He received for answer " With this shalt thou pay thy whole debt, and
:
have something to spare.
:
have something to spare.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
246, 247.
*5 This is said to have occurred at the door of the house of the abbot, perhaps,
cap. vii. , and n. (a), pp. iii8, 11 19. '* "
Molua or Molocca. ^ " Ceraculum found in the original.
See the Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii , p. 396.
See ibid.
*' In the Rev, W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," this saint is called Molucca, and the anecdote varies in details. See pp. 245, 246, 568, 569.
"7 If the Columba named, be the great
apostle of the Picts, who died in the year
590, according to the " Annals of Clonmac*
noise in to the " Annals of ;" 592, according
the Four Masters ;" in 594, according to the
" Acta Sanctorum Hibcr-
'3 See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
Colgan's
adds ;
"
Misterium hujus rei J. )ominus scit,
sed scimus quia ille sanctus peritus erat
Romae, quasi fuisset ibi longo tempore. "
From this sentence, Colgan infers, that the
compiler must have lived contemporaneously, not only with St. Maidoc, who died in the year 624, but with St. Molua, who died in the year 605. Otherwise, he could not have been aware of this local knowledge, regard- ing Rome, attained by the latter saint, unless he had seen him. Another supposition in- deed remains, that he transcribed this pas-
pueri"
are the
words,
as
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 563
me. "^^ After St. Maidoc's death, this youth, who had grown to manhood, and who was a credible witness, narrated what had occurred, in a public manner. ^9
quiring
done,
replied :
you
day,
:
To-day
One day, the (Economus or steward of St. Mochua at Lothra or Lochre,7°
how this could be
have
we have left nothing
the saint
his cook came to St. Maidoc and said
now,
:
" We have but a small quantity of grain — :
came to St. Maidoc. He said
shall we sow it, or give it to the brethren ? " Our saint answered •* Sow a quantity, and yet distribute sufficient to the brethren. " On the steward in-
" What
shall not fail in sowing, and you shall have provision, until bread come to you, from the earth. " And according to this saying, so it happened. Another
inthestore-roombutasmallvesselofmilkandalittlebutter shallthisbe ;
to our ? " Our saint guests
" Give in abundance to as if all,
given
you had drawn from a mountain. "7'
replied :
His command was obeyed, and on that
night all were helped abundantly. Some imposters and deceitful persons, having hidden their garments in the woods, afterwards presented themselves to the bishop, asking means for clothing themselves. 7^ Our saint then said : " Wait awhile, until you receive what you ask for. " The holy bishop then sent his servant to where their clothes had been hidden, without those im- postors having been made aware of his intention. On returning with the garments, which the schemers recognised as their own, they immediately departed in disappointment and confusion. 73
There are certain particulars in our saint's life, regarding the death of Brandubh.
Theseseemtobeworthyofrecord. Accordiagtogenerallyreceivedaccounts, Brandubh was killed^* by the Airchinneach or Herenagh of Senboithe-Sine church, and by his own tribe, in the year 6oi. 7S Xiie m irderer was a tributary chief, jealous of his superior power. 7^ The death of this king, however, is re- ferredtoA. D. 604,bytheAnnalsofTigernachandofUlster. 77 Havingfreeaccess
"
Annals of Ulster ;" or in 597, according to Colgan, the narrative of this vision should precede the miraculous cure of Guaire, King of Connaught.
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. , p. 1118.
^Colgan asserts, that this St. Columba spoken of is no other than St. Columbkille. Yet there is nothing to warrant such a suppo- sition, but the fact, that no other distinctive appellation has been added to this name, simply written, St. Columba.
nounced the following sentence j
:
Colgan's
Muireadhach, for the sake of Aedh Allan. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
^ See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xliii. , p. 213. It may be suspected, from the account contained in this chapter, that vari- ous incidents of our saint's life are not re- lated in exact chronological order.
7° See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 569. If by this place is meant the parish of Lorrha, it is situated in the barony of Lower Ormond, and in the North Riding it is defined on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tipperary," Sheets i, 3, 4, 5, 7.
7' See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 569.
7* See ibid.
73 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
son of
I would not bring my full sack to a church
^^ After this statement, we find the follow- ing lines, from an ol—d Irish poem, thus
76 See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, vol. vii. , p. 365.
cap. xliv. , xlv. , xlvi. , p. 213. Also the 77 See what has been stated in a previous
Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
"
74 a certain Leinsterman, it i—s said, pro-
-
" Were it in the time of the son of Eochaidh that the northern had come,
From the battle which they gained, they
would have been long panic-driven ; If in a pillared house were the son of
Eochaidh,
rendered into English
"Saran Soebhdhearc, a guide indeed, Air- chinneach of Seanboith Sine,
Was he, it is no falsehood without bright judgment, who killed Bran Dubh,
:
"
—See " O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 228, 229, and n (n).
chapter.
son of Eochaidh.
