s+ul>ly /rik+ &          
impressive nature occurr$2 t "p ( !     

wood5 plat=m adjo9+ ! alt> on :i* %e    
knelt recov]$ its pri/9e vitality1 & put
 on1 z all ! by/&]s witness$1 its =m]   
gre5ness & v]dure1 reta9+ x = a long "t 
aft]4 ,at ! same mom5t ,bridget's eye 0 
heal$1 & %e became z beautiful & lovely 
z ev]4 7,lessons 9 ,(fice ( ,/4         
,bridget47  ,enc\rag$ by h] example1    
?ree1 or1 z "s say1 eight1 o!r ladies   
made _! v[s ) h]1 & 9 compliance ) ! wi%
 ( ! p>5ts ( ^! h] new associates1 !    
sa9t agre$ to f\nd a religi\s resid5ce =
 h]self & !m 9 ! vic9ity4 ,a conv5i5t   
site hav+ be5 fix$ ^u by ! bi%op1 a     
conv5t--! fir/ 9 ,irel&--0 erect$ ^u x2 
&1 9 ob$i5ce to ! prelate1 ,bridget     
assum$ ! sup]iority4 ,h] reputation =   
sanctity became great] e day1 & 9       
proportion z x 0 diffus$ ?r\gh\t !      
c\ntry1 s increas$ ! numb] ( c&idates = 
admission into ! new mona/]y4 ,! bi%ops 
( ,irel& soon p]ceiv+ ! important       
advantages :i* _! respective dioceses   
w\ld d]ive f simil> f\ndations1 procur$ 
t ! "y & sa9tly abbess %\ld visit       

diff]5t p>ts ( ! k+dom1 &1 z an         
opportunity (f]$1 introduce into ea* "o 
! e/abli%m5t ( h] in/itute4  ,:ile ?us  
engag$ 9 a portion ( ! prov9ce (        
,connaught1 a deputation arriv$ f ,le9/]
 to solicit ! sa9t to take up h]        
resid5ce 9 t t]ritory2 b ! motives :i*  
!y urg$ 7 human1 & su* c\ld h no weight 
) ,bridget4 ,%e 0 ins5sible to e argum5t
 f\nd$ on fri5d%ip & family connections 
7=1 z we h already said1 %e 0 ( ,le9/]  
desc5t1 & _h sp5t 9 t prov9ce a great   
portion ( h] y\?72 x 0 only ! prospect (
 ! _m spiritual advantages t w\ld result
 f compliance ) _! reque/1 t induc$ h]  
to acc$e1 z %e did1 to ! wi%es ( !      
respectable body :i* _h petition$ h]4   
,"s "t aft]1 ! sa9t tak+ ) h] a numb] ( 
h] spiritual daught]s1 j\rney$ to       
,le9/]1 :]e !y 7 receiv$ ) _m           
demon/rations ( respect & joy1 ! p      
exult+ at ! great spiritual good :i* !y 
7 ab\t to conf] on ! prov9ce4 ,! site on
 :i* ,kild>e n[ /&s appe>+ to be well   
adapt$ = a religi\s in/itute1 !re ! sa9t

 & h] companions took up _! abode4 ,to !
 place appropriat$ = ! new f\ndation "s 
l&s 7 annex$1 ! fruits ( :i* 7 assign$  
to ! little e/abli%m5t4 ,?is donation1  
inde$1 contribut$ to supply ! wants ( ! 
community1 b /ill ! pi\s si/]hood       
pr9cipally dep5d$ = _! ma9t5ance on !   
lib]ality ( _! b5efactors4 ,m]cy hav+   
gr[n up ) ,bridget f h] v *ildhood1 %e  
contriv$ out ( _! small means to relieve
 ! poor ( ! vic9ity v consid]ably1 & :5 
! wants ( ^! indig5t p]sons surpass$ h] 
sl5d] f9ances1 %e hesitat$ n to         
sacrifice = !m ! moveables ( ! conv5t4  
,on "o occasion1 :5 _! di/ress 0        
unusually griev\s1 ! sp\se ( ,*ri/1     
imitat+ ! burn+ *>ity ( ,/4 ,ambrose &  
o!r great s]vants ( ,god1 sold "s ( !   
sacr$ ve/m5ts t %e might procure ! means
 ( reliev+ _! necessities4 ,%e 0 v g5]\s
 & hospitable too1 p>ticul>ly to bi%ops 
& religi\s1 & s humble1 t %e sometimes  
att5d$ ! cattle on ! l& :i* belong$ to  
h] mona/]y4  ,! r5[n ( ,bridget's       
unb\nd$ *>ity drew multitudes ( ! poor &

