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Part 9: The Island of Sheep

One day they saw an island not far from them. When they began to steer towards it, a favourable wind came to their help, so that they did not have to exert themselves more than their strength could manage. When the boat stood to at the harbour, the man of God bade them all get out out of the boat. He got out after them. When they began to go round the island they saw large streams of water, full of fish, flowing from various springs. Saint Brendan said to his brothers:

"Let us carry out the divine service here. Let us sacrifice the Spotless Victim to God, for today is Maundy Thursday."

They stayed there until Holy Saturday.

Walking round the island they found various flocks of sheep — all of one colour, white. The sheep were so numerous that the ground could not be seen at all. Saint Brendan called his brothers together and said to them:

"Take what you need for the feast from the flock."

The brothers, hurrying according to the command of the man of God to the flock, took one sheep from it. When they had tied it by the horns, it followed the brother who held the rope in his hand as if it were tame to the place where the man of God was standing. Again the man of God spoke to one of the brothers:

"Take a spotless lamb from the flock."

The brother hurried and did as he had been enjoined.

On Good Friday, while they were preparing for the service, a man appeared to them holding in his hand a basket full of bread, that had been baked under the ashes, and the other things that were necessary. When he placed these before the man of God, he fell prone on his face three times at the feet of the holy father, saying:

"How have I deserved, O pearl of God, that you should eat, on these holy days, of the labour of my hands?"

Saint Brendan lifted him up from the ground, embraced him and said:

"Son, our Lord Jesus Christ chooses a place for us where we can celebrate his holy Resurrection."

The man replied:

"Father, here you will celebrate Holy Saturday. Tomorrow, however, God has ordained that you celebrate the Masses and the vigils of his Resurrection in the island that you see nearby."

While he said this he prepared to serve the servants of God and do whatever was necessary for Holy Saturday.

When, on Holy Saturday, all was ready and brought to the boat, the man said to Saint Brendan:

"Your boat cannot carry any more. I, therefore, shall bring to you after eight days whatever food and drink you will need until Pentecost."

Saint Brendan said:

"How do you know where we shall be after eight days?"

He replied:

"Tonight and on Easter Sunday until mid-day you will be in the island that you see nearby. Afterwards you will sail to another island, which is not far from this one towards the west, and which is called the Paradise of Birds. There you will remain until the octave of Pentecost."

Saint Brendan also questioned him on how the sheep could be so big there as, one could see, they were. They were indeed bigger than cattle. He replied:

"No one takes milk from the sheep in this island, nor does winter put any strain on them. They stay in the pastures always, day and night. As a consequence they are larger here than in the parts you come from."

They set out for the boat and began to sail, each party having blessed the other.

< PART 8. A YOUTH BRINGS FOOD | PART 10. JASCONIUS

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