"
Thencomingtotheplace
where the king was dead, St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
, pp.
495 to 497-
53 remarks, from this passage it Colgan
would seem, that those historians were in
error, who only assigned a reign of fifteen Guarius Ayni. See "Acta Sanctorum," or even of twenty years, to Guaire ; while
king
very
liberality,
Having
king,
Round Towers of
subs. 3, p. 405. The Bollandists' copy calls
Ireland," part ii. , § iii. ,
this place Keall Muduach, and the king
tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. II 17.
5° It measures about i8, by 12 Irish miles.
5' The accompanying illustration was
drawn on wood and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, Dublin, from a drawing preserved among the Irish Ordnance Survey sketches for the County of Galway, and hitherto un- published.
those who give him a reign of thirty-eight years, appear to be nearer the truth.
s-* In him, we are told, might be found this mandate fulfilled, "Omni petenti te da. " When in after time, any person was known to be extremely generous, it was pro- verbially remarked, that he was as liberal as Guaire.
ss See the Life of this saint at the 29th of October.
2 O
5= Beaufort's "Memoir of a Map of Ire- "
land," part iii. , pp. 133, 134. Sec Parlia- VOL. I.
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
of friendship with him. ss jj- h^s been stated, that St. Maedhog of Ferns and St. Natalis57 of Cill-Naile, with their monks, suffered from thirst, at this latter place, and that they were relieved from it owing to a miracle. 5^ In the acts of our saint, we find no allusion whatever to a Donegal visit. If this at all tookplace,itmusthavehappenedafterhehadbeenwithSt. Colman. Yet, in all likelihood, another Maedhogss may have been the real participator in those benefits, procured through St. Natalis, at Inbher Ndile, unless we treat
the account as a fable.
The holy Molua,^ once came and told our saint, he had a great desire to
make a pilgrimage to Rome. Maidoc declared, Molua should not do so
with his consent. Then the latter *' Most if I see not replied, assuredly
Rome, I shall soon die. " Upon this declaration, St. Maidoc took him into
his chariot, and neither of them appeared to the monks, until the day follow-
ing. It afterwards seemed to St. Molua, that they had spent a night in Rome,
and that they had offered up their vows at the tomb of the apostles. ^' The
day following both came to Ferns city ; when our saint asked Molua, if now
he had desire to visit Rome. Molua " should I desire to any replied, Why
do so ? Have I not there on yesterday, and during the past night, offered my devotions ? but I am ashamed to return so soon to my monastery. "^"
Immediately the holy bishop conducted him to his own house, stating at the sametime,thatMoluahadbeeninRome. ^^ Itisrelated,thatwhilstneara cross,*4oursaintwroteapsalmforaboy,whowaswithhim. ^s Afterhehad written it, this youth saw St. Maidoc taking his own waxen tablet^^ and as- cending a golden ladder, placed between earth and heaven. After some time, when Maidoc returned, the boy could not look upon his face, on ac- count of its extraordinary brightness. Then telling this youth to take care
and not relate what he had seen, during Maidoc's life-time, the boy answered, " If you confide to me whither you have gone, I shall conceal what I have
in the
xlii. , The writer of our saint's life p. 213.
seen. " The saint said to him "
I
of heaven because of St. Columba's arrival,^^ for he is very dear to
:
s* " Acta Sanctorum
Colgan's Hiberniae,"
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, chap, xli. , p. 213.
5' His acts have been entered at the 27th
of January.
5' The incidents related would tally pretty
well with chronology, as both saints were
possibly contemporaneous with St. Columba, and lived in the sixth century. This was certainly the case, so far as Maidoc of Ferns is concerned.
59 Perhaps it was St. Mac Coge, called
participated
rejoicings
Just now,
also St. Mogue, the patron saint of Rosinver,
in the county of Leitrim. See notices of age, in the very words of one, who had
him, at the Sth of January.
*°
See the Life of this saint at the 4th of August. Also he is called Luan or Lugid by the Bollandists. "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani,
been a contemporary of both saints. See note 41, p. 220.
