Bridget of Fiesole

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St. Bridget of Fiesole is an Irish saint whose feast day is celebrated in Italy on February 1.

Life
Bridget was born in Ireland in the 9th century to noble parents and was the sister of Andrew of Fiesole. Both Bridget and Andrew studied with Donatus, who would later become bishop of Fiesole. In 816, Andrew joined Donatus on a journey to Italy with plans to found a hermitage. In 829, Donatus became bishop of Fiesole and made Andrew his archdeacon.

Donatus died around 876, and Andrew followed a few years later at the Monastery of San Martino di Mensola in Fiesole, which he had helped found. Andrew longed to see his sister before he died, and Bridget went to Italy in time to visit him. Some later stories say angels carried her to him.

After Andrew’s death, Bridget retreated to a cave in the Apennine mountains, where she lived a secluded life in the ninth century. A church was later built over her cave, which also held her grave. Bridget is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallaght.