St. Brigid is closely associated with St. Patrick. It is said that she was baptized by Patrick and developed a close friendship with him. As a young girl, Brigid felt called to be a nun. At this time, women who took vows of chastity remained at home with their families. Brigid knew about Patrick’s monasteries, however, and decided to begin a community of her own where people pursuing a religious life could live together. In Kildare, Brigid began a monastery that was soon opened to both men and women.
