St Brigid of Kildare

St Brigid of Kildare Around 450 C.E. in Ireland, a girl born to a father, Dubtach, pagan Scottish king of Leinster, and a mother, Brocca, a Christian Pictish slave who had been baptised by Saint Patrick. This girl, St Brigid, became a symbol of kindness, generosity and sanctity in her distant future (Preble, 2013).   Ã‚   Saint Brigid of Kildare, or of Ireland is one of Irelands patron saints, along with Patrick and Columba (Jestice, 2004). Her parents were baptized from St. Patrick, who brought faith to the country. Brigid was influenced by that environment, and began to take an interest in the asceticlife of the nun. As Brigid grew up, she grew in her love for Jesus and she wanted to devote her life to Jesus (Daughter of St. Paul, 2011). Jesus Christs life was full of love and kindness. Throughout his long holy life, Jesus showed his love for others by blessing and serving the poor, the sick, and the distressed (The Church of Jesus Christ, 2008). He told His disciples that, This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12). St Brigid conformed herself to the way of Jesus, by imitate the love and compassion of Jesus, especially for the poor (Daughter of St. Paul, 2011). It is said that the Lord would grant Brigid anything she would ask, and that what she desired was always the same to satisfy the poor, to banish every hardship, and to save every sorrowful man (Doss, n.d.). She looked for Jesus in the poor and often brought food and clothing to them. She became a nun with the help of St. Mel, St. Patricks nephew, and formed a religious community with seven other young women. Brigid started the first Irish convent at Kildare and became its abbess. She also founded a school of art, which won fame for its beautifully illuminated manuscripts. The monastery at Kildare became a centre of education and spirituality (Daughter of St. Paul, 2011). God performed many miracles through Brigid during her lifetime, believers say, and most of them have to do with healing. One of the very famous miracle story of St Brigid is that when she gave away a whole pail of milk, she began to worry about what her mother would say hence prayed to the Lord to make up for what she had given away, and when she got home, her pail was full again. Eventually, Brigid became known as the Mary of the Irish regard to her love and compassion that remind people of the Blessed Mother (Daughter of St. Paul, 2011). The life full of helping and healing, Brigid lived the life she wanted, conforming Lords message, ended in 525 C.E. and was buried at Downpatrick near St. Columba and St. Patrick (Daughter of St. Paul, 2011). Even long after her death, the meaning of sacred life of Saint Brigid, that passes through centuries, now offers society a new insight into the virtue of hospitality, the cheerful, generous giving of food and shelter (Doss, n.d.). Brigidine Sisters is the most well know congregation of people who have been inspired by the values of Brigid. The history of this congregation began in the year 468, as St Brigid formed the first ever female monastic community together with seven other dedicated women. They helped the poor of the time and were attributed with many miracles (Green, n.d.). However, the Penal Laws of the 18th century had wrought what seemed irreparable chaos on the once far-famed Land of Saints and Scholars, leaving Irelands oppressed and largely pauperised people bereft of their proud Gaelic cultures, including the Sisters of St Brigid (Brigidine Sisters, 2015). After a long time of the havoc, miraculously and very fortunately, the Sisters of St. Brigid were restored by Bishop Daniel Delany, who founded the Congregation in response to the urgent need for education for life and faith at the time when Ireland was emerging from the oppressive Penal Laws (Solas Bhride Centre, n.a.). Brigidine sisters commit themselves to gather to celebrate and explore the Brigid tradition for our time and for the future; to seek inspiration through regular reflection; and to take action that seeks justice and the common good (Brigidine Sisters, 2015). WIth these commiments, throughout the past few decades, there has been a strong justice and peace thrust in this congregation. Brigidine Sisters practise and fulfil the message of St Brigid, love and satisfy the poors, in many ways globally, including the supports and sponsor for the asylum seekers and the victims of women and child trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation engages. We dedicated a portion of this earth as a final resting place for her and her corporeal is no longer alive. However, we believe that her disembodied spirit transcends time and still alive next to us even long after her death, to deliver the message that she tried to convey throughout her whole life with her countless precedes. We will continue to communicate with Brigids message of loving and carrying poor, that transcend time by her and her descendants. Word count 845 Words Jestice Phyllis G. 2004, Book: Holy People of the World: A Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia, Volume 3 pp 140-, ABC-CLIO. Retrieved 1 February 2013, Viewed on 22nd Feb 2017, https://books.google.com/books?id=H5cQH17-HnMCpg=PA140> Prebel Peter M. 2013, St Bridget of Kildare, Viewed on 22nd Feb 2017, http://www.frpeterpreble.com/tag/saints-of-the-british-isles> Doss, Mary D. n.d. A Gift of Hospitality Saint Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, Viewed on 27th Feb 2017, http://www.roca.org/OA/107/107e.htm#4> The Church of Jesus Christ, 2008, Behold Your Little Ones: Nursery Manual Lesson 5: Lesson 5: Jesus Christ Showed Us How to Love Others pp 24 27, Viewed on 25th Feb 2017, https://www.lds.org/manual/behold-your-little-ones-nursery-manual/lesson-5-jesus-christ-showed-us-how-to-love-others?lang=eng> Daughter of St. Paul, 2011, Saint-A-Day: February, Viewed on 28th Feb 2017, http://www.jclubcatholic.org/stories/SaintADay.aspx?sjc_month=2> Green M. n.d. St Brigid The Other Saint, Viewed on 1st March 2017, http://www.ireland-information.com/articles/saintbrigid.htm> Brigidine Sisters, 2015, Our Beginning, Viewed on 1st March 2017, http://brigidine.org.au/about-us/our-beginnings/> Solas Bhride Centre, n.d. General History of the BrigidinesFrom the Acorn to the Oak, Viewed on 2nd March 2017, http://solasbhride.ie/our-history/ > Brigidine Sisters, 2015, Our Colleagues Associates, Viewed on 1st March 2017, http://brigidine.org.au/about-us/our-beginnings/>

