She gave away her father’s sword to a poor man. She gave away butter from the dairy, and the churn was full again. According to one legend, a dying pagan chieftain asked about the cross, and Brigid picked up rushes from the floor and wove one as she explained. That’s the St Brigid’s cross, still made from rushes in Irish homes every year on her feast and hung over the door for protection.
Historical Context
Since 2023, Ireland has a public holiday for St Brigid’s Day, the first new national holiday in decades, and the first named for a woman. Her feast falls on the old Celtic first day of spring.
A Prayer to St Brigid
St Brigid of Kildare, you gave freely to everyone who asked.
Pray that I may be generous with what I have,
hospitable to strangers,
and quick to share with the poor.
Keep the fire of faith burning in me,
as your sisters kept the fire burning at Kildare.
Amen.
A Blessing for the Home with a St Brigid’s Cross
Lord, bless this cross of rushes and this house where it hangs.
Keep everyone who lives here safe from fire, harm and want.
May there always be bread on the table and welcome at the door.
St Brigid, watch over this home.
Amen.
A Prayer for Spring
Lord, on Brigid’s day the light is returning.
Bring new life to the land and to my heart.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- On 1 February, St Brigid’s Day.
- When making or hanging a St Brigid’s cross.
- When blessing a new home.
Scripture Connection
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.” — Luke 6:38
The stories of Brigid are this verse over and over: she gives everything away, and somehow there’s always more. That’s the point the storytellers wanted us to remember.
Related prayers
For other Irish devotions, see the Our Lady of Knock Prayer and Frank Duff Prayer. For St Brigid’s month, the February Prayer Guide.