16
According
to the Archivist Herr Mone, in the Monastery of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Thewatersweretohimasifhewalkedondryland.
There, a certain rustic, seeing him walking back on the waters to the shore, congratulated him much on such a miraculous and rare circumstance.
The saint of God besought him, however, that he would not tell this occurrence to another, until after the death of the holy man had taken place.
But he the more related that miracle to all persons,'?
and thus without St.
Molyng's con- sent, his fame was promulgated.
St.
Moling governed his monastery there
in his own 6 The library. ?
man on
with his disciples. That book remained in the monastery of St. Molyng to the
for 8 many years;?
the time is not we are exactly specified. However,
holy
hearing
this thanks to Chiist gave
yet,
told in his Acts, that the holy senior would not appoint another presbyter in his place, for he well knew, that he was destined to close his life at Teach Moulin.
C H APTER II .
ST. MOLING'S VISITS TO GLENDALOUGH—THISHOLV MAN IS SAID TO HAVE SUCCEEDED ST. AIDAN AS BISHOP OF FERNS—ST. MOLYNG DIGS WITH HIS OWN HANDS A MILL- RACE—PILGRIMS VISIT THE PLACE—VARIOUS MIRACLES—ST. MOLYNG ARRESTS THE OSSORIANS AND THEIR PREY—HE EXTINGUISHES A FIRE AT FERNS—HIS FASTS.
1
Occasionally, he sojourned in Glendalough, that city founded by St.
Coemghen,2 and on one occasion, some of its monks came to invite St.
Molyng to become their guest. For some time, justly, piously, and prudently, St. Molyng ruled the See and parish of St. Coemgen, which were very exten-
sive, together with his own city St. Mullins, and he practised many virtues while he presided over them. 3 There is a vivid tradition * in the neighbourhood
of Clonmore, county of Carlow, that during the times when St. Moling was Abbot and Bishop, he took a most lively interest in the welfare of its monas-
tery, by visiting it repeatedly; while, on his frequent journeyings from Ferns and Ros-broc to Glendalough, he passed several days in the old monastery of his predecessor, Maidoc Ua Dunlaing. On a certain day, a woman offered a vessel full of milk to St. Molyng with his disciples, while on the road. The disciples of the saint wished to drink it greedily on the spot. St. Molyng then
rum," tomus iii. , Junii xvii. De S. Molingo sive Dayrgello Episcopo Fernensi in Hiber-
3 "This appears to be an error arising from the fact, that there was another Daircell,
Leslie Stephen, vol. xiii. , p. 380.
4 Such is the information I have received
from Mr. John M'Caul, 25 Patrick-street,
nia. Vita ex nostro MS.
a — who was contemporary, bishop
of Glenda- lough. " Rev. Thomas Olden, in " Dic- 7? See Mr, Patrick OLeary's "Ancient tionary ol National Biography," edited by
num. 8, p. 409.
Life of St. Molyng," pp. 5, 6.
78 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. —vi. , June 17, p. 249.
Dublin. A native of Clonmore, and
Chapter
'
11. See
Very
Rev. Michael
fully
Comerford's "Collections relating to the
Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin," vol. iii. ,
p. 305.
acquainted with local and general Irish his-
tory and traditions, he most obligingly sup-
plied the writer with many valuable notices,
a
See his Life, in the present volume, at
lor the present biography.
June 3rd,
Art. i.
