¹ St. Brendan, son of Finnlug Ua Alta, of the lineage of Eoghan, was born in the marshlands of Munster. He was renowned for his great self-discipline and many virtues and was the spiritual father of nearly three thousand monks.

² One evening, while engaged in his spiritual labors at a place called Ardfert-Brendan, a certain elder named Barinthus, of the lineage of King Niall, came to visit him. When St. Brendan questioned him in conversation, Barinthus could only weep, throw himself to the ground, and remain in prayer for a long time.

³ Brendan gently lifted him up, embraced him, and said: “Father, why should we be sorrowful at your visit? Have you not come to bring us comfort? You should instead bring joy to the brothers. In the name of God, reveal to us the divine mysteries and refresh our souls by telling us of the wonders you have seen upon the great ocean.”

⁴ Then Barinthus responded, describing a certain island: “My dear son, Mernoc, the protector of Christ’s poor, left me to live as a hermit and discovered an island of great beauty near the Stone Mountain. In time, I heard that he had gathered many monks there under his care and that God had performed many wonders through him. So, I set out to visit him.

⁵ When I was three days’ journey away, Mernoc, along with some of the brethren, came out to meet me, for God had revealed my coming to him. As we sailed toward the island, the monks emerged from their cells to greet us, like a swarm of bees. Though they lived separately, they were united in faith, hope, and love, sharing one refectory and one church where they gathered for divine worship.

⁶ Their food consisted only of fruits, nuts, roots, and other vegetables. After compline, each brother would return to his cell, remaining in prayer until the cock crowed or the bell rang for the next service.

⁷ After my son had guided me across the island, he led me to the western shore, where a small boat was waiting. He then said:

⁸ ‘Father, step into this boat, and we shall sail westward to the island known as the Land of Promise of the Saints, which God will grant to those who come after us in the last days.’”

⁹ When we entered the boat and set sail, thick clouds surrounded us on every side, so dense that we could barely see the bow or stern of the vessel. After about an hour, a great light suddenly shone around us, and before us appeared a vast and fertile land, filled with all kinds of fruit.

¹⁰ As soon as the boat reached the shore, we disembarked and began to explore the island. For fifteen days, we walked without reaching its boundaries. Every plant we saw was in bloom, every tree bore fruit, and the very stones of the land were precious gems.

¹¹ On the fifteenth day, we came upon a river flowing from west to east. Unsure of what to do, though we wished to cross, we waited for the Lord’s guidance. As we stood in contemplation, a man suddenly appeared before us, shining with a brilliant light. Calling us by name, he spoke:

¹² “Welcome, worthy brothers, for the Lord has revealed to you the land He will grant to His saints. However, you may only see this half of the island; you are not permitted to cross the river. Therefore, return now to the place from which you came.”

¹³ When he had finished speaking, we asked him his name and where he had come from. But he replied: “Why do you ask such questions? Should you not rather seek to understand this island? As you see it now, so it has remained since the beginning of the world.

¹⁴ Tell me, have you needed food or drink? Have you grown weary from sleep or been covered by the darkness of night? Know this for certain: here, it is always day, with no shadow of darkness, for the Lord Jesus Christ is its light. If mankind had not transgressed God’s command, they would have always dwelt in this land of delight.”

¹⁵ Hearing this, we were moved to tears. After resting for a while, we set out on our return journey, with the man accompanying us to the shore where our boat was moored. Once we had boarded, he vanished from our sight, and we sailed back through the same dense darkness we had passed before, until we arrived once more at the Island of Delights.

¹⁶ When the brethren there saw us, they rejoiced greatly at our return, for they had long mourned our absence. They said: “Fathers, why did you leave us, your little flock, to wander like sheep without a shepherd in the wilderness? We knew that our abbot often departed from us, sometimes for a month, sometimes for two weeks, or even just a few days. But we did not know where he went.”

¹⁷ Hearing this, I sought to console them and said: “Brothers, do not be troubled, for your lives here are truly lived at the very threshold of paradise. Not far from you lies an island, called the Land of Promise of the Saints, where night never falls, nor does the day ever end. Your abbot, Mernoc, journeys there, for the angels of God watch over it. Do you not recognize, by the fragrance of our garments, that we have been in the paradise of God?”

¹⁸ They replied: “Yes, Father, we knew well that you had been in the paradise of God, for we often perceived this same fragrance from the garments of our abbot, which lingered among us for nearly forty days.”

¹⁹ I then told them that I had remained there with my dear son for two weeks, without food or drink, yet we were so completely sustained that, to others, we would have seemed fully satisfied.

²⁰ “After forty days had passed, having received the blessings of the abbot and the brethren, I departed with my companions, so that I might return to my little cell, where I will go tomorrow.”

²¹ Upon hearing all this, St. Brendan and his brethren prostrated themselves on the ground, giving glory to God, saying: “Righteous are You, O Lord, in all Your ways, and holy in all Your works, for You have revealed such great and wondrous things to Your children. Blessed are You for Your gifts, for on this day You have refreshed us all with this spiritual feast.”

²² When these words were spoken, St. Brendan said: “Now, let us proceed to the nourishment of the body, in the spirit of the new commandment.”

²³ After the night had passed, St. Barinthus, having received the blessing of the brethren, returned to his own cell.

Chapter 2 #

¹ Not long after, St. Brendan chose fourteen monks from his entire community. Taking them aside, the venerable father led them into an oratory and spoke to them: “Beloved companions in Christ, I seek your counsel and support, for my heart is firmly set on one desire. If it is truly God’s holy will, I am resolved to set out in search of the Land of Promise of the Saints, about which Father Barinthus spoke to us. What do you think? What is your advice?”

² Knowing their holy father’s purpose, they answered as one: “Father Abbot, your will is our will. Have we not already left behind our parents? Have we not turned away from all earthly prospects? Have we not entrusted our very lives into your hands? We are ready to go with you, whether it leads to life or to death—so long as it is the will of God.”

Chapter 3 #

¹ St. Brendan and his chosen brethren then resolved to observe a forty-day fast, eating only once every three days, before setting out on their journey. When the forty days had passed, St. Brendan bid a heartfelt farewell to his monks, entrusting them to the special care of the monastery’s Prior, who would later succeed him as abbot.

² With fourteen brethren, he set sail westward to the island where St. Enda dwelled, and there they remained for three days and three nights.

Chapter 4 #

¹ Having received the blessing of this holy father and all his monks, St. Brendan continued his journey to the farthest reaches of his homeland, where his parents lived. However, he chose not to visit them. Instead, he climbed to the summit of a mountain that extends far into the ocean, a place now known as St. Brendan’s Seat. There, near a narrow inlet where a small boat could enter, he set up a tent.

² Together with his companions, he built a lightweight vessel using iron tools. They crafted its frame from wicker, as was common in that land, and covered it with cowhide tanned in oak bark, sealing the seams with tar. They then loaded provisions for forty days, along with enough butter to soften more hides for repairs, as well as all the necessary tools for the voyage.

³ Finally, St. Brendan commanded his monks to board the vessel, invoking the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 5 #

¹ As St. Brendan stood on the shore, blessing the small inlet, three more monks from his monastery suddenly arrived. Throwing themselves at his feet, they pleaded: “Dearest father, for the love of Christ, allow us to join you on your journey. If you refuse, we will perish from hunger and thirst, for we have resolved to follow you for the rest of our lives.”

² Seeing their desperation, the man of God granted their request, saying: “Have it as you wish, my children.” However, he solemnly added: “I know well why you have come. One of you has acted rightly, for God has prepared a good place for him. But as for the other two, they are destined for harm and judgment.”

Chapter 6 #

¹ St. Brendan then boarded the vessel, and they set sail toward the summer solstice. With a favorable wind, their journey required little effort beyond keeping the sails properly adjusted. However, after twelve days, the wind died completely, leaving them stranded in a dead calm. Forced to row, they labored until they were nearly exhausted.

² Seeing their struggle, St. Brendan encouraged them, saying: “Do not be afraid, brothers, for our God will be our helper, our navigator, and our pilot. Lay down your oars and rudder, keep the sails set, and let the Lord do with us—His servants and His little vessel—as He wills.”

³ They took their meals each evening, and at times, a wind would rise—but they could not tell from which direction it blew, nor where it carried them.

⁴ After forty days, when all their provisions were gone, they saw a rugged and towering island to the north. As they approached, they beheld sheer cliffs rising like walls, with many streams of water rushing down from the summit into the sea. Yet, despite their need, they found no place to land their boat.

