No More Learning

" 7 Our saint's biographer remarks, that to
apples.
l8 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii
Baert remarks, that this prophecy could
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
Kevin's successors, all goods here and hereafter shall be taken from him. " 20
Afterwards, that happy young man, Foelan, reigned in his father's territory, with
the prayers and exhortations of St. Kevin and of St. Mochonna. Through the
merits of these saints, the principality continued in a flourishing state, under his
rule. At another time, this Foelan came to visit his fosterer, St. Kevin.
Some of his enemies, on hearing it, wished to take possession of his kingdom,
and they entered into a conspiracy against his life. But, the holy Abbot, hav-
ing a revelation to that effect, told what was designed to his beloved foster-
child while bestowing his blessing; and, St. Kevin told Foelan, that he should
safely return to his principality. Although the tanist had but a few followers
withhim; yet,trustinginhisholypatron'sbenediction,hewentbyadirect
route into his own part of the country. Both himself and his companions are
said to have appeared to their enemies, in the shape of deer, and
to have escaped through their ambushes, with a velocity characteristic
of those animals. This miracle was attributed to the benediction and patronage
11
At one time, three scholastics came to St. Kevin, from the plain of Lipsi,
as stated in the Life of our saint most ; but,
of St. Kevin.
probably,
meant, for, it is afterwards remarked, that the place was known as the level
plain of Leinster.
Whilst disputing among themselves, on some philo-
2 ^
one of
named Melerius, 24 the surpassed
them,
and, he ordered, that when these two young men who perpetrated that murder arrived, no welcome should be given to them. They were to be re- ceived only with reproachful words. This order was obeyed. Feeling mortified at their reception, those strangers said to each other, in a sorrowful manner : "Holy Father Kevin, already knowing our guilt, hath ordered this brother to receive us, with such asperity of manner ; let us act upon a good suggestion, anddopenance,byconfessingourcrimetohim. " St. Kevinsaidtothem: " O my children, you have committed an evil action, yet trust in the mercy of God, and return to him you have killed. Bear my staff with you, and plant it upon his breast. Place the head, also, which lies at his feet, upon the neck, in an exact manner, and I believe your companion shall be restored to life. For, no beast hath yet touched him, with the exception of a fox, which has lapped a little of his blood. " They went and did as they had been com- manded. He, who had been killed, arose to life, as if awaking from a pro- found sleep. All three rejoicing returned to St. Kevin. The scholastic, who had been raised to life, remained an obedient monk to the end of his days. The saint told him, that he should never go further from the monastery than
sophical questions,
others in argument. Being greatly incensed, his opponents beheaded him, in the valley of Cassain—probably Gleann-Dassain—already men- tioned. Although within his cell, St. Kevin knew what had taken place ;
not have been fulfilled
;
most
probably
for
O' — to the
Byrnes, previously English
Inva-
the reason, that Ireland's ancient septs were sion. "
Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of John
subdued, after the English Invasion. But, the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 250.
the subsequent condition might not have
been fulfilled, and must be taken into ac-
count.
23 Commenting on this account, Baert
says, he was ignorant regarding what Philo- sophy or Philosophers existed in Ireland, at this time, and that if the author had intro- duced Bards or Druids as quarrelling or con-
tending among themselves, he might per- haps have found some to believe him, as this should be an action becoming them,
24 It seems probable enough, that he, and also the other scholastics, were pursuing their studies at Glendalough, when this hap-
21
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii
iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. v. , num. 36, 37,
pp. 320.
22
That part of the present county of Kil- dare, embraced by the River Liffey in its
horse-shoe winding, was anciently called Oirthear-Liffe, i. e. , East of Liffey ; and that part lying west of the same winding was
called Iarthar-Liffey, i. e. . west of Liffey. pened.
Both districts belonged to the Ui-Faelain, or 2* It was customary for the Irish, to set up
the 22 is here Liffey
6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 3.
that spot, where he had been slain, and then only for the purpose of showing strangerstheirwaythroughthemountains. Atatime,whenthewriterofSt. Kevin's Acts lived, a cross 2S had been erected 26 on the spot,27 where that murder had been committed. 28 St. Kevin ordered, that on their return, the other two scholastics should go on a pilgrimage, and afterwards live religiously.
