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<DIV>Michael Mueller:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Why would you rely on Aaron Rench's hagiographic view of St. Bridget over
Joan's? Joan is a trained medievalist, Aaron is a
trained ?. Aaron and I had this conversation privately about a month
ago - and it was my hope that he had learned something from it. Apparently
not. Please see my email to Aaron which reads in part:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Hi Aaron,
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks for the tour of St. Bridget's conference room. I rechecked my
memory on St. Bridget after our brief discussion. The following link
describes my understanding of the role of hospitality and St. Bridget.</DIV>
<DIV><A title=http://www.voskrese.info/spl/XbridKildare.html
href="http://www.voskrese.info/spl/XbridKildare.html">http://www.voskrese.info/spl/XbridKildare.html</A> "</DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT lang=0 face=Georgia size=3 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="12">The most
minimally trained historian would immediately be aware that the life
span of St. Patrick (i.e. he died prior to 500 common era) rules out
any connection with a "medieval" Bridget. There is absolutely nothing to
verify that Bridget (if she ever existed) wrote any poem about serving King
Jesus beer. In fact, any extant writing by a Celtic woman of that era
would be priceless. Sean O'Faolain, the Irish poet who wrote the
<EM>Heavenly Banquet</EM>, grew up in the area that Bridget reportedly
frequented. He knew the legends about her, and no doubt celebrated her
Saint's day. Nonetheless, the tale of St. Bridget is probably nothing more
than a pretty little story. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=4>St. Brigid (?), The Heavenly Banquet</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>I would like to
have the men of Heaven<BR>in my own house;<BR>with vats of good cheer<BR>laid
out for them.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>I would like to
have the three Marys,<BR>their fame is so great.<BR>I would like people<BR>from
every corner of Heaven.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>I would like them
to be cheerful<BR>in their drinking.<BR>I would like to have Jesus, too,<BR>here
amongst them.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>I would like a
great lake of beer<BR>for the King of Kings.<BR>I would like to be watching
Heaven's family<BR>drinking it through all eternity.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><I>Translated by
Sean O'Faolain</I></FONT></P>
<P><EM><FONT face=Verdana size=2><A
href="http://www.uoregon.edu/~sshoemak/322/Texts/banquet.htm">http://www.uoregon.edu/~sshoemak/322/Texts/banquet.htm</A></FONT></EM></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Georgia size=3 FAMILY="SERIF"
PTSIZE="12"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Georgia size=3 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="12">Your's for
genuine academic training,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Rose Huskey</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Georgia size=3 FAMILY="SERIF"
PTSIZE="12"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Georgia size=3 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="12">"First they
ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Mahatma
Gandhi</FONT></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>