⁵ Weakened by hunger and thirst, the brethren took vessels to catch the falling water, but St. Brendan warned them:

⁶ “Brothers, do not act foolishly. If God has not yet revealed a place for us to land, you must not take this water without His permission. But take heart—after three days, the Lord Jesus Christ will grant His servants a safe harbor and a place to rest, where you may refresh your weary bodies.”

⁷ After sailing around the island for three days, on the third day, around the ninth hour, they spotted a small cove where their boat could enter. St. Brendan immediately rose and blessed the landing place, which was surrounded by towering cliffs, as steep as walls.

⁸ Once they had all disembarked and stood upon the shore, St. Brendan instructed them to take nothing from the boat. Just then, a dog appeared from a hidden path and ran toward them, wagging its tail and fawning upon the saint, as a dog does with its master.

⁹ “Has not the Lord sent us a good messenger?” said St. Brendan. “Let us follow him.” The brethren followed the dog until they reached a large mansion. Inside, they found a spacious hall, prepared with couches and seats, and water set out for washing their feet.

¹⁰ After they had rested for a time, St. Brendan warned them: “Be on guard, lest Satan lead you into temptation. I see him stirring the heart of one among the three monks who followed us from the monastery, urging him toward a sinful theft. Pray for his soul, for his flesh is already in Satan’s grasp.”

¹¹ The mansion where they stayed had walls adorned with vessels of various metals, along with bridles and drinking horns inlaid with silver.

¹² St. Brendan then instructed the serving brother to set forth the meal that God had provided. Without delay, the table was prepared with napkins, white loaves, and a portion of fish for each brother. When everything was ready, St. Brendan blessed both the meal and his companions, saying: “Let us give praise to the God of heaven, who provides food for all His creatures.”

¹³ The brethren ate with gratitude, giving thanks to the Lord, and drank as much as they pleased. After the meal was finished and the divine office had been recited, St. Brendan said:

¹⁴ “Now go and take your rest. Here you see well-prepared couches for each of you. Your limbs are weary from the hardships of our voyage, and you must restore your strength.”

¹⁵ When the brethren had fallen asleep, St. Brendan saw a demon, appearing in the form of a small black figure, at work. In its hands, it held a bridle-bit and was beckoning to the monk he had previously warned about. Sensing the danger, St. Brendan rose from his couch and spent the entire night in prayer.

¹⁶ At dawn, the brethren gathered to perform the divine office. As they prepared to return to their boat, they discovered that the table had once again been set for their meal, just as it had been the day before. In this way, for three days and three nights, God provided for His servants, ensuring that they did not go without food.

Chapter 7 #

¹ Afterward, St. Brendan prepared to depart with his brethren, first warning them not to take anything from the island.

² St. Brendan’s companions said, “God forbid that any of us should dishonor our journey by theft.” But St. Brendan replied, “Behold, the brother I spoke to you about yesterday has hidden in his bosom a silver bridle-bit, which the devil gave him last night.”

³ When the brother in question heard this, he immediately cast the bridle-bit from his bosom and fell at the saint’s feet, crying out, “O father, I am guilty! Forgive me and pray that my soul may not be lost.”

⁴ All the brethren then prostrated themselves on the ground, earnestly beseeching the Lord for his soul. When they rose, and St. Brendan had lifted up the repentant brother, they all saw a small black figure leap from his bosom, howling, “Why, O man of God, do you cast me out of my dwelling, where I have lived for seven years, and drive me away, as a stranger, from my secure possession?”

⁵ St. Brendan then commanded, “I order you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you harm no man until the day of judgment.” Turning to the penitent brother, he instructed him to prepare without delay to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord, for his soul would soon depart from his body, and he would be buried in that place.

⁶ But as for the other brother who had accompanied him from the monastery, he would be buried in hell. Shortly afterward, the soul of the brother who received the Holy Viaticum departed this life and was taken up to heaven by angels of light in the sight of his brethren, who gave him a Christian burial in that place.

Chapter 8 #

¹ St. Brendan and the brethren arrived at the shore where their boat lay and immediately embarked. Just then, a young man approached them, carrying a basket full of loaves of bread and a large bottle of water, and said, “Accept this blessing from your servant, for a long journey lies ahead before you find the comfort you seek. But this bread and water will not fail you from this day until Pentecost.” With this blessing, they set sail upon the ocean, eating only every second day, while the boat was carried in various directions.

Chapter 9 #

¹ One day, they came within sight of an island not far off and sailed toward it with a favorable wind. When the boat reached the shore, the man of God ordered all to disembark, he himself being the last to leave. As they made their way around the island, they saw great streams of water flowing from many fountains, teeming with all kinds of fish. St. Brendan said to the brethren, “Let us here perform the divine office and offer to God the spotless Lamb, for this day is the feast of the Lord’s Supper.” So they remained there until Easter Saturday.

² On the island, they found many flocks of sheep, all pure white and so numerous that they covered the land. The saint instructed the brethren to take from the flocks what was needed for the festival. They caught one sheep, which, when tied by the horns, followed them tamely at their heels, and he also told them to take one spotless lamb. When they had done this, they prepared for the next day’s office. Then a man came to them carrying a basket of hearth cakes and other provisions, which he laid at the feet of the man of God. Prostrating himself three times and weeping, he said, “O precious pearl of God, how have I deserved this, that you should take food at this holy season from the labor of my hands?” St. Brendan lifted him from the ground and said, “My son, our Lord Jesus Christ has provided for us a fitting place in which to celebrate His holy resurrection.”

³ Afterward, he set about ministering to the servants of God and preparing what was needed for the next day’s festival. When the provisions had been taken aboard the vessel, the man who had brought them said to St. Brendan, “Your boat can carry no more now, but after eight days, I will send you food and drink sufficient until Pentecost.”

⁴ St. Brendan then asked him, “How can you know for certain where we will be after eight days?” The man replied, “Tonight, you will spend the night on that island you see nearby, and tomorrow as well until noon. Then you will sail to the island not far from it, toward the west, called the ‘Paradise of Birds,’ where you will remain until the octave of Pentecost.”

⁵ St. Brendan also asked him why the sheep on that island were so large, even bigger than oxen. The man explained that they were much larger than those in the lands known to St. Brendan because they were never milked and never suffered the hardships of winter, having abundant pasture in all seasons.

⁶ After this, they boarded their vessel, and after exchanging blessings, they set out once more on their voyage.

Chapter 10 #

¹ As they approached the nearest island, the boat suddenly stopped before reaching a landing place. St. Brendan then ordered the brethren to step into the sea and secure the vessel at both stem and stern until they could find a suitable harbor. The island had no grass, very little wood, and no sand along the shore. While the brethren spent the night in prayer outside the vessel, the saint remained aboard, for he knew well the true nature of the island, though he chose not to tell them, lest they be overcome with fear.

² At dawn, he instructed the priests to celebrate Mass, and after they had done so, he himself said Mass in the boat. Then the brethren took out some uncooked meat and fish they had brought from the other island and set a cauldron on a fire to cook them. As they added more fuel to the fire and the cauldron began to boil, the island suddenly started to move like a wave. Terrified, they all rushed toward the boat and cried out for their father’s protection. St. Brendan, taking each one by the hand, pulled them safely aboard. They abandoned what they had placed on the island and quickly set the boat loose to sail away. At that moment, the island sank into the ocean.

³ As they sailed away, they could still see the fire they had kindled burning more than two miles in the distance. Then St. Brendan explained what had happened: “Brethren, you wonder at what has befallen this island.”

⁴ “Yes, father,” they replied. “We were amazed and filled with great fear.”

⁵ “Fear not, my children,” said the saint, “for God revealed to me last night the mystery of it all. You were not standing upon an island, but upon a fish—the largest of all that swim in the ocean. It is constantly trying to bring its head and tail together but can never succeed because of its great length. Its name is Iasconius.”

Chapter 11 #

¹ After sailing for three days along the island they had previously visited and reaching its farthest point, they saw another island to the west, not far off, across a narrow sound. This island was lush with grass, rich in trees, and filled with flowers, so they set their course toward its landing place.

² Upon reaching the southern side of the island, they found a small river flowing into the sea. There, they brought the boat ashore, and the saint ordered them to disembark and tow the vessel upstream. The river was just wide enough for the boat to pass through, and they pulled it along for a mile toward the source of the stream, while St. Brendan remained seated on board.