5 See Mr. Patrick " Ancient U'Leary's
Salmanticensi,
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
699
said: "If you, my sons, knew what sort of beverage that milk is, as I know, you would not be desirous to drink it ; and, it shall soon appear to you what sortitis. " Then,thesaintofGodblessedwiththesignofthecrossthatvessel with the milk. Immediately, the vessel appeared full of clotted blood. The woman had mixed the milk with poison, in order that she might kill St. Molyng, with his disciples. For it displeased that woman, because St. Molyng inhabited there, and she acted thus on account of her friends. Wherefore, the disciples of the saint and all others who were present, on seeing the miracle, magnified the glory of Christ in his sairtts. s
In that city, formerly called Fearna, now Ferns, in the land of Hy-Kense-
lagh,
and more
anciently designated Fyrgailgan,
6 lived the
holy founder
St. Aidan, also denominated Odan, and called by the common people Moedoc
or Moedog, pronounced Mogue. During his time, the most blessed Bishop
Molyng sometimes visited that city, in which were his episcopal See and parish. The city of Fearna and Teach Molyng lay both within the territory of
Hy-Kinnsellagh ; and formerly, Ferns is said to have had a precedence over the other churches of Leinster. ? In the year 632, St. Moedoc departed this life,
and his See was thus deprived of its great pastor. Then, the King of Lein- ster and its citizens, taking counsel with the chief men of the province,8
according to the Life, sent a deputation to bring St. Molyng with them, whether he was willing or unwilling to succeed in that See. ' We find it stated,
that he complied with their wishes. Notwithstanding this assertion, we are not to suppose, that he was the second bishop or archbishop of Ferns; as others are named who preceded him, 10 and he is stated not to have been raised to that dignity until a. d. 69 1. " After having been abbot of Tegh Moling, his ancient Life states, that he succeeded St. Maidoc or Aidan, as Archbishop ofLeinster. 12 IntheSeeofFerns,andinitscity,hefrequentlypreachedthe words of eternal life, but this must be referred to a period nearly at the close
of the seventh century. He was styled Archbishop of Ferns, as the right of precedency which King Brandubh,^ the son of Cathach, had obtained for that See still continued in force. However, St. Moling very greatly loved
Teach Molyng, and there he preferred to spend the greater part of his life. As others were subject to himself, so would the holy father Molyng humble his own body, so that he might become subject to Christ. He dug the earth with a spade and other iron implements, and with his own hands, until he hadmadeachannelI4 fromacertainrivulet,throughroughandhighplaces,
Life of St. Molyng," pp. 6, 7. follows: A. D. 652, Dachuanus or Mochua-
6
This name it bore to the time of Enna, nus, Abbot of Ferns ; A. D. 662, Tuenocus, who had vanquished the Northerns. He Abbot of Ferns ; A. D. 676, Moeldogarius,
was afterwards called Kenselagh, because his face and whole body had been gieatly besmeared with the blood of his enemies.
Bishop of Ferns; A. D. 690, Diratius, Bishop of Ferns; A. D. 696, Molingus, Bishop of Ferns, at cap. v. , p. 223. The dates have reference to their death.
7 See Archbishop Ussher's
"
Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. ,
"
"
p. 449.
8 See Sir James Ware, "De Scriptoribus
Hiberniae," lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 22. Elsewhere, he is styled the Second Bishop of Ferns. See ibid. , cap. xiii. , p. 88.
9 Archbishop Ussher makes St. Moling to
have been the second prelate in tlie See of Diratus, who died A. D. 692. See Sir
Ferns. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, A. D.
dclxx. , p. 5^9.
10 See
Colgan's
nise," Januarii xxxi. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, where he gives the succession as
James Ware, "De Proesuhbus Lageniar,"
p. 55.
,3 Bran-dubh died A. D. 602, long King
before St. Maidoc of Ferns.
u The Jesuit Father Edmund Campion, in
his " Historie of Ireland," thus accounts for
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. hi. , chap, xviii. ,
p. 132, and n. 170, pp. 134, 135. "However, it does not appear, that he
was the immediate successor of St. Mogue, as we find a Comanus Bishop over that See, who died a. d. 675 ; afterwards, followed
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
700 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 17.
and drew the water to his own monastery, a distance of seven miles. 1 * Nor did he permit any of his disciples to give him assis—tance in digging the earth. This labour he continued to pursue every day Sundays and Festivals excepted—whether through storm or calm for eight years and several days.
6
It is related, that the Subine Geilt,' who went mad at the battle of Moira, a. d.
634, afterwards went to Teach-Moling, where he was murdered by Mongan, the swine-herd of St. Moling. He was interred there, with great honour in
1 ' An old
Molyng's herd had been found murdered, and the saint prophesied, that the
murderer should meet his death by being killed, burned, and drowned. This was fulfilled that very same night, for the perpetrator of the deed secreted him- selfinawoodbythesideoftheBarrow. Whennightcameon,hekindleda lar_re fire at the butt of a tree, and climbed up among the branches for safety. Therehavingfallenasleep,hefelldownintothefire, fromwhichhejumped into the river, where his body was swept away. This result fulfilled the saint's prophecytotheveryletter. DuringthewholetimethatSt. Moling'slabourat the watercourse lasted, he shed many penitential tears, often casting his eyes towards Heaven, and praying. Although wearied with the sweat of his body, and suffering from thirst, especially during the trying heats of summer, still lie never tasted that water, nor did he wash his face or body with it. When Lis labour drew to an end, 18 however, in the oblation of the Body and Blood
the church the founder and itself, by
patron.
story
has that St. it,
of he consecrated that water. At this Christ,
1 ? men many holy
consecration,
had assembled and assisted, walking through it against the flood, so far as that place where the rivulet was separated from the river. The holy Bishop
Molyng promised further, always on this earth, and afterwards in Heaven, to intercede for the sins of those, who should walk in the water that self-same
way.