564 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
to his presence, we are told, that Brandubh was assassinated in his royal resi-
dence, by that Leinster dynast, who had cast off his allegiance. ^^ What was
still more deplorable, the king fell, without having had an opportunity for
making his confession, or for receiving Holy Viaticum. 79 On hearing this,
the pious Bishop Maidoc was greatly grieved. Bursting into tears he pas-
in reference to the " I wish that hand should fall from slayer,
sionately said,
thy side, having murdered our Church's and our country's defender ; for he
wastheprotectorofwidowsandofthepoor. " Thencomingtotheplace where the king was dead, St. Maidoc having offered up a prayer, Brandubh
:
arose in the presence of all. He then said " I beseech thee. Father, if
thou promise me God's kingdom, that I may now go to Heaven. I have sufficiently fulfilled my course of life, and the Lord will grant you another
king. " This desire pleased the bishop. ^° Having offered up his prayers, and having given absolution and the holy sacrament to Brandubh, the latter passed out of this life, to one of eternal glory. He was buried with much honour in Ferns cemetery; and here his posterity, who belonged to the royal familyofLeinster,subsequentlyreposed. Saran,whohadbeenachiefinstru- ment in causing Brandubh's death, being moved with compunction, after- wards went to his tomb. Here he engaged in a course of rigorous penance. He remained there day and night, almost in a state of nudity, and subjecting himself to prolonged fasts. ^' When he had continued for some time in this state, Saran heard a voice issuing from the tomb, like to that of Brandubh.
:
Thisvoicepronouncedthesewords "Thouartforgiventhycrimes,OSaran
Buite. "^^ When such expressions were uttered, St. Maidoc's malison is said tohavefallenuponhim,forhishandthendroppedfromhisside. Somepious
persons, cognizant of this circumstance, led Saran away from the tomb. Afterwards he led a most religious life,^3 and died, it is to be hoped, a true
penitent.
CHAPTER VL
THE HOLY BISHOP MAIDOC EARNESTLY DESIRES TO JOIN THE HEAVENLY CHOIR—HE RELEASES A' POOR BONSDMAN—HE BLESSES THE INGENIOUS ARCHITECT GOBBAN —THE LATTER BUILDS A CHURCH FOR HIM—MAIDOC RAISES A NUN TO LIFE, AT ST. ITA'S MONASTERY OF CLUAIN CREDHAIL—A THIEF's GUILT MANIFESTED —THE SAINT PROCURES LIBERTY FOR A CAPTIVE—A MIRACULOUS VISION OF THE WORLD—MAIDOC'S MIRACLE WROUGHT ON BEHALF OF ST. COLMAN FIACRE—THE HOLY BISHOP A HORTICULTURALIST.
On a certain occasion, Maidoc heard angelic choirs singing celestial har- monies. ^ ThesaintthenbesoughtourLord,thathemightpassawayfrom
7^ See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," tracts," Ordnance Survey Manuscripts in'the vol. vii. , p. 366. In the Acts of St. Col- Royal Irish Academy, vol. i.
who is venerated on the 26th of ^'See the "Irish Ecclesiastical " Record,
man
September, it is stated that Brandubh was vol. vii. , p. 366.
Elo,
raised to life after he had been a year buried. There is little probability for such a state- ment as the BoUandists' remark. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Jannarii, n. (e), p. II19.
79 In Rev. W.
Cambro-British Saints," much of what fol- lows is omitted. See pp. 246, 247, 570.
^^ In the Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," the Latin text here
"O
reads, " Sarane, ibrute," correctly Eng-
lished, O [Saran, thou brute. " See pp. 247, 570.
J.
Colgan's
Rees' "Lives of the
^3 See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xlvii. , xlviii. , pp. 213, 214. Also the Bol-
^We are told, in a note by Mr. Eugene landists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
O'Cuny, 'taken from our saint's Irish life, that Maodoge bequeathed the Bachall Bran- naimh, with which he resuscitated Branduff, to Ferns. See "County of Wexford Ex-
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. ,
p. 1118. — Chapter VI.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
See the "Irish Eccle- siastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 398.
'
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 565
a world of care, to participate in the joys of those blessed spirits. With the Apostle, St. Paul, he longed to be dissolved, and to rest with Christ. ^ How- ever, the Almighty wished him still to be detained in the prison of the body,
for example and instruction to others.
