"^ Thus he exhorted his religious,
according
to the spirit of
his Rule, and with the tenderness of a father, bestowing his last best gifts on his beloved children.
his Rule, and with the tenderness of a father, bestowing his last best gifts on his beloved children.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
22 Another time, Lugid came to
Crilline23 mac Ercee, King of Hy-Fithgente, and said to his servant, " Ask
thekingtomeetmeoutsideofhishouse. " But,intentonotheraffairs,the
servant forgot to deliver that message, and Lugid remained expecting
Crilline. In the meantime, a fire broke out in the castle, which obliged the
kingtohastenforthandmeethim. ThenfallingatthefeetofLugid,and
recognising his oversight or fault, the fire did little injury to the king's forti-
fication. A certain labourer, who lived with Lugid, and who cultivated
land at a place called Froscath, had been murdered by the people of
2
Eugenachte. * However, through the merits of St. Lugid he was afterwards
9 restored to life. At another time, our saint came to the city of St. Canice, 5
dubh presented many gifts to the community over whom he presided. 18
Ardgobren.
20 When Lugid passed through that territory, on
which was called Aghaboe.
26
Here, three boys of tender age, sons to
ex Codice Salmanticensi, edited by Fathers De Smedt and De Backer, num, 47 cols. 280, 281.
Fiachrach being a son to Scanlan Mor. But, in a Genealogical Table of the Kings of Ossory to the English Invasion, we have
16 Now
of Down.
him from A. D. See John Hcgan's " Kil- kenny : the ancient City of Ossory, the
seat of its Kings," &c. Part ii. , p. 172.
22 This is related, likewise, in the short
Acts of St. Molua.
=3 His name does not appear to have been
elsewhere preserved.
2* Perhaps the Eoghanachs, or people of
the race of Eoghan, son to Niall of the Nine
Hostages, and who were very powerful in Ulster. However, it seems most probable,
the people of Eoghanacht-Caisil are here
meant, as they lived in a district more nearly
adjoining Clonfert Molua.
25
Hisfeastisheldonthe1ithofOctober, *6 The Bollandist Life of our saint reads
in the
1 This celebrated king was killed, A. D.
601, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 228, 229. '* He is placed the eighteenth in succession
from Aengus Osraighe, by John Hogan, and he is said to have reigned over Ossory from
his son Faelain 645 to a. d. 658.
Bangor,
County
succeeding
"
of Ossory : A Memoir of his life and Times,"
Part First, chap, vii. , p. 35.
19 This however seems to be only another
version of an account already given.
20
Such is the narrative, as found in the short Life of our saint published in the "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," ex Codice Salman- ticensi,&c. ActaSanctiMoluaeseuLugidi,
num. 27, cols. 886, 887.
a. d. 615 to 640. See
St. Ciaran, Patron
21
Elsewhere I find no record of this
Acheth boohel'e.
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
one Darius,2? clasped him about the neck, and with childish affection striking him with the palms of their hands, they called him their father.
Those who were near wished to prevent this freedom. But, St. Molua said ;
" Allow them to manifest their affection towards me, for this they do without guile and through an inspiration of God ; since these children shall be holy monks after me, and in my monastery. " This prediction was afterwards
St. Goban came to St.
At supper, the guest was refreshed by his host
merits of Lugid, that he presented the place which belonged to him, as a dependency for the wonder-working host.
According to Sir James Ware, for twenty years before his death, Molua, Abbot of Clonfert Molua, was struck with leprosy, of which disease he died. However, in the Minister Histories referred to in General Val- lancey's work,3° it is related, that Molua-Lobhar, or the Leper, was brother to Aodh-Caomh, King of Cashel, or of all Minister, and son of Conate the
grandson of Carthann Fionn, who had been baptized by St. Patrick. Like- wise, Aodh-Caomh and Molua-Lobhar, were contemporaries with St. Brendan, of Clonfert. The same account is given of Molua-Lobhar, by
1
RoderickO'Flaherty^ whodistinguishedhimfromMoluaofClonfert-Muloa,
as appears from the manner in which he speaks of the latter. 3 2 If Molua of Clonfert Molua had been brother to the King of Cashel, such a circumstance could hardly have been omitted, by the author of his Life; and, instead of his parents being called generous or distinguished, some higher epithet should probably have been applied to them. 33
A herd of St. Lugid, and who is named Cronan, died in a place, called Achthib Critri, 34 when the economus of the holy abbot brought his habit, and spreading it over the dead man, he was immediately restored to life. A mute boy, the son of Maildubh, belonging to the tribe of Maile Andich, was brought to Lu^id, who had acquired great repute for possessing miraculous powers. Placing three of his fingers in that youth's mouth, the boy began immediately to speak. Once when the abbot came to a religious establishment, at a place called Cellancroo,35 he felt thirsty, and asked for something to drink. At that time, some cream was in a vessel, and it had been prepared to churn into butter. Through niggardliness, the draught of milk was withheld; but, afterwards, when poured into the churn, neither milk nor butter came from the vessel. Thenceforwards, poverty fell upon that house, and it was deserted, at a time when the longer Life of St. Lugid had been written. While St. Molua was travelling in the Nan-Desii country,
28 Another 2
time,
Lugid,
then at living
accomplished.
a place called Dolabglas. 9
with water taken from a spring and then blessed. The water afterwards assumed the taste of excellent wine. So impressed was Goban with the
the local chieftain's wife died in child-bed
;
and the fruit of her womb also
happened to be still-born. The chieftain and principal men of the country
besought our saint, to interpose his prayers with Heaven : and, on complying
with such request, the lady and her son were both restored to life. Full of gratitude for this favour, she offered herself and her child to God and to St. Molua ; while the chieftain, named Berchan, bestowed some land, on which
J7 The epithet "Niger" is added in the written, by the Rev. Dr. Paul O'Brien.