20 This he wished to be in the nature of a practice
pilgrimage,
to the ofGod
endoftheworld. 21 He to promised, moreover,
implore
the
clemency
the construction of this ravine :
the successor of S. Madoc, being Bishop, tooke liimselfe to voluntary labour, and with his owne hands, drived a running spring to
was originally written in 1 57 1.
•s A legend is related of a temptation by
the devil, and presented to the holy man, while engiged at this work. This lie suc- cessfully resisted, as related in the Bollan- dists' "Acia Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Junii xvii. I)e S. Molingo sive D. iyigello, Epis- copo Fernensi in Ilibernia, Vita ex nostro MS. Salmanticensi, num. 3, p. 409.
16 According to the Archivist Herr Mone, in the Monastery of St. Paul, Carinthia, an ancient Irish Poem was discovered, and in it mention is made of him.
*i See Dr. O'Donovan's edition of the
" Battle of Magfa Rath," p. 236.
18 The visitor, who walks along this old
watercourse, as shown by the people, can well conceive the enormous labour it must have cost one man to undertake and exe- cute.
his that travaile Monastery, enduring
dayly, after pi aver and study, eight ye. ires together. "—Chap, xiiii. , p. 64. This work
9 It is stated, that the 25th of July—St.
James' Day—is the anniversary festival of the consecration of the stream or mill-
course, when completed by St. Molyng. St.
"
James' chapel corresponds with the remains of the little oratory at the head of the water- course.
20 The mode of expression used by Friar
Clyn in reference to a. d. " The Pil- 134S :
grimage and wading of the water," accu- rately describes the formula still observed by
pilgrims.
This watercourse or millrace, con- structed by St. Moling with h:s own haiuis, may still be distinctly traced. Itc nimenced at the monastery where his ancient mill was situated, of which there are many traditions and legends still told by the old people; and passing through the upper port of where the old graveyard now is, it crossed the green at the north side of the mo. it, where it can be easily traced ; and then continued its course to the left of Father Ferris's lane, which it crossed at a place known as the old pouni. It then leads along the face of the hill in a very deep cutting and crossing the hill of Tliomple-na- bo, at the lower side ot' the old limekiln, it continues on by the lower side oi the Glynn road for about a mile, to where the water was taken in from the Glynn river. At this placeare the remains of a small oratory, mea- suring interiorly about 18 feet by 10 feet, which tradition say- was the "sluice-man's house," whose busine-s it was to turn off the water, when not wanted at the mill, and to
Molingus,
"
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
701
for their souls, and that they might have rest with the just through the benig- nity of Christ. This rivulet became a place of very great pilgrimage in Ireland,
because from that day forward, very numerous crowds of both sexes assembled fromallpartsandatalltimestovisitthatrivulet. Theywalkedonitsshore, as was established by the ancients, and they washed themselves in that water! They hoped, that the filth of their sins, in the very washing of their bodiesj by the grace of God, and through the solicitation of the most blessed Father Molyng, should be washed away. Many miracles and prodigies were performed there, through the mercy of God,22 as stated in the ancient Life of
St. Molyng.
St. Mullin's Cemetery, County of Wexford.
tin a small square enclosure of the graveyard at St. Mullins, there is a stone
altar, which is arched overhead,23 and where, according to tradition, Mass used to be celebrated, in the penal times ; a scout posted on the top of the
adjoining moat, which could be seen through a small aperture over the altar, protected the priest and his congregation against a surprise. The cemetery
of carrying the dead around the graveyard. This is said to be of Pagan or Druid ical
origin, as representing the course of the sua round the earth, widen it is thought was the
belief of the Sun-worshippers. According to some, the round tower representing the earth was made the centre of the sacred circle, and the dead was buried to face the east,
thus meeting the rising sun ; just as Chris- tians are now, because we are told, that the
Sovereign Judge will come with the rising sun ; and our spiritual rulers are placed with face to the west, for they will have to stand facing their people, to give an account of their stewardship.
is much
or Tumulus 35 marks most probably, the last resting-place of some Irish war-
adjoining
frequented
for interments. 2* At St.
look after the weir, which was thrown across the river at this point. The old watercourse is something more than a mile in length, and not seven miles, as stated in his Life ; the seven had reference to the number of years he was engaged upon it.
