The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran Part 2

x.x.xVII. CIARAN DEPARTS FROM ISEL

26. On a certain day when Ciaran was busied out of doors in a field, a poor man came to him, asking that an alms should be given him. In that hour a chariot with two horses was gifted to Saint Kiara.n.u.s by a certain lord, namely the son of Crimthannus; which horses with the chariot Saint Kiara.n.u.s gave to that poor man.

Then, since the brethren of Saint Kiara.n.u.s could not endure the greatness of his charity, for every day he was dividing their substance among the poor, they said unto him, "Brother, depart from us; we cannot now be along with thee in one place, and preserve and nourish our brethren for G.o.d, for thine excess of charity." To whom holy Kiara.n.u.s answered: "If therefore I had remained in this place, it would not have been 'Ysseal,' that is, 'lowest,' that is, not small; but high, that is, great and honourable."[5] With these words, holy Kiara.n.u.s gave a blessing to his brethren, and taking his book-satchels with his books on his shoulders, he went thence on his way.

When he had gone some little distance from the place, there met him in the way a stag awaiting him with utmost gentleness. Saint Kiara.n.u.s placed his book-satchels upon him, and wheresoever the stag would go, Saint Kiera.n.u.s followed him. The stag came to Loch Rii which is in the east of Connachta; he stood over against Inis Angin, which is in that lake. Thereby Saint Kyara.n.u.s understood that the Lord had called him to that island, and dismissing the stag with a blessing he entered that island and dwelt there.

x.x.xVIII. CIARAN IN INIS AINGHIN

27. Now when the fame of his holiness was noised abroad, from far and wide and from every quarter good men came together to him, and Saint Kiara.n.u.s made them his monks. And many alms, in respect of various matters, would be given to Saint Kiara.n.u.s and to his people by the Faithful. But a certain presbyter, by name Daniel, who owned Inis Angin, inspired by the devil's envy, set about expelling Saint Kyara.n.u.s with his followers by force from the island. But Saint Kiara.n.u.s, wishing to benefit his persecutor, sent him by faithful messengers a royal gift which had been given him in alms, namely a golden _antilum_, well adorned. When the presbyter saw it, at first he refused to accept it; but afterwards, on the persuasion of trustworthy men, he received it gratefully. And presbyter Daniel, filled with the grace of G.o.d, came and gifted Inis Angin which was in his possession, to G.o.d and to Saint Kiara.n.u.s for ever.

x.x.xIX. THE COMING OF OENNA

28. On another day when Saint Kiara.n.u.s was in that island Angin, he heard the voice of a man in the port wishing to enter the island; and he said to his brethren, "Go ye, my brethren, and lead me hither him who is to be your abbot after me." So the brethren, voyaging quickly, found an unconsecrated youth in the port, whom despising they left there. Coming back, they said unto Saint Kiara.n.u.s, "We found no man there save an unconsecrated youth, who wandered as a fugitive in the woods; he it is who calleth in the port. Far removed from abbotship is _his_ rudeness!" To these Saint Kiara.n.u.s said: "Voyage ye without delay and bring him with speed; for the Lord having revealed it to me, by his voice I have recognised that he shall be your abbot after me."

When the brethren heard this, they forthwith led him in, and Saint Kiara.n.u.s tonsured him, and he read diligently with him, and was filled from day to day with the grace of G.o.d; and after the most blessed Kiara.n.u.s, he was the holy abbot. For he is the blessed Aengus, son of Luigse.

XL. HOW CIARAN RECOVERED HIS GOSPEL

29. The gospel-book of Saint Kiera.n.u.s fell into the lake from the hand of one of the brethren, who held it carelessly when voyaging. For a long time it was therein, under the water, and was not found. But on a certain day, in summer, the kine entered the lake to refresh themselves in the waters, for the greatness of the heat; and when the kine had returned from the lake, the binding of the leather satchel containing the gospel-book caught about the hoof of a cow, and so the cow dragged the book-satchel on her hoof as she came to land. And the gospel-book was found in the rotten leather satchel, perfectly dry and clean, without any moisture, as though it had been preserved in a book-case. Saint Kiara.n.u.s with his followers were rejoiced thereat.

