ians. “The City of God” helped Christians to see that they were building something good, and that they had a purpose even though they lived amidst a crumbling empire. Bridgid of Kildare was the daughter of chieftain, Dubthach, and his concubine Brocessa. Bridgid was a Christian just as her mother was. She was born around the year 450 in Faughart, Ireland. Bridgid lived with her mother in the home of a pagan priest. Around the age of ten, Bridgid returned to her father’s home. She was always found to be giving away the food and clothing of the household to the poor, which greatly upset others in her father’s house. Bridgid, even at an early age, had devoted herself entirely to God. When she was of marrying age she begged her father to let her remain a virgin. Bridgid was strong willed and her father finally backed down, letting her remain unmarried. Even though no convents existed for women, Bridgid consecrated her life to God. Bridgid was also able to convince her Brocessa’s master to free her mother. Bridgid then found seven women who shared her same thoughts and approached a bishop by the name of Maccaile. He agreed to accept their vows as nuns. Around the year 469 Bridgid and her seven companions made their professions in Westmeath. Bishop Maccaile authorized Bridgid to head Ireland’s first convent, and as a present he gave her a place called Croghan Hill.It was at Croghan Hill that Bridgid established her first convent. She and the other women farmed and kept busy with spinning yarn and embroidering. The convent also became an asylum to anyone who needed refuge. Bridgid soon found that she had to add more rooms to the convent to accommodate the growing interest in the monastic lifestyle. Bridgid also began to establish similar convents throughout Ireland. Bridgid’s primary foundation at Kildare specialized in the production of manuscripts. To preserve learning pages of academic and religious...