A voice said to him
:
" Thou oughtest
on account of
as the Lord wills me to live, I shall not refuse labour. "3
yet live,
thy people. "
holy bishop answered,
long
A certain poor man, from whom his master^ demanded a very large sum of money, came to our saint and sought his assistance. At this time, Mai- doc was in the field, and he was engaged sowing it with seed. When that poor man had stated his case, he received a measure of barley from Maidoc. The man then asked, what advantage would accrue to him from such a gift.
He received for answer " With this shalt thou pay thy whole debt, and
:
have something to spare. " The man smiled incredulously ; but on looking once more, he found the grain converted into gold. Our saint then said : " Pay thy master his demand, that thou mayest be free. " On seeing so much pure gold, his master made inquiry, to know whence that man had procured it. Being told St. Maidoc was the donor, the bondman obtained his liberty. Afterwards, seeking the holy bishop, on becoming a freeman, he stated what the chieftain had done, and again offered Maidoc the gold. But our saint
this —and to him worthless—mammon. — offered despised glittering Having
—e oncemorewasconvertedinto
a prayer, th gold grain. s
Assuch sostates
theaccount itwassowedintheearth.
At one time, St. Maidoc wished to build a church, but he could not find
an artificer. ^ Trusting in God, he blessed the hands of a certain uninstructed person, named Gobban. 7 Immediately this man became a most ingenious architect,^ and afterwards built St. Maidoc's church, in his best architectural style. 9 At another time, St. Maidoc went to a rivulet to wash his hands, in company with some brothers. On seeing them, certain persons remarked, that no one could move St. Maidoc to anger. A rustic, who was present, said he would undertake that task. At the same time, the churl went for- ward, and, it is stated, pushed our saint into the river. Maidoc was then
"
Philip, i. , 23. died on the i8th of April, A. D. 639 or 640. 3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- See the " Carlow College Magazine," vol.
nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. i. Life of St. Laserian, cap. iii. , iv. , vii. ,
xlix. , p. 214. Also the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. , p. 11 18.
* He is called a king, in Rev. W. J. Rees'
"Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp.
247, 570.
s See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
vol. vii. , pp. 298, 299.
* See the Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 247, 570.
"> He is celebrated in Irish traditions, for
the extraordinary number of buildings he is said to have erected in Ireland. It is need-
less to state, that according to popular legends, hardly any old castle or ecclesiasti-
cal ruin, yet remaining in our island, can be found, with which his name has not been associated, as the builder.
^ Notices regarding him frequently occur
in the lives of our earlier saints, and about
St. Maidoc's epoch, we read of a St. Gob-
ban, who kindly received St. Molaisi or La-
serian, the patron saint of Leighlin, who chap, xii. , xiii. , pp. 155 to 170.
The
" So
pp. 234, 235, 278, 429. Although no men- tion of the latter occurs in the Acts of either saint—so far as the vvriter can ascertain— St. Laserian of Old Leighlinand St. Maidoc of Ferns were contemporaries, and from the proximity of their fplaces, both must have laeen acquaintances. Perhaps, indeed, the anecdotes referable to Laserian of Devenish, in our saint's Acts, should rather be referred to Laserian of Leighlin. This may have been a mistake of the biographer, and it is evident he fell into various errors,
9 The reader will find some interesting ac-
counts and traditionary legends regarding the Gobhan Saor, in a beautifully illustrated
work, lately published by the accomplished architect and archaeologist of Cork, Richard
Rolt Brash, and intituled,
''
The Ecclesias-
tical Architecture of Ireland, to the close of
the Twelfth Century ; accompanied by inter-
esting historical and antiquarian notices of numerous ancient remains of that period,"
S66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
'°
clothed in skins, yet his garments did not appear to have been even mois-
tened with water. Noticing this circumstance, the rustic expressed sorrow,
: andaskedpardonforwhathehaddone. Towhomthesaintsaid "Thou
hast acted rightly in confessing thy fault, and in repenting. If thou hadst not done so, the earth this instant should have opened and swallowed thee. But now, thou shalt merit Heaven, and die within forty days. " Such proved to be the exact term of that man's life, and it was to be hoped the beginning for his entrance into bliss. One day, the CEconomus of St. Mochua of Lothra came to Maidoc," and told him they were about to build a church. The timber necessary for its erection had already been cut down in the
woods,'^ Lalthough there was not a sufficiency of men and oxen for bringing it to the intended site. Our saint told him that he should return to the cell,
and not look whatever took
upon place,
within the
of their — hearing,
that —None of the brethren dared during night. '3
range transgress
this
precept
one only excepted although during night a great noise was heard in the
woods, near their monastery. But a certain simple lay-brother peeped
through openings in the door-lock,*-* when he saw a multitude of beautiful,
well-formed youths, with golden locks flowing down their shoulders, and
bearingwood. Thenavoicewasheard,sayingtothoseyouths,whoproved
to be " Cease from this labour. " If the monk had not to angels : sought
gratify his curiosity in this manner, it is thought these angels would have built the whole church. 's Afterwards, however, the architect Cobban'^ com-
pleted this building. '?