XLI. HOW CIARAN WENT FROM INIS AINGIN TO CLONMACNOIS

30. After this a certain man of Mumonia, to wit of the people of Corco Baiscind, by name Donna.n.u.s, came to Saint Ciaran as he sojourned in Inis Angin. To him one day Saint Kiara.n.u.s said, "What seekest thou, father, in these coasts?" Saint Donna.n.u.s answered, "Lord, I seek a place wherein to sojourn, where I may serve Christ in pilgrimage."

Saint Kiara.n.u.s said to him, "Sojourn, father, in this place; for I shall go to some other place, for I know that here is not my resurrection."

Then Saint Kyara.n.u.s granted Inis Angin with its furniture to Saint Donna.n.u.s, and came to a place which is called Ard Mantain, near the river Sinna; but being unwilling to remain in that place, he said: "I will not live in this place: for here shall be great abundance of the things of this life, and earthly joy; and hardly could the souls of my disciples attain to heaven, were I to have dwelt here, for this place belongs to the men of this world."

Thereafter Saint Kiara.n.u.s left that place, and came to a place which once was called Typrait, but now is called Cluain meic Nois. And coming to this place he said: "Here will I live: for many souls shall go forth in this place to the kingdom of G.o.d, and in this place shall be my resurrection."

Then most blessed Kiara.n.u.s with his followers dwelt, and began to found a great monastery there. And many from all sides used to come to him, and his parish was extended over a great circuit; and the name of Saint Kiara.n.u.s was much renowned over all Ireland. And a shining and holy settlement, the name of which is Cluain meic Nois, grew up in that place in honour of Saint Kiara.n.u.s; it is in the western border of the land of Ui Neill, on the eastern bank of the river Synna, over against the province of the Connachta. Therein are the kings or the lords of Ui Neill and of the Connachta buried, along with Saint Kiara.n.u.s. For the river Synna, which is very rich in various fish, divides the regions of Niall, that is, of Midhe, and the province of the Connachta.

XLII. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH

31. And when Saint Kiara.n.u.s would place with his own hands a corner-post in the first building of that settlement, a certain wizard said to him: "This hour is not good for beginning; for the sign of this hour is contrary to beginnings of building." Then Saint Kiara.n.u.s himself set the post in the corner of the house, saying, "Thou wizard, against thy sign I fix this post in the ground; for I care naught for the art of wizards, but in the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ, do I all my works." For this the wizard and his followers uttered commendation, marvelling at the faith of Saint Ciaran in his G.o.d.

XLIII. HOW CIARAN SENT A CLOAK TO SENAN

32. Now when Saint Kiara.n.u.s had been in his settlement of Cluain meic Nois, an excellent cloak was gifted to him in alms by a certain man.

Saint Kyara.n.u.s was minded to send it to the aforesaid holy elder Sena.n.u.s, who dwelt in the island of Cathi; but he was not able immediately to find a messenger, because the way from the settlement of Saint Kiara.n.u.s of Cluain meic Nois, which is in the middle of Ireland, to the island of Cathi, situate at the entrance of the ocean, was long and rough and difficult, and crossed borders of different kingdoms. Then at the command of Saint Kiara.n.u.s, the cloak was placed on the river Synna, and was sent alone with the river, and it came dry over the waters to the island of Cathi; and no one saw it while it travelled thither. The Synna flows from the settlement of Cluain meic Nois to the estuary of Luimnech, in which the island of Cathi stands.

And Saint Sena.n.u.s, filled with the spirit of prophecy, said to his brethren, "Go ye to the sh.o.r.e of the sea, and bring to us with honour the guest there seated, the gift of a man of G.o.d." And the brethren, asking no questions, made their way to the sea, and found there the cloak, perfectly dry, for it was untouched by the waters. And the holy elder Sena.n.u.s accepting it, gave thanks to G.o.d; and the cloak was in honourable keeping with Saint Sena.n.u.s, as though it were a sacred diadem.