2 These recommendations, they faithfully observed. ?
ToSt. Kevinseveralliterarycompositionshavebeenascribed; but,the
authenticity of many mentioned may well be questioned. As a poet, he is said to have been distinguished. To him has been attributed a Rule for Monks, in Irish verse. 30 This Harris thinks is much more probable, than that he concerned himself, in writing profane history. The latter writer is of opinion, also, that the Rule for his Monks is hinted at in his Life, where we
his Rule to those monks, over whom he 1 Ano- presided. 3
that he
thertreatise,calledtheLeabharBreathnach32 orBookoftheBritons,33and a book on the origin of the Milesians,34 are ascribed to him. 35 We are told, likewise, St. Kevin was author of a Life of St. Patrick, among the many learned works, which are attributed to him, Archdall. 36 we must
read,
taught
by But,
suppose this to have been a mistake on his part, and he quotes no authority for such a statement. The Third Volume of theO'Longan Manuscripts, kept in the Royal Irish Academy, contains a poem of St. Comgan,3 ? probably St. Kevin. Besides his proficiency in poetry, like many others among the clerics of his
country, 38 St. Kevin was accustomed to play on the Irish harp. This relic of
the saint was preserved in the twelfth century, and it was held in especial re-
verence, by the people, then living in and near Glendalough. 30
A certain prince came to the venerable old man Kevin, that his zone or girdle might be blessed by the saint, for thus he hoped to escape the hands of his ene- mies. This girdle being blessed, on the return to his own country, a great crowd ofenemiessuddenlyrusheduponhim. But,withbeltgirton,hebeganto invoke the name of St. Kevin. Although surrounded by his enemies, on every
crosses in those places, where anything re- Writers," p. xlii.
3I "
maikable occurred. Harris Ware, vol. ii. , Writers of Ire-
26 It may easily be credited, that some land," book i. , chap, iii. , p. 22.
persons killed there had been raised from the dead by our saint, although circumstances attending this miracle appear fabulous.
32 According to Dr. Meredith Hanmer, it
27 It is the custom in Belgium, to plant a
cross on the spot, where any person had been
killed, that the faithful might be reminded of Leinster, sometime called the Book of to pray for the repose of the deceased. Baert Glendalough," &c, edited by Robert Atkin- supposes, the same custom formerly pre- son, M. A. , LL. D. The original is kept vailed in Ireland ; and hence, it is thought,
that the cross stood at this place, in memory
of some person who had been killed, and not
of a person who had been raised to life.
34 This probably is the one, intituled by Dr. Meredith Hanmer, " De Hibero et Her- 28 Even yet, it is usual, in Ireland, to place mone," lib. i. , Ilyber et Hermon. See
a cross over the spot, where any sudden or
violent death occurred. Acairn or of heap
"Chronicle of Ireland," p. 121.
3S See Edward "
O'Reilly's Chronological
small stones is often found in connexion with Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish "
it ; as passers-by were accustomed to take Writers, p. xlii.
up a stone on approaching, and to cast it on the pile, which thus by degrees increased in size. See "Irish Folk-Lore," &c, by Lageniensis, chap, xiii. , p. 88.
29 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. v. , num. 38, p. 320. Also, nn. (e, f, g), p. 321.
30 See Edward O'Reilly's "Chronological Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish
36 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 765. 3 ? It contains 48 stanzas. See pp. II, 12. 38 See Joseph C. Walker's "Historical
Memoirs of the Irish Bards," vol. i. , sect. iv. ,
p. 65.
39 See Giraldi Cambrensis "Opera," vol.
v. , Edited by James F. Dimock, M. A. "Topographia Hibernica," Distinctio iii. , cap. xii. , p. 155.
"
De Britanorum Origine," lib. "
was styled
i. , Bryto sive Brutus. See Chronicle of Ireland," p. 121.
33 It is said to be contained, in the " Book
among the Manuscripts of Trinity College, Dublin.