22 See Very Rev. Michael Comerford's
" Collections relating to the Diocese of Kil-
dareand Leighlin," vol. hi. , pp. 308, 309. 2J The accompanying illustration has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Mil-
lard.
24 An old custom is preserved here, at
funerals, as in many other old burial places,
a Dun Mullins, great
702 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 17.
rior or chieftain of pagan antiquity. From this moat, a fine view may be obtained and embracing the old monastic ruins, the River Barrow flowing majestically on to the sea, with its elevated and richly wooded banks. It is joined at this spot by an humble tributary. This rivulet passes through a deep ravine, from the village of Glyn to St. Mullins. This is only the distance of one mile, and it presents many points of attraction 10 lovers of the pic-
26 to build an edifice for the honour of God in his own turesque. Wishing
monastery, a skilful builder was employed by the holy Abbot, and he began to do the work, which was ordered. That builder went on a certain day, together with his workmen, into a wood to cut timber for the use of that edifice. Hacking during the whole day a very large oak, about evening that tree fell precipitately, and contrary to their will, into the ditches and the dense wood of a very rough valley. The tradesmen could by no means split it there, or take it thence. Seeing this failure, alter much and useless labour, the workers
St. Molyng said to his workmen " Go and divide your log, which has been
:
brought to the port of our monastery, owing to the flood-tide and through
Divineagency. " Theyandothersranthither,andimmediatelyonwitnessing that miracle, they blessed God and their saint. 38
The holy bishop entertained a great love for and a most respectful homage towards the Most Blessed Trinity, as a result of his deep reli- gious feeling. The following is an instance furnished. At one time, he had employed a famous builder, who addressed his workmen at the early
:
dawnofday "Letusbeginourwork,inthenameoftheFatherandofthe
Son. " He omitted the name of the Holy Ghost. St. Molyng who was pre-
returned sad to their home. However, St. Molyng cried out
cheer, for this has been effected by the will of God. " Afterwards, the blessed man poured forth a prayer to the Lord, that he would assist and comfort his workmen. Whereupon, the good God, on account of the prayer of his servant, caused that log to be removed from its place in the River Berba. 2? When it had come in, the tide carried that tree to its proper place. In the morning,
"
duringthisday. " Nextmorning,thesamebuildersaidtohisworkmen,and
in like manner " In the name of the Father and of the Son, let us rise and
:
begin. " The Bishop again interposed : " Bathe to-day, and refresh your bodies. " On the third day, the builder said: "Rise speedily, as for these two days we have been sufficiently refreshed, and let us work in the name of the Father and of the Son. " On hearing this, St. Molyng interfered in a similarmanner. Andsoitwasdoneforaconsiderabletime,whilethesaint gavethelabourersdietandwages,asiftheyworked. Theyallwondered,
as " On the top of the moat maybe seen the Kildare and Leighlin," vol. iii. , pp. 314,
sent
replied :
To-day
you shall not
begin,
but whet
your
iron
implements
foundations of a building, probably a fort or
315.
breastwork constructed by the banes while "7 The Latin is M lignum. " Allusion is
"
in possession of St. Mullins ; they usually here made, probably, to the great yew
took advantage of those old pagan monu- ments when waging war against the native
Irish, and in this place could, by turning the water of St. Moling's mill-race into the surrounding trench, have made it a formida- ble fortress, at a time when the arrow and celt or spear were —the only known imple- ments of wariare. " "Ancient Life of St. Molyng," by Patrick O'Leaiy, pp. 8, 9,, and Notes (g), pp. 33, 34 (/), p. 3/ ; also, Ap- pendix, pp. 48, 49, 50, 52.
36 See Very Rev. Michael Comerford's •'Collections relating to the Diocese of
tree of Let hglen, known as the to Kossa, which fell, and St. Molaise divided it among
the saints of Ireland, and St. Moling having claimed his share sent lor the famous artist Goban to construct an oratory lor him of the wood. " —
:
Leslie " of Stephen's Dictionary
National Biography," vol. xiii. , p. 3S0.
28
It is said, parts of that timber were in the house ol God, when the author ol St. Moling's ancient Life had been written. It is probable, the tree was oak, which lasts for centuries in a dry place, and time appeals to have hardly any effect on Irish bog-oak.
M Be of good
June 17. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS.
