Brendan of Clonfert (c.484-c.577) called "the Navigator" or "the Voyager," is one of the earliest Irish saints following Patrick. The Bishop of Clonfert, Brendan was renowned for his seven year voyage, beginning around 545 AD, across the Atlantic to the "The Land of the Promised Saints which God will give us on the last day," or as it was also called "The Isle of the Blessed."
The St. Brendan Society believes that Brendan's Isle of the Blessed was America, making Brendan and his band of monks possibly the first Europeans to reach America. A large stained glass window commemorates Brendan's achievements at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Christopher Columbus would have heard of Brendan's voyage while a student at the University of Pavia, as Brendan's manuscript "Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis" was brought there 700 years earlier by Dugal, the University's founder.
Columbus wrote on the eve of his voyage in 1492 (O'Donnchadha, Gearoid. St. Brendan of Kerry, the Navigator: His Life and Voyages, Dublin, Ireland: Open Air, 2004. p. 30):
<I am convinced that the terrestrial paradise is in the Island of Saint Brendan, which none can reach save by the Will of God.> 0484BC001
The Tradition of Saint Brendan's Voyage to America From a History of the Irish Settlers in North America, written by Thomas D'Arcy McGee, recorded
Irish Episcopalian Rev. Caesar Otway retelling of the tradition in the west of
Ireland (Otway's Sketches in Erris and Tyrawley, note, pp. 98, 99; Dublin, 1845):
<We are informed that Brendan, hearing of the previous voyage of his cousin, Barinthus, in the western ocean, and obtaining an account from him of the happy isles he had landed on in the far west, determined, under the strong desire of winning heathen souls to Christ, to undertake a voyage of discovery himself.
And aware that, all along the western coast of Ireland, there were many traditions respecting the existence of a western land, he proceeded to the islands of Arran, and there remained for some time, holding communication with the venerable St. Enda, and obtaining from him much information on what his mind was bent.
There can be little doubt that he proceeded northward along the coast of Mayo, and made inquiry, among its bays and islands, of the remnants of the Tuatha Danaan people, that once were so expert in naval affairs, and who acquired from the Milesians, or Scots, that overcame them, the character of being magicians, for their superior knowledge.
At Inniskea, then, and Innisgloria, Brendan set up his cross; and, in after times, in his honor were erected those curious remains that still exist.
Having prosecuted his inquiries with all diligence, Brendan returned to his native Kerry; and from a bay sheltered by the lofty mountain that is now known by his name, he set sail for the Atlantic land; and, directing his course towards the southwest, in order to meet the summer solstice, or what we would call the tropic, after a long and rough voyage, his little bark being well provisioned, he came to summer seas, where he was carried along, without the aid of sail or oar, for many a long day.
This, it is to be presumed, was the great gulf-stream, and which brought his vessel to shore somewhere about the Virginian capes, or where the American coast tends eastward, and forms the New England States.
Here landing, he and his companions marched steadily into the interior for fifteen days, and then came to a large river, flowing from east to west; this, evidently, was the river Ohio.
And this the holy adventurer was about to cross, when he was accosted by a person of noble presence,-but whether a real or visionary man does not appear,-who told him he had gone far enough; that further discoveries were reserved for other men, who would, in due time, come and Christianize all that pleasant land.
The above, when tested by common sense, clearly shows that Brendan landed on a continent, and went a good way into the interior, met a great river running in a different direction from those he heretofore crossed; and here, from the difficulty of transit, or want of provisions, or deterred by increasing difficulties, he turned back;
and, no doubt, in a dream, he saw some such vision which embodied his own previous thought, and satisfied him that it was expedient for him to return home.
It is said he remained seven years away, and returned to set up a college of three thousand monks, at Clonfert and he then died in the odor of sanctity.> 0484BC002
Wynkyn de Worde, living during the time of Christopher Columbus, published "The Lyfe of Saynt Brandon" in the Golden Legend, (Wynkyn de Worde, 1483; Fol. 357):
<Soon after, as God would, they saw a fair island, full of flowers, herbs, and trees, whereof they thanked God of his good grace; and anon they went on land, and when they had gone long in this, they found a full fayre well, and thereby stood a fair tree full of boughs, and on every bough sat a fayre bird, and they sat so thick on the tree, that uneath any leaf of the tree might be seen.
The number of them was so great, and they sung so merrily, that it was an heavenlike noise to hear.
Whereupon St. Brandon kneeled down on his knees and wept for joy, and made his praises devoutly to our Lord God, to know what these birds meant.
