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Post by Séamus on Jan 31, 2019 8:45:46 GMT
"Brigid the Noble Virgin, the gold and beautiful torch, the dazzling and glorious Sun: may she lead us to the everlasting Kingdom. May Brigid get salvation for us, may she overthrow the armies of evils before us in spite of the throng of devils, may she do away with the debts of the flesh. O blossoming branch! O mother of Jesus! Great is the glory of this beloved and spotless maid! May we always find shelter with this holy Leinster-woman! She is with Patrick the chief pillar of this kingdom; the helper of helpers; the Queen of Queens. When our body is laid in the shroud, in our old age, may Brigid shower blessings upon us, may Brigid get salvation for us. Amen"
a very ancient-Celtic-sounding prayer attributed to St Eltan of Kerry
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Post by Séamus on Jan 31, 2019 9:06:17 GMT
I was looking at a calendar that an aunt had sent, obviously produced by The Herald, mostly showing photos of 60s Dublin. One image, labelled 'First Holy Communion on Halston Street, 1969', very much sums up the fusion of past and future in one image- a very Irish-faced religious woman in full habit (except that there was probably some concession with the wimple already) parading girls in Holy Communion dresses and veils. But all the dresses had short skirts. And the Sisters' school seemed to be taking the emergence of the new style in it's stride. Against the rustic backdrop of 'J.Flanagan Cutler & General Engineer' two women watch, likewise in minis,one sporting one of those floral patterns that symbolise the era.
All innocent enough, but the cork was coming off the champagne bottle- something that seldom fits back on again.
St Brigid,mother of Irish religious, pray for us (from litany)
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Post by Maolsheachlann on Jan 31, 2019 10:55:22 GMT
I was looking at a calendar that an aunt had sent, obviously produced by The Herald, mostly showing photos of 60s Dublin. One image, labelled 'First Holy Communion on Halston Street, 1969', very much sums up the fusion of past and future in one image- a very Irish-faced religious woman in full habit (except that there was probably some concession with the wimple already) parading girls in Holy Communion dresses and veils. But all the dresses had short skirts. And the Sisters' school seemed to be taking the emergence of the new style in it's stride. Against the rustic backdrop of 'J.Flanagan Cutler & General Engineer' two women watch, likewise in minis,one sporting one of those floral patterns that symbolise the era. All innocent enough, but the cork was coming off the champagne bottle- something that seldom fits back on again. Brilliantly put. I think this always has to be borne in mind when we hear about some historical controversy such as John Charles McQuaid objecting to mixed athletics. Something may be unobjectionable in itself but when it is seen as the first crack in the dam, or indeed the cork coming off the champagne bottle, it takes on a larger significance. The first baby steps in liberalization are always presented as harmless and trivial, and social conservatives are ridiculed for making a fuss about it. The funny thing is that they are ridiculed even in retrospect. The "bishop and the nightie" incident on the Late Late Show (when a bishop complained about a racy reference) is remembered now as a stage in changing social mores, so why was it so ludicrous of the bishop himself to see it as such? |
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Post by Stephen on Feb 1, 2019 11:05:54 GMT
Today is my daughter's Saints day, we started off the day singing happy Saint Bridget's day... 😀
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Post by cato on Feb 1, 2019 13:10:01 GMT
Today is of course the begining of Spring, although that demands a leap of faith in Ireland at times. I noticed Daffodils in December this year. It is cold but sunny in Dublin this morning . I am heading up into the North West which got its first snow a few days ago. Anyway we will soon see that little stretch in the evenings.
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Post by Séamus on Feb 2, 2019 8:54:48 GMT
I was looking at a calendar that an aunt had sent, obviously produced by The Herald, mostly showing photos of 60s Dublin. One image, labelled 'First Holy Communion on Halston Street, 1969', very much sums up the fusion of past and future in one image- a very Irish-faced religious woman in full habit (except that there was probably some concession with the wimple already) parading girls in Holy Communion dresses and veils. But all the dresses had short skirts. And the Sisters' school seemed to be taking the emergence of the new style in it's stride. Against the rustic backdrop of 'J.Flanagan Cutler & General Engineer' two women watch, likewise in minis,one sporting one of those floral patterns that symbolise the era. All innocent enough, but the cork was coming off the champagne bottle- something that seldom fits back on again. Brilliantly put. I think this always has to be borne in mind when we hear about some historical controversy such as John Charles McQuaid objecting to mixed athletics. Something may be unobjectionable in itself but when it is seen as the first crack in the dam, or indeed the cork coming off the champagne bottle, it takes on a larger significance. The first baby steps in liberalization are always presented as harmless and trivial, and social conservatives are ridiculed for making a fuss about it. The funny thing is that they are ridiculed even in retrospect. The "bishop and the nightie" incident on the Late Late Show (when a bishop complained about a racy reference) is remembered now as a stage in changing social mores, so why was it so ludicrous of the bishop himself to see it as such? I suppose,when you think about it,a generation earlier you could have taken a similar photo and just assumed that the girls would live and die devout Catholics, Sister, if she was solemnly professed, would live and die in her Congregation satisfied at the life she had given the Order and through it's fundamental mission and the two onlookers, who may or may not have been connected would be fairly decent Catholics/Church of Ireland/Presbyterian/whatever. But,taken when it was, none of these things could be assumed. St Brigid, intercessor for the Irish Church, pray for us. St Brigid, mediatrix for the Irish race, pray for us (from litany) |
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Post by Maolsheachlann on Feb 4, 2019 11:39:05 GMT