Another time, while Bishop Maidoc sojourned in Munster, and in that
part called Hy-Connell, near St. Ita's monastery at Cluain Credhuil,'^ he heard bells loudly ringing. At this very instant, he was on his way to visit
his confessor,'? St. Molua f° but on inquiring the cause for this ringing, he was told that a greatly beloved daughter of blessed Ita was dead. "' This handmaid of God, knowing the bishop was near, sent him a pressing mes- sage, that he would graciously come and raise her spiritual daughter to life.
:
The bishop, then giving his staff,^" sent a disciple, and said " Place this
staff on the breast of the deceased maid. For I trust in the mercy of God, and in the sanctity of blessed Ita,'3 she shall arise. " When the staff had
"" In the Rev. W. Rees' "Lives of the dists' "Acta tomus xxxi.
J.
Cambro-British Saints" they are called
foxes' skins. See pp. 247, 570, 571.
" We are informed, he was then an old
man.
" From the incident already related, it
would seem, that some of our early ecclesi-
Sanctorum," ii. , Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. viii. , p. 1119. ''See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. 1. , li. , Hi. , liii. , p. 214.
'* This seems to have been the ancient name for St. Ita's religious establishment, Afterwards, from the holy patroness, the place appears to have been called Kill-Ita or Killeedy.
''Thisincident must, therefore, be referred
to a period before the close of the sixth, or
in the beginning of the seventh century. St.
Molua died soon after the commencement of
a. d. 600.
'^°
See his life at the 4th of August,
^' The custom of tolling bells, on the death of Christians, seems to have been observed
in our churches from remote times,
"This probably was the potent Bachall Brannaimh, to which allusion has been al-
ready made.
^^Sge her Life at the 15th of January,
astical erections were constructed of wood
;
and, perhaps, most, if not nearly all, were composed of this material.
'* Such accounts, as the foregoing allusion, in the acts of our Irish Saints, serve to ex- hibit the domestic economy of our ancestors. The use of a lock and key may be inferred in their houses.
'5 The moral to be drawn from this narra-
tive is, that celestial visions are not vouch-
safed to disobedient and unworthy persons.
**
There can hardly be a doubt, that such a person must have existed, however difficult it may be to record sufficiently authentic particulars regarding him. See the Bollan-
'3 See Rev. W.
Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 248, 571.
J.
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 567
been placed in this manner, the deceased maiden instantly arose, and she was restored to life. ^^ All, who heard of and saw this miracle, gave glory to God, and to His holy servant. ^s it is thought, however, that this miracle must have taken place, not during St. Ita's life-time,^^ but during that of some abbess who succeeded her, although the narrative appears adverse to this
supposition. "?
In the acts of St. Maidoc we are told, that a thief stole one of the
bishop's cattle, and that he had eaten this animal. "^ To clear himself from all suspicion of guilt, the same man had sworn before Blessed Maidoc, that he had neither stolen nor eaten it. =^9 Then we find stated, that his guilt was manifested in a miraculous manner, 3° and in presence of many persons who were present. These felt greatly surprised, and reproaching the thief with
his crime, he was overwhelmed with shame and confusion. 3'
Again, certain soldiers, who were conducting a captive in chains, met St. Maidoc. HeaskedthemforChrist'ssaketoliberatetheirprisoner. Himthey were dragging as a malefactor, to a king of Leinster. s" Those soldiers refused toliberatethebondsman. Butafterwards,whilepassingthroughawood,they saw a great crowd of enemies^s lying in wait for them, and rapidly approach- ing. Consulting for their own safety, those soldiers betook themselves to flight, leaving behind them their manacled captive. 34 On seeing what had occurred, he returned immediately to Maidoc. Hearing about that occur- rence, the king ordered this man to be set at liberty, while extolling the grace of God, worked through the saint. 35 One day, when the holy bishop Maidoc and the holy abbot Munnu,3^ were together in a certain place, our saint ascended to a high position on the corner of a church, which was there. Seeing him in this place, Munnu asked what he beheld from that
elevated spot. 37 The bishop made a sign of the cross over his companion's eyes, when both immediately saw the entire world,3^ from the rising to the setting of the sun. 39 Giving thanks to God, they descended. Then St.
'*See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 248, 571.
'5 See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
trunculus," or "a petty thief," in Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British
Saints," pp. 248, 571, 572.
34 See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
vol. vii. , p. 397.
''We have already seen, that her death tomus ii. , xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani,
has been assigned to A. D. 569, in Dr. cap. viii. , p, 11 19. ""
O' Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. pp. 206, 207.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xxxi.
