February 1

ST. BRIGID OF IRELAND

A few years after St. Patrick arrived in Ireland, a little girl named

Brigid was born. Her father was an Irish lord named Dubthac and her

mother was named Brocca.

As Brigid grew up, she deepened her love for Jesus. She looked for him

in the poor and often brought food and clothing to them. It has been said

that one day she gave away a whole pail of milk. Then she began to worry

about what her mother would say. She prayed to the Lord to make up for

what she had given away. When she got home, her pail was full again.

Brigid was very pretty. Her father thought that it was time for her to

marry. However, she had decided in her heart to give herself entirely to

God. She did not want to marry anyone. When she learned that her beauty

was the reason young men were attracted to her, she made an unusual

request to God. She asked that her beauty be taken from her. God granted

her request. Seeing that his daughter was no longer pretty, Brigid's

father gladly agreed when Brigid asked to become a nun.

The girl did follow her call to religious life. She even started a

convent so that other young women could become nuns, too. It seems that

after she consecrated her life to God in the convent, a miracle happened.

Brigid became beautiful again! She reminded people of the Blessed Mother

because she was so lovely and gentle. Some called her the "Mary of the

Irish." St. Brigid died in 525.

Jesus loves each one of us. We look the way he wants us to. Brigid

concentrated on important values such as the meaning of her life and

helping less fortunate people. She reminds us not to waste our time

worrying about whether we are nice looking or plain. Each of us is

special to God.