When walking on the banks of the River Inny, young Brigid was given a gift of apples.  Continuing on she entered a house where many lepers begged her for the apples, which she offered willingly.  The woman who had given her the gift was angered, saying that she had not given the gift for lepers.  Brigid was angry at her for withholding her gift, so she cursed the woman’s trees so they would no longer bear fruit.  Yet another woman also gave Brigid a similar gift of apples and again Brigid gave them to begging lepers.  This woman asked that her garden be blessed.  Brigid said that a large tree in the garden would have twofold fruit, and it was done.

There are many stories about St. Brigid of Kildare, some historically accurate, others the stuff of legends.  A nun in the first Century A.D. and a friend of St. Patrick. she is credited with organizing communal consecrated religious life for the women of Ireland.   But, she is celebrated mostly for her unfailing generosity to the poor. Most of her reported miracles were associated with healing and women.  It is on February 1^st that the Feast Day of St. Brigid is celebrated by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthdox, and Anglican Churches.

While we as Lutherans do not venerate St. Brigid, we can learn from her generosity.   She gave not because she had much and could spare a little; she gave whatever she had to whomever needed it.  A generous heart shares God’s unconditional love; a generous heart gives freely.  

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  Acts 20:35

Judy