Today we remember of St. Brigid of Kildare and St. Veridiana of Castelflorintino. We will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 12:00 p.m. (noon). We will also be led in Evening Prayer by Reader Jeff Brown this evening at 7:00 p.m.
THE LIFE OF ST. BRIGID OF KILDARE
Brigid (also known as Bride) was born in the latter part of the fifth century, of humble origin just five miles from Kildare. She was to become first a nun in a monastery there and then its abbess. She is believed to have been baptized by Saint Patrick and the stories of her portray a woman of great compassion who, like many Celtic saints, had a particular affinity with animals and the natural world. Her life was written in the middle of the seventh century and is the earliest life of an Irish saint. She is said to have been consecrated a bishop by Bishop Ibor, because of her resemblance to the Virgin Mary, but this may have been put abroad to support the claim of the primacy of the Abbey of Kildare. By her prayers and miracles, she is reputed to have strongly influenced the formation of the Church throughout Ireland, where she is, with Patrick, the patron saint. She died in about the year 525.
THE COLLECT FOR ST. BRIGID OF KILDARE
Almighty God, by whose grace Brigid of Kildare, kindled with the fire of your love, became a burning and shining light in the Church: inflame us with the same spirit of discipline and love, that we may ever walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE LIFE OF ST. VERIDIANA OF CASTELFLORENTINO
Veridiana was born in 1182 at Castelflorentino of a noble but impoverished family. At an early age she gave signs of unusual graces. She would frequently leave her playmates in order to seek solitude for prayer. When she was only twelve years old she was received into the household of a relative, where she took upon herself with great diligence the duties of a servant. God deigned to show His approval of her holy life by miracles. In order to escape the attention that they attracted to her, she decided to leave that part of the country and to settle in some place where she was not known. But the townspeople, who venerated her as a saint, would not hear of her departure. At her request, however, they built a small hut for her on the outskirts of the town where she might give herself entirely to God. There she remained for the rest of her life devoted to prayer and extreme penance. The Passion of our Lord was her principal meditation. If pious visitors left alms for her use, she would have them sent to the poor. Many miracles are ascribed to her. In 1221, she had a visit from St. Francis of Assisi who admitted her into the Third Order. She would receive visitors and speak to them through a little window, receiving small amounts of food. Traditions holds that two snakes penetrated her cell during the latter portion of her life, increasing the mortifications of the flesh. She never revealed their existence to anyone.
COLLECT FOR ST. VERIDIANA OF CASTELFLORENTINO
Lord God, you kept St. Veridiana faithful to Christ’s pattern of poverty and humility. May her prayers help us to live in fidelity to our calling and bring us to the perfection you have shown us in your Son, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