³ After some reflection, St. Brendan said to them, “Behold, my brothers, God has provided for us a suitable place to dwell during the Paschal season. And if we had no other provisions, I believe this fountain alone would serve as both food and drink.” For indeed, the fountain was truly wondrous.

⁴ Above it stood a great tree, broad in width though not very tall, and its branches were entirely covered with snow-white birds, so numerous that they concealed its boughs and leaves completely. As the man of God beheld this sight, he pondered why such an immense gathering of birds had assembled in one place. The question troubled him so deeply that he fell to his knees and, with tears, prayed to the Lord:

⁵ “O God, who knows what is unknown and reveals what is hidden, You see the anxious distress of my heart. Therefore, I beseech You, in Your great mercy, to make known to me the mystery of what lies before my eyes. Not because of any merit of my own, but solely through Your boundless clemency, do I dare to ask this favor.”

⁶ At that moment, one of the birds flew from the tree, and as it moved, the sound of its wings was like the tinkling of little bells. It flew over to the boat where the man of God was seated, and perching on the prow, it spread its wings in a gesture of joy and looked at St. Brendan with a peaceful expression. Seeing this, the saint understood that his prayer had been answered, and he addressed the bird:

⁷ “If you are a messenger from God, tell me—whence have these birds come, and why have they gathered here?”

⁸ At once, the bird replied: “We are among those who shared in the great fall of the ancient enemy. We did not fall through any sin of our own will or consent, but when Lucifer and his followers were cast down, we too suffered ruin shortly after our creation. However, the Almighty, who is just and true, has appointed us to this place, where we endure no suffering. Here, we are granted a partial vision of the Divine presence, though we remain separate from the spirits who remained faithful. We roam the world, through air, earth, and sky, like other spirits sent on their missions; but on festival days, we take the forms you now see, gathering here to sing the praises of our Creator.

⁹ You and your brethren have now been on your journey for one year, and six more years of travel remain before you. Where you have celebrated Easter this year, there shall you celebrate it each year until at last you find what you seek—the ‘Land of Promise of the Saints.’”

¹⁰ When it had spoken these words, the bird rose from the prow of the ship and flew back to the other birds.

¹¹ As the hour of Vespers approached, all the birds together began to clap their wings and sing a hymn in unison: “Praise is due to You, O God, in Zion, and to You will vows be fulfilled in Jerusalem”. They chanted this psalm back and forth for an hour, and the melody of their singing, combined with the rhythmic beating of their wings, sounded like a wondrous and harmonious symphony of great sweetness.

¹² Then Saint Brendan said to his brothers, “Take your meal now, for the Lord has already filled your souls with the joy of His divine resurrection.”

¹³ When supper had ended and the divine office had been completed, the man of God and his companions retired to rest until the third watch of the night. At that hour, Saint Brendan roused them from sleep, chanting the verse: “O Lord, open my lips”. At once, all the birds responded with their voices and wings, singing in harmony: “Praise the Lord, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts”. They continued singing in this way for an hour each night.

¹⁴ At the break of dawn, they chanted: “May the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us”, keeping the same melody and rhythm in their morning praises. At Terce, they sang: “Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing with understanding”. At Sext, they chanted: “The Lord has made the light of His face shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us”. And at None, they sang: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity”. In this way, day and night, the birds ceaselessly praised God.

¹⁵ Seeing this, Saint Brendan gave thanks to the Lord for all His wonderful works, and the brothers were nourished with such spiritual delights until the octave of Easter.

¹⁶ At the close of the festival days, Saint Brendan said, “Let us now drink from this fountain; until now, we have only used its water to wash our hands and feet.”

¹⁷ Not long after, the man who had provided them with food before Easter came to them again in his boat, bringing a full supply of provisions for the Paschal season. Laying everything before the holy father, he said, “Brothers, here is more than enough to sustain you until Pentecost. But do not drink from that fountain, for its waters have a peculiar effect. Though it tastes like ordinary water, whoever drinks of it will fall into a deep sleep and will not awaken for twenty-four hours.” After receiving Saint Brendan’s blessing, he departed and returned to his own place.

¹⁸ Saint Brendan remained there with his brothers until Pentecost, finding ever-renewed joy in the singing of the birds.

¹⁹ On the feast of Pentecost, after Saint Brendan and the priests had celebrated Mass, their venerable provider came once more, bringing enough food for the festival. As they sat together for their meal, he said to them, “My brothers, you still have a long journey ahead of you. Take vessels full of water from this fountain and dry bread that will last for another year. I will supply you with as much as your boat can carry.”

²⁰ After receiving their blessing, he departed. Eight days later, Saint Brendan had their boat loaded with the provisions the man had provided, along with all the vessels filled with water from the fountain.

²¹ As they brought everything down to the shore, the bird they had seen before flew toward them and landed on the prow of the boat. Understanding that it had a message to deliver, Saint Brendan stood still and listened. Then the bird spoke to him in a human voice:

²² “This year, you have celebrated the Paschal season with us. You will celebrate it with us again next year. And where you were on the feast of the Lord’s Supper last year, there you will be again on the same feast next year. Likewise, you will celebrate the festival of the Lord’s Pasch as you did before—on the back of the great fish, Jasconius. And after eight months, you will find the island of Saint Ailbe, where you will celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ.”

²³ Having spoken these words, the bird returned to its place in the tree. The brothers prepared their boat and set sail once more into the vast ocean. As they departed, all the birds sang together in harmony: “Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas”.

Chapter 12 #

¹ For three months, Saint Brendan and his brothers were tossed about on the waves of the ocean, seeing nothing but sea and sky. During this time, they took refreshment only every second day.

² One day, they caught sight of an island not far off. However, as they drew near the shore, the wind drove them away, and for forty days, they sailed around the island without finding a place to land.

³ Weary and near exhaustion from their long struggle, the brothers wept and prayed to the Lord, pleading for His help. For three days, they persevered in fasting and constant prayer. At last, they discovered a narrow inlet just large enough to receive a single boat. Near it, they saw two fountains—one with foul water, the other with clear.

⁴ The brothers eagerly moved to take some of the water, but the man of God stopped them, saying: “My children, do nothing unlawful. Take nothing from this place without the permission of the venerable fathers who dwell on this island. They will freely give you what you would otherwise take in secret.”

⁵ When they had all come ashore and were deciding which direction to take, an old man approached them. He was frail with extreme age, his hair as white as snow, and his face shining like glass.

⁶ He prostrated himself three times before stepping forward to embrace the man of God. Saint Brendan lifted him from the ground and embraced him, as did all the brothers in turn. Then the aged man took the holy father by the hand and led him to a monastery about a furlong away.

⁷ Upon reaching the entrance, Saint Brendan paused and asked his guide whose monastery this was and who served as its superior. He posed several questions, but the old man gave no verbal reply—only gentle hand gestures indicating silence.

⁸ Realizing that strict silence was the rule of this place, Saint Brendan turned to his brothers and cautioned them: “Guard your tongues from excessive speech, lest your idle words cause scandal among these monks.”

⁹ After this, eleven monks came forth to meet them, dressed in their habits and bearing crosses, chanting the verse:

¹⁰ “Arise, you holy ones, from your dwellings, and come forth to meet us; sanctify this place, bless this people, and deign to guard us, Your servants, in peace.”

¹¹ When the chant had ended, the abbot embraced Saint Brendan and his companions in turn, and likewise, his monks embraced the brothers of the holy man.

¹² Having exchanged the kiss of peace, they led them into the monastery, following the custom of the western lands. There, the abbot and his monks proceeded to wash the feet of their guests while chanting “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another”.

¹³ The abbot then led them all into the refectory in strict silence. After they had washed their hands, he gave a signal for them to take their seats. At another signal, one of the monks rose and set the table with loaves of bread of astonishing whiteness and roots of exquisite flavor.

¹⁴ The monks had seated themselves in an alternating order with their guests, and between each pair, a whole loaf was placed. Then the serving brother brought forth drink for them all.

¹⁵ With great joy, the abbot encouraged his guests, saying: “Brothers, from the fountain you wished to drink from in secret earlier today, now drink openly in gladness and in the fear of the Lord. As for the other fountain—the one with foul water—it is used only for washing the brothers’ feet, for it is always warm. These loaves of bread before you—we do not know where they are prepared or who brings them to our cellar. But we do know this: by God’s generous gift, they are provided for us as alms by one of His obedient creatures. Thus, the words of divine truth are fulfilled in us: ‘Those who fear the Lord lack nothing’”.