703
not knowing the cause for their idleness ; but, the saint was unwilling to dis- close to them the reason, until the builder should make mention of the Holy Ghost. Bydivinegrace,hewasatlastinspired,andonacertainmorninghe
:
said "Inthenameofthe
saidwithacheerfulcountenance "
: To-day, you ought
Father,
let us begin on this good day our work. "
Holy Ghost, The holy bishop on hearing this
andofthe andofthe Son,
this day, the grace of the Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, has appeared to you. " Then, knowing that the holy father Molyng had hindered the builder, because their master did not say on every day, of the Holy Ghost, together with the mention of the Father and of the Son, all glorified the bishop, because he would labour only in the name of the Most
Holy Trinity.
At a certain time, the pious senior Molyng had assembled several persons
to remove a great rock from its place. This was an obstruction on a certain highway. Wishing to displace that stone, but being in no manner able, the
LagenianKing,whowasnamedDesgabur,cametothatspotoneday. The holy bishop Molyng applied to him, that with his army he would try to remove the stone from that road. Willingly the king and his army prepared for the work ; and, all began with the greatest labour and sweat to effect removal of
2
that stone. 9 Their efforts, however, were unavailing. Having declined to
continue the work with human assistance, St. Molyng entreated the Almighty that the barrier might be removed. On that very night, it was found, that through Divine aid, it had been fixed in the very place desired by St. Molyng. That king and all others, who knew and heard of this extraordinary miracle, effected through the holy man's prayers, gave praises to God. On a certain occasion, also, a great stone had been carried to St. Molyng by many persons; but, when near his monastery, it fell on the ground off the waggon, and it broke into two parts. The bishop had desired to make a dial of that stone. The carriers and craftsmen greatly lamented such an occurrence. However, going towards the broken stone, St. Molyng marked it with a sign of the cross. Owing to a prayer, which he offered, on the morrow that stone was found to be joined together, as if it had never been broken . 3° It was converted into
1
One day, while Molyng sat on the bank of the river, before his monastery, a certain woman approached him. The wretched mother bore a son lying dead onherbosom. SheentreatedthemanofGodwithearnestprayer,andin tears, that he would resuscitate her only son, who was very young, from death.
: ThemanofGod,mistrustfulofhisownmerits,saidtoher "Itisnotmy
province, woman, but bury him, and pray to God for yourself and for him. " The saint of God was unwilling, that the fame of raising the dead should be spread abroad. Seeing that St. Molyng was hesitating to resuscitate her son, that woman cast the cold corpse from her arms, and it fell on the saint's bosom. Beinggreatlyastonished,heimmediatelythrewthecorpseintotheriver. The holy man afterwards touching that boy, he was resuscitated instantly through the power of God. He began to swim skilfully, of which art he was ignorant before, and he went straight to St. Molyng. The holy bishop, seeing him alive and swimming, took him up cheerfully out of the water. Then, the saint
torum Hibernise," ex Codice Salmanticensi, &c. Opera Caroli de Smedt et Josephi de Backer, e soc. Jesu, Acta Sancti Moling,
•
3* The writer of the old Lite ot bt. Molyng, in the Liber Kilkennensis, relates, it was to be seen in his tune.
a dial, and for a long time subsequent, the mark of that breakage was visible. 3 Those who had before grieved at the accident, then rejoiced exceedingly.
=5 la the Legend of our saint's Life, as
published in the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," this action is attributed to the Ossorian
army. See tomus iii. , Junii xvii. De S. num. 2, col. 820.
Molingo sive Dayrgello, Episcopo Fernensi
in Hibernia, num. 2, p. 409.
30 See the Marquis of Bute's ' ' Acta Sane-
to becauseon begin,
704 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17.
returned that boy to his mother, giving thanks to Christ. She who had come in
thegreatestgrief, whencarryingthedeadcorpse,returnedhomeveryjoyfulwith her son revived. Walking with her on their way home, she magnified God and the merits of his saint. Another boy, and a paralytic, who was leprous, blind, dumb, and lame, with his parents hardly able to feed him, was brought to St. Molyng, that he might be cured in the name of Christ. This lie undertook to do. 32 Then, St. Molyng warmed a caldron full of water, while the other brethrenwereengagedatotheroccupations. ThemanofGod,seeingtheboy's wretchedness, took him and put him into the water, and immediately he was healed from all his infirmities. Being restored, he gave thanks to God. He then returned to his own people.