June 3. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 61
side, they were unable to see him. He passed unharmed among them, and
learning
fromtheirconversation,thathewasinvisibletothem. 40 WhenNiall's
posterity 4I and the men of the northern province entered the Leinster terri-
tory, in order to ravage it, the king of this latter province came to St. Kevin
and — counsel. But, the Abbot not perm—itting him to enter that
sought valley,
on the southern moun- tain's brow. 4 ^ Thence, the king sent 'messengers to St. Kevin, to whom this servant of God said : "According to human laws, a king should fight for the countrycommittedtohischarge,ifhecannototherwisedefendit. " Onhear- ing these words of the holy man, the king joyfully and readily marched forth
to battle. The result was a total defeat of the northerns, by the men of Leinster, as also a great slaughter of their invaders. 44 After this battle, the king, with his Leinster people, gave thank—s to God and to St. Kevin. ^
We
olderwritersofhisActs hasbeenplacedintheSecondClassofIrishSaints. A certain soldier, named Rotan, had a very beautiful head of hair, and he felt so vain, in consequence, that he cherished its growth with great care. He lived luxuriously and sinfully, to the utter neglect of his spiritual concerns. On hearing this, the holy senior Kevin felt much displeased. Blessing some water, he sent it to the soldier, ordering him therewith to wash his head. Sup- posing some advantage might be derived from this action, Rotan joyfully obeyed the order, when all his hair fell off; then, understanding that St. Kevin wished this result, he came and did penance before him, promising a future amendment of life. Accepting his repentance, the servant of God blessed his head. Immediately, other hair grew upon it sufficiently beautiful, butnotcomparabletothefirst. Then,returninghome,Rotangavethanksto Godandtohissaint,forall 4? Certainrobbersofthe called
tery. Those outlaws intended to attack a village, belonging to the people of Neill's posterity, and to slaughter its inhabitants. But, this infamous design had been revealed by the Lord to St. Kevin. Wherefore, not having any other messenger at hand, he ordered a certain man, named Guaire, who had been blind from the time of his birth, to warn those people, against the robbers' approach. Risingwithoutdelay,anAngeloftheLordrewardedtheblind
42
the king supposed to have been Brandubh stood
in or as he is most the
that St. Kev—
find, Coemgenus usually styled by
46
\J
blessings. country, Degha,48 came, and hid themselves in the mountains, near St. Kevin's monas-
40 See"Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
brated obtained victory
Junii iii. VitaS. Coemgeni, cap. v. , num. 39, p. 320.
41 If this invasion took place, after the
that the Nepotes Nielli must have been Aidus III. , surnamed Slane, grandson to Neill, and whose father was King Diermit, and Colman, his conjoint occupant of the kingdom ; both of whom perished, in the year 600, according to some authorities. The
"Annales " the Tigernachi give particulars
of their death ; at A. D. 604. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , pp. 177, 178.
42 A celebrated King of Leinster, the son
of Eachach, and who was undoubtedly con- temporaneous with our saint. His death is recorded by Tigernach, at A. D. 605. See ibid. , pp. 178, 179.
44 Allusion is probably made to the cele- Book of Rights," pp. 208, 209, n. (g).
by Brandubh, King of Leinster, over Cumuscagh, son of Aedh, and the Ulstermen, at the " Munimentum death of Aidus II. , Father Baert remarks, Dunbuiced," or Dunbolg. a. d. 597. See
i. ,
43
Kevin's Life, the Pine Tree of the King was portion of South Leinster. See John to be seen. O'Donovan's "Leabridrv w& g-CearvC, or the
There, in the time of the writer of St.
Dr. Charles O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernica-
rum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Annales Tiger- nachi, p, 160.
45 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. v. , num. 40, p. 320.
46 SeeUssher's "
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 474.
47 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. v. , num. 41, p. 320.
48 This district is said to have been in "regione Kenselach," or in the "Territory of Kinsellagh. " The people there dwelling were known as the Ui Ceinnsealaigh, and their country comprised a very considerable
Britannicarum Ecclesia-
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 3.
man's prompt obedience. He was safely led to the village and back, by a mira-
culous light. Giving thanks for this favour, the villagers betook themselves
to places of security, and the robbers departed without obtaining any booty. Then is told the story of a monk, named Berchan,49 who was sent on a journey by St. Kevin, to his tanner Cronan, who had desired a faithful person, to convey a confidential message to the holy Abbot. Cronan appears to have lived at a very considerable distance from Glendalough. We are told, that the monk Berchan had been sent alone, according to an ancient custom. Proceeding on his journey through the woods and lonely mountains, he was exposed to a great temptation. He met a young and beautiful woman on the way. Being alone, she represented herself as needing a guide through the wilderness, and besought the monk to allow her to proceed in his company.