"
Bollandisl Life of our saint. 3 ' See "
Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. lxxxviii. ,
Fleming's Collectanea Sacra," p. 3S9.
Vita S. Mohise, cap. xlv. , p. 377.
29 This ancient place does not appear to
have been identified.
30
3-' See ibid. , cap. lxxxi. , p. 381.
33 An essential difference is founded on Molua-Lobhar having been expressly re- presented as the son of Conall. while Molua of Clonfert Molua is called the son of Carthar
See "Collectanea de Rebus Ilibernicis,"
vol. i. , The Law of Tanistry illustrated. No.
iv. , part ii. , chap, i. , p. 499, This tract was or Coche,
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 63
our saint erected a monastery, Afterwards, this place was called Ard- gabhrain. 36 It seems to have been identical with the present Dungarvan, in the County of Waterford. At one time, the Angel of the Lord was sent to Molua, and he said : "If you desire it, this mountain adjoining shall be transformed into fertile land, and it shall be given to you. " But, the abbot, desiring only to live a life of privation and of self-denial for his monks, refused to accept such a favour. 37
The Abbot St. Dagan, 38 when going to Rome, brought with him that Rulecomposedbyoursaintforhismonks. This—beingpresentedandread
to St. Gregory—who as we are told was then Pope
on he said reading it,
in the presence of all: "The saint, who composed this Rule, hath drawn a
hedge around his family, which reaches to heaven. "3? However, in the
opinion of a learned Irish Church historian, 40 it is more than probable, that
no such transaction took place. As a mark of recognition, the Pope is said
to have desired his prayers and benediction to be given to our saint. He
felt duly grateful for this honour, conferred by the sovereign father of the
1
faithful. *
The Rule of St. Molua divided the monastic day into three parts: one
of these was devoted to prayer, another to reading or study, and the third to
of Sr. Molua's Rule for his monks is said to have been the perpetual exclusion of woman from his monastery
at Clonfert-Molua. 43
When St. Lugid came to Toim Domnich one day, he saw there a boy
near some calves, and he was engaged in the childish fancy of offering a sacrifice, but the oblation was of clay. This was blessed by our saint, and as stated, it turned into wheat, and from the hand of that boy he immediately received the sacrifice. Afterwards, that boy was known as Do Cumin/* son of Male Anfith. While he was in the cell of Echairith one day, Lugid observed a willow growing near, and not wishing a useles tree to grow before the door of Maidoc, he blessed it, and immediately it was changed into an apple-tree bearing fruit. Among his disciples were three sons of Carthach, and these were named respectively Luger, Lugid and John, who eacli led a life of chastity. However, a heavenly message reached our saint from the Lord requiring one of them to return and to become the father of children, who were to be heirs in their own part of the country. Through obedience to that divine mandate, John left the monastery, although otherwise un-
manual labour. *2 One of the
regulations
34 This place has not been identified.
35 At present this place is unknown.
36 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra,"
Vita S. Moluse, cap. xlvii. , p. 377.
37 An anecdote follows this account, that
the servant in his asked monastery Lugid
one day, why he had not eaten as the ninth hour had come. For want of some few words in the Latin text, the following
Roman detulit : qui ea coram omnibus summopere laudata, salutem authori per internuntium ilium retulit. "—Ussher's "Bri-
answer is not very intelligible: "Non *** 42
comedam donee —
illo cibo mel
Vita S. Moluae, cap. xlviii. , p. 377.
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
fiat in desideiium magnum. "
torum Hibernise," ex Codice Salmanticensi, &c, edited by Fathers De Smedt and De Backer, S. J. , num. 61, 63, cols. 284, 285.
38 The feast of St. Dagan is held on the
13th of September.
39 At the year dxcix. , it is noted : "Da-
ganus abbas Regtilam monasticam "a Lugido sive Molua conditam ad Gregorium I.
S.
Luano Abbate Cluainfertensi in Hibernia,
Vita, &c, cap. vi. , num. lxiv. , p. 350.
43 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. vii. , p. 206.
44 In the Irish Calendars, a Dachuimmne is venerated on the 10th of September, Several Comans or Commans, and Cum-
"
Acta Sane-
i. ,
tomus Augusti
iv. De
sive
tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates.
Index Chronologicus, p. 535.
,,
4° See the Rev. Dr. " Ecclesi- Lanigan's
astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vii. , n. 94, p. 209.
4I See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra,"
Lugido
64 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
willing to do so ; and, subsequently, he was the father of two sons there. Once more he returned to visit the holy abbot, who was then sojourning in the Island of Cree. As a reward for his obedience, the saint called him over to that place, where he lived, and which was altogether surrounded with water. John, doing as he had been required, reached the island without a boat, and yet with dry feet.
Finding the day of his departure about to approach, our saint called his
monks together, and in giving many other precepts for their guidance, he
:
said to them " Beloved brethren, till the land and labour well, that you
may have a sufficiency for food, for drink, and for clothing ; for where a competence shall be found among God's servants, there must be stability ; where stability is found, there shall be religion, and the end of true religion
is life everlasting. My dearly beloved children, let constancy be found among you, and proper silence ; take care of the pilgrims; and on account of prayer, love to labour with your own hands. Receive strangers always for Christ's sake ; spend the morning in prayer ; read afterwards, and then toil until evening ; while finding time also for God's work, and for other necessities.