During the time of St. Moling, the people of Ossory, who lived in the
western tract of Leinster, and on the borders of Munster, owed allegiance to
the King of Leinster. However, owing to some unexplained cause, they re-
belledagainsthisauthority. Accordingly,theKingoftheLageniansmarched to attack them with an army, and he devastated the country of Ossory. 33 He
brought from it great plunder, with preys of herds and flocks. Whereupon, greatly commiserating the people who had been plundered, his sense of justice and of compassion having been greatly excited, St. Molyng went forth from his place to meet the Lagenians. Praying and looking up to Heaven, he stood opposed to the cattle. The army could neither urge the animals forward by cries nor by lashes, so long as he remained there, and the Leinster people all believed, that Heaven was not on their side. Accordingly, they resolved to deliver all their preys and plunder to St. Molyng. These he afterwards returned to the Ossorians. Ho\ve\er, as a reward for their ready compliance, he blessed the Lagenians, and he assured them, that the Ossorians should
soon become subject to them. This prediction came to pass. According to a local tradition,35 the foregoing occurrences happened at a place, where, to commemorate the event, St. Moyling afterward built a little church or oratory, called Thornpie na-bo, or the Church of the Cows. There,36 as it
"
3* See the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Junii xvii. De S. Molingo sive
Dayrgello, Fpiscopo Fernensi in Hibemia, Vita ex nostro MS. Salmanticensi, num. 5,
trust in God, and going out from his monas- tery, he met the cattle coming near the top of
thehillofThomple-na-bo,andmakingthesign of the cross at the place, the cattle all com- menced 'gadding,' so that all the king's
6, p. 409.
33 At the year 688, in the Annals of army couldn't get any good of them ; and
Clonmacnoise," there is an account of a battle between the Leinstermen and those of Ossory. In the " Annals of the Four Masters," it is placed at a. d.
in his own 6 The library. ?
man on
with his disciples. That book remained in the monastery of St. Molyng to the
for 8 many years;?
the time is not we are exactly specified. However,
holy
hearing
this thanks to Chiist gave
yet,
told in his Acts, that the holy senior would not appoint another presbyter in his place, for he well knew, that he was destined to close his life at Teach Moulin.
C H APTER II .
ST. MOLING'S VISITS TO GLENDALOUGH—THISHOLV MAN IS SAID TO HAVE SUCCEEDED ST. AIDAN AS BISHOP OF FERNS—ST. MOLYNG DIGS WITH HIS OWN HANDS A MILL- RACE—PILGRIMS VISIT THE PLACE—VARIOUS MIRACLES—ST. MOLYNG ARRESTS THE OSSORIANS AND THEIR PREY—HE EXTINGUISHES A FIRE AT FERNS—HIS FASTS.
1
Occasionally, he sojourned in Glendalough, that city founded by St.
Coemghen,2 and on one occasion, some of its monks came to invite St.
Molyng to become their guest. For some time, justly, piously, and prudently, St. Molyng ruled the See and parish of St. Coemgen, which were very exten-
sive, together with his own city St. Mullins, and he practised many virtues while he presided over them. 3 There is a vivid tradition * in the neighbourhood
of Clonmore, county of Carlow, that during the times when St. Moling was Abbot and Bishop, he took a most lively interest in the welfare of its monas-
tery, by visiting it repeatedly; while, on his frequent journeyings from Ferns and Ros-broc to Glendalough, he passed several days in the old monastery of his predecessor, Maidoc Ua Dunlaing. On a certain day, a woman offered a vessel full of milk to St. Molyng with his disciples, while on the road. The disciples of the saint wished to drink it greedily on the spot. St. Molyng then
rum," tomus iii. , Junii xvii. De S. Molingo sive Dayrgello Episcopo Fernensi in Hiber-
3 "This appears to be an error arising from the fact, that there was another Daircell,
Leslie Stephen, vol. xiii. , p. 380.
4 Such is the information I have received
from Mr. John M'Caul, 25 Patrick-street,
nia. Vita ex nostro MS.
a — who was contemporary, bishop
of Glenda- lough. " Rev. Thomas Olden, in " Dic- 7? See Mr, Patrick OLeary's "Ancient tionary ol National Biography," edited by
num. 8, p. 409.
Life of St. Molyng," pp. 5, 6.
78 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. —vi. , June 17, p. 249.
Dublin. A native of Clonmore, and
Chapter
'
11. See
Very
Rev. Michael
fully
Comerford's "Collections relating to the
Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin," vol. iii. ,
p. 305.
acquainted with local and general Irish his-
tory and traditions, he most obligingly sup-
plied the writer with many valuable notices,
a
See his Life, in the present volume, at
lor the present biography.
June 3rd,
Art. i.
