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Brigit bé bithmaith St. Ultan of Ardbraccan (c. 650 AD) |
Celtic Spirituality edited by Oliver Davies & Thomas O'Loughlin Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999 |
| Brigit, woman ever excellent - translation by Oliver Davies |
Brigit bé bithmaith, bréo órde oíblech,
Donfé don bithflaith, in grén tind toídlech.
Ronsóira Brigit sech drungu demne
Roróina reunn cathu cach thedme.
Dirodba indiunn ar colno císu
in chróib co mbláthib in máthir Ísu.
Ind fíróg inmain co norddon adbil
bé sóir cech inbaid lam nóib di Laignib.
Lethcholbe flatho la Patricc prímde
in tlacht ós lígib ind rígin rígde.
Robet ér sinit ar cuirp hi cilicc
dia rath ronbróina ronsóira Brigit.
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Brigit, woman ever excellent
trans., Oliver Davies
Brigit, woman ever excellent, golden, radiant flame,
Lead us to the eternal kingdom, the brilliant, dazzling sun.
May Brigit guide us past crowds of devils
May she break before us the attack of every plague.
May she destroy within us the taxes of our flesh,
The branch with blossoms, the mother of Jesus.
The true virgin, easy to love, with great honor,
I shall be forever safe with my saint of Leinster.
One of the columns of the land with Patrick preeminent,
The adornment above, the royal queen.
May our bodies when we are old be in sackcloth,
From her grace may Brigit rain on us.
We pray to Brigit by the praise of Christ
That we may be worthy of the heavenly kingdom.