I read “Patrick, First of a Great Cloud of Witnesses” (March 17-23) and was unhappy to see that you left out St. Brendan. St. Brendan was born in 484. He was a pupil of St. Ita, who was his foster mother. He became a priest early in life and founded many monasteries.
The Irish believe that it was St. Brendan who founded America and not Columbus. In fact, according to “Navigatio Brendani,” he called it The Greater Ireland.
St. Brendan is known as the patron saint of sailors. When he returned to Ireland, he became the bishop of Clonfert. St. Brendan died in 577 at the age of 87.
BRENDAN JOHNSON
Fort Bragg, North Carolina