"^ Thus he exhorted his religious, according to the spirit of
his Rule, and with the tenderness of a father, bestowing his last best gifts on his beloved children. When St. Molua was advanced in years, one of his
teethhavingfallenout,hesaidtoabrotherinattendance "Myson,take
:
charge of this tooth, a day shall come, when it may be required, and do not buryitwithme. " Hehadaforeknowledgeofwhatshouldhappen. After the death of Molua, some monks visited Ireland, to collect the relics of its saints. When they arrived at Clonfert Molua, to seek for some souvenir of its chief patron, the people felt unwilling to open the reliquary of our saint. However, that brother, in possession of St. Molua's tooth, presented it to those monks, who came in search of some memorial relating to the holy abbot. 4 6 A short time before the death of our saint, he paid a visit to St. Dagan. From this holy man he learned, that St. Lactan should succeed himinthegovernmentofClonfertMoluamonastery. Theholyabbotfelt greatly pleased at such announcement/?
After these admonitions, our saint resolved on paying a visit to St.
8 who dwelt in the Island of or at Roscrea. The Bollandist Cre,
Cronan,*
Life of our saint states, that Cronan was then living in the cell, known as Sen-Ruis or Sean Ross, which is said to have been near the lake, now known in its dried-up state as Monahincha. On telling the holy man, that his end was near, St. Molua received Holy Communion, at his hands. *9 After prayer, and exchanging the kiss of peace, while tears fell down his cheeks, our saint resolved on returning towards Clonfert Molua, which he com- mended to the care of St. Cronan, that he might defend it against all aggressors. A bog now intervened on the way, and Molua turned a little out of his course towards a cell, which was called Tuaim Domhnaigh. s° Being wearied, he sat down, on the eastern side of that bog, extending from Roscrea to Clonfert Molua. s x There addressing a companion, named Stellan,
meins or Cuimmeins, and also Cuimmins are to be found ; but none having the dis- Unction of being the son of Male Ant'ith.
45 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Moluse, cap. lii. , p. 378.
«6 See the short Life of St. Molua, edited by Fathers De Smedt and De Backer, num. 34, col. 888.
4:
of April, the day of his festival, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
49 The Bollandist Life of our saint observes, that Lugid carried the Holy Communion with him.
so Otherwise called Doim Domnich, in the Bollandist Life of our saint.
S'The bogis still there,but the people say in former times, that alake covered its vast of September, where this incident is more extent, from Monahincha to an elevation fully related. known as Rock Forest, not far from Borris-
See the Life of St. Dagan, at the 13th «" The Acts of this saint occur, at the 28th
in-Ossory.
August 4 ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
65
:
who accompanied him, the Blessed Molua said " If one should see
"
Stellan "TothatofHeaven. " ThensaidMolua " beloved replied, : Dearly
son, give me therefore the Holy Sacrament, for I see the family of Heaven awaiting my departure, so that I may go with them. " The saint then received the sacrifice of the Lord's Supper, from the hand of his disciple Stellan. Afterwards, he departed from earth on the day of the Sabbath, according to that Life of our saint, as published by the Bollandists. How- ever, his decease has been very generally assigned to the 4th day of August,52 and which has been always regarded as his chief festival. The death of St. Molua is referred to a. d. 605, in the Annals of the Four Masters ; 53 and
Colgan follows their computation. 5* The Annals of Ulster place his de- parture, at a. d. 608; while Archbishop Usher has the same date. 55 The Chronicum Scotorum 56 and Sir James Ware assign his death to a. d. 609," which Walter Harris corrects to 608, by referring to Ussher's statement. 58
His body was conveyed to the cell of Tuaimdomnaigh, where it remained for some days. Some clue to its exact location is probably afforded from the concluding portion of this statement. In the meantime, as we are told, there was a contention between the people of Minister and Leinster for possession of his relics. The Munster people claimed them, on account of
his being born in their province, and because of his having departed this life within it, although on the most extreme part of its boundaries. The people of Leinster claimed them, on account of his long settlement among them, at Clonfert Molua, on the western bounds of their province, and because the site was a gift from Berach, prince over Leix. While that contest prevailed, an angel appeared, and told them to place the body on a waggon. It was also proposed, that two unbroken oxen should be yoked, and allowed to follow any direction they chose. This test was agreed to, when the oxen directed their course towards the monastery of Clonfert Molua, and drew up before its entrance. At this time, St. Man- chen,59 who had one of his eyes injured, approached the coffin ; and by contact with the body of our saint, his eye was immediately healed. A number of holy men were present, when St. Molua's body was consigned to a tomb, specially built for this purpose, in a certain part of the monastery. He was buried with due honour. 60 The Angel of God was accustomed to
the family of earth and heaven, at the same time, to which ought he go ?
make two visits each week—namely, on each Sunday and Thursday—to the 61
holy abbot Munnu, of Taghmoon, in Hy Kinsellagh ; but, he came not on the week when our saint died. Munnu had a revelation, that there was
great rejoicing in Heaven, on account of our saint's accession to the angelic
choirs. After the interval of a week, that angel again appeared. Then
Munnu " servant of have not come to me as said, Wherefore, God, you
usual, during the last few days ? The angel answered
days the venerable servant of God, Molua, son to Coche, went to Heaven.
52 It is noted as " 2 Non. Aug. "
55 At this year, we read : "Molua, i. e. , Lughaidh Mac h Ui-Oiche, first Abbot of CluainfeartaMolua,died. " Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
55 See Index Chronologicus in " Britanni-
:
i. , cap. iii. , p. 17.
