Catholic Prayer: Prayer of St. Brendan the Navigator

Description:

St. Brendan was an Irish monk born in 460 AD. He was a friend of Saint Columba and Saint Brendan of Birr, Saint Brigid, and Saint Enda of Arran. He built monastic cells at six different locations in Ireland, eventually founded Clonfert monastery and monastic school around 559. Legend says that this community had at least three thousand monks, and that their Rule was dictated to Brendan by an angel.

Legend has that St. Brendan and his brothers traveled the high seas across the Atlantic, evangelizing to the islands, possibly reaching the Americas in the 6th century. One of the tales is that at one point they stop on a small island, celebrate Easter Mass which begins with lighting a fire – and then find out the island is an enormous whale!

This prayer is attributed to St. Brendan.

Prayer:

Help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old ways
and break fresh ground with You.

Christ of the mysteries, I trust You
to be stronger than each storm within me.
I will trust in the darkness and know
that my times, even now, are in Your hand.
Tune my spirit to the music of heaven,
and somehow, make my obedience count for You.
AMEN.