Page 13 - Saints of the Month: February
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Saints of the Month: February
one the establishment of her institute.
While thus engaged in a portion of the
province of Connaught, a deputation arrived
from Leinster to solicit the Saint to take up
her residence in that territory; but the
motives which they urged were human, and
such could have no weight with Bridgid. It
was only the prospect of the many spiritual
advantages that would result from
compliance with the request that induced
her to accede, as she did, to the wishes of
those who had petitioned her. Taking with
her a number of her spiritual daughters, our
Saint journeyed to Leinster, where they
were received with many demonstrations of
respect and joy. The site on which Kildare
now stands appearing to be well adapted for
a religious institute, there the Saint and her
companions took up their abode. To the
place appropriated for the new foundation
some lands were annexed, the fruits of
which were assigned to the little
establishment. This donation indeed
contributed to supply the wants of the
community, but still the pious sisterhood
principally depended for their maintenance
on the liberality of their benefactors.
Bridgid contrived, however, out of their
small means to relieve the poor of the
vicinity very considerably; and when the
wants of these indigent persons surpassed
her slender finances, she hesitated not to
sacrifice for them the movables of the
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