Moved by her unprotected situation, Berchan promised he would conduct her in safety, through the desert towards her own habitation. Being a young man and of comely appearance, that female entertained an unlawful affection for him, and she sought to tempt him to a violation of his religious profession. He repelled, however, these advances, and even had recourse to force, that he might restrain her importunkies. Her conduct at length moved him to indignation, and he struck her several times. St. Cronan had a divine intima-
: tion,inhiscell,regardingwhathadoccurred,andhecriedout *'Ogood
brother,Berchan,actcourageouslybychastisingthatimproperwoman. " St. Kevin had a like intimation concerning this occurrence, while in his monastery,
:
andhetoocriedout "Omyson,mydearlybelovedBerchan,beindulgent,
and do not strike that wretch any more. " Afar from both saints, Berchan miraculously heard their words in the desert, and on recognising the com- mand of his holy superior, he did not chastise the woman longer. She became
a penitent. Berchan led her with him through the wilderness, as he had pro- mised. Afterwards, that female told her friends what had occurred on the way. She took occasion to extol the great sanctity of her conductor. After this, Berchan came to the cell of St. Cronan, who received him with joy, and praised him for his fortitude in resisting temptation. The monk was then sentbacktoSt. Kevin. Amongothermessages,Cronansaidtohim "Tell
:
our Father Kevin, that on the same day, I desire to depart with him to Christ. " On hearing this, St. Kevin said prophetically: "Both of us shall not go to Heaven,onthesamedayofthesameyear; however,onthefestivalofmy departure, but some time after it, he shall rest in Christ. Hereafter, our festival shall be solemnized, on the same day. 50 Such was afterwards the case. 51
A certain cruel soldier had frequently perpetrated robberies among those mountainridges. 52 Hehadneverdoneagoodactionbutone,whichwaspray- ing each day, that through St. Kevin's merits, his soul might be saved. On a
particular occasion, being surrounded by those who were in pursuit of him,
he was put to death, and afterwards cut to pieces.
An Angel of the Lord
" A certain wretched
invoked thee to ward off danger from his soul, is slain on this day. Do you,
then to Kevin appeared
saying :
who hath man, daily
*' He appears to have been a different
person, from one bearing the same name, and already mentioned.
50 Of the many St. Cronans mentioned in
the Martyrology of Tallagh, we do not find one set down at the 3rd of June. However, in
the Martyrology of Donegal, there is a Mochua, at this date, and he is probably to be identified with this Cronan.
51 See " Acta Sanctorum, "tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. vi. , num. 42,
43, 44, p. 321.
sa It should seem from this account, that
these wild desert mountains had given re- cesses of shelter for banditti and lawless persons, from very remote times. Such out- laws appear to have occasioned the utter ruin of the Once celebrated city of Glenda- lough, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, when this See was united to that of Dublin. See Harris Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops
of Glendalough," pp. 375 to 378.
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 63
therefore, act valiantly in the Lord's name, and follow the demons who drag
his soul to torments. For, although his body is destroyed, yet through the power of God, you shall snatch his soul from destruction. " Then, the holy Abbot felt comforted. Guided by the Angel, he was taken up from earth to the higher regions of air, where he remained from the ninth hour to the fol- lowing day, engaged in a contest with demons. In fine, through the mercy ofGod,hereleasedthewretchedman'ssoulfromtheirpower. Meantime, not knowing the cause of their holy Abbot's absence, his monks felt sorrow- ful, on finding their venerable superior missing. When he returned to them,
k ' O my brethren, bury the body of that culprit in your cemetery, for on his account, I ascended towards heaven. His soul is now liberated from the demons, and is at rest in God's presence. " The monks did as they were commanded, while admiring those wonders wrought bytheAlmighty,throughhisholyservant. " Acertainholyvirgin,named Cassayr,5* daughter to Aedha, on seeing the holy old man Kevin in the air, and clothed with rough skins, asked him in God's name, to receive better garments from her. But, the servant of God rejected them, lest Satan might tempt him through avarice. The virgin felt sorrowful, on account of his re- fusal. She afterwards placed herself, with all her religious daughters and her monastery, under the rule of St. Kevin. Then, the Angel of the Lord, taking his rough vesture from the holy old Abbot, who was decrepid, clothed him with garments offered by the virgin. Wherefore, St. Kevin, St. Cassayr, and
her nuns, returned thanks to God, on account of what had occurred. According to local tradition, that celebrated " Bed of St. Kevin,ss where this holy recluse was accustomed to retire for contemplation, had been formed by himselfartificiallyintoacave. Itisscoped,also,fromthefaceofaperpendicular rock, which rises steeply above the w—aters of the Upper Lake. This he appears to have chosenas aplace for retreat especially in his younger years; but, it is probable, in deciininglife,it must have become less accessible to him. Acertain man named Critan, and his enemies, had entered into a bond of peace, in St. Kevin's presence. He had enjoined, upon both parties, its solemn observance. But, after some time, a new occasion of disagreement arose between the dispu- tants. Nevertheless,theyagreedtorevisitSt. Kevin,andtorenewtheirengage- ments in his presence. But, his enemies quarrelled with Critan, on the way, and slew him. Afterwards, coming to St. Kevin, they began to slander the
deceased, by representing their own conduct, in the most justifiable light. St.
