Here is a deeply inspiring contemplation (podcast) of the life of St Brendan the Voyager, the Irish monk who set out on his epic pilgrimage with no destination, yet who found his eternal, spiritual destination, and made an enduring impact on Christianity in the British Isles, Ireland and Scotland as a result. He has quickly become an inspiration to me for the North American Thebaid Photographic Pilgrimage Project, and perhaps will be for your Christian walk as well! I hope he inspires you to follow along with me as we prepare to launch the Thebaid Crowdfunding Campaign, which will enable travel and photography to begin later this Summer!

St Brendan: the Questioning Heart

Through a Monk’s Eyes Podcast, Ancient Faith Radio; Fr. Seraphim Aldea of the Mull Monastery of All Celtic Saints shares about the life of St. Brendan. Audio Podcast: Length: 23:57

Play in Popup • Download MP3 • Play in Browser

Saint Brendan’s Prayer:

Shall I abandon, O King of mysteries, the soft comforts of home? Shall I turn my back on my native land, and turn my face towards the sea?

Shall I put myself wholly at your mercy, without silver, without a horse, without fame, without honor? Shall I throw myself wholly upon You, without sword and shield, without food and drink, without a bed to lie on? Shall I say farewell to my beautiful land, placing myself under Your yoke?

Shall I pour out my heart to You, confessing my manifold sins and begging forgiveness, tears streaming down my cheeks? Shall I leave the prints of my knees on the sandy beach, a record of my final prayer in my native land? […]

Of course, my North American Thebaid Pilgrimage will be conducted primarily by car, with A/C, cruise control and GPS. I’ll enjoy the “soft comforts” of food and lodging at every stage of the journey. Oh yes, I may have automotive breakdowns (but for that I have AAA), and I may take some wrong turns and get a little lost. I may feel isolated and alone, and at times suffer other inconveniences, but nothing like St Brendan and the great Christian pilgrims of the past.

Holy St Brendan, pray to God for me and for my Pilgrimage!

More on the podcast and All Celtic Saints Monastery…

Through a Monk’s Eyes

Looking at the World from the Celtic Shores of Scotland—and Elsewhere, with Fr. Seraphim Aldea; hosted by Ancient Faith Radio.

Have you ever wondered what the world looks like through a monk’s eyes? Priest-monk Seraphim shares his stories of the places he visits and the people he meets as he travels the world to found the first Orthodox monastery in the Celtic Isles of Scotland in a thousand years. The Monastery is dedicated to All Celtic Saints, and you may support its founding at mullmonastery.com. Listen to more episodes and subscribe to the podcast here.