Why? :: Art

Why? After seeing the film The Virgin Suicides, I found myself asking the question why. While talking to other students about the film again came the question, why? Why would these girls, with so much to look forward to, commit suicide? This question, â€Å"why† is the central theme of the whole film. Hearing many opinions on the film, I asked myself, what was the most disturbing aspect of this film? Focusing on the subtly disturbing manner in which the film is told and again asking why. I came to the conclusion that the most disturbing part of this film isn’t so much the girls committing suicide, but the fact that we don’t know why they do it. Like the boy’s across the street, we are not content with what happens, we feel cheated, like it’s all a horrible inside joke and we just don’t get the punch line. The first time the boys go into the house, they look around as if they were in the house of a dead idol, like the smaller pieces of the girl’s lives are going to tell them something they haven’t yet considered. The way they steal Cecilia’s diary and try to imagine what the girls were thinking. The way they sit with the telescope pointed at the roof across the street, watching like confused children, which essentially is what they were. These are some of the more obvious voyeuristic scenes, but there are so many more. The film could almost be a beginners guide to stalking. All the boys were obsessed with the Lisbon girls. They wanted to know what they were doing, where they were, who they were, and most of all, why. The one time Lux let one of the boys get close enough to answer some of these questions, he momentarily looses interest and leaves her at the football field. Which poses the question, were the boys fascinated with these girls because they were unique and interesting, or did they only want what they couldn’t have, the forbidden fruit. The bars of isolation put firmly into place by the Lisbon mother is what creates this aura of mystery around these girls. Her strict enforcement of the conservative lifestyle only adds fuel to the girl’s new found sexual fire. Like the boys, the girls only want to discover the unknown. And for the Lisbon’s, the unknown is the opposite sex.

The Social and Legal Aspects of Homosexuality in Hong Kong

The social and legal aspects of homosexuality in Hong Kong In 1988, there was an intense argument on whether to legalize homosexuality. Different groups expressed their views on public discussion hold in Victoria Park. A group of homosexual men declared that they have the same contribution to the society as others. The existed law infringes on their human right. On the other hand, Dr. Philemon Choi who opposed decriminalization was afraid of the impacts of decriminalization such as the increase of male prostitution although he agreed to lower the penalties.Besides, the Law Reform Commission had also discussed on this topic for 8 years but the progress was very slow. The main consideration was that homosexuality was not about legal issues but morality; therefore, the commission suggested loosening the law. However, it did not mean the Acceptance of homosexuality. Many people still thought some criminal offences were related to homosexuality and it was against the morality. Moreover, D espite the relation between Hong Kong and Britain, the liberation movement of homosexual laws was restricted because of the International Covenant.One of the options from consultation paper from LRC was maintaining the existed law. It argued that it was a waste for the police to put so much focus on homosexuality instead of other more serious cases. What I think is totally different from the essay since there is about 20 years culture gap. People now are open-minded and more willing to accept others. The discrimination is less common in the modern society, and I hope all the people will accept homosexuality. REF: Louis Lee. â€Å"The social and legal aspects of homosexuality in Hong Kong† The HKU scholar Hub, (1988) 117-122,web. 9 Apr 2013

Substance Abuse Problems in Relationships Essay - 561 Words

When someone realizes that they have a substance abuse problem, they know that their personal relationships have to change. If this relationship is with a life partner or spouse, however, the issue can become complicated. But you should know that this is not an uncommon situation. While there are no formal statistics for co-occurring substance abuse in a family, most substance abuse counselors will tell you it is actually very typical. Why is this true? Sometimes the couple came together because of their addiction: people seek out partners who have similar issues to their own. Other times, substance abuse was introduced by one member of the couple and, over time, the two cycled into addiction. If you are in a relationship where†¦show more content†¦Too often, someone returns home from treatment with the idea that they can change their partner. Usually, the opposite happens and the two spiral back into substance abuse together. h3 If You Find That the Relationship is Not Worth Saving/h3 Sometimes too much has happened in a relationship and it has become toxic. Some couples realize that they never really had a partnership: their relationship was really about drugs or alcohol. If this is the case, it is probably time to seek a separation. One of the benefits of being in treatment is that you will be working with a counselor who is available to help you sort out your feelings and priorities. If you need to separate, they will help you figure out how to do that in the most supportive and respectful way possible. h3 What If You and Your Partner Are Committed to Change/h3 If you and your partner are committed to change, it is possible for you both to enter treatment. Most rehab facilities will want you and your partner to begin treatment in separate facilities. 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