& See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Writers of
Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 23, and note (z), ibid.
59 There are many saints bearing this
name and noted in the Irish Calendar.
no means are left for determining which of them is here meant.
54 See
Colgan's
nice," xii. Januarii," n. 3, p. 58.
But,
Sacra,"
carum Ecclesiarum at Antiquitates,"
6o See "Collectanea Fleming's
p. 536. 56 See William M. Hennessy's Edition,
Vita S. Moluae, cap. liii. , p. 378.
6l His festival occurs, on the 21st of
October.
PP- 72> 73-
57 See " De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib.
Vol. VIII. —No. 2.
e
""
Because on those
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
Therefore, the angels did not visit the saints of Ireland, as usual ; for, they rejoicedtogether,onthearrivalofMoluaamongthem. " Then,St. Munnu
said
:
" Now doth it appear, he accomplished the will of God, in a manner
superior to us all. But, go thou to the Lord, and learn for me, on what
account the Almighty was more pleased with Molua's approach, that he
The angel obeyed. Within a
mild to all, and governed his monks with great piety and gentleness. With moderation, he drew them to the right path. However, rejoice, also; for you shall find a similar honour in Heaven, since you must endure suffering in this life, and to the hour of your death. " On the following Thursday, Munnu was struck with a leprosy, which covered all parts of his body, and
62
Likewise, it is said, that the Sovereign Pontiff of Rome, St. Gregory, heard angels singing hymns on the day of our saint's departure. Of these, the following
wastheburthen "HolyfatherMolua,Iwillnotpassinsilencethygreat
:
merits. " And that the Pope ordered these words to be reported in Ireland,
by pious men. 63
In relation to the interment of the holy abbot and founder of Clonfert
Molua,6* it may be observed, that the site of St. Molua's grave is still pointed
out by the country people of that neighbourhood. It occupies a space about ten or eleven feet in length, between two stones standing erect in the
grave-yardatKyle. Throughreverenceforthesaint,nocorpseispermitted to be buried within that enclosure. This may have been the spot, where St. Molua had been laid in the first instance ; although, as already related in his Life, he is stated to have been buried in his monastery. It is probable, moreover, that the body had been taken from the original grave, and after- wards had been transferred to a shrine, whithin the church of his monastery.
St. Molua's bell was preserved in this monastery until the time of its
suppression, when the bell was taken in charge by the Duigan family, then owners of the Castle of Clonclouse. It was customary for people to swear on or before that bell. The manner of swearing was to place the right hand on the relic, and to call God and St. Molua to witness the truth of what had been said. The false swearer, according to popular belief, should be immediately, visibly, and terribly punished, and cases have been cited in proof of this belief. The bell descended to the Rev. John Egan, P. P. ,Dunkevin,King'sCounty. Hereceiveditfromhisgrandmother,who was of the Duigan family. The bell was in turn presented by Father Egan to J. L. Cooke, Esq. , Parsonstown, in whose museum it was preserved. 65
In the south-east end of the cemetery, a quadrangular stone hollowed out in the centre, about three feet in length by eighteen or nineteen inches in breadth,iscalled"'St. Molua'sTrough. " Howeverdrytheseasonmaybe, the people say it is never known to be without water. This is used to cure soreeyes,head-aches,66andotherailments. Thetroughliesundertheboundary
should in consequence neglect to visit me. "
short time he " This is the
to thy question. The face of no man was ever suffused with blushes through Molua, for he was
enclosure,
County,
during
returned, saying :
reply
thus was he afflicted, for the remaining twenty years of his life.
62 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Moluse, cap. liv. , p. 379.
63 See Mid. , cap. lv. , p. 379.
64 The word "Cluain" means a retreat,
6s According to an account in The Kil-
kenny Journal of August 7th, 1872.
^ See " Letters containing Information
relative to the Antiquities of the Queen's
1838, p. 117.
6? The accompanying illustration of this
asolitude. Theword"Feart"
an
may imply either a grave or a miracle. It is not easy to determine whether it was from Molua's grave, and not from his miracles, that the place is so named.
the ofthe Progress
collected
Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. Letter of P. O'Keefe, dated Mountrath, Dec. 1st. ,
August 4-] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 67
hawthorn bushes, and near the fence. 6 ? The water in it is applied to sores by
afflicted persons, who resort thither to perform "stations. " The hawthorn-
bushes growing over it are covered with rags, appended to the branches, to indicate votive or thank-offerings for the cures there performed.
As we are informed, after the death of St. Molua, a city grew up around Clonfert Molua Monastery. There, too, many miracles were wrought through the intercession of its patron saint, and in favour of several afflicted persons. The older peasantry in the neighbourhood still recollect an eastern window in the ruined church, although the wall is now entirely levelled. Even the site of the former ancient city is traditionally re- membered. It lay along the old road, and not far removed from the present burial-ground. Near this spot, too, the former monastic establish- ment must have been situated. 68 Since the first visit paid to Kyle by the
Trough of St. Molua, Kyle Graveyard, Queen's County.
writer, the existing ruins, as then figured in the first volume of this work, have almost disappeared, and only a few fragments now rise above their foundations. 6* The people about Kyle in the Queen's County stated, that formerlytherehadbeenanadjoiningburial-placeinKilmartintownland. . The site of this was pointed out in 1838, although it was then under cultivation. 70
One of his many mistakes has been committed by Archdall, in placing
the death of this saint at the year 622, he having told us, moreover, that
1 Molua had laboured under a leprosy for the preceding twenty years. ?
object, drawn on the spot by the writer in October, 1890, has been transferred by William F. Wakeman to the wood, engraved by Mrs.