*5 This is said to have occurred at the door of the house of the abbot, perhaps,
cap. vii. , and n. (a), pp. iii8, 11 19. '* "
Molua or Molocca. ^ " Ceraculum found in the original.
See the Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii , p. 396.
See ibid.
*' In the Rev, W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," this saint is called Molucca, and the anecdote varies in details. See pp. 245, 246, 568, 569.
"7 If the Columba named, be the great
apostle of the Picts, who died in the year
590, according to the " Annals of Clonmac*
noise in to the " Annals of ;" 592, according
the Four Masters ;" in 594, according to the
" Acta Sanctorum Hibcr-
'3 See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
Colgan's
adds ;
"
Misterium hujus rei J. )ominus scit,
sed scimus quia ille sanctus peritus erat
Romae, quasi fuisset ibi longo tempore. "
From this sentence, Colgan infers, that the
compiler must have lived contemporaneously, not only with St. Maidoc, who died in the year 624, but with St. Molua, who died in the year 605. Otherwise, he could not have been aware of this local knowledge, regard- ing Rome, attained by the latter saint, unless he had seen him. Another supposition in- deed remains, that he transcribed this pas-
pueri"
are the
words,
as
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 563
me. "^^ After St. Maidoc's death, this youth, who had grown to manhood, and who was a credible witness, narrated what had occurred, in a public manner. ^9
quiring
done,
replied :
you
day,
:
To-day
One day, the (Economus or steward of St. Mochua at Lothra or Lochre,7°
how this could be
have
we have left nothing
the saint
his cook came to St. Maidoc and said
now,
:
" We have but a small quantity of grain — :
came to St. Maidoc. He said
shall we sow it, or give it to the brethren ? " Our saint answered •* Sow a quantity, and yet distribute sufficient to the brethren. " On the steward in-
" What
shall not fail in sowing, and you shall have provision, until bread come to you, from the earth. " And according to this saying, so it happened. Another
inthestore-roombutasmallvesselofmilkandalittlebutter shallthisbe ;
to our ? " Our saint guests
" Give in abundance to as if all,
given
you had drawn from a mountain. "7'
replied :
His command was obeyed, and on that
night all were helped abundantly. Some imposters and deceitful persons, having hidden their garments in the woods, afterwards presented themselves to the bishop, asking means for clothing themselves. 7^ Our saint then said : " Wait awhile, until you receive what you ask for. " The holy bishop then sent his servant to where their clothes had been hidden, without those im- postors having been made aware of his intention. On returning with the garments, which the schemers recognised as their own, they immediately departed in disappointment and confusion. 73
There are certain particulars in our saint's life, regarding the death of Brandubh.
Theseseemtobeworthyofrecord. Accordiagtogenerallyreceivedaccounts, Brandubh was killed^* by the Airchinneach or Herenagh of Senboithe-Sine church, and by his own tribe, in the year 6oi. 7S Xiie m irderer was a tributary chief, jealous of his superior power. 7^ The death of this king, however, is re- ferredtoA. D. 604,bytheAnnalsofTigernachandofUlster. 77 Havingfreeaccess
"
Annals of Ulster ;" or in 597, according to Colgan, the narrative of this vision should precede the miraculous cure of Guaire, King of Connaught.
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. , p. 1118.
^Colgan asserts, that this St. Columba spoken of is no other than St. Columbkille. Yet there is nothing to warrant such a suppo- sition, but the fact, that no other distinctive appellation has been added to this name, simply written, St. Columba.
nounced the following sentence j
:
Colgan's
Muireadhach, for the sake of Aedh Allan. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
^ See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xliii. , p. 213. It may be suspected, from the account contained in this chapter, that vari- ous incidents of our saint's life are not re- lated in exact chronological order.
7° See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 569. If by this place is meant the parish of Lorrha, it is situated in the barony of Lower Ormond, and in the North Riding it is defined on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tipperary," Sheets i, 3, 4, 5, 7.
7' See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 569.
7* See ibid.
73 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
son of
I would not bring my full sack to a church
^^ After this statement, we find the follow- ing lines, from an ol—d Irish poem, thus
76 See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, vol. vii. , p. 365.
cap. xliv. , xlv. , xlvi. , p. 213. Also the 77 See what has been stated in a previous
Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
"
74 a certain Leinsterman, it i—s said, pro-
-
" Were it in the time of the son of Eochaidh that the northern had come,
From the battle which they gained, they
would have been long panic-driven ; If in a pillared house were the son of
Eochaidh,
rendered into English
"Saran Soebhdhearc, a guide indeed, Air- chinneach of Seanboith Sine,
Was he, it is no falsehood without bright judgment, who killed Bran Dubh,
:
"
—See " O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 228, 229, and n (n).
chapter.
son of Eochaidh.