 necessit\s to ,kild>e2 ! fame ( h]     
piety attract$ ?i!r _m p]sons (         
di/9ction also1 :o 7 anxi\s to solicit  
h] pray]s or to pr(it by h] holy        
example4 ,9 c\rse ( "t ! numb] ( ^! s   
mu* increas$1 7& :at an additional pro( 
does x n af=d ( ! ?ir/ = spiritual      
improvem5t indulg$ by our ance/ors67 t x
 became necess>y to provide             
accommodation = !m 9 ! neighborhood ( ! 
new mona/]y1 & ?us 0 laid ! f\ndation & 
orig9 ( ! t[n ( ,kild>e4 #c  ,!         
spiritual exig5cies ( h] community & (  
^? num]\s /rang]s :o resort$ to !       
vic9ity1 hav+ sugge/$ to our sa9t !     
exp$i5cy ( procur+ ! locality to be     
erect$ into an episcopal see1 %e        
repres5t$ x to ! prelates1 to :om !     
consid]ation ( x rightly belong$4 ,deem+
 ! proposal j & useful1 ,conla?1 a      
recluse ( em95t sanctity1 illu/ri\s by !
 great ?+s :i* ,god _h grant$ to 8      
pray]s1 01 at ,bridget's desire1 *os5 ! 
fir/ bi%op ( ! newly-erect$ diocese4 ,9 
process ( "t1 x became ! ecclesia/ical  

metropolis ( ! prov9ce to :i* x belong$1
 #d probably 9 consequ5ce ( ! g5]al     
desire to honor ! place 9 :i* ,/4       
,bridget _h s long abode4 ,ov] all !    
conv5ts ( h] in/itute e/abli%$ ?r\gh\t !
 k+dom1 a special jurisdiction is said  
to h be5 ex]cis$ by ,conla? & 8         
successors 9 ! see ( ,kild>e2 b !       
evid5ce suppli$ by hi/orians on ?is po9t
 is by no means ( a conclusive "*3 !    
only inf]5ce t c be d$uc$ f _! /atem5ts 
is1 t1 9 virtue ( 8 dignity z           
metropolitan1 ! bi%op ( ,kild>e 0       
specially *>g$ ) ! c>e ( ! ,bridget9e   
conv5ts e/abli%$ )9 ! prov9ce4  ,!      
desire ( ! holy abbess = ! p]man5t      
resid5ce ( a prelate at ,kild>e be+     
accompli%$1 %e appli$ h]self unres]v$ly 
to ! c>e ( ! community ov] :i* %e       
imm$iately presid$1 & 0 to !m 9 h] e act
 :at ! dev\t ,a ,kempis means by a      
mirror ( life1 & a book ( holy doctr9e4 
,h] sanctity 0 atte/$ by _m miracles4   
,%e 0 con/antly occupi$ 9 promot+ ! good
 ( o!rs2 %e (t5 cleans$ ! lep]s1 heal$ !

