Saint Brendan the Voyager, Abbot of Clonfert.
Saint Brendan, a native of Ireland, was born in Kerry about the year 485, a quarter of a century after the repose of Saint Patrick, was baptized by Bishop Erc, who had been a disciple of Saint Patrick’s, and was educated in piety by Saint Ita of Killeedy till he was six. He embraced the monastic life in his youth and was ordained priest and through his preaching brought many to repentance. An austere ascetic with many spiritual children, he founded monasteries in Kerry, a convent for his sister Briga at Annaghdown, and the greatest of his monastic foundations at Clonfert in County Galway.
After his ordination he made a sea voyage with some companions which did not meet with success, and they returned to Ireland. But in his later years he made his second voyage, for which he is famous, which lasted from 565 to 573. He found exiled Irish hermits living in stillness, certainly visited Iceland, and possibly even came to the New World. In 1976 Timothy Severin demonstrated that this was possible.
In 577, now an ailing old man, he made the effort to visit his sister’s convent at Annaghdown and served the Divine Liturgy, after which he retired to rest, and gave up his soul into the hands of God, on May 16. According to his own wish, he was taken back to his monastery of Clonfert and buried there. He is honored as one of the Apostles of Ireland.
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