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Saint Brendan the Navigator
Saint Brendan was born in 486 AD. He was the founder of a monastery in Clonfert, County Galway, Ireland. He is known as Brendan the Navigator due to his widespread travels, the most famous of which was his journey to find the Promised land of the Saints, a Christian gloss for the pagan otherworld of Tír na nÓg.
On this journey, Brendan and a group of monks set sail on a quest across the Atlantic, in a currach, a traditional insular Celtic boat made of wood and oxhide.
Saint Brendan and his monks had a number of adventures while traveling from island to island, such as encountering sea monsters (whales?), crystal columns that rose up to the sky (icebergs?), and being pelted by flaming, foul-smelling rocks from what seemed to be hell itself (a volcano?).
Brendan and his companions finally arrived at the beautiful "Promised Land of the Saints." They explored until they came to a great river that divided the land. They eventually journeyed back to Ireland, the entire adventure having taken them seven years to complete.
Some believe that Brendan's journey was only semi-legendary, and that he unwittingly succeeded in discovering America hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus. In the 1970's this was proven to be a real possibility.
Even if the journey was only legendary, however, the story still has mythological value. It tells us of a man not unlike the biblical Abraham, who set out on a journey with nothing to guide him but his trust in God.
Saint Brendan found that his faith in God was well founded, for he made it to his destination and safely home again, bringing back with him an experience which changed not only his life, but also the lives of many others with whom he would come in contact from then on.
This is the mystic's journey—to make it to the Promised Land of the Saints, to heaven as it were, and yet rather than stay there, to instead return to the world for the benefit of others. This is indeed the mystic's journey. This is the saint's journey. This is our journey.
On this journey, Brendan and a group of monks set sail on a quest across the Atlantic, in a currach, a traditional insular Celtic boat made of wood and oxhide.
Saint Brendan and his monks had a number of adventures while traveling from island to island, such as encountering sea monsters (whales?), crystal columns that rose up to the sky (icebergs?), and being pelted by flaming, foul-smelling rocks from what seemed to be hell itself (a volcano?).
Brendan and his companions finally arrived at the beautiful "Promised Land of the Saints." They explored until they came to a great river that divided the land. They eventually journeyed back to Ireland, the entire adventure having taken them seven years to complete.
Some believe that Brendan's journey was only semi-legendary, and that he unwittingly succeeded in discovering America hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus. In the 1970's this was proven to be a real possibility.
Even if the journey was only legendary, however, the story still has mythological value. It tells us of a man not unlike the biblical Abraham, who set out on a journey with nothing to guide him but his trust in God.
Saint Brendan found that his faith in God was well founded, for he made it to his destination and safely home again, bringing back with him an experience which changed not only his life, but also the lives of many others with whom he would come in contact from then on.
This is the mystic's journey—to make it to the Promised Land of the Saints, to heaven as it were, and yet rather than stay there, to instead return to the world for the benefit of others. This is indeed the mystic's journey. This is the saint's journey. This is our journey.
Fear not, for God will be unto us a helper, a mariner, and a pilot. May God do unto us his servants and his little vessel as he willeth.
- Saint Brendan
God of sea and land, you endowed your servant Brendan with a bold and adventurous spirit to occupy himself for your business on the great waters and revealed to him your wonders in the deep. Make us who recall with thanksgiving his life and ministry, zealous to be pioneers and pilgrims for the faith of Christ, though Christ our Lord. Amen.
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