HISTORY... Saint Brigid Saint Patrick Commodore John Barry St. Brigid is the Patron Saint of the L. A. O. H. February 1 is the feast of St. Brigid of Ireland, often called Mary of the Gael. Her feast day is one of the official holy days of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. Hibernians throughout the country gather annually for celebrations in her honor. St. Brigid’s life was a remarkable one, next to St. Patrick she is the most revered saint in all of Ireland. At about 453 AD, a child was born out of wedlock between Dubhtach and one of his Christian slaves named Brocca. The slave girl was sent to a cabin at the foot of the Cooley Mountains near Dundalk, Co Louth, to have the child. The baby was a healthy girl, which was no great joy to Dubhtach who wanted a son. The mother was sold to a Chieftain in Connaught, and the child was given to a Druid to be raised and educated. The child was named Brigid, perhaps to seek the blessing of the Goddess, from the very beginning, there were indications that she was special. It was reported that she was born at sunrise, and that the cottage in which she was born glowed with flames. Brigid was born in a society ruled by the old Gaelic Order and the Druidic religion. St. Patrick had already reached Ireland, and was in the process of changing all that, but though his message had reached the court of Dubhtach, the powerful Leinster Chieftain held firm to the old religion. In his religion, one of the most powerful Goddesses was Brid or Brigid, the Goddess of Fire whose manifestations were song and poetry, which the Celts considered the flame of knowledge. Her feast day was the first festival of the year and was held on February 1. It was the beginning of Spring; the working season for farmers and fishermen, and a time of husbanding of animals, and the Celts called on Brid to bless their work, and bonfires were lit in her honor. HOW TO MAKE A St. Brigid's Cross   Brigid grew in beauty, and her love for all of God's creatures knew no bounds. After her fosterage, she returned to her father's house as a slave, although she enjoyed the privileges of family. She was given to solitude, and loved to wander the woods befriending the animals. She was renowned for her generosity, giving much of her father's wealth away to the poor. Many are the stories attributed to this remarkable lady, including her journey on foot from Leinster to Connaught to find her mother, whom she freed from bondage, and returned to the house of Dubhtach. The exact circumstances of her conversion to Christianity are unknown, though it is certain that her Christian mother was a guiding influence. Some claim that she personally met St Patrick, which is possible since she was ten years old before he died. Whatever the circumstances, Brigid and her companions in service to Brid, all accepted the Christian faith, and formed Ireland’s first Christian religious community of women. Legend tells that upon her acceptance of her vows, fire appeared above her head. Even as a young girl Brigid evinced an interest for a religious life and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who is believed to have conferred abbotial authority on her. Needing a place to establish the first community of religious women in Ireland, Brigid settled on Kildare, and about the year 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara (Kildare) and was Abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland. Her monastery was at the site (coincidentally) of a shrine to the Celtic Goddess Brigid. In time the eternal flame that virgins had guarded for the Goddess was tended instead by nuns who dedicated it to Christ. She extinguished the ritual fire of the Druids, and lit a flame dedicated to Christ which was thereafter maintained by her followers until it was doused by the forces of Henry VIII. The monastery that became a joint facility for nuns and monks under Brigid's leadership also became a center of learning and school for the arts. The monastery developed into a center of learning and spirituality, around it grew up the Cathedral city of Kildare. She founded a school of art at Kildare and its illuminated manuscripts became famous, notably the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago. Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her times, and despite the numerous legendary, extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt that her extraordinary spirituality, boundless charity, and compassion for those in distress were real. Brigid’s wisdom and generosity became legend, and people traveled from all over the country to share her wisdom. Her monastery at Kildare became one of the greatest centers of learning in Europe. She continued her holy and charitable work until her death. Brigid died at Kildare on February 1 in 525 AD, she was laid to rest in a jeweled casket at Kil Dara. In 835, her remains were moved to protect them from Norse invaders, and interred in the same grave that holds the remains of St Patrick and St Columcille at Downpatrick. She is sometimes Brigid grew in beauty, and her love for all of God's creatures knew no bounds. After her fosterage, she returned to her father's house as a slave, although she enjoyed the privileges of family. She was given to solitude, and loved to wander the woods befriending the animals. She was renowned for