 sick & langui%+ by h] pray]s1 & obta9$ 
sight = "o bl9d f 8 nativity4 ,nor 0 !  
_s ( prophecy want+ to h]2 num]\s 7 h]  
pr$ictions ( future ?+s4 7,(fice1 #c    
,less4 ,roman ,brevi>y47  ,! mo/ em95t  
p]sons ( h] "t ei!r visit$ or           
correspond$ ) ,/4 ,bridget4 ,besides    
sev]al o!rs1 ,/4 ,albeus1 bi%op ( ,ca%el
 or ,emly1 & ,/4 ,br5dan ( ,clonf]t1    
conf]r$ ) h] on religi\s subjects2 & !  
celebrat$ ,gildas is said to h s5t h]1 z
 a tok5 ( 8 e/eem1 a small bell ca/ by  
himself4 #e  ,aft] sev5ty ye>s devot$ to
 ! practice ( ! mo/ sublime virtues1    
corporal infirmities admoni%$ ! sa9t t !
 "t ( h] dissolution 0 nigh4 ,x 0 n[    
half a c5tury s9ce1 by h] holy v[s1 %e  
_h irrevocably consecrat$ h]self to     
,god1 &1 dur+ t p]iod1 great results _h 
be5 atta9$1 h] holy in/itute hav+ widely
 diffus$ itself ?r\gh\t ! gre5 isle1 &  
greatly advanc$ ! cause ( religion 9 !  
v>i\s di/ricts 9 :i* x 0 e/abli%$4 ,l a 
riv] ( peace1 its progress 0 /eady &    
sil5t2 x f]tiliz$ e region =tunate en\gh

 to receive its wat]s1 & caus$ !m to    
bloom =? spiritual fl[]s & fruits ) all 
! sweet p]fume ( evangelical fragrance4 
,! remembrance ( ! glory %e _h procur$  
to ! ,mo/ ,high1 z well z ! s]vices     
r5d]$ to de> s\ls ransom$ by ! preci\s  
blood ( h] div9e ,sp\se1 *e]$ & consol$ 
,bridget 9 ! infirmities insep>able f   
old age4 ,h] la/ illness 0 soo!d by !   
pres5ce ( ,n5nidh1 a prie/ ( em95t      
sanctity1 ov] ^: y\? %e _h wat*$ ) pi\s 
solicitude1 & :o 0 indebt$ to h] pray]s 
& in/ructions = 8 great pr(ici5cy 9     
sublime p]fection4 #f ,! day on :i* our 
abbess 0 to t]m9ate h] c\rse 7,feb4 #a1 
#ebc7 hav+ arriv$1 %e receiv$ f ! h&s ( 
?is sa9tly prie/ ! bless$ body & blood (
 h] ,"l 9 ! ,div9e ,eu*>i/1 & z x w\ld  
seem1 imm$iately aft] h] _s pass$ =?1 & 
w5t to possess ,him 9 t heav5ly c\ntry  
:]e ,he is se5 face to face & enjoy$ )\t
 dang] ( ev] los+ ,him4 ,h] body 0      
int]r$ 9 ! *ur* adjo9+ h] conv5t1 b 0 "s
 "t aft] exhum$1 & deposit$ 9 a spl5did 
%r9e ne> ! high alt>4 ,cogitosus1 :o    

liv$ two c5turies lat]1 ?us describes ! 
*ur* :i* !n conta9$ ?is valuable        
treasure3 ,! *ur* ( ,kild>e enclos$ an  
ample space ( gr\nd1 & 0 ( a height     
proportion$ to its ext5t4 ,! build+ 0   
divid$ into ?ree comp>tm5ts1 ea* "o ( !m
 rem>kable = ! va/ness ( its dim5sions1 
yet by ! +5uity ( ! ar*itect1 "o ro(    
skilfully adapt$1 cov]$ ! entire4 ,!    
ea/]n division ( ! /ructure1 t]m9at$ at 
nor? & s\? by two ( its ext]ior walls1  
:ile a wood5 p>tition ext5d+ to ! nor? &
 s\?1 & sep>at$ by a small int]/ice f ! 
ea/]n extremity ( ! *ur*1 =m$ !         
enclosure ( ! sanctu>y4 ,adjo9+ ! latt]1
 & at its nor!rn & s\!rn po9ts1 7 two   
doors1 by "o ( :i* ! bi%op & 8 assi/ant 
ent]$ to celebrate ! ,holy ,mass1 & p]=m
 ! o!r public (fices2 :ile by ! o!r !   
nuns 7 admitt$ on ! days on :i* !y 7 to 
receive ! ,holy ,communion4 ,! nave ( ! 
*ur* 0 aga9 divid$ into two p>ts )      
sep>ate entrances4 ,"o division 0       
appropriat$ to ! male portion ( !       
congregation1 ! o!r 0 exclusively res]v$