5 See Mr. Patrick " Ancient U'Leary's
Salmanticensi,
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
699
said: "If you, my sons, knew what sort of beverage that milk is, as I know, you would not be desirous to drink it ; and, it shall soon appear to you what sortitis. " Then,thesaintofGodblessedwiththesignofthecrossthatvessel with the milk. Immediately, the vessel appeared full of clotted blood. The woman had mixed the milk with poison, in order that she might kill St. Molyng, with his disciples. For it displeased that woman, because St. Molyng inhabited there, and she acted thus on account of her friends. Wherefore, the disciples of the saint and all others who were present, on seeing the miracle, magnified the glory of Christ in his sairtts. s
In that city, formerly called Fearna, now Ferns, in the land of Hy-Kense-
lagh,
and more
anciently designated Fyrgailgan,
6 lived the
holy founder
St. Aidan, also denominated Odan, and called by the common people Moedoc
or Moedog, pronounced Mogue. During his time, the most blessed Bishop
Molyng sometimes visited that city, in which were his episcopal See and parish. The city of Fearna and Teach Molyng lay both within the territory of
Hy-Kinnsellagh ; and formerly, Ferns is said to have had a precedence over the other churches of Leinster. ? In the year 632, St. Moedoc departed this life,
and his See was thus deprived of its great pastor. Then, the King of Lein- ster and its citizens, taking counsel with the chief men of the province,8
according to the Life, sent a deputation to bring St. Molyng with them, whether he was willing or unwilling to succeed in that See. ' We find it stated,
that he complied with their wishes. Notwithstanding this assertion, we are not to suppose, that he was the second bishop or archbishop of Ferns; as others are named who preceded him, 10 and he is stated not to have been raised to that dignity until a. d. 69 1. " After having been abbot of Tegh Moling, his ancient Life states, that he succeeded St. Maidoc or Aidan, as Archbishop ofLeinster. 12 IntheSeeofFerns,andinitscity,hefrequentlypreachedthe words of eternal life, but this must be referred to a period nearly at the close
of the seventh century. He was styled Archbishop of Ferns, as the right of precedency which King Brandubh,^ the son of Cathach, had obtained for that See still continued in force. However, St. Moling very greatly loved
Teach Molyng, and there he preferred to spend the greater part of his life. As others were subject to himself, so would the holy father Molyng humble his own body, so that he might become subject to Christ. He dug the earth with a spade and other iron implements, and with his own hands, until he hadmadeachannelI4 fromacertainrivulet,throughroughandhighplaces,
Life of St. Molyng," pp. 6, 7. follows: A. D. 652, Dachuanus or Mochua-
6
This name it bore to the time of Enna, nus, Abbot of Ferns ; A. D. 662, Tuenocus, who had vanquished the Northerns. He Abbot of Ferns ; A. D. 676, Moeldogarius,
was afterwards called Kenselagh, because his face and whole body had been gieatly besmeared with the blood of his enemies.
Bishop of Ferns; A. D. 690, Diratius, Bishop of Ferns; A. D. 696, Molingus, Bishop of Ferns, at cap. v. , p. 223. The dates have reference to their death.
7 See Archbishop Ussher's
"
Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. ,
"
"
p. 449.
8 See Sir James Ware, "De Scriptoribus
Hiberniae," lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 22. Elsewhere, he is styled the Second Bishop of Ferns. See ibid. , cap. xiii. , p. 88.
9 Archbishop Ussher makes St. Moling to
have been the second prelate in tlie See of Diratus, who died A. D. 692. See Sir
Ferns. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, A. D.
dclxx. , p. 5^9.
10 See
Colgan's
nise," Januarii xxxi. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, where he gives the succession as
James Ware, "De Proesuhbus Lageniar,"
p. 55.
,3 Bran-dubh died A. D. 602, long King
before St. Maidoc of Ferns.
u The Jesuit Father Edmund Campion, in
his " Historie of Ireland," thus accounts for
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. hi. , chap, xviii. ,
p. 132, and n. 170, pp. 134, 135. "However, it does not appear, that he
was the immediate successor of St. Mogue, as we find a Comanus Bishop over that See, who died a. d. 675 ; afterwards, followed
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
700 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 17.
and drew the water to his own monastery, a distance of seven miles. 1 * Nor did he permit any of his disciples to give him assis—tance in digging the earth. This labour he continued to pursue every day Sundays and Festivals excepted—whether through storm or calm for eight years and several days.
6
It is related, that the Subine Geilt,' who went mad at the battle of Moira, a. d.