¹⁶ The abbot continued: “Here we are twenty-four brothers, receiving twelve loaves each day for our sustenance—one loaf for every two brothers. But on Sundays and great feast days, the Lord grants us a full loaf for each brother, so that whatever remains may be kept for supper. And now, with your arrival, we have been given a double portion.

¹⁷ From the days of Saint Patrick and Saint Ailbe, our patriarchs, until now—eighty years in total—Christ has provided for us. Furthermore, we do not suffer from old age or bodily infirmities. We have no need for cooked food, nor are we burdened by heat or troubled by cold. Rather, we dwell here as if in the paradise of God.

¹⁸ When the time comes for the divine office and for Mass, the lamps in our church—brought here under God’s guidance from our homeland—are lit. They burn continually without ever diminishing.”

¹⁹ When the meal had ended and they had taken drink three times, the abbot gave the customary signal. In great silence, all the brothers rose from the table, giving thanks to God. They then led Saint Brendan and his companions to the church.

²⁰ At the church door, they encountered twelve other monks, who knelt reverently as the guests passed. Seeing this, Saint Brendan asked: “Father Abbot, why did these monks not dine with us?”

²¹ The abbot replied: “For your sake, my son. Our table could not seat us all together, so they will now take their meal. But through God’s holy will, they shall lack nothing. Now, let us enter the church and sing Vespers, so that when these brothers have finished dining, they may pray the office at the proper time.”

²² When Vespers had concluded, Saint Brendan took note of the church’s structure: it was a perfect square, equal in length and breadth. Inside, there were seven lamps, arranged so that three hung before the central altar, and two before each of the side altars. All the altars were made of crystal, as were the chalices, patens, cruets, and all the other vessels used in the Divine Sacrifice.

²³ Around the church were twenty-four benches, with the abbot’s seat positioned between the two choirs of monks, arranged in rows on either side. No monk from either choir was permitted to intone the chant of the office, except for the abbot. Throughout the monastery, complete silence prevailed; no voices or sounds were heard. If a brother required anything, he would approach the abbot, kneel, and make signs of his need. The abbot would then write on a tablet what God had shown him to be necessary for the brother.

²⁴ While Saint Brendan reflected on these practices, the abbot said to him: “Father, it is now time to return to the refectory, so that all may be done while there is still daylight, as it is written: ‘He who walks in the light does not stumble.’”

²⁵ So it was done. When all things were completed in the usual order of the day, the brothers quickly gathered for Compline. The abbot then intoned the versicle: “Incline unto my aid, O Lord,” and invoked the Most Holy Trinity. The brothers responded with the antiphon:

²⁶ “We have sinned; we have acted unrighteously; we have worked iniquity. Thou, O Lord Christ, who art all mercy, have pity on us. In Thee, O Lord, will I sleep and take my rest.”

²⁷ They proceeded to chant the office of Compline. When the office had concluded, the brothers went to their cells, taking their guests with them, but the abbot remained in the church with Saint Brendan to wait for the lighting of the lamps.

²⁸ The saint then inquired of the abbot about the rule of silence they observed, asking how such a way of life was possible for human beings. The abbot, speaking with great reverence and humility, replied:

²⁹ “Holy Father, I declare before the Lord that, for the eighty years since we first came to this island, none of us has heard the sound of another’s voice, except when we sing the praises of God. Among us twenty-four brothers, no voice is raised. We communicate only through gestures, using the fingers or the eyes. This is allowed only to the elder monks. Since our arrival here, none of us has suffered any bodily or mental infirmity, such as might afflict ordinary people.”

³⁰ At these words, Saint Brendan was moved to tears. He said: “I beg you, Father Abbot, to tell us whether it is permitted for us to remain here.”

³¹ The abbot replied: “You are not permitted to remain, for that is not the will of God. But why do you ask me, when God revealed to you, even before you came to us, what you must do? You must return to your own country, where God has prepared a place for you and for your fourteen companions to rest in peace. As for the other two monks, one will complete his pilgrimage in the island of the anchorites; but the other will meet with the worst death in hell.”

³² And indeed, these events came to pass as foretold. As they were speaking, suddenly a fiery arrow flew through a window and set alight all the lamps that hung before the altars. It passed out through the same window, leaving the lamps still burning brightly.

³³ Saint Brendan, marveling, asked: “Who will extinguish these lamps in the morning?”

³⁴ The abbot responded: “Come, and I will show you the secret of this. You see those tapers burning in the vases? Yet none of them is consumed, nor do they grow smaller, nor do any ashes remain by morning, for the light is entirely spiritual.”

³⁵ Saint Brendan asked: “How can a spiritual flame burn in a material substance?” The abbot answered: “Have you not read of the burning bush near Mount Sinai, which was not consumed by the fire?”

³⁶ “Yes,” replied the saint, “I have read of that, but what does it have to do with this case?” They remained in watch until morning, and then Saint Brendan asked permission to leave the island. But the abbot responded: “No, O man of God, you must stay with us to celebrate the festival of our Lord’s Nativity, and bring us the joy of your company until the Octave of Epiphany.”

³⁷ Thus, Saint Brendan and his brethren remained on the Island of Saint Ailbe until that time.

Chapter 13 #

¹ When the festival days had passed, Saint Brendan, with the blessing of the abbot and all the monks, and with provisions for the journey, set sail into the ocean. The vessel, without the use of oars or sails, drifted in various directions until the beginning of Lent. One day, they spotted an island not far off and quickly made sail toward it, for they were suffering from hunger and thirst, having run out of food and water three days prior.

² After Saint Brendan had blessed the landing place, and everyone had disembarked, they discovered a spring of clear, fresh water. Around it grew various herbs and vegetables, and many kinds of fish swam in the stream that flowed from the spring into the sea.

³ Then Saint Brendan said: “Brothers, surely God has given us comfort after our long labors. Take from those fish enough for your meal, and prepare them over the fire. Also, gather the herbs and roots that God has provided for His servants.”

⁴ When this was done, they poured out some of the water to drink, but the man of God cautioned them: “Take care, my brethren, that you use this water in moderation.”

⁵ However, the brethren did not all heed this caution equally. Some drank only one cup of the water, others drank two, and still others drank three cups. As a result, some fell into a sudden stupor that lasted for three days and nights, while others experienced the same condition for only one day and night. Saint Brendan, seeing their peril, prayed without ceasing to God on their behalf, as they had fallen into this danger through ignorance.

⁶ After three days had passed, the holy father said to his companions: “Let us, my children, leave this dangerous place, lest greater harm come to you. The Lord has given you refreshment, but you have turned it to your detriment. Therefore, let us depart from this island, taking as much fish as you will need for your meals every third day until the festival of the Lord’s Supper. Also, take one cup of this water for each person, along with a supply of vegetables.”

⁷ After loading the boat with the provisions as Saint Brendan had instructed, they set sail into the ocean, heading northward.

Chapter 14 #

¹ After three days and nights, the wind ceased, and the sea became like a thick, curdled mass, so great was the calm.

² Then the holy father said: “Take in your oars, and cast loose the sails, for the Lord will guide our boat wherever He wills.”

³ In this manner, the boat continued to drift for about twenty days, until at last God sent a favorable wind. They then set the sails and worked their oars in an easterly direction, taking refreshment every third day.

Chapter 15 #

¹ On a certain day, an island appeared in the distance, resembling a cloud. St Brendan asked the brethren if they recognized it. When they replied that they did not, the holy father said to them: “I know it well, my children, for we were on it last year, on the festival of the Lord’s Supper, and our good procurator abides there.”

² Hearing this, the brethren, in great joy, began to row vigorously, putting forth all their strength. But the man of God said to them: “You are foolish to tire out your limbs. Is not the Almighty God the pilot of our vessel? Leave her, therefore, in His hands, for He will guide her course as He wills.”

³ As they drew near the island, their procurator came out to meet them, giving glory to God. He led them to the same landing place where they had disembarked the year before, and there, he embraced the feet of St Brendan and all the brethren, saying: “Wonderful is God in His saints.”

⁴ Having finished the versicle, and after everything had been unloaded from the boat, he set up a tent and prepared a bath for them, as it was the festival of the Lord’s Supper. He also provided new garments for all the brethren, as well as for St Brendan, and performed all the other customary services for them.

