Brendaniana: St. Brendan the Voyager in Story and Legend

“Blessed is the man who feareth the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.” (Ps. cxi. vs. 1.)

Blessed and righteous and perfect is the man who hath (Jt., ‘“ upon whom there are”) the fear and awe of the Lord Almighty, and who desireth exceedingly to fulfil the commands and teachings of God, as is stated in the Canon of the Old and New Testament, by this declaration.

Multitudes there were of patriarchs and prophets and apostles and disciples of the Lord in the Old and New Testaments, to give testimony to this truth, who were truly blessed, faithful, perfect, and persevering in their desire and ardent longing to fulfil the Divine commands and teachings, and in the holy fear of the Lord, perfectly in their hearts and minds, without consideration of aught else save this alone.

One of that class under the New Testament was he whose festival and commemoration occurs at this time and season, the 17th of Calends of June (May 16th), namely, Brendan, son of Finnlug, of the race of Ciar, son of Fergus. A chief leader in faith and piety throughout most of the world was this holy Brendan; just was he, like unto Abraham; a prophetic psalmist, like unto David, the son of Jesse; an eminent sage, like unto Solomon, son of David; a law giver, like unto Moyses, son of Amram; an inspired interpreter, like unto Saint Jerome; of surpassing intellect, like unto Augustine; of excellent general scholarship, hke unto. Origen; a virgin was he, like unto John, the bosom foster-child of the Lord; an evangelist, like Mathew; a preacher, like unto Paul; a chief missioner of forgiveness, like unto Peter, prince of the apostles; chief of hermits, like unto John of the Baptism; a commentator, like Gregory of Rome; a prudent guide over land and sea, like Noah, son of Lamech. And as Noah raised aloft his ark over the swelling waves of the Deluge, so will Brendan raise up his monks and his people above the fires of the Judgment, so that, through the power and true piety of Brendan, son of Finlugh, neither smoke, nor mists, nor sparks should touch them.