Today's feast speaks to the very hearts of Irish hearth keepers. The story of Brigid of Ireland inspires us to grace and forgiveness in the face of grave injustice. It encourages giving from our need and not our excess. Generosity.  Absolute trust in providence. 

It is said, "One of the most appealing things told of Brigid is her contemporaries’ belief that there was peace in her blessing. Not merely did contentiousness die out in her presence, but just as by the touch of her hand she healed leprosy, so by her very will for peace she healed strife and laid antiseptics on the suppurating bitterness that foments it."  

"…remind us how to kindle the hearth, to keep it bright, to preserve the flame. Your hands upon ours." – from the prayer to St Brigid

May we too have such will for peace in our homes that contentiousness dies out in our presence, that we learn to lay antiseptics on bitterness. 

St Brigid cross tutorial here

If this thought occurred to you today – a paper version