⁵ The brothers diligently celebrated the feast of the Lord’s Passion until Holy Saturday. When all the prayers and ceremonies of the day had been completed and the feast of the Lord’s Supper fully observed, the procurator said to them:

⁶ “Go now to your boat so that you may keep the Easter Vigil where you celebrated it last year, as well as Easter Day itself, until the sixth hour. Then, sail to the Paradise of Birds, where you stayed last year from Easter until the Octave of Pentecost. Take with you whatever food and drink you need, and I will visit you next Sunday week.”

⁷ The brothers did as he instructed. St. Brendan, after blessing this good brother, boarded the boat with his companions and set sail for another island.

⁸ As they approached the landing place, they found the cauldron that they had left behind the previous year when they had fled from the back of Iasconius. Then, St. Brendan stepped onto land and sang the Hymn of the Three Young Men, continuing to the end. He then warned his brothers:

⁹ “Watch and pray, my children, that you may not fall into temptation. Consider carefully how Almighty God has placed beneath us, without any effort on our part, this great monster of the deep.”

¹⁰ The brothers kept their vigils in different places across the island until the morning watch. Then, all the priests celebrated Mass until the third hour. But St. Brendan, boarding the boat with his brothers, offered to God the holy sacrifice of the Immaculate Lamb there, saying: “Last year, we celebrated our Lord’s resurrection here, and if it is God’s holy will, I desire to celebrate it here again this year.”

¹¹ From there, they sailed to the island known as the Paradise of Birds. As they reached the shore, all the birds sang in unison: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”.

¹² And again: “The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar”.

¹³ With both voice and wing, the birds continued their song until St. Brendan and his companions had settled in their tent. There, they remained for the Paschal season, until the Octave of Pentecost.

¹⁴ The procurator, as he had promised, came to them on Low Sunday, bringing everything they needed for their sustenance. In mutual joy, they all gave thanks to God.

¹⁵ As they sat down to their meal, suddenly, the bird they had seen before perched on the prow of the boat. It spread its wings and clapped them together, producing a sound like a great organ. St. Brendan understood that it wished to deliver a message, and then the bird spoke:

¹⁶ “The Almighty and merciful God has appointed for you four specific places to dwell during four different seasons of the year, until the seven years of your pilgrimage are complete. Each year, on the feast of the Lord’s Supper, you will stay with your procurator, who is here present. You will celebrate the Vigil and feast of Easter on the back of the great whale. Here, you will remain for the Paschal season until the Octave of Pentecost. From Christmas until the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, you will dwell on the island of St. Ailbe.

¹⁷ After these seven years, through many trials and dangers, you will at last find the Land of Promise of the Saints, which you have been seeking. There, you will remain for forty days. Then, God will guide your journey back to the land of your birth.”

¹⁸ When St. Brendan heard this, he and his brothers fell prostrate with many tears, giving thanks and praise to the great Creator of all things. The bird then flew back to its place in the tree.

¹⁹ When the meal had ended, the procurator said, “With God’s help, I will come to you again on Pentecost Sunday with provisions.” Then, after receiving a blessing from all, he departed.

²⁰ The venerable father remained there for the appointed time. Then, he instructed the brothers to prepare the boat and fill all the water vessels from the fountain. Once the boat was launched, the procurator met them in his own vessel, bringing provisions, which he quickly transferred to the boat of the man of God. After a final embrace, he returned to where he had come from.

Chapter 16 #

¹ The saint sailed forth into the ocean, and the boat drifted along for forty days.

² One day, a massive fish appeared, swimming after them. It spewed foam from its nostrils and cut through the waves in rapid pursuit, intent on devouring them. The brothers cried out to the Lord, “O Lord, who made us, deliver us, Your servants!” And turning to St. Brendan, they pleaded, “Help us, Father, help us!”

³ St. Brendan prayed to the Lord, asking Him to deliver His servants so that the monster would not consume them. At the same time, he sought to calm his brothers, saying: “Do not be afraid, you of little faith, for God, who is always our protector, will save us from the jaws of this monster and from every other danger.”

⁴ As the beast drew closer, enormous waves surged ahead of it, rising up to the very edge of the boat. This only increased the brothers’ terror. But St. Brendan, lifting his hands to heaven, prayed earnestly: “O Lord, deliver Your servants, just as You delivered David from the hand of Goliath, and Jonah from the power of the great fish.”

⁵ As soon as he finished his prayer, a great sea creature appeared from the west. It rushed toward the pursuing monster, spewing fire from its mouth, and attacked it at once.

⁶ Then St. Brendan said to his companions: “Behold, my children, the wondrous work of our Savior! See how creation obeys its Creator. Wait and watch in safety, for this battle will bring no harm to us—only greater glory to God.”

⁷ At that moment, the monstrous beast that had pursued God’s servants was slain, torn into three pieces before their eyes, and its victor returned to the depths from which it had come.

⁸ The next day, they saw an island in the distance—vast and covered in rich vegetation. As they approached and prepared to land, they came upon the severed hind portion of the slain creature.

⁹ St. Brendan said, “Behold the beast that sought to devour you! Now, make your meal from it and eat your fill, for we will remain on this island for some time. Pull the boat further up onto the shore and find a suitable place to set up our tent.”

¹⁰ Once the father had chosen a site, and the brothers had arranged everything as he instructed, he said to them, “Take enough of this creature’s flesh to sustain us for three months, for by nightfall, the great fish of the sea will consume its carcass.”

¹¹ The brothers did as he commanded, gathering as much of the flesh as they needed. Then they asked St. Brendan, “Holy father, how can we survive here without water to drink?”

¹² The saint replied, “Is it more difficult for the Almighty to provide us with water than it was for Him to give us food? Go to the southern side of the island, and there you will find a spring of clear water, along with an abundance of herbs and roots. Take from them all that you need.”

¹³ And they found everything just as the man of God had told them.

¹⁴ St. Brendan remained on the island for three months, as violent storms swept across the sea, bringing heavy hail and rain. One day, the brothers went to see what had become of the great monster’s remains, as the saint had foretold. They found only its bones where its carcass had once lain. When they reported this to St. Brendan, he said:

¹⁵ “If you needed to test the truth of my words, I will give you another sign. Tonight, a large portion of a fish will break free from a fisherman’s net and be cast ashore here. Tomorrow, you will have your meal from it.”

¹⁶ The next day, they went to the place he had described and found everything just as the man of God had foretold. They gathered as much of the fish as they could carry.

¹⁷ Then the venerable father said to them: “Preserve this carefully and salt it, for it will be much needed. The Lord will grant us calm weather today and tomorrow. Then, on the third day, when the sea has settled and the waves have calmed, we will depart from this island.”

¹⁸ When those days had passed, St. Brendan instructed the brothers to load the boat with the water vessels filled from the fountain, along with a supply of herbs and roots—taking as much as they would need. For ever since he had been ordained a priest, the saint ate nothing that had once drawn the breath of life.

¹⁹ Once the boat was fully prepared, they set sail, heading north.

Chapter 17 #

¹ One day, as they sailed, they saw an island in the distance. St. Brendan said to his brothers, “On that island before us, there are three groups of people: boys, young men, and elders. One of our brothers will end his pilgrimage there.”

² The brethren, curious and concerned, asked him which of them it would be. At first, he was reluctant to say, but when they pressed him and grew sorrowful at his silence, he finally answered, “This is the brother who will remain on this island.”

³ The one he spoke of was a monk who had joined their journey from St. Brendan’s own monastery. The saint had made a prophecy about him when they first set sail from their homeland.

⁴ As they neared the island, the boat touched the shore. The land was remarkably flat, almost level with the sea, with no trees or anything that swayed in the wind. However, it stretched far and wide, covered in white and purple flowers.

⁵ Just as the man of God had foretold, three groups of monks stood apart from each other, about a stone’s throw in distance. Even when they moved, they remained separated by the same space.

⁶ One choir stood in its place and chanted: “The saints shall advance from virtue to virtue; God shall be manifest in Sion.”

⁷ Then another choir took up the same chant, and so they continued, singing without ceasing. The first choir was composed of boys, clothed in garments as white as snow. The second consisted of young men, dressed in violet robes, while the third was made up of elder monks, wearing purple dalmatics.

⁸ When the boat reached the shore, it was the fourth hour. At the hour of Sext, all the choirs of monks joined together in singing the psalm: “May God have mercy on us, and bless us, to the end” along with: “Incline to my aid, O Lord”. And also: “I have believed, therefore have I spoken” followed by the corresponding prayer.

