Celtic Spirituality

Nor should I fail to mention another miracle which this renowned handmaid is said to have performed in her unceasing service of God. On one occasion she was moved by pity to give the pork that she was cooking in the cauldron for guests to a dog that came fawning and begging. But when the pork was removed from the cauldron and was divided up for the

Then, when they were making their way along the shore, a dog came running toward them and sat at Brendan’s feet, as dogs are accustomed to sit at the feet of their master. St. Brendan said to his brothers: “Has God not sent us a good messenger? Let us follow him.” Then St. Brendan and his brothers followed the dog as far as the settlement.

As they sat at the table, the bird who had spoken to them last year settled on the prow of the boat, extended its wings, and made a noise like the sound of a great organ. The man of God knew that it wanted to tell them something. The bird said: “God has appointed four places for you for each season of the year where you shall stay until the seven y

a fish, every three days. I ate a third of the fish each day and, thanks be to God, never suffered thirst for every Sunday a trickle of water flowed from that rock from which I could drink and fill my flask for the rest of the week.

On one occasion, when St. Brendan had celebrated the feast of St. Peter the Apostle on board the boat, the sea was so clear that they could see right down into it. In the depths they saw various kinds of creatures lying on the seabed. They seemed close enough to touch, so clear was the sea. They were like flocks at pasture, and there were so many o

When the holy man had finished praying, all the birds started to flap their wings and sing: “Praise the Lord, all his angels, praise him, all his host” (Ps 148:2). They continued to sing for an hour, just as they had at vespers.

and his companions, this singing and rhythmic beating of wings seemed as sweet as a song of lamentation.

“Next year you will celebrate Easter Sunday and the Easter period with us. And you will be in the same place you were for Maundy Thursday. Similarly you will celebrate the Easter vigil where you celebrated it before, on the back of Jasconius. After eight months you will find the island which is called the Island of the

Community of St. Ailbe, and there you shall celebrate the Nativity of the Lord.