SAINTS FOR FEBRUARY 01

 SAINTS FOR FEBRUARY 01 

St. Seiriol, 6th century.  Welsh monk and hermit, He is honored on Puffin Island (island of Ynys-Seiriol), off the coast of Anglesey, Wales. Other details of his life are scarce.  

B. LUDOVICA ALBERTONI, ROMAN WIDOW

St. Brigid of Ireland. Brigid was probably born at Faughart near Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. Her parents were baptized by St. Patrick, with whom she developed a close friendship. According to legend, her father was Dubhthach, an Irish chieftain of Lienster, and her mother, Brocca, was a slave at his court. Even as a young girl she evinced an interest for a religious life and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who is believed to have conferred abbatial authority on her. She settled with seven of her virgins at the foot of Croghan Hill for a time and about the year 468, followed Mel to Meath. About the year 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara (Kildare) and was Abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland. The foundation developed into a center of learning and spirituality, and around it grew up the Cathedral city of Kildare. She founded a school of art at Kildare and its illuminated manuscripts became famous, notably the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago. Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her times, and despite the numerous legendary, extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt that her extraordinary spirituality, boundless charity, and compassion for those in distress were real. She died at Kildare on February 1. The Mary of the Gael, she is buried at Downpatrick with St. Columba and St. Patrick, with whom she is the patron of Ireland. Her name is sometimes Bridget and Bride.  

St. Cinnia, 5th century. A princess of Ulster, Ireland. She was converted to Christianity by St. Patrick. When she entered a convent, St. Patrick gave her the veil.  

St. Crewanna, 5th century. A confessor who accompanied St. Breaca from Ireland to Cornwall, England. Crowan near St. Erth is believed to have been named in his honor.  

St. Darulagdach, 524 A.D. Abbess of Kildare, Ireland, the successor of St. Brigid. She is also called Dardulacha.  

St. Jarlath, 480 A.D. Also called Hierlath, Irish bishop and disciple of St. Patrick. He became bishop of Armagh and aided monastic expansion and the missionary program undertaken in that era. 

St. Kinnin, 5th century. Irish maiden baptized by St. Patrick. She is venerated in County Louth, Ireland.