Brendan then put out from land, and rowed with his company till they reached the Paradise of Birds…And the island was extraordinary in appearance, for there were many excellent fruits there, and marvelous birds discoursing joyfully from the tops of their trees…
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfeert
By them the birds of the heavens have their home;
They sing among the branches.
– Psalm 104.12
Beauty in abundance
We note that, on this leg of their journey, Brendan and his company rowed. This suggests to me that they were intending a short jaunt from where they had been to another island which they might have been able to see in the distance before launching for it.
Tim Severin cites a 9th-century manuscript by a monk named Dicuil, who described a chain of islands, north of Scotland that were replete with sheep and a great diversity of birds. By his day, missionaries had already sailed to these islands to further the work of the Kingdom. Upon approaching the Faroes on his own voyage, Severin and his company were amazed at the variety and abundance of birds that swarmed the islands. He wrote, “I was awed. If there was any place which fitted the idea of a Paradise of Birds, this was it.”
The anonymous writer of Brendan’s life continued, “And there were many churches there, and a monastery in the middle of the island full of an excellent variety of things of every hue; and a venerable, wise, decorous, and devout order in it.”
Where God abounds in beauty and wonder, and where His people are devoted to seeking His glory, they will reflect that beauty into the world by many good works “of every hue”.
The Celtic Revival
This section of the Life of Brendan is replete with historical markers. Among these, we are perhaps surprised to see churches and a monastery on an island 200 miles north of Ireland and Scotland. This work thus antedates not only Dicuil but Brendan as well. This is evidence of the fervor, devotion, and discipline that characterized many church leaders during the Celtic Revival in the centuries following Patrick’s mission there.
In the 6th century, communities in many places of Ireland—which had no cities when Patrick arrived—were organized around a monastery, such as Brendan would establish at Clonfert. The monks were at the heart of the devotional life of the community, and they took care to bring the Word and prayers to the people who lived in their environs. Over time, churches were started among the community to better serve the spiritual needs of the people.
These communities were entirely agricultural, except for the cottage industries that were needed to support the farms (such as smithies, tool-makers, tanners, and so forth). Monks would bring teaching, pastoral care, and training in literacy to the people throughout the communities; and, later, as communities grew, pastors would assume those duties under the general oversight and tutelage of the monastery.
So here we have what seems a reliable look through a window onto the Celtic Revival. The works that Brendan and those who had reached the Faroes undertook required great faith, courage, and conviction. And a good bit of ongoing hard work.
And yet they made the time for beauty—studying their surroundings, getting to know the creatures there, and creating lovely artifacts, such as chalices, illuminated manuscripts, and poems, to honor God and capture a glimpse of His glory in their work.
The Irish missionaries of the Celtic Revival understood what too many today have forgotten: The salvation of Jesus is not just for the souls of men, but for the life of the world.
For reflection
1. What roles do Christian communities fulfill today?2. What is our responsibility for bringing the saving work of Jesus to our world, our personal sphere of influence?
Psalm 111.7, 8
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
The works of Your all-sovereign hands
are faithful, Lord, and just.
Your precepts evermore are true
and worthy of our trust.
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 takes up the book Understanding the Times to help us in knowing how to live and proclaim the Kingdom. Our ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, continues to unpack the secrets of the Kingdom. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows 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.
