The Eve of Saint Brigid was all about it being a Tuesday. Phew! How many times have we missed out on corned beef and cabbage because Saint Patrick’s Day lands during Lent? Well, we solved that problem. Our yearly dose of the Irish came on January 31st, and what fun! Irish ale, and eating corned beef and cabbage, weaving crosses, reading and telling stories, and celebrating with Irish (-ish) friends. Very fun. Truly fun. I think my husband even stirred up a batch of Irish coffees while I built a marble track with the munchkins.
But on the actual feast day, on this Wednesday, February 1st, we tossed all the festivities aside and made it a day of giving.
Well, first we had prayers, and a bit of school.
Then, while the little one did some chores, some cleaning, some getting dressed and all, I got to mixing. Look at this be-uuuuu-tiful dough.
And from the risen dough came the shaped loaves
and while the dough slowly rose
I wove two more small crosses. Just little ones, for little hands.
We baked the bread, pulled the five packages of gummy bears from the drawer (we bought them the other day at Vices and Spices), and took to the streets.
Two loaves of bread, five bags of gummy bears and two crosses–all for giving.
Here’s the rundown.
- My husband gave a cross and gummy bears to our goddaughter at church this evening
- Andrew gave a loaf of bread to RJ
- Mad gave gummy bears to Ashley
- I gave gummy bears to Austin on our ride home
- John Ronan and I gave gummy bears and a cross to the Keller boys while in the school parking lot
- And John Ronan gave one loaf of bread to a homeless woman and her baby at the library. That was the hardest. That one.
And that’s probably where Saint Brigid would have stayed. There, at the library, in the corner where the woman and her baby were ensconced. We didn’t stay, we couldn’t–we had gads of kids to pack into our car for the drive home–but I’m hoping that our prayer for her, that the bread with the prayers kneaded in, added something better to her day.
May holy Brigid pray for us.
Blessed feast, Everyone!
The Woman and the Wheat 
Blessed feast to you as well!
Jane, I have developed a devotion to St.Brigid, thanks to your blog!
I brought Holy Communion to my regular shut ins, and we prayed that St.Brigid would intercede for them and their special intentions!
We are celebrating a day late….thought her day was today…..Thursday……but are looking forward to a supper of corned beef and cabbage….and perhaps brown Irish Soda bread.
Next year,Lord willing, I shall mark our calendar for Feb.1st!!
I think I will use Jeff Smith’s brown soda bread recipe because it makes 2 loaves and will share with someone close by.
St. Brigid, please ask Jesus to bless my pantry and intercede for Jane, her family, and each person who visits her beautiful site!
May the road rise to meet you, the sun fall gently on your face, the rain softly on your fields, and, until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the palm of His Hand…………..a beautiful Irish prayer!
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy the celebration!
The bread looked beautiful and I loved to hear about the giving. Libraries are a refuge for us all I think.
Love your solution to celebrating an Irish Holiday as St Patrick’s is during Lent! Never was an issue until we converted. Your stories are wonderful. Your photos of bread make me salivate.