Crilline23 mac Ercee, King of Hy-Fithgente, and said to his servant, " Ask
thekingtomeetmeoutsideofhishouse. " But,intentonotheraffairs,the
servant forgot to deliver that message, and Lugid remained expecting
Crilline. In the meantime, a fire broke out in the castle, which obliged the
kingtohastenforthandmeethim. ThenfallingatthefeetofLugid,and
recognising his oversight or fault, the fire did little injury to the king's forti-
fication. A certain labourer, who lived with Lugid, and who cultivated
land at a place called Froscath, had been murdered by the people of
2
Eugenachte. * However, through the merits of St. Lugid he was afterwards
9 restored to life. At another time, our saint came to the city of St. Canice, 5
dubh presented many gifts to the community over whom he presided. 18
Ardgobren.
20 When Lugid passed through that territory, on
which was called Aghaboe.
26
Here, three boys of tender age, sons to
ex Codice Salmanticensi, edited by Fathers De Smedt and De Backer, num, 47 cols. 280, 281.
Fiachrach being a son to Scanlan Mor. But, in a Genealogical Table of the Kings of Ossory to the English Invasion, we have
16 Now
of Down.
him from A. D. See John Hcgan's " Kil- kenny : the ancient City of Ossory, the
seat of its Kings," &c. Part ii. , p. 172.
22 This is related, likewise, in the short
Acts of St. Molua.
=3 His name does not appear to have been
elsewhere preserved.
2* Perhaps the Eoghanachs, or people of
the race of Eoghan, son to Niall of the Nine
Hostages, and who were very powerful in Ulster. However, it seems most probable,
the people of Eoghanacht-Caisil are here
meant, as they lived in a district more nearly
adjoining Clonfert Molua.
25
Hisfeastisheldonthe1ithofOctober, *6 The Bollandist Life of our saint reads
in the
1 This celebrated king was killed, A. D.
601, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 228, 229. '* He is placed the eighteenth in succession
from Aengus Osraighe, by John Hogan, and he is said to have reigned over Ossory from
his son Faelain 645 to a. d. 658.
Bangor,
County
succeeding
"
of Ossory : A Memoir of his life and Times,"
Part First, chap, vii. , p. 35.
19 This however seems to be only another
version of an account already given.
20
Such is the narrative, as found in the short Life of our saint published in the "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," ex Codice Salman- ticensi,&c. ActaSanctiMoluaeseuLugidi,
num. 27, cols. 886, 887.
a. d. 615 to 640. See
St. Ciaran, Patron
21
Elsewhere I find no record of this
Acheth boohel'e.
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
one Darius,2? clasped him about the neck, and with childish affection striking him with the palms of their hands, they called him their father.
Those who were near wished to prevent this freedom. But, St. Molua said ;
" Allow them to manifest their affection towards me, for this they do without guile and through an inspiration of God ; since these children shall be holy monks after me, and in my monastery. " This prediction was afterwards
St. Goban came to St.
At supper, the guest was refreshed by his host
merits of Lugid, that he presented the place which belonged to him, as a dependency for the wonder-working host.
According to Sir James Ware, for twenty years before his death, Molua, Abbot of Clonfert Molua, was struck with leprosy, of which disease he died. However, in the Minister Histories referred to in General Val- lancey's work,3° it is related, that Molua-Lobhar, or the Leper, was brother to Aodh-Caomh, King of Cashel, or of all Minister, and son of Conate the
grandson of Carthann Fionn, who had been baptized by St. Patrick. Like- wise, Aodh-Caomh and Molua-Lobhar, were contemporaries with St. Brendan, of Clonfert. The same account is given of Molua-Lobhar, by
1
RoderickO'Flaherty^ whodistinguishedhimfromMoluaofClonfert-Muloa,
as appears from the manner in which he speaks of the latter. 3 2 If Molua of Clonfert Molua had been brother to the King of Cashel, such a circumstance could hardly have been omitted, by the author of his Life; and, instead of his parents being called generous or distinguished, some higher epithet should probably have been applied to them. 33
A herd of St. Lugid, and who is named Cronan, died in a place, called Achthib Critri, 34 when the economus of the holy abbot brought his habit, and spreading it over the dead man, he was immediately restored to life. A mute boy, the son of Maildubh, belonging to the tribe of Maile Andich, was brought to Lu^id, who had acquired great repute for possessing miraculous powers. Placing three of his fingers in that youth's mouth, the boy began immediately to speak. Once when the abbot came to a religious establishment, at a place called Cellancroo,35 he felt thirsty, and asked for something to drink. At that time, some cream was in a vessel, and it had been prepared to churn into butter. Through niggardliness, the draught of milk was withheld; but, afterwards, when poured into the churn, neither milk nor butter came from the vessel. Thenceforwards, poverty fell upon that house, and it was deserted, at a time when the longer Life of St. Lugid had been written. While St. Molua was travelling in the Nan-Desii country,
28 Another 2
time,
Lugid,
then at living
accomplished.
a place called Dolabglas. 9
with water taken from a spring and then blessed. The water afterwards assumed the taste of excellent wine. So impressed was Goban with the
the local chieftain's wife died in child-bed
;
and the fruit of her womb also
happened to be still-born. The chieftain and principal men of the country
besought our saint, to interpose his prayers with Heaven : and, on complying
with such request, the lady and her son were both restored to life. Full of gratitude for this favour, she offered herself and her child to God and to St. Molua ; while the chieftain, named Berchan, bestowed some land, on which
J7 The epithet "Niger" is added in the written, by the Rev. Dr. Paul O'Brien.
