Saint Abigail lived in Ireland about 1,400 years ago. When she was young, her family was involved in a feud. A feud is like a small war between families or family members. They fought so much that St. Abigail ran away to an island. An angel appeared to her and told her that she was not supposed to live on the island. The angel also told her she would find nine deer grazing in the place where she was meant to spend the rest of her life. Saint Abigail traveled along the coast of Ireland until she found the deer. With the help of her brother, Saint Abban, she founded a convent on this spot and became the abbess of an order of nuns.
Saint Abigail loved bees and became a beekeeper. She used honey from her bees to treat sick people. She once prayed for a miracle to stop a band of brigands from attacking. God answered her prayer and used a swarm of bees to prevent the attack. Saint Abigail also asked God for a miracle to save her convent and the community around it from a terrible plague. Again, God answered her prayer and granted them a miracle, saving them from the plague.
Saint Abigail ministered to the sick and needy until her death. She is often shown with honeycomb or honeybees. Saint Abigail is also known as Saint Deborah and she is the patroness of beekeepers and ironworkers. St. Abigail is a saint known for her faith, her kindness, and her service to others. You might want to pray to Saint Abigail if you are of Irish descent, if you are a beekeeper or are afraid or allergic to bees, or if your family is suffering. She will intercede for you the way she interceded for her community so many years ago.