564 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
to his presence, we are told, that Brandubh was assassinated in his royal resi-
dence, by that Leinster dynast, who had cast off his allegiance. ^^ What was
still more deplorable, the king fell, without having had an opportunity for
making his confession, or for receiving Holy Viaticum. 79 On hearing this,
the pious Bishop Maidoc was greatly grieved. Bursting into tears he pas-
in reference to the " I wish that hand should fall from slayer,
sionately said,
thy side, having murdered our Church's and our country's defender ; for he
wastheprotectorofwidowsandofthepoor. " Thencomingtotheplace where the king was dead, St. Maidoc having offered up a prayer, Brandubh
:
arose in the presence of all. He then said " I beseech thee. Father, if
thou promise me God's kingdom, that I may now go to Heaven. I have sufficiently fulfilled my course of life, and the Lord will grant you another
king. " This desire pleased the bishop. ^° Having offered up his prayers, and having given absolution and the holy sacrament to Brandubh, the latter passed out of this life, to one of eternal glory. He was buried with much honour in Ferns cemetery; and here his posterity, who belonged to the royal familyofLeinster,subsequentlyreposed. Saran,whohadbeenachiefinstru- ment in causing Brandubh's death, being moved with compunction, after- wards went to his tomb. Here he engaged in a course of rigorous penance. He remained there day and night, almost in a state of nudity, and subjecting himself to prolonged fasts. ^' When he had continued for some time in this state, Saran heard a voice issuing from the tomb, like to that of Brandubh.
:
Thisvoicepronouncedthesewords "Thouartforgiventhycrimes,OSaran
Buite. "^^ When such expressions were uttered, St. Maidoc's malison is said tohavefallenuponhim,forhishandthendroppedfromhisside. Somepious
persons, cognizant of this circumstance, led Saran away from the tomb. Afterwards he led a most religious life,^3 and died, it is to be hoped, a true
penitent.
CHAPTER VL
THE HOLY BISHOP MAIDOC EARNESTLY DESIRES TO JOIN THE HEAVENLY CHOIR—HE RELEASES A' POOR BONSDMAN—HE BLESSES THE INGENIOUS ARCHITECT GOBBAN —THE LATTER BUILDS A CHURCH FOR HIM—MAIDOC RAISES A NUN TO LIFE, AT ST. ITA'S MONASTERY OF CLUAIN CREDHAIL—A THIEF's GUILT MANIFESTED —THE SAINT PROCURES LIBERTY FOR A CAPTIVE—A MIRACULOUS VISION OF THE WORLD—MAIDOC'S MIRACLE WROUGHT ON BEHALF OF ST. COLMAN FIACRE—THE HOLY BISHOP A HORTICULTURALIST.
On a certain occasion, Maidoc heard angelic choirs singing celestial har- monies. ^ ThesaintthenbesoughtourLord,thathemightpassawayfrom
7^ See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," tracts," Ordnance Survey Manuscripts in'the vol. vii. , p. 366. In the Acts of St. Col- Royal Irish Academy, vol. i.
who is venerated on the 26th of ^'See the "Irish Ecclesiastical " Record,
man
September, it is stated that Brandubh was vol. vii. , p. 366.
Elo,
raised to life after he had been a year buried. There is little probability for such a state- ment as the BoUandists' remark. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Jannarii, n. (e), p. II19.
79 In Rev. W.
Cambro-British Saints," much of what fol- lows is omitted. See pp. 246, 247, 570.
^^ In the Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," the Latin text here
"O
reads, " Sarane, ibrute," correctly Eng-
lished, O [Saran, thou brute. " See pp. 247, 570.
J.
Colgan's
Rees' "Lives of the
^3 See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xlvii. , xlviii. , pp. 213, 214. Also the Bol-
^We are told, in a note by Mr. Eugene landists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
O'Cuny, 'taken from our saint's Irish life, that Maodoge bequeathed the Bachall Bran- naimh, with which he resuscitated Branduff, to Ferns. See "County of Wexford Ex-
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. ,
p. 1118. — Chapter VI.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
See the "Irish Eccle- siastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 398.
'
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 565
a world of care, to participate in the joys of those blessed spirits. With the Apostle, St. Paul, he longed to be dissolved, and to rest with Christ. ^ How- ever, the Almighty wished him still to be detained in the prison of the body,
for example and instruction to others.
A voice said to him
:
" Thou oughtest
on account of
as the Lord wills me to live, I shall not refuse labour. "3
yet live,
thy people. "
holy bishop answered,
long
A certain poor man, from whom his master^ demanded a very large sum of money, came to our saint and sought his assistance. At this time, Mai- doc was in the field, and he was engaged sowing it with seed. When that poor man had stated his case, he received a measure of barley from Maidoc. The man then asked, what advantage would accrue to him from such a gift.