"
Bollandisl Life of our saint. 3 ' See "
Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. lxxxviii. ,
Fleming's Collectanea Sacra," p. 3S9.
Vita S. Mohise, cap. xlv. , p. 377.
29 This ancient place does not appear to
have been identified.
30
3-' See ibid. , cap. lxxxi. , p. 381.
33 An essential difference is founded on Molua-Lobhar having been expressly re- presented as the son of Conall. while Molua of Clonfert Molua is called the son of Carthar
See "Collectanea de Rebus Ilibernicis,"
vol. i. , The Law of Tanistry illustrated. No.
iv. , part ii. , chap, i. , p. 499, This tract was or Coche,
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 63
our saint erected a monastery, Afterwards, this place was called Ard- gabhrain. 36 It seems to have been identical with the present Dungarvan, in the County of Waterford. At one time, the Angel of the Lord was sent to Molua, and he said : "If you desire it, this mountain adjoining shall be transformed into fertile land, and it shall be given to you. " But, the abbot, desiring only to live a life of privation and of self-denial for his monks, refused to accept such a favour. 37
The Abbot St. Dagan, 38 when going to Rome, brought with him that Rulecomposedbyoursaintforhismonks. This—beingpresentedandread
to St. Gregory—who as we are told was then Pope
on he said reading it,
in the presence of all: "The saint, who composed this Rule, hath drawn a
hedge around his family, which reaches to heaven. "3? However, in the
opinion of a learned Irish Church historian, 40 it is more than probable, that
no such transaction took place. As a mark of recognition, the Pope is said
to have desired his prayers and benediction to be given to our saint. He
felt duly grateful for this honour, conferred by the sovereign father of the
1
faithful. *
The Rule of St. Molua divided the monastic day into three parts: one
of these was devoted to prayer, another to reading or study, and the third to
of Sr. Molua's Rule for his monks is said to have been the perpetual exclusion of woman from his monastery
at Clonfert-Molua. 43
When St. Lugid came to Toim Domnich one day, he saw there a boy
near some calves, and he was engaged in the childish fancy of offering a sacrifice, but the oblation was of clay. This was blessed by our saint, and as stated, it turned into wheat, and from the hand of that boy he immediately received the sacrifice. Afterwards, that boy was known as Do Cumin/* son of Male Anfith. While he was in the cell of Echairith one day, Lugid observed a willow growing near, and not wishing a useles tree to grow before the door of Maidoc, he blessed it, and immediately it was changed into an apple-tree bearing fruit. Among his disciples were three sons of Carthach, and these were named respectively Luger, Lugid and John, who eacli led a life of chastity. However, a heavenly message reached our saint from the Lord requiring one of them to return and to become the father of children, who were to be heirs in their own part of the country. Through obedience to that divine mandate, John left the monastery, although otherwise un-
manual labour. *2 One of the
regulations
34 This place has not been identified.
35 At present this place is unknown.
36 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra,"
Vita S. Moluse, cap. xlvii. , p. 377.
37 An anecdote follows this account, that
the servant in his asked monastery Lugid
one day, why he had not eaten as the ninth hour had come. For want of some few words in the Latin text, the following
Roman detulit : qui ea coram omnibus summopere laudata, salutem authori per internuntium ilium retulit. "—Ussher's "Bri-
answer is not very intelligible: "Non *** 42
comedam donee —
illo cibo mel
Vita S. Moluae, cap. xlviii. , p. 377.
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
fiat in desideiium magnum. "
torum Hibernise," ex Codice Salmanticensi, &c, edited by Fathers De Smedt and De Backer, S. J. , num. 61, 63, cols. 284, 285.
38 The feast of St. Dagan is held on the
13th of September.
39 At the year dxcix. , it is noted : "Da-
ganus abbas Regtilam monasticam "a Lugido sive Molua conditam ad Gregorium I.
S.
Luano Abbate Cluainfertensi in Hibernia,
Vita, &c, cap. vi. , num. lxiv. , p. 350.
43 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. vii. , p. 206.
44 In the Irish Calendars, a Dachuimmne is venerated on the 10th of September, Several Comans or Commans, and Cum-
"
Acta Sane-
i. ,
tomus Augusti
iv. De
sive
tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates.
Index Chronologicus, p. 535.
,,
4° See the Rev. Dr. " Ecclesi- Lanigan's
astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vii. , n. 94, p. 209.
4I See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra,"
Lugido
64 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
willing to do so ; and, subsequently, he was the father of two sons there. Once more he returned to visit the holy abbot, who was then sojourning in the Island of Cree. As a reward for his obedience, the saint called him over to that place, where he lived, and which was altogether surrounded with water. John, doing as he had been required, reached the island without a boat, and yet with dry feet.
Finding the day of his departure about to approach, our saint called his
monks together, and in giving many other precepts for their guidance, he
:
said to them " Beloved brethren, till the land and labour well, that you
may have a sufficiency for food, for drink, and for clothing ; for where a competence shall be found among God's servants, there must be stability ; where stability is found, there shall be religion, and the end of true religion
is life everlasting. My dearly beloved children, let constancy be found among you, and proper silence ; take care of the pilgrims; and on account of prayer, love to labour with your own hands. Receive strangers always for Christ's sake ; spend the morning in prayer ; read afterwards, and then toil until evening ; while finding time also for God's work, and for other necessities.
