jjares reviewed Saint Brigid of Kildare: The Life, Legends, and Legacy of One of Ireland?s Patron Saints on + 3270 more book reviews
This book explains that the new Christian faith was mixed with Druidic beliefs in Ireland to make acceptance of the new religion simpler for the people. Thus, Brigid's stories were mixed with pagan and Christian beliefs. Brigid was the daughter of a Christian mother and a pagan father. The Irish have always been religious folk and the story of Brigid fit easily into the country's belief system. Brigid was one of the three most important saints in Ireland, along with Patrick and Columba.
Brigid lived from 451 to 525 and died at 74-years-of-age. She had a tremendous effect on young women, who joined her in monastic life. If Brigid did half the things outlined in this book, she was an incredibly busy and productive woman.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the amazing amount of ink the Druids garnered from Julius Caesar, Pliny the Elder, and other writers. The Druids certainly made an impression on the Romans and others they met. The Druids also affected the Catholic Church of Ireland in many ways. It is certainly interesting that the Church took over the country without a shot being fired (so many conversions of that time came at the end of a sword).
Brigid lived from 451 to 525 and died at 74-years-of-age. She had a tremendous effect on young women, who joined her in monastic life. If Brigid did half the things outlined in this book, she was an incredibly busy and productive woman.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the amazing amount of ink the Druids garnered from Julius Caesar, Pliny the Elder, and other writers. The Druids certainly made an impression on the Romans and others they met. The Druids also affected the Catholic Church of Ireland in many ways. It is certainly interesting that the Church took over the country without a shot being fired (so many conversions of that time came at the end of a sword).
