From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

November 29th =E2=80=93 St Brendan of Birr, abbot

(d. 573)

St Adamnan tells a story of Brendan's support of St Columba when "he
had been excommunicated for some pardonable and very trifling reasons,
and indeed unjustly". Brendan, quickly arose, bowed down and kissed
him.

Summary: St Brendan of Birr was one of the twelve apostles of Ireland.
He is best known for his friendship and support of St Columba, who had
a vision of St Brendan being carried by angels to heaven at his death.

Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.

Studies under St Finian at Clonard
Brendan is said to have studied under St Finian at Clonard where he
became a friend of St Columba and St Brendan the Navigator. He later
made his own monastic foundation at Birr, Co Offaly.

Supports Columba at Tailtean
St Adamnan in his Life of Columba (3:4) tells a story of Brendan of
Birr's support of St Columba when =E2=80=9Che had been excommunicat=
ed for some
pardonable and very trifling reasons, and indeed unjustly=E2=80=9D. Columba
was making his way to a gathering at Tailtean (Telltown =E2=80=93 between
Kells and Navan), Co Meath. Brendan, seeing him in the distance,
quickly arose and went to him. He bowed down reverently and kissed
him. Some of the seniors in the assembly drew apart from the rest, and
began finding fault with Brendan.=E2=80=9DWhy did you not refuse to rise in presence of this excommunicated person? And to kiss him?=E2=80=9D Brendan o=
f
Birr replied: =E2=80=9CIf you had seen what the Lord has this day thought f=
it
to show to me regarding this his chosen one, whom you dishonour, you
would never have unjustly excommunicated him, for he is a person whom
God holds in high esteem.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CHow,=E2=80=9D they asked, =E2=80=9Ccan God exalt one whom we have = rightly
excommunicated?=E2=80=9D Brendan replied: =E2=80=9CI have seen a most brill= iant pillar
wreathed with fiery tresses preceding this same man of God whom you
treat with contempt. I have also seen holy angels accompanying him on
his journey through the plain. Therefore I do not dare to slight him,
whom I see foreordained by God to be the leader of his people to
life.=E2=80=9D The gathering immediately rescinded the previous excommunication.

Visit to Cashel and baptism of St Colman of Cloyne
About 580, Brendan went on a visit to Cashel for the inauguration of a
new king of Munster. The royal bard at Cashel at that time was not a
Christian and Brendan was the one to lead the liturgy for the
occasion. During his visit also, the tomb of St Ailbe of Emly, buried
there many years previously, was rediscovered on the site. The royal
bard, greatly impressed by these experiences, asked to become a
Christian. Brendan baptised him and sent him to St Jarlath of Tuam for
further formation. He was Colman MacLenine, subsequently abbot of his
own foundation at Cloyne, Co Cork.

Columba's intuition of the death of Brendan
St Adamnan also tells a beautiful story about the closeness of Brendan
and Columba. Early one morning on Iona Columba rose and instructed his
servant Diarmuid to prepare for a celebration of the Holy Eucharist,
in honour, he said, of the natalis (literally =E2=80=9Cbirth day=E2=80=9D, = but meaning
=E2=80=9Cbirthday in heaven=E2=80=9D) of blessed Brendan.=E2=80=9D =E2=80= =9CWhy,=E2=80=9D asked Diarmuid, =E2=80=9Cdo
you want Mass prepared today since no messenger has come to us from
Scotia (Ireland) to tell us of the holy man's death?=E2=80=9D =E2= =80=9CGo,=E2=80=9D said the
saint, =E2=80=9Cand do what I say. For last night I saw the heavens suddenl=
y
open, and choirs of angels descend to meet the soul of the holy
Brenden; and so great and incomparable was the brightness that in that
same hour it illuminated the whole world=E2=80=9D (Adamnan's Life o=
f Columba,
3:12).

Influence: the Macregol Gospels (or The Book of Birr)
The deaths of the abbots of Birr Old Churchyard, believed to be the
site of the monastery founded by St Brendan were recorded in the Irish
Annals. One Macregol, successor to St Brendan, is listed as =E2=80=9Cscribe=
,
abbot and bishop at Birr=E2=80=9D, died in 822 AD. He had made a magnificen=
t
illuminated manuscript copy of the Four Gospels, the original of which
is in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Eight pages are illuminated in the
style of about the eighth or ninth century AD like The Book of Kells.
A facsimile copy has recently been made available in the Birr Town
Library.

See images at https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-brendan-of-birr-d-573-abbo=
t/


Reflection:
=C2 The constancy displayed by the Saints in their glorious martyrdom
cannot be isolated from their previous lives, but is their logical
sequence. If we wish to emulate their perseverance, let us first
imitate their fidelity to grace.

Bible Quote:
O God, when thou didst go forth in the sight of thy people, when thou
didst pass through the desert: 9 The earth was moved, and the heavens
dropped at the presence of the God of Sina, at the presence of the God
of Israel.=C2 (Psalm 67:8-9)


Bible Quote:
"Then the angel showed me the river of life, rising from the throne of
God and of the Lamb and flowing crystal clear. Down the middle of the
city street, on either bank of the river was the tree of life, which
bears twelve crops of fruit in a year, one in each month, and the
leaves of which are the cure for the nations." Revelation 22:1-2.


<><><><>
Rend your hearts,
not your garments,
and return to the Lord, your God.
For gracious and merciful, is He,
slow to anger,
rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)