** See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 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.
53 remarks, from this passage it Colgan
would seem, that those historians were in
error, who only assigned a reign of fifteen Guarius Ayni. See "Acta Sanctorum," or even of twenty years, to Guaire ; while
king
very
liberality,
Having
king,
Round Towers of
subs. 3, p. 405. The Bollandists' copy calls
Ireland," part ii. , § iii. ,
this place Keall Muduach, and the king
tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. II 17.
5° It measures about i8, by 12 Irish miles.
5' The accompanying illustration was
drawn on wood and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, Dublin, from a drawing preserved among the Irish Ordnance Survey sketches for the County of Galway, and hitherto un- published.
those who give him a reign of thirty-eight years, appear to be nearer the truth.
s-* In him, we are told, might be found this mandate fulfilled, "Omni petenti te da. " When in after time, any person was known to be extremely generous, it was pro- verbially remarked, that he was as liberal as Guaire.
ss See the Life of this saint at the 29th of October.
2 O
5= Beaufort's "Memoir of a Map of Ire- "
land," part iii. , pp. 133, 134. Sec Parlia- VOL. I.
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
of friendship with him. ss jj- h^s been stated, that St. Maedhog of Ferns and St. Natalis57 of Cill-Naile, with their monks, suffered from thirst, at this latter place, and that they were relieved from it owing to a miracle. 5^ In the acts of our saint, we find no allusion whatever to a Donegal visit. If this at all tookplace,itmusthavehappenedafterhehadbeenwithSt. Colman. Yet, in all likelihood, another Maedhogss may have been the real participator in those benefits, procured through St. Natalis, at Inbher Ndile, unless we treat
the account as a fable.
The holy Molua,^ once came and told our saint, he had a great desire to
make a pilgrimage to Rome. Maidoc declared, Molua should not do so
with his consent. Then the latter *' Most if I see not replied, assuredly
Rome, I shall soon die. " Upon this declaration, St. Maidoc took him into
his chariot, and neither of them appeared to the monks, until the day follow-
ing. It afterwards seemed to St. Molua, that they had spent a night in Rome,
and that they had offered up their vows at the tomb of the apostles. ^' The
day following both came to Ferns city ; when our saint asked Molua, if now
he had desire to visit Rome. Molua " should I desire to any replied, Why
do so ? Have I not there on yesterday, and during the past night, offered my devotions ? but I am ashamed to return so soon to my monastery. "^"
Immediately the holy bishop conducted him to his own house, stating at the sametime,thatMoluahadbeeninRome. ^^ Itisrelated,thatwhilstneara cross,*4oursaintwroteapsalmforaboy,whowaswithhim. ^s Afterhehad written it, this youth saw St. Maidoc taking his own waxen tablet^^ and as- cending a golden ladder, placed between earth and heaven. After some time, when Maidoc returned, the boy could not look upon his face, on ac- count of its extraordinary brightness. Then telling this youth to take care
and not relate what he had seen, during Maidoc's life-time, the boy answered, " If you confide to me whither you have gone, I shall conceal what I have
in the
xlii. , The writer of our saint's life p. 213.
seen. " The saint said to him "
I
of heaven because of St. Columba's arrival,^^ for he is very dear to
:
s* " Acta Sanctorum
Colgan's Hiberniae,"
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, chap, xli. , p. 213.
5' His acts have been entered at the 27th
of January.
5' The incidents related would tally pretty
well with chronology, as both saints were
possibly contemporaneous with St. Columba, and lived in the sixth century. This was certainly the case, so far as Maidoc of Ferns is concerned.
59 Perhaps it was St. Mac Coge, called
participated
rejoicings
Just now,
also St. Mogue, the patron saint of Rosinver,
in the county of Leitrim. See notices of age, in the very words of one, who had
him, at the Sth of January.
*°
See the Life of this saint at the 4th of August. Also he is called Luan or Lugid by the Bollandists. "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani,
been a contemporary of both saints. See note 41, p. 220.
** See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 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.
