Brigid

Saint Brigid of Touraine (Brigitte de Touraine) is a Christian saint and martyr of the fourth century, venerated in northern France and Belgium.

Descended, it is said, directly from a king of Scotland of the early Middle Ages, she landed in France with her twin sister, Maura. They were killed at Balagny-⁠sur-⁠Thérain by brigands, who crushed their skulls with a club, as they were returning from a pilgrimage to Rome. The church of Nogent-⁠les-⁠Vierges (today Nogent-⁠sur-⁠Oise) received their bodies, where they are venerated.

Besides Nogent-⁠sur-⁠Oise, Saint Brigid of Touraine is invoked in the Belgian Hainaut, at Joncret, in cases of difficult calving. She holds a pilgrim's staff, which distinguishes her from Brigid of Ireland. In icons she appears with the palm of martyrdom. The faithful used to bring a willow wand with which they touched the cows when calving or when sick. She is a saint of the undivided Church, honoured locally, without synodal canonization.