St. Brendan was known as the Navigator. One-hundred years before Brendan was born, Ireland was moving from a pagan to a Christian nation. Although St. Patrick did much to convert Ireland, Christianity did not flourish after his death. Brendan carried on the mission to spread Christianity.

In 484 A.D. Brendan was born in the small seaside village of Fenuit of western Ireland near the city of Tralee. His parents, Finlug and Cara, were devout Catholics and Bishop Erc was their spiritual leader. It was Bishop Erc who baptized the child and changed his name from Mobhi to Brendan (sometimes spelled Brendon, meaning “white”). His name was changed because after his birth because the entire region was covered with a heavy white mist or frost. Due to the many unusual events occurring at the time Brendan was born, Bishop Erc feel that Brendan was a special person in the sight of God.

Since the custom of Christian families was to give their first-born and tenth son to the Church, Brendan spent his first year with his parents and then was taken to the convent school of St. Ita. During his five years at St. Ita, Brendan learned virtue, faith, generosity, love, and obedience. His many talents surfaced and revealed his special place with God. When Brendan reached the age of six, he returned to Artfert, a city near his home, to study under Bishop Erc.

In the years Brendan studied with the Bishop, he learned four languages, and studied history, mathematics and astronomy. He lived in a tiny bee-hive cell, worked in the fields, and learned patience, fortitude and hardship. Since Brendan was only five miles from his home, his family came to visit.

When Brendan was 20 years old, Bishop Erc felt that he had taught Brendan everything he could, so the Bishop gave Brendan permission to visit the holy monks of Ireland and learn about their monastic “Rule.” Brendan’s walking journey took about a year during which time he learned about the people, the country and nature. He finally reached the monastery at Tuam where Brendan learned the “Rule” by which all members of a monastery lived.

The “Rule” governed his life. The three labors of the day were prayer, work, and study. Monks helped each other and people in the surrounding area. They celebrated Mass each morning, had their prayers, worked in the fields, and taught. They lived sparsely and were obedient to their abbot. Brendan remained at the monastery for four years and left to continue his journey to other monasteries. After another two years of traveling, he returned to Tralee and Bishop Erc.

In 512 A.D., at the age of 26, Bishop Erc ordained Brendan a priest. Between the years 512 and 530, Brendan founded many monastic cells. Under Brendan’s rule, there were about 3000 monks. During these 30 years, many churches were built and converts made. Thus, Brendan took up where St. Patrick had left spreading Christianity throughout the region. When Brendan was 59, his life changed. He had heard about the “Island of the Saints” from a monk who stopped for food and shelter.

Brendan had been born into a sea-faring world in Fenuit, and the monk’s tale had renewed Brendan’s longing for the sea. So Brendan made plans to make the voyage to find the island. Brendan’s first voyage lasted about five years, but on his second voyage he came to America (6 c. A.D.).

In 551, at the age of 73, Brendan founded his famous monastery and school at Clonfert. It was there that Brendan wished to be buried. Brendan died in 578 at the age of 94. He was declared a saint formally in 1634 by Pope Urban VIII. May 16 is St. Brendan’s feast day.

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