17.19–27

There is more singing on the next day, followed by Mass.  Two members of the choir of young men bring two baskets of purple fruit, as provisions for the voyage. They ask for the return of "their brother" before Brendan and his monks sail away.  Brendan summons the brother in question (who is one of the three  extra monks of chapter 5), and tells him to say good by to his companions. He is lucky, says Brendan, that he gets to stay on this island.

[19] cum diēs illūcēsceret: the dawn service is not given a name; scholars are divided as to whether or not this would have been called Prime.

Miserēre meī, Deus: Psalm 50.2 (51.1): “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy (Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam), and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.”

Deus, Deus meus, ad tē dē lūce vigilō: Psalm 62.2-3 (63.1-2): “O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. (Deus, Deus meus, ad te de luce vigilo.) For thee my soul hath thirsted, for thee my flesh—O how many ways!—(3) in a desert land and where there is no way and no water.”

Domine, refugium: Psalm 89.1 (90.1): “Lord, thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation” (Domine, refugium factus es nobis a generatione in generationem).

[20] ad tertiam: = ad tertiam horam, the office of Terce (9 AM).

Omnēs gentēs: Psalm 46.2 (47.1): O clap your hands, all ye nations! Shout unto God with the voice of joy” (Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus! Iubilate Deo in voce exsulationis.)

Deus, in nōmine tuō: Psalm 53.3 (54.1): “Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength” (Deus, in nomine tuo salvum me fac, et in virtute tua iudica me).

Dīlēxī, quoniam: Psalm 114.1 (116.1): “I have loved because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer” (Dilexi quoniam exaudiet Dominus vocem orationis meae).

sub Allēlūiā: “with the ‘Alleluia.’” CL would be cum Allēlūiā. The Hebrew Alleluia (“God be praised”) begins Psalms 110-118 (111-119), and would have been sung before or after the Psalm 114."

[21] immolābant agnum immaculātum: i.e., they celebrated Mass, concluding the cycle of daily offices.

Hoc sacrum corpus ... in vītam aeternam: these are apparently the words of a hymn that was part of the medieval Irish mass, sung after consumption of the Host. Perhaps more familiar are the words hoc est corpus meum, spoken in the traditional Latin mass by the priest, on consecrating the Host, and quoting the words of Christ at the Last Supper.

[23] plēnum dē scaltīs purpureīs: CL would be plēnum scaltārum purpureārum.

[24] reddite nōbīs frātrem nostrum: this is one of the three “supernumerary” monks who joined Brendan in chapter 5.  Brendan knew in advance that he would be left behind (17.2–4), and apparently the monks of the Island of Strong Men were equally prophetic and assumed that he rightfully belonged with them.

[26] Bonā hōrā concēpit tē māter tua: our Christian text retains the language of astrology: the monk is saved because he was conceived under a good sign.

et sānctō patre: i.e., Brendan.

[27] duōs iuvenēs: see 17.23.