XLV. THE STORY OF CRITHIR

33. A certain boy of the company of holy Kiara.n.u.s, called Crithir of Cluain (a boy of great wit, but hurtful and wanton) fled from Saint Kiara.n.u.s to the settlement of Saigyr, in the northern border of Mumonia, that is, the land of Hele, to the other Kiara.n.u.s, the most holy aged bishop. And that boy, sojourning for some days with the holy bishop, after his devilish manner took the drink of the brethren, and poured it over the fire; extinguishing thus the consecrated fire. Now Saint Kiara.n.u.s the elder would have no other fire in his monastery save the consecrated fire, maintained without being extinguished from Easter to Easter. When Saint Kiara.n.u.s the elder heard what the boy Crithir did, it greatly displeased him, and he said, "Let him be chastened for this of G.o.d in this life." When he heard that Saint Kiara.n.u.s the elder was angry with him, he went out from the settlement of Saigyr, and when he was gone a short s.p.a.ce from the settlement, wolves met him and killed him; yet they did not touch his body after he was dead, after the likeness of that prophet who was killed by the lion.

Now when Saint Kiara.n.u.s the younger heard that his boy had been with Kiara.n.u.s the elder, he went to him; and on the day when the aforesaid things took place, he came to the settlement of Saigyr and was received with fitting honour by the holy bishop Kiara.n.u.s the elder.

And the holy abbot Kiara.n.u.s the younger said to the holy bishop Kiara.n.u.s, "Restore to me, holy father, my disciple alive, who hath been slain while with thee." To him Saint Kera.n.u.s the elder said, "First needs must your feet be washed, but we have no fire in the monastery, to warm the water for you; and ye know that it is because your disciple quenched our sacred fire. Wherefore beseech for us consecrated fire from G.o.d." Then the holy abbot Kiera.n.u.s the younger, son of the wright, stretched his hands in prayer to G.o.d, and straightway fire from heaven came into his breast, and thence was the hearth kindled in the monastery.

But the holy bishop Kiara.n.u.s the elder prayed to G.o.d for that youth slain by wolves, and straightway he arose sound from a cruel death, with the scars of the wolf-bites visible upon him. And blessing them all, he took food and drink with the saints, and afterwards he lived many days.

Then the two Saints Kiara.n.u.s made a compact and brotherhood in heaven and in earth between their successors; and they said that should any wish to name or to beg aught for one of them, he should name them both and ask, for they would hear him.

After this the holy abbot Kiara.n.u.s the younger said to the bishop, Kiara.n.u.s the elder, "In thy place, father, shall remain honour and abundance of riches." To him said the holy bishop, Kiara.n.u.s the elder, "Also in thy place, dearest son, shall last the strength of religion and of wisdom, unto the end of the world." When these things were said, having received the kiss of peace and blessing of the most holy bishop, Kiara.n.u.s the elder, Saint Kiara.n.u.s the younger with his own people and with the aforesaid youth Crithir returned to his settlement of Cluain meic Nois.

XLIV. CIARAN AND THE WINE

34. On a certain day when the brethren of Saint Kiara.n.u.s were at work in the harvest, enduring thirst from the heat of the sun, they sent word that cold water should be brought to them. Saint Kiara.n.u.s answered them by a messenger, "Choose ye, my brethren, whether ye will drink to quench your thirst for necessity, or will endure in thirst till the evening, that through your labour to-day in thirst and in sweat there may be abundance for the brethren who are to be in this place hereafter; and you yourselves will not fail of reward from G.o.d in heaven." The brethren answered, "We choose that there be a sufficiency for our successors, and we to have the reward of our patience and of our thirst in heaven." So the brethren worked that day athirst, rejoicing, though the sun was hot.

But when evening was come, the brethren returned home, and Saint Kiara.n.u.s wished to satisfy them, and to refresh them charitably. And trusting in the Lord, he blessed a great vessel full of water; and immediately under his hands wine of most excellent quality appeared in the vessel. And bringing drinking-cups, he commanded the brethren to refresh their bodies well, with sobriety, rendering thanks to Christ for his gifts.

