After this, at the end of his five years, Brendan studied with Bishop Erc; and to Ita the time seemed long without him. Then he learned his psalms…One day Bishop Erc went to preach the word of God, and Brendan went with him in the chariot; he was then ten years old. Brendan was left alone in the chariot, while the cleric went to the preaching. He was seated in the chariot reciting his psalms by himself.
– Life of Brendan of Clonfert
For You are my hope, O Lord GOD;
You are my trust from my youth.
By You I have been upheld from birth;
You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise shall be continually of You.
– Psalm 71.5, 6
An Historical Peg
After five years with Ita, where he knew attention and love, and probably learned basic life disciplines—dressing oneself, eating, chores, and even contemplation and silence—Brendan’s preparation was transferred to Bishop Erc.
Here an historical comment is in order. Early Irish Christianity, up to the end of the 7th century, was largely organized around monasteries, which in many ways mirrored and transformed existing Irish domestic and community life. Monasteries were grouped into families, such as those related to Colum Cille—besides Iona, also Kerry and Durrow, and perhaps Kells.
But Irish Christians understood the role and importance of the Church, and, while they were not connected to the Roman Church, by the middle of the 6th century some basic organization was beginning to emerge. Patrick, we know, was ordained as Bishop of the Irish toward the middle of the 5th century. But we read very little about churches and a great deal about monasteries up until the time of Brendan. Bishop Erc would have had pastoral oversight of several churches, and he was not the only bishop active in Ireland at the time.
That Brendan was taken from a nunnery and put into the care of a bishop shows the growing importance of the Church in the progress of the Celtic Revival. Brendan’s own ministry, however, would begin in the monastery, as we shall see.
Learning the Psalms
Bishop Erc’s training began with the psalms. I think it’s likely this was common practice throughout Ireland, and for very good reasons.
First, the psalms are a sure guide and bottomless well of refreshment for the discipline of prayer. We don’t know how to pray as we should, so God in His grace has furnished us with this rich trove to help us in this most fundamental of Christian disciplines. Learn to pray the psalms and you will never want for a resource to come before the throne of grace in your time of need.
Second, the psalms speak to so many issues in our lives—loss, doubt, fear, uncertainty, joy and rejoicing, family and loved ones, spiritual struggles, and so much more. We are reminded to pray for these, and helped in doing so, as we devote ourselves to learning the psalms.
Additionally, the psalms are doctrinally sound and thorough in all the areas where doctrinal understanding is so necessary. Learning the psalms would provide a short course in Biblical history and Christian doctrine. They also point us to Christ more than any other book of the Old Testament. And because we can sing the psalms, they engage not only our mind and heart but our bodies as well in praising, thanking, and seeking the Lord.
Brendan began learning the psalms when he was six years old. Few manuscripts of the Bible existed at this time in Ireland, so his instruction would have been in the form of hearing and repeating. He would do this so often and so well that, by the time he was ten years old, he could be content sitting by himself and reciting the psalms he had learned.
His example should challenge us with the importance and value of the psalms for our walk with and work for the Lord. The psalms lay a foundation of prayer, doctrine, singing, meditation, and instruction for ongoing growth which, as we recite and sing and otherwise appeal to these great songs and prayers, can help us be more like Jesus in all our ways.
For Reflection
1. What role do the psalms play in your spiritual life?
2. What could you do to increase and improve your use of the psalms?
Psalm 119.105, 106
(Slane: Be Thou My Vision)
Your Word a lamp is to brighten my way.
LORD, from Your pathway let me never stray!
I give my word now as I have before:
Your righteous Law I will keep evermore.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is concentrating on praying the psalms to seek revival—why we should and what we might expect. Our current ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, enters the home stretch now by leading us to pray for our church’s impact. In our daily Scriptorium column we are looking at ways Old Testament expectations of Jesus were fulfilled in the Gospels. Such as the fact that He was born a king. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christshows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
