"Fa bhrat Bhrighde! Be under Brigid's cloak!" is an ancient Irish blessing. Today, Feb. 1, is St Brigid's Day. She is one of my favorite saints for many reasons: she's Irish; she was known for hospitality, generosity, careful animal care, justice and faith. Brigid started a great center of Christian life at Kildare in Ireland and most likely presided over male and female monastics there. She was devoted to perpetual praise of God, oversaw spectacular illuminated manuscripts--some believe The Book of Kells to be from her Foundation. She is called "The Mary of the Gaels" after one of the many legends surrounding her life and may well have been ordained a Bishop. She is the ultimate" renaissance man"--long before the "renaissance"--and definitely not a man. Her cloak had many legends associated with it, one of them being that the stars of the Christmas sky were placed on it by the Holy family themselves. To "be under her cloak" was a warm greeting of blessing between friends.
We too rest under a sparkling starry cloak this season. The winter cloak of brilliant white comes and goes here in central Montana, but our meadow wears it throughout the season even when other areas periodically melt out. Today, with 8 new inches and single digit temps, millions upon millions of stars glitter across the hillsides and cliffs, flatland and trees. The pervasive, white and shining mantle reminds me of Brigid's purity and generosity, as well as the steady coming of the light at this halfway mark between Winter Solstice and Spring equinox.
This season, which the ancient Irish called Imbolc, is the traditional start of lambing season in many parts of the world and also in Montana. Many shepherd friends are already sleeplessly keeping special watch on their flocks by night and day. I recently visited our friend Geraldine's ranch, Montana Aerie. Geraldine and husband, Tom Key, raise registered Columbia and Border Leicester sheep. Their new lambing barn is a windless and warm haven for their rounded ewes. St. Brigid's cloak hovers over them as well.
Tomorrow, the Christian church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication, when the infant Jesus was presented in the Temple according to Jewish law. While there, his parents met 2 prophets, Simeon and Anna who prophesied memorable words concerning Jesus. He is "the Light" according to Simeon, bringing full clarity to the many "light celebrations" around the world at this time. Each scintillating point, in our winter "Brigid's cloak" of snow, reminds me of that Light. We are ALL under His Light.
