About Saint Bride

Our dearly loved Saint Bride, our Patroness, (c. 451-525) is known as "Mary of the Gael.” The name “Bride” is a variation of the name Brigid, or Bhride in the Irish tongue.

Bride's father was an Irishman of noble birth and pagan religion who gave her the same name as one of his favourite goddesses. Her mother was a Christian slave of non-Irish heritage (who was baptized by St. Patrick). At a young age, Bride inclined to her mother's faith and became known for her Christian piety and generosity of heart to the poor who came to her father's door. She finally got her wish when her father sent her to a convent, where she received the veil from St. Mael of Ardagh.

In time, though she founded other convents, it was the one in Kildare (or Cill-Dara, "the church of the oak," c. 470) that became her major contribution. This was a “double monastery" for nuns and monks. As abbess she became known for her holiness, wisdom, and common-sense such that, even in her lifetime she was regarded as a saint. The Abbey of Kildare became one of the most prestigious monasteries in Ireland and even throughout Christian Europe. After her death around 525 St. Bride was eventually interred at Downpatrick with Ireland’s two other great saints – Patrick and Columba. 

Where Patrick is often associated with the shamrock, St. Bride is with a cross made of rushes, possibly those she found on the ground beside a dying man she led to Christ.

With the example of St Bride set before us we pray that, like her, we too may love and live fully for Christ, be generous in heart, holy, wise, and prudent in all things.

"O GOD, whose dwelling-place is in the pure of heart: Grant that we who venerate the memory of Saint Bride, thy faithful spouse, may have grace to follow the example of her unspotted life; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen" (Collect prayer for the February 1st annual Feast of St. Bride)