He received for answer " With this shalt thou pay thy whole debt, and
:
have something to spare. " The man smiled incredulously ; but on looking once more, he found the grain converted into gold. Our saint then said : " Pay thy master his demand, that thou mayest be free. " On seeing so much pure gold, his master made inquiry, to know whence that man had procured it. Being told St. Maidoc was the donor, the bondman obtained his liberty. Afterwards, seeking the holy bishop, on becoming a freeman, he stated what the chieftain had done, and again offered Maidoc the gold. But our saint
this —and to him worthless—mammon. — offered despised glittering Having
—e oncemorewasconvertedinto
a prayer, th gold grain. s
Assuch sostates
theaccount itwassowedintheearth.
At one time, St. Maidoc wished to build a church, but he could not find
an artificer. ^ Trusting in God, he blessed the hands of a certain uninstructed person, named Gobban. 7 Immediately this man became a most ingenious architect,^ and afterwards built St. Maidoc's church, in his best architectural style. 9 At another time, St. Maidoc went to a rivulet to wash his hands, in company with some brothers. On seeing them, certain persons remarked, that no one could move St. Maidoc to anger. A rustic, who was present, said he would undertake that task. At the same time, the churl went for- ward, and, it is stated, pushed our saint into the river. Maidoc was then
"
Philip, i. , 23. died on the i8th of April, A. D. 639 or 640. 3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- See the " Carlow College Magazine," vol.
nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. i. Life of St. Laserian, cap. iii. , iv. , vii. ,
xlix. , p. 214. Also the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. , p. 11 18.
* He is called a king, in Rev. W. J. Rees'
"Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp.
247, 570.
s See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
vol. vii. , pp. 298, 299.
* See the Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 247, 570.
"> He is celebrated in Irish traditions, for
the extraordinary number of buildings he is said to have erected in Ireland. It is need-
less to state, that according to popular legends, hardly any old castle or ecclesiasti-
cal ruin, yet remaining in our island, can be found, with which his name has not been associated, as the builder.
^ Notices regarding him frequently occur
in the lives of our earlier saints, and about
St. Maidoc's epoch, we read of a St. Gob-
ban, who kindly received St. Molaisi or La-
serian, the patron saint of Leighlin, who chap, xii. , xiii. , pp. 155 to 170.
The
" So
pp. 234, 235, 278, 429. Although no men- tion of the latter occurs in the Acts of either saint—so far as the vvriter can ascertain— St. Laserian of Old Leighlinand St. Maidoc of Ferns were contemporaries, and from the proximity of their fplaces, both must have laeen acquaintances. Perhaps, indeed, the anecdotes referable to Laserian of Devenish, in our saint's Acts, should rather be referred to Laserian of Leighlin. This may have been a mistake of the biographer, and it is evident he fell into various errors,
9 The reader will find some interesting ac-
counts and traditionary legends regarding the Gobhan Saor, in a beautifully illustrated
work, lately published by the accomplished architect and archaeologist of Cork, Richard
Rolt Brash, and intituled,
''
The Ecclesias-
tical Architecture of Ireland, to the close of
the Twelfth Century ; accompanied by inter-
esting historical and antiquarian notices of numerous ancient remains of that period,"
S66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
'°
clothed in skins, yet his garments did not appear to have been even mois-
tened with water. Noticing this circumstance, the rustic expressed sorrow,
: andaskedpardonforwhathehaddone. Towhomthesaintsaid "Thou
hast acted rightly in confessing thy fault, and in repenting. If thou hadst not done so, the earth this instant should have opened and swallowed thee. But now, thou shalt merit Heaven, and die within forty days. " Such proved to be the exact term of that man's life, and it was to be hoped the beginning for his entrance into bliss. One day, the CEconomus of St. Mochua of Lothra came to Maidoc," and told him they were about to build a church. The timber necessary for its erection had already been cut down in the
woods,'^ Lalthough there was not a sufficiency of men and oxen for bringing it to the intended site. Our saint told him that he should return to the cell,
and not look whatever took
upon place,
within the
of their — hearing,
that —None of the brethren dared during night. '3
range transgress
this
precept
one only excepted although during night a great noise was heard in the
woods, near their monastery. But a certain simple lay-brother peeped
through openings in the door-lock,*-* when he saw a multitude of beautiful,
well-formed youths, with golden locks flowing down their shoulders, and
bearingwood. Thenavoicewasheard,sayingtothoseyouths,whoproved
to be " Cease from this labour. " If the monk had not to angels : sought
gratify his curiosity in this manner, it is thought these angels would have built the whole church. 's Afterwards, however, the architect Cobban'^ com-
pleted this building. '?