"^ Thus he exhorted his religious, according to the spirit of
his Rule, and with the tenderness of a father, bestowing his last best gifts on his beloved children. When St. Molua was advanced in years, one of his
teethhavingfallenout,hesaidtoabrotherinattendance "Myson,take
:
charge of this tooth, a day shall come, when it may be required, and do not buryitwithme. " Hehadaforeknowledgeofwhatshouldhappen. After the death of Molua, some monks visited Ireland, to collect the relics of its saints. When they arrived at Clonfert Molua, to seek for some souvenir of its chief patron, the people felt unwilling to open the reliquary of our saint. However, that brother, in possession of St. Molua's tooth, presented it to those monks, who came in search of some memorial relating to the holy abbot. 4 6 A short time before the death of our saint, he paid a visit to St. Dagan. From this holy man he learned, that St. Lactan should succeed himinthegovernmentofClonfertMoluamonastery. Theholyabbotfelt greatly pleased at such announcement/?
After these admonitions, our saint resolved on paying a visit to St.
8 who dwelt in the Island of or at Roscrea. The Bollandist Cre,
Cronan,*
Life of our saint states, that Cronan was then living in the cell, known as Sen-Ruis or Sean Ross, which is said to have been near the lake, now known in its dried-up state as Monahincha. On telling the holy man, that his end was near, St. Molua received Holy Communion, at his hands. *9 After prayer, and exchanging the kiss of peace, while tears fell down his cheeks, our saint resolved on returning towards Clonfert Molua, which he com- mended to the care of St. Cronan, that he might defend it against all aggressors. A bog now intervened on the way, and Molua turned a little out of his course towards a cell, which was called Tuaim Domhnaigh. s° Being wearied, he sat down, on the eastern side of that bog, extending from Roscrea to Clonfert Molua. s x There addressing a companion, named Stellan,
meins or Cuimmeins, and also Cuimmins are to be found ; but none having the dis- Unction of being the son of Male Ant'ith.
45 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Moluse, cap. lii. , p. 378.
«6 See the short Life of St. Molua, edited by Fathers De Smedt and De Backer, num. 34, col. 888.
4:
of April, the day of his festival, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
49 The Bollandist Life of our saint observes, that Lugid carried the Holy Communion with him.
so Otherwise called Doim Domnich, in the Bollandist Life of our saint.
S'The bogis still there,but the people say in former times, that alake covered its vast of September, where this incident is more extent, from Monahincha to an elevation fully related. known as Rock Forest, not far from Borris-
See the Life of St. Dagan, at the 13th «" The Acts of this saint occur, at the 28th
in-Ossory.
August 4 ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
65
:
who accompanied him, the Blessed Molua said " If one should see
"
Stellan "TothatofHeaven. " ThensaidMolua " beloved replied, : Dearly
son, give me therefore the Holy Sacrament, for I see the family of Heaven awaiting my departure, so that I may go with them. " The saint then received the sacrifice of the Lord's Supper, from the hand of his disciple Stellan. Afterwards, he departed from earth on the day of the Sabbath, according to that Life of our saint, as published by the Bollandists. How- ever, his decease has been very generally assigned to the 4th day of August,52 and which has been always regarded as his chief festival. The death of St. Molua is referred to a. d. 605, in the Annals of the Four Masters ; 53 and
Colgan follows their computation. 5* The Annals of Ulster place his de- parture, at a. d. 608; while Archbishop Usher has the same date. 55 The Chronicum Scotorum 56 and Sir James Ware assign his death to a. d. 609," which Walter Harris corrects to 608, by referring to Ussher's statement. 58
His body was conveyed to the cell of Tuaimdomnaigh, where it remained for some days. Some clue to its exact location is probably afforded from the concluding portion of this statement. In the meantime, as we are told, there was a contention between the people of Minister and Leinster for possession of his relics. The Munster people claimed them, on account of
his being born in their province, and because of his having departed this life within it, although on the most extreme part of its boundaries. The people of Leinster claimed them, on account of his long settlement among them, at Clonfert Molua, on the western bounds of their province, and because the site was a gift from Berach, prince over Leix. While that contest prevailed, an angel appeared, and told them to place the body on a waggon. It was also proposed, that two unbroken oxen should be yoked, and allowed to follow any direction they chose. This test was agreed to, when the oxen directed their course towards the monastery of Clonfert Molua, and drew up before its entrance. At this time, St. Man- chen,59 who had one of his eyes injured, approached the coffin ; and by contact with the body of our saint, his eye was immediately healed. A number of holy men were present, when St. Molua's body was consigned to a tomb, specially built for this purpose, in a certain part of the monastery. He was buried with due honour. 60 The Angel of God was accustomed to
the family of earth and heaven, at the same time, to which ought he go ?
make two visits each week—namely, on each Sunday and Thursday—to the 61
holy abbot Munnu, of Taghmoon, in Hy Kinsellagh ; but, he came not on the week when our saint died. Munnu had a revelation, that there was
great rejoicing in Heaven, on account of our saint's accession to the angelic
choirs. After the interval of a week, that angel again appeared. Then
Munnu " servant of have not come to me as said, Wherefore, God, you
usual, during the last few days ? The angel answered
days the venerable servant of God, Molua, son to Coche, went to Heaven.
52 It is noted as " 2 Non. Aug. "
55 At this year, we read : "Molua, i. e. , Lughaidh Mac h Ui-Oiche, first Abbot of CluainfeartaMolua,died. " Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
55 See Index Chronologicus in " Britanni-
:
i. , cap. iii. , p. 17.
& See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Writers of
Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 23, and note (z), ibid.