Brilliantly put. I think this always has to be borne in mind when we hear about some historical controversy such as John Charles McQuaid objecting to mixed athletics. Something may be unobjectionable in itself but when it is seen as the first crack in the dam, or indeed the cork coming off the champagne bottle, it takes on a larger significance. The first baby steps in liberalization are always presented as harmless and trivial, and social conservatives are ridiculed for making a fuss about it. The funny thing is that they are ridiculed even in retrospect. The "bishop and the nightie" incident on the Late Late Show (when a bishop complained about a racy reference) is remembered now as a stage in changing social mores, so why was it so ludicrous of the bishop himself to see it as such? I suppose,when you think about it,a generation earlier you could have taken a similar photo and just assumed that the girls would live and die devout Catholics, Sister, if she was solemnly professed, would live and die in her Congregation satisfied at the life she had given the Order and through it's fundamental mission and the two onlookers, who may or may not have been connected would be fairly decent Catholics/Church of Ireland/Presbyterian/whatever. But,taken when it was, none of these things could be assumed. St Brigid, intercessor for the Irish Church, pray for us. St Brigid, mediatrix for the Irish race, pray for us (from litany) I've only listened to a little bit of this podcast, recorded by some of my own colleagues, (since the UCD Department of Folklore is part of the same overall administrative unit as the library, and we have Christmas parties and other events together). soundcloud.com/folklore_podcast/bluirini-bealoidis-18-brigid-in-folk-traditionBut one of the speakers suggests that St. Brigid is even more affectionately viewed in Ireland than is St. Patrick, that there is more of a genuine devotion to her. I'm not so sure about that, but it's interesting that he even said it. |
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Post by cato on Jul 10, 2019 16:54:16 GMT
I recently visited the home of St Brigid in Kildare town. There is a religious centre run by Brigiditine nuns which was only opened a few years ago and which hosts retreats and visitors. They have planted lots of oak trees which hopefully will be appreciated by Irish catholic folk in 2119 and after.
They also have an "eternal" flame that they kindle. The original convent founded by Brigid seems to have taken over a pagan foundation that kept a famous eternal fire. This was only extinguished twice . Once by a Norman reforming bishop and then at the protestant Reformation. The nun I spoke to was very laid back about the modern flame and said it goes out on occasion just like the sanctuary light at times! I admire their witness but thought this attitude a little sad.
The actual original convent is now occupied by a pleasant Church of Ireland cathedral with an original medieval round tower. It has some lovely stained glass and some interesting medieval depictions of the passion that survived the Cromwellians. Well worth a visit if you are in that neck of the woods. The catholic church has an attractive modern icon depicting St Brigid .
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Post by Séamus on Jul 14, 2019 0:37:47 GMT
I recently visited the home of St Brigid in Kildare town. There is a religious centre run by Brigiditine nuns which was only opened a few years ago and which hosts retreats and visitors...etc.. . The congregation has been quite influential in Australia also- I just read a book review yesterday by a lady who was a postWar Latvian-Polish child refugee, who apparently writes mostly of her (fairly happy) memories of an education by Sydney Brigidine Sisters in the 1960s |
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Post by Séamus on Feb 1, 2020 7:44:51 GMT
I contemplated St Brigid's day with more modernity than usual this year. As I couldn't find where I'd left her litany until today,I completed my first ever novena-read-entirely-from-a-phone,my thoughts on current affairs too- the Eucharistic desecration at a St Brigid's church in Milltown came to mind.
And biographical notes stating that she 'became popular throughout Europe' makes one reflect on what would make an Irishwoman popular throughout the world these days- turning off the microphone on other politicians perhaps?(levelheadedly enough though,well done for that much Mairead)
This week's earlier commemoration of St Martina is one I'd usually note due to a niece of that name,but I was interested to learn of Martina's incidental connection to the art world though the Roman church of Sts Luke and Martina (previously St Luke's without Martina,previously St Martina's without Luke until an adjoining academy of arts caused Luke to supercede Martina). The saint's body was discovered by artist Pietro daCortona who was refurbishing the building,being typical of the painters of his age,doubling as an architect,interior designer etc. Her name was restored to the dedication and Pietro produced one of the famous Renaissance images of Martina with the BVM.
I wonder is daCortona the sole career artist to have rediscovered the relics of a liturgicaly celebrated ('62 missal) martyr ?
One for Mastermind.
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Post by cato on Feb 3, 2020 13:28:58 GMT
I contemplated St Brigid's day with more modernity than usual this year. As I couldn't find where I'd left her litany until today,I completed my first ever novena-read-entirely-from-a-phone,my thoughts on current affairs too- the Eucharistic desecration at a St Brigid's church in Milltown came to mind. And biographical notes stating that she 'became popular throughout Europe' makes one reflect on what would make an Irishwoman popular throughout the world these days- turning off the microphone on other politicians perhaps?(levelheadedly enough though,well done for that much Mairead) Seamus I trust you were being ironic in praising Mairead Mc Guinness Her high handed po faced approach to that debate personifies why so many find the haughty arrogance of the EU so intolerable. Even at the very last moment of UK departure they still didn't get why so many voted to leave. The usual suspects in Ireland have lauded her courage in shutting up Farage by literally cutting off his microphone. Perhaps she needs a visit to Specsavers as she has never objected to Bollocks to Brexit T Shirts being worn by Remainer MEPs. Mz Mc Guinness claimed she was only obeying orders in shutting Farrage down. I wonder where that excuse was first used? |
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