St. Bridget's Crosses

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The Senior classes made St. Bridget's crosses from rushes.
We will got them blest at Mass at the weekend in time for St. Bridget's Day on Feb. 1st.

Story of St. Brigid
St. Brigid was born in Co. Louth in Ireland . She lived around the time of St. Patrick. Her father was an Irish lord named Duptace.
As Brigid grew up, she became holier and more pious each day. She loved the poor and would often bring food and clothing to them.
One day she gave away a whole pail of milk, and then began to worry about what her mother would say.
She prayed to the Lord to make up for what she had given away. When she got home, her pail was full!
Brigid was a very pretty young girl, and her father thought that it was time for her to marry.
She, however, had given herself entirely to God when she was very small, and she would not think of marrying anyone.
When she learned that her beauty was the reason for the attentions of so many young men, she prayed fervently to God to take it from her.
She wanted to belong to Him alone. God granted her prayer.
Seeing that his daughter was no longer pretty, her father gladly agreed when Brigid asked to become a Nun.
She became the first Religious in Ireland and founded a convent in Kildare, so that other young girls might become Nuns.
When she consecrated herself to God, a miracle happened. She became very beautiful again!
Brigid made people think of the Blessed Mother because she was so pure and sweet, so lovely and gentle.
They called her the "Mary of the Irish."
Perhaps the best known story is of her visit to a dying pagan chieftain. While she prayed, she plaited rushes into a cross.
Thc chieftain heard her account of the cross as a Christian symbol, and was converted and baptised before he died.
It is still customary on 1 February to plait Saint Brigid's Crosses, in the hope that they will protect a household in the year ahead.