[21] At vērō sānctus Brendānus, cum haec vīdisset, contristātus est, intrā sē dīcēns: “Vae mihi, quī portō habitum monachicum, [22] et sub mē cōnstitūtī sunt multī sub nōmine illīus ōrdinis, cum videō modo in angelicō statū hominem in carne adhūc sedentem illaesum ā vitiīs corporis.” [23] Cui ait vir Deī: “Ō venerābilis pater, quanta et quālia mīrābilia ostendit Deus tibi, quae nūllī sānctōrum patrum manifestāvit! [24] Et tū dīcis, in corde tuō, nōn esse tē dignum monachicum portāre habitum, et tū cum sīs maior quam monachus! Monachus vērō labōre manuum suārum ūtitur et vestītur. [25] Deus autem dē suīs sēcrētīs per septem annōs pāscit tē cum tuā familiā et induit; ego vērō miser sedeō sīcut avis in istā petrā, nūdus, exceptō meō pīlō.”
notes
Brendan is sad because his monastic asceticism pales before that of Paul. But Paul tells Brendan that God has shown him wonders not shown to others. Ordinary monks support themselves by working, but food and clothing have been gifts to Brendan and his monks from God. Paul himself sits on his rock sad and naked, except for his hair.
[21] quī portō habitum monachicum: there was a long-standing tension in early Christian thought between the ideals of the solitary hermit and those of monastic community.
[22] sub nōmine illīus ōrdinis: = sub nōmine monachī.
cum videō modo: “since now I see”; CL would be cum videō nunc or perhaps cum vīdī modo.
[23] vir Deī: i.e., Paul.
ostendit: either perfect or historical present.
[24] in corde tuō: i.e., “privately, to yourself” (see intrā sē dīcēns, 26.21, above). Paul, as a particularly spiritual person, knows what Brendan is thinking.
nōn esse tē dignum monachicum portāre habitum: = tē nōn esse dignum portāre habitum monachicum.
et tū cum sīs maior quam monachus!: = cum et tū sīs maior quam monachus!
[25] Deus ... dē suīs sēcrētīs: “God ... from his own secret (resources).” At 28.13 God’s sēcrēta are the wonders of the ocean.