This is the Last Supper of Saint Ciaran with his brethren in his life, he himself ministering unto them; for he lived thereafter but few days. And that supper was most generous, excelling all the suppers that were made in the monastery of Saint Kiara.n.u.s, as is proved thus--

For after a long time, when Saint Columba with his followers had come to Ireland from the island of Hia, a great feast was prepared for them in the monastery of Saint Kiara.n.u.s in his settlement of Cluain; and when they had come to the religious house of Saint Kiara.n.u.s, they were received with great joy and love, and were refreshed most bounteously with that repast; and the fame of that supper went over the whole settlement and its suburbs, far and wide.

When, in the house of the holy elders, who had a little cell apart in the monastery of Saint Kiara.n.u.s, certain persons said in ignorance that never in that place had such a feast been made, nor would be in the future, one, who had been a boy when Saint Kiara.n.u.s lived there, answered: "Ye know not whereat ye wonder: for the feast which Saint Kiara.n.u.s our patron made, of water turned to wine, for his brethren athirst after harvesting, was far better than this feast. And that ye may know this, and may believe that it is true, come and perceive the odour of my finger with which I drew of that wine for the brethren.

For my thumb touched the liquor through the mouth of the cup in which the wine was drawn; and lo, even yet its odour remains thereupon."

Then they all drew near, and being sated with the pleasant and sweet odour of that holy elder, they cried aloud saying, "Truly much better was that feast whose odour remains on a finger most sweet for so long a time." And they blessed Saint Kiara.n.u.s, giving praises to G.o.d.

And in those days, in which the brethren of Saint Kiara.n.u.s were sowing their crops, there came merchants with wine of the Gauls to Saint Kiara.n.u.s, and they filled a huge vessel, the _solitana_ of the brethren, from that wine, which Saint Kiara.n.u.s gave to his brethren with his benediction.

XLIX. THE DEATH OF CIARAN

35. Our most holy patron Kiara.n.u.s lived but for one year in his settlement of Cluain. When he knew that the day of his death was approaching, he prophesied, deploring the subsequent evils that would come to pa.s.s in his place after him; and he said that their life would be short. Then the brethren said unto him, "What then shall we do in the time of those evils? Shall we abide here beside thy relics, or shall we go to other places?" To them Saint Kiara.n.u.s said, "Haste ye to other quiet places, and leave my relics here like the dry bones of a stag on a mountain. For it is better for you to be with my spirit in heaven than beside my bones on earth, and stumbling withal."

Saint Kiara.n.u.s used greatly to crucify his body, and we write here an example of this. He ever had a stone pillow beneath his head, which till to-day remains in the monastery of Saint Kiara.n.u.s, and is reverenced by every one. Moreover, when he was growing weak, he would not have the stone removed from him, but commanded it to be placed to his shoulders, that he should have affliction even to the end, for the sake of an everlasting reward in heaven.

Now when the hour of his departure was approaching, he commanded that he should be carried outside, out of the house; and looking up into heaven, he said, "Hard is that way,[6] and this needs must be." To him the brethren said, "We know that nothing is difficult for thee, father; but we unhappy ones must greatly fear this hour."

And being carried back into the house, he raised his hand and blessed his people and clerks; and having received the Lord's Sacrifice, on the fifth of the ides of September he gave up the ghost, in the thirty-third year of his age. And lo, angels filled the way between heaven and earth, rejoicing to meet Saint Kiara.n.u.s.

L. THE VISIT OF COEMGEN

36. And on the third night after the death of Saint Kiara.n.u.s, the most holy abbot Coemhgenus came from the province of the Lagenians to the burial of Saint Kiara.n.u.s; and Saint Kiara.n.u.s spake with Saint Coemhgenus and they exchanged their vesture, and they made a perpetual brotherhood between themselves and their followers. This is related faithfully and at length in the Life of Coemhgenus himself.

LI. THE EARTH OF CIARAN'S TOMB DELIVERS COLUM CILLE FROM A WHIRLPOOL