her generosity, giving much of her father's wealth away to the poor. Many are the stories attributed to this remarkable lady, including her journey on foot from Leinster to Connaught to find her mother, whom she freed from bondage, and returned to the house of Dubhtach. The exact circumstances of her conversion to Christianity are unknown, though it is certain that her Christian mother was a guiding influence. Some claim that she personally met St Patrick, which is possible since she was ten years old before he died. Whatever the circumstances, Brigid and her companions in service to Brid, all accepted the Christian faith, and formed Ireland’s first Christian religious community of women. Legend tells that upon her acceptance of her vows, fire appeared above her head. Even as a young girl Brigid evinced an interest for a religious life and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who is believed to have conferred abbotial authority on her. Needing a place to establish the first community of religious women in Ireland, Brigid settled on Kildare, and about the year 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara (Kildare) and was Abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland. Her monastery was at the site (coincidentally) of a shrine to the Celtic Goddess Brigid. In time the eternal flame that virgins had guarded for the Goddess was tended instead by nuns who dedicated it to Christ. She extinguished the ritual fire of the Druids, and lit a flame dedicated to Christ which was thereafter maintained by her followers until it was doused by the forces of Henry VIII. The monastery that became a joint facility for nuns and monks under Brigid's leadership also became a center of learning and school for the arts. The monastery developed into a center of learning and spirituality, around it grew up the Cathedral city of Kildare. She founded a school of art at Kildare and its illuminated manuscripts became famous, notably the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago. Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her times, and despite the numerous legendary, extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt that her extraordinary spirituality, boundless charity, and compassion for those in distress were real. Brigid’s wisdom and generosity became legend, and people traveled from all over the country to share her wisdom. Her monastery at Kildare became one of the greatest centers of learning in Europe. She continued her holy and charitable work until her death. Brigid died at Kildare on February 1 in 525 AD, she was laid to rest in a jeweled casket at Kil Dara. In 835, her remains were moved to protect them from Norse invaders, and interred in the same grave that holds the remains of St Patrick and St Columcille at Downpatrick. She is sometimes known as Bridget, Bride and Mary of the Gael. Her feast day is February 1. So strong was the respect and reverence for this holy lady that she became the patroness of parishes, towns, and counties, not only in Ireland, but all across Europe and the America’s. She even had a symbol. As the shamrock became associated with St Patrick, a tiny cross made of rushes was linked with St Brigid. Woven by her while she explained the passion of Christ to a dying pagan, he was baptized before he died. Similar crosses are fashioned to this day as a defense against harm, and placed in the rafters of a cottage on the feast day of St. Brigid - February 1. Saint Patrick is the Patron Saint of AOH and revered by the LAOH  Feast Day: March 17 St Patrick was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 493. (Some sources say 460 or 461), He was a Christian Missionary and became the Apostle of Ireland. He was one of the most successful missionaries in history. The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate", is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation for this victory over Paganism. The following is a literal translation from the old Irish text: I bind to myself today The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity: I believe the Trinity in the Unity The Creator of the Universe. I bind to myself today The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism, The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial, The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension, The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day. I bind to myself today The virtue of the love of seraphim, In the obedience of angels, In the hope of resurrection unto reward, In prayers of Patriarchs, In predictions of Prophets, In preaching of Apostles, In faith of Confessors, In purity of holy Virgins, In deeds of righteous men. I bind to myself today The power of Heaven, The light of the sun, The brightness of the moon, The splendour of fire, The flashing of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of sea, The stability of earth, The compactness of rocks. I bind to myself today God's Power to guide me, God's Might to uphold me, God's Wisdom to teach me, God's Eye to watch over me, God's Ear to hear me, God's Word to give me speech, God's Hand to guide me, God's Way to lie before me, God's Shield to shelter me, God's Host to secure me, Against the snares of demons, Against the seductions of vices, Against the lusts of nature, Against everyone who meditates