⁹ Likewise, at the hour of None, they chanted three more psalms: “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord”, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” and “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Sion”

¹⁰ At Vespers, they sang: “A hymn, O Lord, awaits You in Sion”, “Bless the Lord, O my soul” and “Praise the Lord, you children; praise the name of the Lord”. Then, seated together, they chanted the fifteen gradual psalms.

¹¹ When their chanting had ended, a cloud of extraordinary brightness covered the entire island, so that nothing could be seen as before. Yet the voices of the monks continued without ceasing in the same sacred melody until the morning watch. Then they sang:

¹² “Praise the Lord from the heavens”, “Sing to the Lord” and “Praise the Lord in His saints”.

¹³ After this, they recited twelve psalms in the order of the Psalter, ending with: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

¹⁴ At the break of dawn, the cloud that had covered the island lifted, and the choirs began to chant three psalms: “Have mercy on me, O Lord”, “The Lord is my refuge” and “O God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”

¹⁵ Then, at the hour of Tierce, they sang three more psalms: “O clap your hands, all you nations”, “Save me, O God, by Your name” and “I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer” with the Alleluia.

¹⁶ Following this, they offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Immaculate Lamb, and all present received Holy Communion, with the words: “This Sacred Body of the Lord and the Blood of our Saviour receive unto life everlasting.”

¹⁷ This beautiful scene reveals the rhythm of devotion, unceasing in prayer, and marked by deep reverence for the Eucharist. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!

¹⁸ When the Holy Sacrifice had ended, two young men from the choir brought a basket full of purple grapes and placed it in the boat of the man of God, saying, “Partake of the fruit of the Isle of the Strong Men, and grant us our chosen brother; then depart in peace.” St. Brendan then called this brother to him and said, “Give the kiss of peace to your brethren and go with those who are calling you. I tell you, your mother conceived you at a blessed time, for you have been found worthy to remain with such a holy community.” With many tears, St. Brendan gave him the kiss of peace, as did the brethren, and said to him, “Remember, my dear son, the special graces God has granted you in this life. Go your way and pray for us.” Bidding them all farewell, the brother quickly followed the two young men to the company of the saints, who, on seeing him, sang the verse, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity”, and then, in a higher key, intoned the Te Deum Laudamus (“We praise You, O God”). After they had all embraced him, he was admitted into their community.

¹⁹ St. Brendan set sail from the island, and when mealtime arrived, he told the brethren to refresh themselves with the grapes they had received. Taking up one and seeing its immense size and how full of juice it was, he said in amazement, “Never have I seen or read of grapes so large.” They were all of equal size, as big as a large hall, and when the juice of one was pressed into a vessel, it yielded a full pound in weight. The father divided this juice into twelve portions, giving one portion each day to each of the brethren, and thus, for twelve days, a single grape provided refreshment for each brother, always tasting like honey in their mouths.

Chapter 18 #

¹ When those days had passed, St. Brendan ordered a three-day fast. After this, a radiant bird flew toward the boat, carrying in its beak a branch from an unknown tree, with a cluster of bright red grapes. Dropping it near the man of God, the bird then flew away. St. Brendan said to the brethren, “Enjoy this feast that the Lord has sent us.” The grapes were as large as apples, and he distributed them among the brethren. They had enough food for four days, after which they resumed their previous fasting.

² Three days later, they came near an island covered entirely with closely packed trees, all heavy with grapes like the ones they had received, in astonishing abundance. The branches were weighed down to the ground with fruit of the same size and color, and not a single tree on the island was barren or bore a different kind of fruit. The brethren brought the boat to shore, and St. Brendan stepped onto the island, walking among the trees. The air was filled with a fragrance like that of a house full of pomegranates. Meanwhile, the brethren remained in the boat, waiting for his return, but the wind carried the scent to them, so rich and delightful that they no longer felt the pangs of their long fast.

³ The venerable father found six fountains on the island, watering the lushest grass and various kinds of vegetables. He then returned to the brethren, bringing samples as the first fruits of the island, and said, “Leave the boat now, set up your tent here, be of good cheer, and enjoy the excellent fruits of this land that God has revealed to us.” For forty days, they fasted on the grapes, herbs, and vegetables nourished by the waters of the fountains.

⁴ After this period, they set sail once more, taking some of the island’s fruit with them, and continued their journey as the winds directed their course.

Chapter 19 #

¹ Suddenly, the bird known as the Gryphon came flying toward them. When the brethren saw it, they cried out to the holy father, “Help us, O father, for this monster comes to devour us!” But the man of God told them not to be afraid, for God was their protector. Then another great bird appeared and, flying swiftly, attacked the Gryphon, engaging it in fierce combat. For a time, the outcome was uncertain, but at last, the great bird tore out the Gryphon’s eyes, defeated it, and killed it. Its carcass fell into the sea before the eyes of the brethren, who immediately gave thanks and praise to God, while the victorious bird flew away to the place from which it had come.

Chapter 20 #

¹ They traveled to the island of St. Alibe to celebrate the Christmas festival, and after taking leave of the abbot with mutual blessings, they sailed across the ocean for a long time, stopping to rest only at Easter and Christmas on the previously mentioned islands.

Chapter 21 #

¹ On one occasion, while St. Brendan was celebrating the feast of St. Peter in the boat, they found the sea so clear that they could plainly see the ocean floor. Beneath them, they saw various sea creatures, and the water was so transparent that it seemed as if they could reach down and touch its deepest parts. Shoals of fish, swimming in great numbers like flocks of sheep in a pasture, moved about with their heads to the tails of those in front of them. The brethren, fearing that the sound of the Mass might disturb the creatures, begged the man of God to say it in a low voice, lest the monsters of the deep, hearing the unfamiliar sound, might be stirred to attack them. But the saint replied, “I am amazed at your folly. Why do you fear these creatures? Has not the largest among them already been subdued? Have you not sat upon its back, chanting hymns, chopping wood, kindling fire, and even cooking its flesh? Why, then, should you be afraid of these? For our God is the Lord Jesus Christ, who has power over all living things.”

² Having said this, he continued the Mass in a louder voice, while the brethren still watched the great fish. When the creatures heard the voice of the man of God, they rose from the depths and swam around the boat in such vast numbers that the brethren could see nothing but the surrounding fish. However, they did not come too close to the boat but remained at a distance until the Mass was finished, after which they dispersed and swam away in different directions, vanishing from sight.

³ For eight days, even with a favorable wind and all sails set, they struggled to pass beyond this crystal-clear sea.

Chapter 22 #

¹ One day, after they had celebrated three Masses, they saw a great column rising from the sea. Though it appeared to be not far off, they were unable to reach it for three days. When they finally drew near, St. Brendan looked up toward its summit but could not see its top, for it was of such immense height that it seemed to pierce the very heavens. It was covered by a rare canopy, made of a material unknown to them, yet it had the color of silver and was as hard as marble, while the column itself was of the clearest crystal.

² St. Brendan ordered the brethren to pull in their oars, lower the sails and mast, and instructed some of them to grasp the fringes of the canopy, which stretched about a mile from the column and extended just as deep into the sea. When this had been done, St. Brendan said, “Now guide the boat through an opening so that we may get a closer view of the wonderful works of God.”

³ When they passed through the opening and looked around, the sea appeared as transparent as glass, allowing them to see everything beneath them clearly, even the base of the column and the edges of the canopy resting on the ocean floor. The sunlight shone just as brightly within as it did outside.

⁴ St. Brendan measured an opening between four pavilions and found it to be four cubits on each side. As they sailed along one side of the column throughout the day, they could feel both the shade and the warmth of the sun, even beyond the ninth hour. After circling the column for four days, they found that each side measured four hundred cubits.

⁵ On the fourth day, on the southern side of the column, they discovered a chalice made of the same material as the canopy and a paten resembling the column itself. St. Brendan immediately took them up, saying, “The Lord Jesus Christ has shown us this great marvel and has given us these two gifts as a testimony for others.” The holy father then instructed the brethren to perform the Divine Office and afterward to take refreshment, for they had not eaten since first sighting the column.

⁶ The next day, they rowed northward and, after passing through another opening, they raised the mast and unfurled the sails, while some of the brethren held onto the fringes of the canopy until everything in the boat was properly set. As they sailed, a favorable wind arose behind them, so they had no need to use the oars, only to manage the ropes and the tiller. In this manner, they were carried northward for eight days.

