Thoughts on Brighid and abortion.
(Image description: A photo of sweater-clad arms and light-skinned hands grasping a light blue mug filled partially with a dark-colored beverage. Beneath the cup is a folded pink cloth and a white, blue-striped cloth on top of a wooden table.) Credit: Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash
My shift started as it normally did with the lighting of my lantern around the local sunset time. Earlier in the day, SB 8 became effective in Texas and made most abortions after six weeks illegal. While not eliminating Roe vs. Wade, it’s a significant blow to reproductive rights in the US. Given the timing of this event and my flamekeeping shift, the law’s dire repercussions were on my mind.
I recalled the Repeal the 8th movement that occurred in Ireland in 2018. Previously, the law prohibited abortions (except for serious at-risk pregnancies) and would force people needing them to go elsewhere to get a procedure.
During the campaign, a short film titled St. Brigid, produced by David Keeling, was released, which covered a few of St. Brighid’s miracles in a cheeky, humorous manner and brought awareness to Repeal the 8th.
At the end, the video discusses how a young woman (or a nun, depending on the story) came to St. Brighid with an unwanted pregnancy, and St. Brighid, through her faith, caused the pregnancy to vanish painlessly and without birth. The video can still be viewed here.
The Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland passed later that year and made getting an abortion much easier. Whether Brighid had some or any influence on it, it’s up to readers of this post to decide for themselves.
I’ve never had an abortion, but I feel it should be an option for pregnant people who need it for whatever reason that deems an abortion necessary. I also use the term people to be inclusive of trans and non-binary individuals who are capable of getting pregnant and face even greater medical hurdles if they need an abortion.
Like St. Brighid’s approach to the young woman, it’s unkind to judge others for their choices, as you don’t know what others are going through at the time. It’s better to make a difficult situation easier to process and handle, instead of causing others to suffer more. In this case, that entails easier access to reproductive education, contraception, and abortion.
Beyond the miracle mentioned above, Brighid is a healer. Sometimes, healing doesn’t only involve treating wounds or offering medicine. It’s helping people at odds with a law and overwhelmed by situations like pregnancy. Pregnancy isn’t always meant to happen for numerous reasons. Children should be wanted and loved by parents before they’re brought into the world. Pregnancy shouldn’t be treated as a punishment. I can’t speak for the goddess or the saint, but I’m offering this prayer to Her to help those in need in a small way.
Brighid,
Mother, Midwife, Friend
hear their stories,
wrap them in Your mantle
protect their hearts, minds, and bodies
aid them in their plights
each day and every day,
each night and every night.
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