 = females4 ,! appe>ance ( ! edifice 0 v
 pleas+1 cont9ues ! same au?or1 by !    
numb] ( w9d[s di/ribut$ ?r\gh ! entire  
build+4 ,on ! ea/]n extremity1 ! limit (
 ! sanctu>y1 0 a v>iety ( sacr$ images1 
:i* met ! eye ! v mom5t "o ent]$ ! por* 
( ! *ur*1 & ! int]/ices 7 fill$ up )    
suitable decorations4 ,at ei!r side ( ! 
alt> /ood ! sacr$ %r9es ( ,/4 ,bridget &
 ,/4 ,conla?1 :i* 7 adorn$ ) a pr(usion 
( preci\s metals exquisitely wr\ght1    
/udd$ ) co/ly gems & /ones ( great      
price1 & surm\nt$ by diadems ( gold &   
silv]1 types ( ! glory ) :i* ! ,"l      
rew>ds ,8 fai?ful s]vants4 7,vita ,/4   
,brigid47  ,9 ! foll[+ 7! #i?7 c5tury1 !
 c\ntry be+ desolat$ by ! ,danes1 !     
rema9s ( ,/4 ,bridget 7 remov$ 9 ord] to
 secure !m f irrev]5ce1 & transf]r$ to  
,d[n1 7 deposit$ 9 ! same grave ) ^? (  
glori\s ,/4 ,patrick4 ,! ,bridget9es1 ! 
holy ord] f\nd$ by ?is holy virg91 & h] 
mo/ preci\s memorial1 cont9u$ to fl\ri% 
= c5turies aft] h] decease1 & gave _m   
sa9ts to ,irel&4    #a ,hector ,boe?ius'

 ,hi/ory ( ,scotl&1 ,l4 #i  #b ,! age ( 
tw5ty ye>s 0 t requir$ by ! ,iri% ,*ur* 
to mak+ ! mona/ic v[s4 7,synod ,/4      
,patric4 *4 #ag47  #c ,kild>e got its "n
 f !re be+ a v high oak tree ne> ,/4    
,bridget's habitation4 ,kil signify+    
cell--,dura1 oak tree4  #d ,cogitosus   
,vita ,/4 ,brigida4  #e ,dr4 ,lanigan1  
*4 #i1 sect4 #e1 ,eccles4 ,hi/4 ,irel&4 
#f ,n5nidh 0 a /ud5t1 p]haps at ,kild>e1
 :5 ,/4 ,bridget happ5+ "o day to be )  
"s ( h] nuns ne> ! mona/]y1 saw him     
runn+ v fa/ & 9 an unbecom+ mann]4 ,hav+
 s5t = & inquir$ ( him :i!r he 0 runn+ 9
 su* ha/e1 he repli$1 z if 9 je/1 ,to ! 
,k+dom ( ,heav54 ,:]eupon ! sa9t gravely
 said1 ,i wi% ,i des]v$ to run along ) y
 to-day to t ,k+dom1 pray = me t ,i may 
rea* x4 ,affect$ by ^! words1 ! "y man  
bes\ght h] to recomm5d him to ,god t he 
might pursue a /eady c\rse t[>ds ,heav54
 ,%e promptly acquiesc$1 & ! consequ5ce 
0 8 comm5cem5t f t mom5t ( a life (     
p]fection4--,dr4 ,lanigan1 #i *4 #e     
section1 ,eccles4 ,hi/ory4