The Navigator – Patron of sailors and sea voyagers.
St. Brendan the Navigator
Feast Day: May 16
Patron of:
- Sailors
- Sea voyagers
- Navigators & explorers
- Marine travelers
- Adventurers
- Those seeking spiritual direction
Who Was St. Brendan?
St. Brendan of Clonfert (484–577 AD) was an early Irish monk, abbot, and missionary.
He is most famous for his legendary voyage across the Atlantic in a small leather-clad boat called a curragh.
His journey is recorded in the medieval text The Voyage of St. Brendan (Navigatio Sancti Brendani), where Brendan and fellow monks sail in search of the “Isle of the Blessed” — a place symbolic of Heaven.
Along the way they encountered:
- Deep seas and storms
- Marine animals
- Mysterious islands
- Miraculous signs of God’s protection
Many believe Brendan may have reached Iceland, the Faroe Islands, or even North America, nearly 900 years before Columbus.
Whether literal or symbolic, his story reflects courage, trust in God, and spiritual exploration.
Why Sailors Pray to St. Brendan
- He is a model of courage and trust at sea.
- His voyage symbolizes God guiding us through unknown waters.
- Mariners ask for his intercession for safe travel, calm seas, and protection from storms.
Prayer of St. Brendan
Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You.
Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me.
I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in Your hand.
Tune my spirit to the music of heaven, and somehow, make my obedience count for You
Short Prayer to St. Brendan
St. Brendan, fearless voyager and faithful monk,
guide all sailors and travelers upon the sea.
Calm the storms that threaten them,
lead them safely to their destination,
and help them trust in God on every journey.
Amen.
Prayer for Those at Sea
O St. Brendan the Navigator,
you placed yourself in God’s hands
and sailed into the unknown.
Protect all who travel by water—
sailors, fishermen, and all who work upon the sea.
Keep them safe from danger,
grant them steady winds and peaceful waves,
and bring them safely home.
Pray for us, that we may navigate life’s storms
with faith and courage.
Amen.
St. 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 honour? 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?
Shall I then suffer every kind of wound that the sea can inflict? Shall I take my tiny boat across the wide sparkling ocean? O King of the Glorious Heaven, shall I go of my own choice upon the sea?
O Christ, will You help me on the wild waves?
NOVENA TO ST. BRENDAN
St. Brendan Novena – Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
St. Brendan Novena – Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glorious St Brendan, who during thy mortal course here on earth placed all thy glory in the annihilation of thyself before Him for whose glory and at whose call you forsook all things, thy country as well as thy people and thy father’s house, look down now from Heaven with our Lord, Whom thou didst ardently love whilst in this land of danger and sorrow, and forget not the charge thou didst receive when I, thine unworthy client, was committed to thy care, and received thee as patron, protector and advocate with Him, Who is so much outraged by my infidelity and imperfection.
Animated with firm hope in that charity which consumed thee in the service of thy neighbor, I confidently look up to thee now, where charity is perfect, and implore thee to use thy powerful intercession with thy Creator to obtain for me that succor which I so much need to run faithfully the course on which I have entered.
O most compassionate Father, behold the barrenness of this garden of my soul, notwithstanding the care the divine husbandman takes to render it fruitful.
Let that charity and compassion for the miserable which consumed thee here be excited towards me, who groan under the slavery of my evil habits.
Come then, O holy St Brendan, and enable me to do violence to my perverse inclinations, and to pluck up those noxious weeds which disfigure the garden of my soul.
Plant and nurture there, I beseech thee, those fragrant flowers which will render to the Heavenly Bridegroom such an odor of sweetness as will constrain Him to make His abode there.
I most earnestly beseech thee to obtain for me in an especial manner the grace of (mention your request here…) together with the gift of final perseverance that I may for ever share with thee the reward promised to those who faithfully follow Christ.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
St Brendan, pray for us!
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