injury to me, Whether far or near, Whether few or with many. I invoke today all these virtues Against every hostile merciless power Which may assail my body and my soul, Against the incantations of false prophets, Against the black laws of heathenism, Against the false laws of heresy, Against the deceits of idolatry, Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids, Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man. Christ, protect me today Against every poison, against burning, Against drowning, against death-wound, That I may receive abundant reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ  above me, Christ  at my right, Christ at my left, Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot seat, Christ in the poop [deck], Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I bind to myself today The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity, I believe the Trinity in the Unity The Creator of the Universe. He belonged to a Christian family of Roman citizenship. Captured when barely 16 enslaved, he worked for six years as a herder on the slopes of Slemish (near Ballymena, Co. Antrim) or of Croaghpatrick or (most likely) of both. Then, in response to a voice, he escaped and embarked for Gaul.   St. Patrick spent some years wandering on the Continent and visited the Monastery of St. Martin at Marmoutier. He entered the monastery at Lérins and received the tonsure. He returned c.413 to his native Britain and lived for some years with relatives. During this time he had a vision that called him to return to Ireland to Christianize it. Accordingly, he returned to Europe (c.419) to perfect himself as a missionary. The next 12 years were spent in study at Auxerre. In 431, St. Palladius, first missionary bishop sent to Ireland, died; St. Patrick was consecrated (432) in his place by St. Germanus of Auxerre.   In the winter of 432 St. Patrick landed near Saul and remained until spring, when he went to Tara and gained his first major converts. He defied the pagan priests of Tara by kindling the Easter fire on Slane, a nearby hill. This challenge to paganism created at first indignation, and subsequently respect, in the court of the high king. Tara became Patrick's headquarters, and with a band of followers he successively converted Meath, Leitrim, Cavan, and W Ireland.   In 444 or 445, with the approval of Pope St. Leo I, St. Patrick established his archiepiscopal at Armagh. St. Patrick's mission was successful; Ireland was almost entirely Christian by the time of his death. He understood and wisely preserved the social structure of the country, converting the people tribe by tribe. Out of his hierarchy, organized by tribal units, developed the Celtic abbot-bishop system. At St. Patrick's insistance, the traditional laws of Ireland were codified. St. Patrick modified them to harmonize with Christian practice, and he mitigated the harsher ones, particularly those that dealt with slaves and taxation of the poor. He introduced the Roman alphabet. In 457 he retired to Saul, where he died.   He was buried in Downpatrick, which was a great European shrine until its destruction by the English government in 1539. Also enshrined to him is Croaghpatrick. His personality is said to have been unusually winning, and many legends and miracles have been attributed to him among them that he drove all the snakes from Ireland. He is noted for his use of the shamrock to teach the Trinity. Feast day: Mar. 17.   PROJECT SAINT PATRICK Project St. Patrick is a Catholic Action Program of the LAOH and AOH created to support Preists, Seminarians, Nuns and Novices spiritually, emotionally and financially during their religous studies. Contributions to this project will go into an endowment fund. Interest from the endowment fund will be given in the form of scholarships and grants for continuing education and retreats. One of the many ways to contribute is through the use of our prayer cards. A contribution in the memory of your loved one enables the vision of St. Patrick to continue to bring the Gospel and the Eucharist to all people. A memorial donation is a contribution to Our heritage, Our faith and Our legacy. Project St. Patrick Prayer cards are available now through your local Catholic Action Officer and through the National LAOH Website. COMODORE JOHN BARRY FATHER OF THE NAVY September 13  On February 22, 1797, President Washington called Barry to the President's Mansion at 190 High (Market) Street, to receive Commission Number One in the Navy which was dated June 4, 1794, the date of his original selection. The formal ceremony took place on Washington's birthday. Barry outfitted and supervised the construction of the first frigates built under the Naval Act of March 27, 1794, including his own forty-four gun frigate the USS United States, which was to serve as his flagship. The United States slid into the water on May 10, 1797, under Barry's helm.   