59 There are many saints bearing this
name and noted in the Irish Calendar.
no means are left for determining which of them is here meant.
54 See
Colgan's
nice," xii. Januarii," n. 3, p. 58.
But,
Sacra,"
carum Ecclesiarum at Antiquitates,"
6o See "Collectanea Fleming's
p. 536. 56 See William M. Hennessy's Edition,
Vita S. Moluae, cap. liii. , p. 378.
6l His festival occurs, on the 21st of
October.
PP- 72> 73-
57 See " De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib.
Vol. VIII. —No. 2.
e
""
Because on those
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
Therefore, the angels did not visit the saints of Ireland, as usual ; for, they rejoicedtogether,onthearrivalofMoluaamongthem. " Then,St. Munnu
said
:
" Now doth it appear, he accomplished the will of God, in a manner
superior to us all. But, go thou to the Lord, and learn for me, on what
account the Almighty was more pleased with Molua's approach, that he
The angel obeyed. Within a
mild to all, and governed his monks with great piety and gentleness. With moderation, he drew them to the right path. However, rejoice, also; for you shall find a similar honour in Heaven, since you must endure suffering in this life, and to the hour of your death. " On the following Thursday, Munnu was struck with a leprosy, which covered all parts of his body, and
62
Likewise, it is said, that the Sovereign Pontiff of Rome, St. Gregory, heard angels singing hymns on the day of our saint's departure. Of these, the following
wastheburthen "HolyfatherMolua,Iwillnotpassinsilencethygreat
:
merits. " And that the Pope ordered these words to be reported in Ireland,
by pious men. 63
In relation to the interment of the holy abbot and founder of Clonfert
Molua,6* it may be observed, that the site of St. Molua's grave is still pointed
out by the country people of that neighbourhood. It occupies a space about ten or eleven feet in length, between two stones standing erect in the
grave-yardatKyle. Throughreverenceforthesaint,nocorpseispermitted to be buried within that enclosure. This may have been the spot, where St. Molua had been laid in the first instance ; although, as already related in his Life, he is stated to have been buried in his monastery. It is probable, moreover, that the body had been taken from the original grave, and after- wards had been transferred to a shrine, whithin the church of his monastery.
St. Molua's bell was preserved in this monastery until the time of its
suppression, when the bell was taken in charge by the Duigan family, then owners of the Castle of Clonclouse. It was customary for people to swear on or before that bell. The manner of swearing was to place the right hand on the relic, and to call God and St. Molua to witness the truth of what had been said. The false swearer, according to popular belief, should be immediately, visibly, and terribly punished, and cases have been cited in proof of this belief. The bell descended to the Rev. John Egan, P. P. ,Dunkevin,King'sCounty. Hereceiveditfromhisgrandmother,who was of the Duigan family. The bell was in turn presented by Father Egan to J. L. Cooke, Esq. , Parsonstown, in whose museum it was preserved. 65
In the south-east end of the cemetery, a quadrangular stone hollowed out in the centre, about three feet in length by eighteen or nineteen inches in breadth,iscalled"'St. Molua'sTrough. " Howeverdrytheseasonmaybe, the people say it is never known to be without water. This is used to cure soreeyes,head-aches,66andotherailments. Thetroughliesundertheboundary
should in consequence neglect to visit me. "
short time he " This is the
to thy question. The face of no man was ever suffused with blushes through Molua, for he was
enclosure,
County,
during
returned, saying :
reply
thus was he afflicted, for the remaining twenty years of his life.
62 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Moluse, cap. liv. , p. 379.
63 See Mid. , cap. lv. , p. 379.
64 The word "Cluain" means a retreat,
6s According to an account in The Kil-
kenny Journal of August 7th, 1872.
^ See " Letters containing Information
relative to the Antiquities of the Queen's
1838, p. 117.
6? The accompanying illustration of this
asolitude. Theword"Feart"
an
may imply either a grave or a miracle. It is not easy to determine whether it was from Molua's grave, and not from his miracles, that the place is so named.
the ofthe Progress
collected
Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. Letter of P. O'Keefe, dated Mountrath, Dec. 1st. ,
August 4-] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 67
hawthorn bushes, and near the fence. 6 ? The water in it is applied to sores by
afflicted persons, who resort thither to perform "stations. " The hawthorn-
bushes growing over it are covered with rags, appended to the branches, to indicate votive or thank-offerings for the cures there performed.
As we are informed, after the death of St. Molua, a city grew up around Clonfert Molua Monastery. There, too, many miracles were wrought through the intercession of its patron saint, and in favour of several afflicted persons. The older peasantry in the neighbourhood still recollect an eastern window in the ruined church, although the wall is now entirely levelled. Even the site of the former ancient city is traditionally re- membered. It lay along the old road, and not far removed from the present burial-ground. Near this spot, too, the former monastic establish- ment must have been situated. 68 Since the first visit paid to Kyle by the
Trough of St. Molua, Kyle Graveyard, Queen's County.
writer, the existing ruins, as then figured in the first volume of this work, have almost disappeared, and only a few fragments now rise above their foundations. 6* The people about Kyle in the Queen's County stated, that formerlytherehadbeenanadjoiningburial-placeinKilmartintownland. . The site of this was pointed out in 1838, although it was then under cultivation. 70
One of his many mistakes has been committed by Archdall, in placing
the death of this saint at the year 622, he having told us, moreover, that
1 Molua had laboured under a leprosy for the preceding twenty years. ?
object, drawn on the spot by the writer in October, 1890, has been transferred by William F. Wakeman to the wood, engraved by Mrs.