:
Kevin said to them " O wretches, what is this you falsely state, in my pre-
sence? Youhavekilledthismanto-day,notobservingyourengagements; and, I was present in spirit, when you slew him. Return to him, immedi-
ately, and say to him, he must come with you to me, that you may know, how
on the following day, he said
:
53 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. . Junii
Kevin's Bed, in Leinster. Latin verses of Father D.
See the Elegiac Nicholas Aylmer
iii. Vita S.
Coemgeni, cap. vi. ,
num.
45,
—
P- 321
s* Among the female saints of Ireland, we
search in vain for one so called. However, there are many holy women, named Lassar ; and, it is possible, this may have been the name found in the original account, the letter C having been substituted for L. It is pro- bable, she lived in or near Glendalough.
an Irish
with
the lines
-
Priest, beginning
:
" Historica
Hiberniae, seu Majoris Scotise, Insulae Sanc- for pilgrimage, in Ireland : these being, the torum," p. 47. New edition by Patrick
55 This became one of the four chief places
Mountain of Croagh Patrick in Connaught ; the Purgatory of St. Patrick, in Ulster ; St. Michael's Rock, in Munster j and St.
O'Kelly, translator of L'Abbe Ma-Geoghe- gan's "History of Ireland," Dublinii, 1838, 8vo.
" Quot loca devote cceli meditantibus arces,
Sanctorum meritis percelebrata tenet ? "
—
Guil. D.
O'Kelly's
Descriptio
64 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
precious in the sight of. Christ is the observance of good faith. " Doing as they had been commanded, the man who was killed arose from the dead, and came with them to St. Kevin ; when all of them did penance, at the blessed Abbot'srecommendation. Hewhohadbeenraisedtolife,gavethanksto the saint, magnifying the Lord in his works. 56
Near the portals of the cathedral at Glendalough 57 once grew "St. Kevin's yew-tree," which had an extraordinary width of trunk, and it stood until of late years. 58 That tree had become an object of great veneration to the neighbouring people. Traditionally, it was said to have been planted by our saint. Two men, being condemned to death by the King of Leinster, were led out for execution, to the plain of the Liffey. s° When they came to the place of execution, both offered up a prayer to St. Kevin, at the same time ; one of them asked, that he might obtain eternal life, the other, that he might live yet longer in this world. Although absent in body, the venerable Kevin was present in spirit ; and, in his cell, he besought the Lord, that their peti- tions might be granted. The Almighty heard their prayers, through the merits of his holy servant. One of those men was executed, and while com- mending himself to God, and to the aged Kevin's patronage, Angels conducted his soul to Heaven. But, the king's executioners vainly endeavoured,duringthewholeday,toputtheothermantodeath. 60 Towards evening, they asked him by what means or magic arts he was enabled to set
their efforts and at defiance. This man " You have heard weapons replied :
to-day, how I and my companion besought holy Kevin. He prayed for eternal and I for temporal life. Him you killed immediately, and the Angels of God received his soul ; but, I now see our holy Patron Kevin near me, warding off your weapons and strokes. " When these words had been reported to the king, he ordered this man to be set free, in honour of God and of St. Kevin. Being thus released, the culprit gave thanks to the Almighty and
61
to his venerable servant.
About the close of our saint's career, as his Acts narrate, a holy man
namedMocherog 62—who was by birth a Briton—seems to have had intimate spiritualrelationshipwiththeillustriousAbbot. Weareinformed,thathiscell
56 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. vi. , num. 46, 47, pp. 321, 322.