Another time, while Bishop Maidoc sojourned in Munster, and in that
part called Hy-Connell, near St. Ita's monastery at Cluain Credhuil,'^ he heard bells loudly ringing. At this very instant, he was on his way to visit
his confessor,'? St. Molua f° but on inquiring the cause for this ringing, he was told that a greatly beloved daughter of blessed Ita was dead. "' This handmaid of God, knowing the bishop was near, sent him a pressing mes- sage, that he would graciously come and raise her spiritual daughter to life.
:
The bishop, then giving his staff,^" sent a disciple, and said " Place this
staff on the breast of the deceased maid. For I trust in the mercy of God, and in the sanctity of blessed Ita,'3 she shall arise. " When the staff had
"" In the Rev. W. Rees' "Lives of the dists' "Acta tomus xxxi.
J.
Cambro-British Saints" they are called
foxes' skins. See pp. 247, 570, 571.
" We are informed, he was then an old
man.
" From the incident already related, it
would seem, that some of our early ecclesi-
Sanctorum," ii. , Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. viii. , p. 1119. ''See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. 1. , li. , Hi. , liii. , p. 214.
'* This seems to have been the ancient name for St. Ita's religious establishment, Afterwards, from the holy patroness, the place appears to have been called Kill-Ita or Killeedy.
''Thisincident must, therefore, be referred
to a period before the close of the sixth, or
in the beginning of the seventh century. St.
Molua died soon after the commencement of
a. d. 600.
'^°
See his life at the 4th of August,
^' The custom of tolling bells, on the death of Christians, seems to have been observed
in our churches from remote times,
"This probably was the potent Bachall Brannaimh, to which allusion has been al-
ready made.
^^Sge her Life at the 15th of January,
astical erections were constructed of wood
;
and, perhaps, most, if not nearly all, were composed of this material.
'* Such accounts, as the foregoing allusion, in the acts of our Irish Saints, serve to ex- hibit the domestic economy of our ancestors. The use of a lock and key may be inferred in their houses.
'5 The moral to be drawn from this narra-
tive is, that celestial visions are not vouch-
safed to disobedient and unworthy persons.
**
There can hardly be a doubt, that such a person must have existed, however difficult it may be to record sufficiently authentic particulars regarding him. See the Bollan-
'3 See Rev. W.
Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 248, 571.
J.
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 567
been placed in this manner, the deceased maiden instantly arose, and she was restored to life. ^^ All, who heard of and saw this miracle, gave glory to God, and to His holy servant. ^s it is thought, however, that this miracle must have taken place, not during St. Ita's life-time,^^ but during that of some abbess who succeeded her, although the narrative appears adverse to this
supposition. "?
In the acts of St. Maidoc we are told, that a thief stole one of the
bishop's cattle, and that he had eaten this animal. "^ To clear himself from all suspicion of guilt, the same man had sworn before Blessed Maidoc, that he had neither stolen nor eaten it. =^9 Then we find stated, that his guilt was manifested in a miraculous manner, 3° and in presence of many persons who were present. These felt greatly surprised, and reproaching the thief with
his crime, he was overwhelmed with shame and confusion. 3'
Again, certain soldiers, who were conducting a captive in chains, met St. Maidoc. HeaskedthemforChrist'ssaketoliberatetheirprisoner. Himthey were dragging as a malefactor, to a king of Leinster. s" Those soldiers refused toliberatethebondsman. Butafterwards,whilepassingthroughawood,they saw a great crowd of enemies^s lying in wait for them, and rapidly approach- ing. Consulting for their own safety, those soldiers betook themselves to flight, leaving behind them their manacled captive. 34 On seeing what had occurred, he returned immediately to Maidoc. Hearing about that occur- rence, the king ordered this man to be set at liberty, while extolling the grace of God, worked through the saint. 35 One day, when the holy bishop Maidoc and the holy abbot Munnu,3^ were together in a certain place, our saint ascended to a high position on the corner of a church, which was there. Seeing him in this place, Munnu asked what he beheld from that
elevated spot. 37 The bishop made a sign of the cross over his companion's eyes, when both immediately saw the entire world,3^ from the rising to the setting of the sun. 39 Giving thanks to God, they descended. Then St.
'*See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 248, 571.
'5 See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
trunculus," or "a petty thief," in Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British
Saints," pp. 248, 571, 572.
34 See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
vol. vii. , p. 397.
''We have already seen, that her death tomus ii. , xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani,
has been assigned to A. D. 569, in Dr. cap. viii. , p, 11 19. ""
O' Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. pp. 206, 207.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xxxi.