Chapter 23 #

¹ When those days had passed, they came within sight of an island that was rugged and rocky, covered in slag, without trees or vegetation, but filled with the forges of smiths. St. Brendan said to the brethren, “I am deeply troubled by this island; I do not wish to enter it or even approach it—yet the wind is driving us directly toward it, as if it were meant to be our destination.”

² As they drew closer, about a stone’s throw away, they heard the deafening roar of bellows blowing like thunder and the clanging of sledges striking iron on anvils. Then St. Brendan armed himself with the sign of the Cross and prayed, “O Lord Jesus Christ, deliver us from this accursed island.”

³ Shortly after, one of the island’s inhabitants emerged to do his work. He was covered in hair, hideous in appearance, and blackened with fire and smoke. When he caught sight of the servants of Christ near the island, he hurried back into his forge, crying aloud, “Woe! Woe! Woe!”

⁴ St. Brendan once again armed himself with the sign of the Cross and said to the brethren, “Set more sail and row with all your strength, that we may escape from this island.”

⁵ Upon hearing this, the savage man they had seen before rushed down to the shore, holding a pair of tongs with a great mass of burning slag, glowing with intense heat. He flung it at the servants of Christ, but it did them no harm, for they were shielded by the sign of the Cross. The fiery mass passed them at a furlong’s distance and, when it fell into the sea, it sizzled and fumed like a heap of burning coals, sending up thick smoke as if from a blazing furnace.

⁶ As they sailed about a mile beyond the spot where the slag had fallen, all the inhabitants of the island swarmed to the shore, each carrying a large, burning mass of slag. One after another, they hurled them after the servants of God, and then returned to their forges, which they stoked into a mighty blaze, until the whole island seemed like a single globe of fire. The sea around it boiled and foamed, like a cauldron set over a roaring fire.

⁷ Even when the brethren were far beyond sight of the island, they could still hear the loud wailing of its inhabitants, and a terrible stench filled the air from a great distance. Then St. Brendan encouraged his brethren, saying, “Soldiers of Christ, be steadfast in true faith and clothed in the armor of the Spirit, for we are now at the very borders of hell. Therefore, be watchful and stand firm with courage.”

Chapter 24 #

¹ One day, they caught sight of a great and towering mountain rising from the ocean to the north, shrouded in misty clouds, with thick smoke billowing from its summit. Suddenly, a strong wind drove the boat swiftly toward the island, bringing them dangerously close to its shore. The cliffs were so high that they could scarcely see their peaks, black as coal and sheer like a massive wall.

² At that moment, the one remaining monk of the three who had followed St. Brendan from his monastery suddenly leaped from the boat and ran toward the base of the cliff, wailing and crying out, “Woe is me, Father! I am being torn away from you by force and cannot return!” The brethren, overcome with terror, quickly pulled away from the shore, lifting their voices in lamentation and crying out to the Lord, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us!”

³ St. Brendan then clearly saw the wretched man seized by a host of demons and dragged away, already burning among them. He sorrowfully cried out, “Woe to you, unfortunate man! How terrible an end you have brought upon yourself!”

⁴ Afterward, a favorable breeze caught the boat and carried them southward. As they looked back, they saw the peak of the mountain now clear of clouds, with flames shooting up into the sky, only to be drawn back down to the mountain itself. The scene made the mountain appear as if it were a burning pyre.

Chapter 25 #

¹ After witnessing this terrifying sight, they sailed southward for seven days. Then, St. Brendan noticed a dense and heavy cloud. As they drew closer, they saw what appeared to be a man sitting on a rock, with a cloth as large as a sack hanging between two iron prongs in front of him. He was tossed about like a small boat caught in a storm.

² When the brothers saw this, some thought it was a bird, while others believed it was a boat. But the man of God told them to stop arguing and to steer directly toward the place. As they approached, they found the waters around the rock completely still, as if frozen in place.

³ There, they saw a man sitting on a jagged, misshapen rock, surrounded by the waves. When the tide rose, the waves crashed over him, covering him up to his head. But when the tide receded, it left him fully exposed on the bare rock. The cloth that hung before him was tossed about by the wind, striking him repeatedly in the eyes and forehead.

⁴ When the saint asked who he was, what crime had brought him there, and how he had come to suffer such a terrible punishment, the man answered:

⁵ “I am that most wretched Judas, the wickedest of all traitors. Not by any merit of my own, but through the unfathomable mercy of Jesus Christ, I have been placed here. I have no hope of repentance, yet through the patience and mercy of the Redeemer of the world, and in honor of His Resurrection, I am granted this brief respite. Since today is the Lord’s Day, this place feels to me like a paradise of delights compared to the agony that awaits me afterward.

⁶ For when I return to my torment, I burn like molten lead, day and night, in the very heart of that mountain you have seen. There, Leviathan and his demons dwell, and it was there that I was when it swallowed your lost brother—an event that caused all of hell to rejoice and belch forth great flames, just as it always does when it devours the souls of the damned.

⁷ But so that you may understand the boundless mercy of God, I will tell you of the moments of relief I receive. Every Sunday, from the first vespers to the second, I am allowed this cooling respite. I also receive it from Christmas Day to the Epiphany, from Easter to Pentecost, on the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the day of her Assumption. On all other days, I am tormented alongside Herod and Pilate, with Annas and Caiaphas.

⁸ Therefore, I beg you, in the name of the Redeemer of the world, to intercede for me before the Lord Jesus, that I may remain here until sunrise tomorrow—that the demons may not torment me or drag me back to my suffering before then because of your arrival.”

⁹ St. Brendan then said, “The will of the Lord be done; you will not be taken by the demons until tomorrow.”

¹⁰ He then asked about the cloth hanging in front of him. Judas replied: “This cloth is one that I once gave to a leper when I was the Lord’s purse-bearer. But since it was not mine to give, it brings me no relief—only suffering. The iron prongs on which it hangs were once my gift to the priests to support their cooking pots. And the stone on which I sit is one that I placed in a trench along a public road before I became a disciple of the Lord.”

¹¹ When evening fell, a horde of demons gathered in a circle, shouting: “Leave us, O man of God! We cannot approach our companion unless you depart from him. We do not dare to face our prince without bringing back his favored victim. Give us our prey, and do not keep him from us this night!”

¹² But the saint replied, “I do not protect him, but the Lord Jesus Christ has allowed him to remain here for this night.”

¹³ The demons cried out in fury, “How can you invoke the name of the Lord on behalf of the one who betrayed Him?”

¹⁴ Then the man of God commanded them, in the name of Jesus Christ, not to harm Judas until morning.

¹⁵ When the night had passed, and St. Brendan was setting out at the break of dawn, an innumerable host of demons swarmed over the waters, shrieking in rage: “O man of God, cursed be your coming and your going! Because of you, our master has scourged us cruelly this night, for we failed to bring back his miserable captive!”

¹⁶ “Not upon us,” said the saint, “but upon yourselves shall those curses fall. For blessed is he whom you curse, and accursed is he whom you bless.”

¹⁷ The demons shrieked in reply, “He will suffer double punishment for the next six days because you spared him from his torment last night!”

¹⁸ But the man of God rebuked them, saying, “You have no power—nor does your master—except what God allows you. And I command you, in the name of the Lord, that you do not increase his torment beyond what you have inflicted upon him before.”

¹⁹ “Are you the Lord of all, that we should obey your command?” they mocked. “No,” the saint answered, “but I am the servant of the Lord of all. Whatever I command in His name is done, for I am only His minister, acting according to what He grants me.”

²⁰ With that, the demons continued to hurl blasphemies at him as he traveled far from Judas. Then, with a great rushing and terrible howling, they seized the wretched soul and carried him away.

Chapter 26 #

¹ Afterward, St. Brendan set sail once more, journeying southward while giving all glory to God.

² On the third day, a small island appeared in the distance. As the brothers eagerly rowed toward it, the saint said to them, “Do not exhaust yourselves, my brothers. By next Easter, it will have been seven years since we left our homeland.

³ Now, on this island, you will see a holy hermit named Paul the Spiritual. He has lived here for sixty years without any bodily nourishment, and for twenty years before that, he was fed by a certain animal.”

⁴ As they approached the shore, they found no place to land, for the coast was too steep. The island was small and circular, about a furlong in circumference, and its summit was completely barren, with no soil—only bare rock.

⁵ They sailed around the island until they discovered a small inlet, just large enough for the prow of their boat to enter, though the ascent from there was steep and difficult. St. Brendan told his brethren, “Wait here until I return. We must not set foot on this island without the permission of the man of God who dwells here.”