And then anon one of the birds flew from the tree to St. Brandon, and he with the flickering of his wings made a full merrie noise like a fiddle, that him seemed he never heard so joyful a melody...
St. Brandon, with his fellows, abode there seven weeks, until Trinity Sunday was passed.> 0484BC003
The Codex Kilkeniensis, in Primate Marsh's Library, Dublin, contains a fragment of the ancient life of St. Brendan. An English version of the voyage was inserted by Capgrave in his Nova Legenda (1516).
Brendan's voyage was a favorite theme with the early metrical romance writers, as was to be expected. Two French versions, as well as the original Latin, have been published at Paris, under the following title, "La Legende Latine de S. Brandaine's avec une traductione en prose et en poesie Romanes" (Publieé par Achille Jubinal, 1836).
An English translation of the early French version appeared in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, vol. 39, of which are excerpts:
<For he was sent by Heaven's command To give them entrance to that land...
And now that fair youth leads them on, Where paradise in beauty shone;
And there they saw the land all full Of woods and rivers beautiful,
And meadows large besprent with flowers, And scented shrubs in fadeless bowers,
And trees with blossoms fair to see, And fruit also deliciously...
The rivers of good fish each one, And others flowed with milky tide,- No marvel all things fructified.
The earth gave honey, oozing through Its pores, in sweet drops like the dew;
And in the mount was golden ore,
And gems, and treasure wondrous store...
In large and pleasant pastures green, O, such as earth hath never seen!
And glad was Brandon, for their pleasure So wondrous was, that scant in measure
Their past toils seemed; nor could they rest, But wandered aye in joyful quest...
'O Brandon, God unto thine eyes
Hath granted sight of paradise...> 0484BC005
It is mentioned among the accomplishments of a troubadour, by old Pierre St. Cloud, of a tale:
<Of Arthur brave or Tristram bold,
Of Charpel, of St. Brendan old.> 0484BC006
In D.F. McCarthy's "Poems," (Dublin, 1850), are stanzas describing St. Brendan's journey (Oudvlaemsche Gedichten der XIIe, XIIIe, en XIVe Eeuwen, nitgegeven door JONKHR. PH. BLOMMAERT. Gent: 1838-41, 8 vol.):
<IV. We were alone, on the wide, watery waste- Nought broke its bright monotony of blue,
Save where the breeze the flying billows chased, Or where the clouds their purple shadows threw We were alone-the pilgrims of the sea-
One boundless azure desert round us spread; No hope-no trust-no strength, except in THEE, Father, who once the pilgrim-people led...
VI. For then, indeed, the vaulted heavens appeared
A fitting shrine to hear their Maker's praise, Such as no human architect has reared,
Where gems, and gold, and precious marbles blaze. What earthly temple such a roof can boast?-
What flickering lamp with the rich star-light vies, When the round moon rests, like the sacred Host, Upon the azure altar of the skies?...
XI. 'Twas thus, in hymns, and prayers, and holy psalms, Day tracking day, and night succeeding night,
Now driven by tempests, now delayed by calms, Along the sea we winged our varied flight.
O! how we longed and pined for sight of land! O! how we sighed for the green, pleasant fields! Compared with the cold waves, the barest strand-
The bleakest rock-a crop of comfort yields.> 0484BC007
--
Endnotes:
0484BC001. O'Donnchadha, Gearoid. St. Brendan of Kerry, the Navigator: His Life and Voyages (Dublin, Ireland: Open Air, 2004, 30).
0484BC002. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, The Tradition of Saint Brendan's Voyage to America From a History of the Irish Settlers in North America. Irish Episcopalian Rev. Caesar Otway, Otway's Sketches in Erris and Tyrawley, note, pp. 98, 99; Dublin, 1845).
0484BC003. Wynkyn de Worde, "The Lyfe of Saynt Brandon" in the Golden Legend, (Wynkyn de Worde, 1483; Fol. 357).
0484BC004. French versions and Latin, "La Legende Latine de S. Brandaine's avec une traductione en prose et en poesie Romanes" (Paris, Publieé par Achille Jubinal, 1836).
0484BC005. English translation of early French version, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, vol. 39. (http://www.libraryireland.com/IrishSettlers/AppendixI.php) 0484BC006. Pierre St. Cloud, a tale.
0484BC007. D.F. McCarthy's "Poems," (Dublin, 1850), stanzas of St. Brendan's journey (Oudvlaemsche Gedichten der XIIe, XIIIe, en XIVe Eeuwen, nitgegeven door JONKHR. PH. BLOMMAERT. Gent: 1838-41, 8 vol.).