The Irish standard., 1892-09-03
SAINT BRENDAN,
The Irish Monk and Bishop VINO
Discovered America IN the
Sixth Century.
THE EARLIEST DISCOVERER.
THE Fact tha;t He Actually Crossed
the Atlantic is Pretty Wen
Authenticated.


Authenticated.
Although there have beer times when
the great Catholic navigator, the four
hundredth anniversary of whose famous
feat is being SO widely commemorated
this year, was believed to have been the
first European to behold the shores of
this western world, and despite the fact
that it cannot be denied that to him be-
longs the glory of having been actually
the first to establish here an enduring
civilization and permanent settlements,
it is no longer doubted that other Eiurop-
cans visited America before the close OF
the fifteenth century, when the caravels
OF Colunobus dropped their anchors off
the seaboard of Hispaniola. Lief Ericsson
and his hardy Norsemen are now con-
ceded to have entered the Vinland at an
early period Of the eleventh century;
Madoc, the Welshmsn, is thought to have
come here soon after; but several CEN
turies in advance of both an Irish monk,
to whose memory handsome little
church now stands dedicated at River
side, outside of Providence, r. l., and on
the banks OF the Narragansett, is thought
by many people to have crossed the At
lartic and to have remained IN America
for number of years. AS this Is the
fret New England church dedicated TO
the Celtic saint, the following sketch of
his career may not lack interest for the
reader.
The exact date of St. Brendan's birth
appears to be in doubt. Some authorities
assert that he was born in 485; but earlier
and later dates are assigned for the
event. The "Acta Sanctoruna Hibernia"
tells us that when he was mere child
he was placed in the care of st. Ita, ab:
bess Of a convent at Limerick, and re-
mained there five years, at the expiration
OF which period he was taken in hand by
Bishop Ercus, who desired to have him
study for the ministry under his own
personal supervision. It is also related
of him that he always retained the warm
est affection Of st. Ita, whom he visited
after his voyage to this country and
amused her with the recital of many
strange experiences through which he
had passed here. Advanced in due sea-
son to holy orders, st. Brendan founded
monasteries in many parts of Ireland and
eventually became abbot or bishop OF
Ardfert and Clonfert, in the present
county of Kerry, where his memory is
still held in the highest veneration.
What put the notion of crossing the
Atlantic into the head of this Irish bishop
was probably an account given him by
cousin of his, Barinthus by name, who,
having sailed far westward from the
Irish coast, returned and told the saint
that to the best Of his belief there were
populated lands in that direction. A
zeal Of carrying the tidings of Christian
ity to these people took possession of st.
Brendan, and enlisting q number of
companions in his service, he launched
his little feet of boats for his vessels
hardly deserve the name of ships-frcm
the foot of lofty eminence in Kerry
which still bears the name of st. Bren-
dams hill Steering to the southwest,
after many days OF sailing, he appears to
have struck the gulf stream, for it is
said that he was borne along for many
days without the aid of sail or oar; and
he finally landed, as it is commonly be-
ieved, somewhere on the Virginlan
capes. Striking inland, he and his COM
panions marched for two weeks, when
they came to large river, which, having
no boats, they we're unable to cross.
This is believed to have been the Ohio.
What plan they then followed is uncer-
tain. Some claim that they settled
where they were-for the saint and his
companions we're absent from Ireland
for the space of seven years-but there
is a tradition that they passed down to
Mexico, and some writers assert that the
famous Quexatcoatl of that country was
none other than the Irish saint. The
date Of the bishops voyage in generally
fixed at $40, and on his return to his ma
tive land he founded q large monastery
ct Clonfert, where he died with the repu-
tation Of sanctity.
SO much for the story Of st. Brendan's
voyage; Of which, though many Of the
details are uncertain and others more or
less Legendary, the fact that the saint act-
ually crossed the Atlantic would seem to
!. bepretty we'll auth enticated, u the first
3plaoe, there ara %; ii is said, no lees than
e1eyen 1nanuscrii written il u
he Imperial 4 a at aris, bearing