One of the 12 Apostles of Ireland, Saint Brendan the Voyager sought God by giving himself over to His Providence. He led a group of monks on seafaring adventures, confident that their faith would be tested and strengthened. His hopes were not in vain.
Patrick prophesied this day, Ita helped you along your way,
Unquenchable thirst till your death, you searched the earth till your last breath,
Across the sea looking for rest, put your faith to the test,
Like your Egyptian friends, you sought the beginning in the end,
Angels led you to the sea, an expansive eternity,
A pilgrim seeking a better place through joyful sorrow and grace,
In an ocean desert home, in a city all alone,
Haunted by the memory of a place you’ve never been,
Were you faster than vikings? Was America to your liking?
What was it like to have a pure American dream?
Into the dark and the damp seeking light and the lamp,
You left comfort and kin, in a vessel of skin,
Angels led you to the sea, an expansive eternity,
A pilgrim seeking a better place through sorrow, pain, death, and grace,
In an ocean desert home, in a city all alone,
Haunted by the memory of a place you’d never seen.