⁶ When the saint climbed to the highest point of the island, he saw, on its eastern side, two caves facing each other. Near the entrance of one cave—where the soldier of Christ lived—a small, cup-like spring of water bubbled up from the rock.

⁷ As St. Brendan approached the entrance of one of the caves, the venerable hermit emerged from the other to greet him, saying, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”.

⁸ Then he instructed St. Brendan to call all the brothers from the boat. When they arrived, he greeted each one with the kiss of peace, calling each by name. The brothers marveled greatly at this, for they recognized the prophetic spirit within him.

⁹ They were also astonished by his appearance, for his entire body, from head to foot, was covered with hair as white as snow from old age. He wore no other garment but this natural covering.

¹⁰ Seeing this, St. Brendan was deeply moved and, sighing heavily, said to himself: “Woe to me, a poor sinner, who wears the habit of a monk and rules over many brethren, when here stands a man of angelic holiness—still in the flesh, yet unburdened by the weaknesses of the flesh.”

¹¹ At this, the man of God said: “Venerable father, what great and wondrous things God has revealed to you—things He did not even make known to our saintly predecessors! And yet, you say in your heart that you are not worthy to wear the habit of a monk? I tell you, you are greater than any monk. A monk is sustained and clothed by the labor of his own hands, but for seven years, God has fed and clothed you and your brethren in His own mysterious ways. Meanwhile, I, wretched as I am, sit upon this rock with no covering but the hair of my own body.”

¹² Then St. Brendan asked him how he had come to this island, where he was from, and how long he had lived this way.

¹³ The man of God replied: “For forty years, I lived in the monastery of St. Patrick, where I was entrusted with the care of the cemetery. One day, when the prior instructed me where to dig a grave for a departed brother, an old man appeared before me—one I did not recognize.

¹⁴ He said, ‘Do not dig the grave there, for that place belongs to another.’ I asked him, ‘Who are you, father?’ He replied, ‘Do you not know me? Am I not your abbot?’ I answered, ‘St. Patrick is my abbot.’ He then said, ‘I am he. I departed this life yesterday, and this is my burial place.’

¹⁵ He then pointed to another spot and said, ‘Here is where you shall bury our departed brother. But tell no one what I have revealed to you. Tomorrow, go down to the shore, and there you will find a boat. It will carry you to the place where you shall remain until the day of your death.

¹⁶ The next morning, in obedience to the abbot’s instructions, I went to the appointed place and found everything as he had promised. I entered the boat and rowed for three days and nights, then let it drift wherever the wind carried it. On the seventh day, this rock appeared before me. I landed at once and, pushing the boat away with my foot, sent it back to the place from which it had come. It cut through the waves with great speed, returning to its origin.

¹⁷ On the day I arrived here, around the ninth hour, a certain creature walked toward me on its hind legs, carrying in its forepaws a fish for my meal and a bundle of dry brushwood for a fire. It placed them before me and departed as it had come. I struck a spark with flint and steel, cooked the fish, and ate.

¹⁸ For thirty years, the same creature came every third day, bringing me a single fish—never more, never less. And thanks be to God, I never lacked food or drink, for every Sunday, water flowed from the rock in sufficient quantity to quench my thirst and to wash myself.

¹⁹ After those thirty years, I discovered these two caves and this spring. For the past sixty years, I have lived solely on the water of this spring, without any other nourishment. In total, I have dwelt on this island for ninety years—thirty sustained by fish, and sixty by this water. Before that, I lived fifty years in my homeland, so that the years of my life now number one hundred and forty. As for what remains, I must wait here in the flesh for the day of my judgment.

²⁰ Now, continue your journey. Fill your waterskins from this fountain, for you will need them during the forty days remaining before Easter Saturday. You will celebrate Easter and all the Paschal feasts in the same place where you have observed them for the past six years. Then, with a blessing from your provider, you will continue your journey to the most holy of all lands—the place you seek. There, you will remain for forty days, after which the Lord your God will guide you safely back to your homeland.’”

Chapter 27 #

¹ St. Brendan and his brethren, having received the blessing of the man of God and exchanged the kiss of peace in Christ, set sail toward the south during Lent. Their boat drifted back and forth, and their only sustenance was the water they had brought from the island, which they drank every third day to refresh themselves. Yet, they felt neither hunger nor thirst and rejoiced. On Holy Saturday, they arrived at the island of their former procurator, who came to meet them at the landing place and lifted each one of them out of the boat in his arms. After the divine offices of the day had been duly performed, he set a meal before them. In the evening, they reentered their boat with this man and soon found, in the usual place, the great whale, upon whose back they sang the praises of the Lord throughout the night and celebrated their Masses in the morning. When the Masses had concluded, Iasconius began to move while they were still on its back, and the brethren cried out to the Lord, saying, “Hear us, O Lord, the God of our salvation.”

Chapter 28 #

¹ But St. Brendan encouraged them, saying, “Why are you alarmed? Fear not, for no evil shall befall us, as we have here only a helper on our journey.” The great whale swam straight toward the shore of the Paradise of Birds and safely brought them all to land. They remained on this island until the Octave of Pentecost. When that solemn season had passed, their procurator, who was still with them, said to St. Brendan, “Embark now in your boat and fill all the water-skins from the fountain. I will be your companion and guide on your journey from this point forward, for without my direction, you would not be able to find the land you seek—the Land of Promise of the Saints.” Then, as they were embarking, all the birds of the island, upon seeing St. Brendan, sang together in one voice, “May a happy voyage under his guidance bring you safely to the island of your procurator.”

² They took with them provisions for forty days, as their course lay to the west [note: the Latin text says “east”] for that duration, during which the procurator went ahead of them, guiding their way. At the end of forty days, as evening approached, a dense cloud overshadowed them, so dark that they could barely see one another. Then the procurator said to St. Brendan, “Father, do you know what this darkness is?” The saint replied that he did not.

³ “This darkness,” the procurator said, “surrounds the island you have sought for seven years; you will soon see that it is the entrance to it.” After an hour had passed, a great light shone around them, and the boat came to rest by the shore.

⁴ When they had disembarked, they beheld a vast land, densely covered with trees laden with fruit, as in the autumn season. Throughout their time there, no night fell, but a constant light shone, like the sun at its highest point. For forty days, they explored the land in various directions, yet they could not find its boundaries.

⁵ One day, however, they came upon a great river flowing through the middle of the land, which they could not cross by any means. St. Brendan then said to the brethren, “We cannot cross this river, and so we must remain ignorant of the full extent of this country.”

⁶ As they pondered this, a young man of radiant appearance and great beauty approached them. Joyfully embracing each of them and calling them by name, he said, “Peace be with you, brothers, and with all who practice the peace of Christ. ‘Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord; they shall praise you forever and ever’”.

⁷ He then said to St. Brendan, “This is the land you have sought for so long, but you could not find it until now because Christ our Lord first wished to reveal to you His many mysteries in this vast ocean. Now return to the land of your birth, taking with you as many of these fruits and precious stones as your boat can carry, for the days of your earthly pilgrimage are drawing to a close, and you will soon find rest among your saintly brethren.

⁸ In time, this land will be made known to those who come after you, when days of tribulation fall upon the people of Christ. The great river you see before you divides this land into two parts, and just as you behold it now, rich with ripe fruit, so shall it always remain, untouched by blight or shadow, for unfailing light forever shines upon it.”

⁹ When St. Brendan asked whether this land would ever be revealed to men, the young man replied, “When the Most High Creator has brought all nations under His dominion, then this land will be made known to all His elect.”

¹⁰ Soon after, St. Brendan, having received the blessing of this man, prepared to return to his own country. He gathered some of the fruits of the land and various kinds of precious stones, and after bidding a final farewell to the good procurator, who had provided food for him and his brethren each year, he embarked once more and sailed back through the darkness.

¹¹ When they had passed beyond it, they arrived at the “Island of Delights,” where they stayed for three days as guests in the monastery. Then, with the abbot’s blessing, St. Brendan set sail again, following a direct course under God’s guidance, until he reached his own monastery. There, all his monks gave glory to God for the safe return of their holy patron and listened as he recounted the wonderful works of God that he had seen and heard during his voyage.

¹² Afterward, he peacefully completed the days of his life on the Nones of July, while our Lord Jesus Christ reigned, whose kingdom and dominion endure forever and ever. Amen!