COMMODORE JOHN BARRY DAY H.J.Res. 38 Re-introduced by NY Congressman Peter King. Passed in US House of Representatives on Dec.14, 2005 S.J. Res 21 Re-introduced by PA Senator Arlen Specter. Passed in US Senate on Dec.16, 2005 Barry Resolution was signed into Public Law 109-142 by President Bush on December 22, 2005                  Born in Tacumshane, County Wexford, Ireland in 1745, John Barry, a man of large stature at six feet four inches, settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the American Colonies of England in 1760. There he served as a popular and successful merchant ship Captain for many shipping houses. When the American Revolution began the connections he gained through his popularity paid off and he was assigned to outfit the first ships of the Continental Navy for the rebelling Americans. In early 1776, commanding the brig Lexington, he defeated the tender H.M.S. Edward and took her into Philadelphia. She was the first English prize taken to that city in the war. Barry was then given the command of a new frigate Effingham, 36 guns, being built in Philadelphia. While she was building Barry offered to serve in the Army. He was taken as aide-de-camp to General John Calawader, a former business associate, taking part as a result in the Trenton and Princeton operations. After the port of Philadelphia was taken by the British, requiring the scuttling of the not yet complete Effingham, Barry commanded a flotilla of small craft and gunboats in the Delaware River. During the winter of 1777-1778, that flotilla raided British shipping from Philadelphia in an effort to disrupt and blockade British supply and communication capturing numerous vessels and supplies.               Captain Barry returned to sea as commander of the frigate Raleigh in 1778. In an action at the mouth of the Penobscot River that year he lost the Raleigh in a gallant action against the British razee ship of the line Experiment, 54 guns, and the frigate Unicorn. Barry, together with a third of his crew, reached shore and escaped.               On February 11, 1781 Barry sailed from Boston in command of the frigate Alliance, 36 guns, having taken command from the Frenchman Pierre Landais, whose failure to aggressively support John Paul Jones against the Serapis in the Battle of Flamborough Head cost him his command. The purpose of this cruise was to transport John Laurens, Washington's aide, to France. Enroute to France two privateers were separately sighted, engaged and taken as prizes, depleting Barry's crew. No further action was sought out as no more men could be spared for prizecrews. Upon arrival in Lorient, France Barry recruited additional men and soon set sail for America.               Shortly after sailing, his new crewmen, disreputable rogues with no allegiance to America, mutinied. They were put down and after flogging them into submission Barry continued West. Two more British privateers were taken in due course, those being the Mars and Minerva. On May 29, 1781, Barry spotted two British Sloops, the Atalanta of 16 guns and the Trepassy, 14 guns off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia. Initially the Sloops pummeled the Alliance, wounding Barry in the process, when their sweeps gave them advantage in a calm. However the wind came up as did the wounded Captain and shortly Barry persevered, taking both Sloops as prizes into Boston.               Barry engaged the British once more on March 10, 1783 when his Alliance briefly exchanged broadsides with the frigate Sybil in the Gulf of Mexico. Although the Englishman escaped, she did so badly damaged and without taking the valuable transport Barry was escorting, the Duc de Lauzon out of Havana with silver bullion for Congress's coffers.               After the Revolution, Barry was chosen to convey Lafayette and Noailles to France. After a brief return to sailing as a merchant Captain, in 1794 he reentered the Navy obtaining the title Commodore by which he would be known to posterity. As Captain of the frigate United States, 44 guns, he captured French merchant vessels during naval conflict with France of 1798-1800. He also engaged in the training of many American Naval officers, men who would in a short while become the heroes of naval actions in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, including Stephen Decatur and Richard Somers.               Commodore John Barry passed away on September 13, 1803 in his adopted home of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Barry's remains are interred in the small cemetery, open to the public, behind Old St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia. For all of his exploits, Barry is known as the Father of the American Navy. A statue stands in his honor immediately in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, as does one in Washington D.C. and another in his Irish home of County Wexford. Also four naval ships have carried his name, including a World War Two destroyer which earned four battle stars, the U.S.S. Barry DD933 a Forest Sherman class destroyer launched in 1955 and now a museum in Washington, D.C. and the DDG52, an Arliegh Burke Missile Destroyer currently in service. September 13, 1981 was declared John Barry Day by President Reagan, an act repeated by President Bush in 1991. The N.R.O.T.C. hall at Villanova bears his name as does the Annapolis Ancient Order of Hibernians organization, a New York Park in Fort Green and many more sites such as schools and organizations. A more recent memorial is the Commodore John Barry Bridge which carries travelers of Route 322 between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  The bridge spans the waters of the Delaware River South of Philadelphia, waters once ruled by Barry's brave flotilla of gunboats.