@SuperSpiritDove It's always about who has the better story, isn't it? I believe in this case, the Pagans won and the coincidences between Goddess and Saint are too similar to ignore...her legends are pre-Christian. She was Goddess before she became a saint. Many Goddesses have been syncratized in this way.
The Celtic Christians were Druids under new management. The Druidic and original Christian beliefs coincided, so it was a natural progression to make. The corruption of Christianity that came about in the first few hundred years in Rome led to the constant conflict between the Celtic and Roman church. It wasn't just about the tonsure and date of Easter, it was much more fundamental than that.
@SuperSpiritDove as SummerLemontree stated, Brigid was adopted as a saint by the catholic church long after she was a pagan goddess. This was actually common place across all cultures, as the church moved in to the area they would adopt a god or goddess as a saint or they would adopt a holiday that the pagans already celebrated but they would change the name and meaning to suit their needs. Examples include: Ostara = Easter, Saturnalia and Yule = Christmas, Imbolg = St. Brighid's Day.
@SuperSpiritDove Brigid actually appears in ancient Irish mythology before Christianity was introduced into Ireland. A saint with the same characteristics and associations as the earlier Brigid later appears in early Christian Ireland. It may be that the early church kept Brigid to help convert people from the ancient Celtic religion to Christianity. Or that the story of another Brigid has gotten mixed with that of the ancient Brigid. Nobody really knows! :)
Lovely! Being my parents' daughter, my father had a particular fondness for St. Brigid, who he explained was a veil for the ancient Goddess Brigid whom his ancestors (from Ireland) honored and who he continued to honor as The Holy Mother Mary. It was during that trip that he bought me a Celtic knot with Brigid attached to it. ...It was so simple, but it was also one of the gentle ways in which he helped me to "lift the veil" as he put it between his Christianity and The Mother.
beautiful video. blessed be.
EyweensWorld 5 days ago
@SuperSpiritDove It's always about who has the better story, isn't it? I believe in this case, the Pagans won and the coincidences between Goddess and Saint are too similar to ignore...her legends are pre-Christian. She was Goddess before she became a saint. Many Goddesses have been syncratized in this way.
MsBlisscoach 4 weeks ago
The Celtic Christians were Druids under new management. The Druidic and original Christian beliefs coincided, so it was a natural progression to make. The corruption of Christianity that came about in the first few hundred years in Rome led to the constant conflict between the Celtic and Roman church. It wasn't just about the tonsure and date of Easter, it was much more fundamental than that.
WorkhorsePublishing 1 month ago
@SuperSpiritDove as SummerLemontree stated, Brigid was adopted as a saint by the catholic church long after she was a pagan goddess. This was actually common place across all cultures, as the church moved in to the area they would adopt a god or goddess as a saint or they would adopt a holiday that the pagans already celebrated but they would change the name and meaning to suit their needs. Examples include: Ostara = Easter, Saturnalia and Yule = Christmas, Imbolg = St. Brighid's Day.
jjbeard926 1 month ago
@SuperSpiritDove Brigid actually appears in ancient Irish mythology before Christianity was introduced into Ireland. A saint with the same characteristics and associations as the earlier Brigid later appears in early Christian Ireland. It may be that the early church kept Brigid to help convert people from the ancient Celtic religion to Christianity. Or that the story of another Brigid has gotten mixed with that of the ancient Brigid. Nobody really knows! :)
SummerLemontree 1 month ago 2
Just found this on the eve of Imbolc, 2011.Thank you very much and the blessings of the Mother Goddess on you for sharing this.
CuChullainnRedBranch 1 year ago
Lovely! Being my parents' daughter, my father had a particular fondness for St. Brigid, who he explained was a veil for the ancient Goddess Brigid whom his ancestors (from Ireland) honored and who he continued to honor as The Holy Mother Mary. It was during that trip that he bought me a Celtic knot with Brigid attached to it. ...It was so simple, but it was also one of the gentle ways in which he helped me to "lift the veil" as he put it between his Christianity and The Mother.
MAThompsonFrenk 1 year ago 2