St. Abigail
Facts
Patron: of honeybees and beekeepers
Death: 6th century
Author and Publisher - Catholic Online
Printable Catholic Saints PDFs
Shop St. Abigail

St. Abigail, more commonly known as St. Gobnait or Deborah, was a medieval Irish saint born around the 6th century in County Clare, Ireland.
According to tradition, Abigail's family was always feuding. This caused her to run away from home to settle on Inis Oirr in the Aran Islands.
After some time, an angel appeared to Abigail and told her this was not her place of resurrection. She was to head inland to find the place she would spend the rest of her life. The angel told Abigail this place would be marked with the presence of nine white deer.
Abigail set off in search for the deer throughout the southern coastal counties. Her journey is now marked by churches and holy wells which are dedicated to her along the way.
She finally found the herd of deer in Ballyvourney, County Cork, now known as St. Gobnet's Wood.
Abigail would spend the rest of her earthly life dedicated to pastoral service and Christian charitable work. Her brother, St. Abban is believed to have joined her to help set the foundation for a convent, placing Abigail as its abbess, or mother superior of the community of women religious.
Abigail also went on to spend much of her time caring for the sick.
According to early Celtic folklore and religious symbolism, the soul departs from the body in the form of a bee or butterfly. So, it is not surprising that, given her deep Christian faith and belief in the Resurrection, Abigail also became a beekeeper.
It is said that she developed a powerful relationship with the bees and would use their honey to treat illnesses and heal wounds.
She became known for her miracles in rousting bees from their hives and using them to chase off evil. Some pious legend even claim that the bees transformed into soldiers, with their hives becoming helmets.
Abigail is also credited with saving Ballyvourney from the plague.
She remained settled in Ballyvourney until her death where she was then buried "to await her resurrection."
St. Abigail is the patron saint of honeybees and beekeepers. She is often featured surrounded by bees or carrying a honeycomb.
Her feast day is celebrated on February 11.
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
-
Stations of the Cross
-
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
-
Saint of the Day for Friday, March 31st, 2023
-
Palm Sunday
-
St. Benjamin
-
Prayer of the Day for Friday, March 31
-
Second Station: Jesus carries His cross
-
Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
-
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Have your Prayer Intentions read live on Good Friday's Stations of the Cross
-
PRAY FOR POPE FRANCIS - Hospitalized with 'Pulmonary Infection'
-
The German Bishops Error and the True Understanding of the Development of Doctrine
-
Where do the palms for Palm Sunday come from?
-
Lenten Recipes and the Whys of 'Fish Eaters'
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Friday, March 31, 2023
St. Benjamin: Saint of the Day for Friday, March 31, 2023
Prayer for the Home: Prayer of the Day for Friday, March 31, 2023
- Daily Readings for Thursday, March 30, 2023
- St. Peter Regulatus: Saint of the Day for Thursday, March 30, 2023
- Prayer for a Holy Church and Priests: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, March 30, 2023
FREE Catholic Classes Pick a class, you can learn anything
Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.