The Life of Saint Brigid

I am often asked what compelled me to write a book about the Irish Saint Brigid.   I am very interested in Celtic spirituality, in particular the early Irish saints. None is more appealing than St. Brigid, a woman of truly unique vision, personality, and spirit. It is quite possible that she founded the first monastery in Ireland, one that served as a model for those founded later for men. If not consecrated a bishop, Brigid certainly acted like one! Her life was a whirlwind of activity: acting as a champion of the poor, a healer, and a peacemaker in a violent time, all the while never once taking her mind from God, the source of all that she was and all that she accomplished.
People are searching for books on Saint Brigid only to find very little written about her. A cursory internet search for Brigid finds a proliferation of websites, many of them religious, but also a significant number of others that focus on the goddess Brigid. As I say in my book, THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGID published by Appletree Press in Belfast, it is impossible to separate the legends of the saint from the stories of the goddess that had the same name. The Irish of the latter half of the first millennium joyously celebrated both, not worrying over which was more “real.”

Brigid’s story is an inspiration for those looking for a spirituality, a unique Celtic spirituality, that celebrates the sacred in all of creation, and for those searching as well for the feminine face of God.

In a recent interview, I was asked if my book THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGID was connected to my ancestry.

My maiden name, Egan, is Irish. My grandfather was born in County Mayo. In 2000, my brother, sister and I attended a Clan Egan Gathering at Redwood Castle in Ireland. I had been doing research on Saint Brigid in preparation for writing a book about her. Amazingly, the source I was using (a translation from THE LEABHAR BREAC, a manuscript written in Latin and Middle Irish) had been written for the MacEgans in the early 15th century, a part of it quite likely written in the very castle where we had our reunion!

The publisher of my book The Life of Saint Brigid (Appletree Press in Ireland) offers this information about the book:

                      

The first of February, the first day of spring, is celebrated as Saint Brigid's feast day. But who was she and why is she so venerated in Ireland? Brigid lived in Ireland at the very beginning of Christianity and was a woman of unique vision, personality and spirit. She founded a monastery, became a champion of the poor and sick and was a peacemaker in a violent land. She also shared her name with one of the pre-Christian gods and so the legends of the goddess and the saint became infused.

The Life of St Brigid looks at the legends connected with the saint, prayers about her and explains the symbolism behind (and how to make) the St Brigid's cross. The fire of Celtic spirituality lit by St Brigid so many years ago continues to burn and readers will be fascinated by a woman who continues to inspire people today.

Saint Brigid book cover

A new website dedicated to the Saint and Celtic Goddess Brigid (also known as St. Brighid) gave a lovely description of my book The Life of Saint Brigid. St. Brigid is perhaps best known for the crosses that bear her name and are hung in Irish households to protect against fire.

To learn about my inspiration for writing The Life of Saint Brigid, click here.

They added The Life of Saint Brigid to a list of "Books that have inspired (the site)."  The "mini-review" is as follows:  "Beautifully produced little book with the Life of the Saint, Legends of the Goddess, Customs, Prayers and instructions to make Brigid's Cross."

The Life of St. Brigid
- Anna Egan Smucker
- Appletree Press 2007 - ISBN: 10: 0 86281 9997
76 pp Hardback

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