634, afterwards went to Teach-Moling, where he was murdered by Mongan, the swine-herd of St. Moling. He was interred there, with great honour in
1 ' An old
Molyng's herd had been found murdered, and the saint prophesied, that the
murderer should meet his death by being killed, burned, and drowned. This was fulfilled that very same night, for the perpetrator of the deed secreted him- selfinawoodbythesideoftheBarrow. Whennightcameon,hekindleda lar_re fire at the butt of a tree, and climbed up among the branches for safety. Therehavingfallenasleep,hefelldownintothefire, fromwhichhejumped into the river, where his body was swept away. This result fulfilled the saint's prophecytotheveryletter. DuringthewholetimethatSt. Moling'slabourat the watercourse lasted, he shed many penitential tears, often casting his eyes towards Heaven, and praying. Although wearied with the sweat of his body, and suffering from thirst, especially during the trying heats of summer, still lie never tasted that water, nor did he wash his face or body with it. When Lis labour drew to an end, 18 however, in the oblation of the Body and Blood
the church the founder and itself, by
patron.
story
has that St. it,
of he consecrated that water. At this Christ,
1 ? men many holy
consecration,
had assembled and assisted, walking through it against the flood, so far as that place where the rivulet was separated from the river. The holy Bishop
Molyng promised further, always on this earth, and afterwards in Heaven, to intercede for the sins of those, who should walk in the water that self-same
way.
20 This he wished to be in the nature of a practice
pilgrimage,
to the ofGod
endoftheworld. 21 He to promised, moreover,
implore
the
clemency
the construction of this ravine :
the successor of S. Madoc, being Bishop, tooke liimselfe to voluntary labour, and with his owne hands, drived a running spring to
was originally written in 1 57 1.
•s A legend is related of a temptation by
the devil, and presented to the holy man, while engiged at this work. This lie suc- cessfully resisted, as related in the Bollan- dists' "Acia Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Junii xvii. I)e S. Molingo sive D. iyigello, Epis- copo Fernensi in Ilibernia, Vita ex nostro MS. Salmanticensi, num. 3, p. 409.
16 According to the Archivist Herr Mone, in the Monastery of St. Paul, Carinthia, an ancient Irish Poem was discovered, and in it mention is made of him.
*i See Dr. O'Donovan's edition of the
" Battle of Magfa Rath," p. 236.
18 The visitor, who walks along this old
watercourse, as shown by the people, can well conceive the enormous labour it must have cost one man to undertake and exe- cute.
his that travaile Monastery, enduring
dayly, after pi aver and study, eight ye. ires together. "—Chap, xiiii. , p. 64. This work
9 It is stated, that the 25th of July—St.
James' Day—is the anniversary festival of the consecration of the stream or mill-
course, when completed by St. Molyng. St.
"
James' chapel corresponds with the remains of the little oratory at the head of the water- course.
20 The mode of expression used by Friar
Clyn in reference to a. d. " The Pil- 134S :
grimage and wading of the water," accu- rately describes the formula still observed by
pilgrims.
This watercourse or millrace, con- structed by St. Moling with h:s own haiuis, may still be distinctly traced. Itc nimenced at the monastery where his ancient mill was situated, of which there are many traditions and legends still told by the old people; and passing through the upper port of where the old graveyard now is, it crossed the green at the north side of the mo. it, where it can be easily traced ; and then continued its course to the left of Father Ferris's lane, which it crossed at a place known as the old pouni. It then leads along the face of the hill in a very deep cutting and crossing the hill of Tliomple-na- bo, at the lower side ot' the old limekiln, it continues on by the lower side oi the Glynn road for about a mile, to where the water was taken in from the Glynn river. At this placeare the remains of a small oratory, mea- suring interiorly about 18 feet by 10 feet, which tradition say- was the "sluice-man's house," whose busine-s it was to turn off the water, when not wanted at the mill, and to
Molingus,
"
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
701
for their souls, and that they might have rest with the just through the benig- nity of Christ. This rivulet became a place of very great pilgrimage in Ireland,
because from that day forward, very numerous crowds of both sexes assembled fromallpartsandatalltimestovisitthatrivulet. Theywalkedonitsshore, as was established by the ancients, and they washed themselves in that water! They hoped, that the filth of their sins, in the very washing of their bodiesj by the grace of God, and through the solicitation of the most blessed Father Molyng, should be washed away. Many miracles and prodigies were performed there, through the mercy of God,22 as stated in the ancient Life of
St. Molyng.
St. Mullin's Cemetery, County of Wexford.
tin a small square enclosure of the graveyard at St. Mullins, there is a stone
altar, which is arched overhead,23 and where, according to tradition, Mass used to be celebrated, in the penal times ; a scout posted on the top of the
adjoining moat, which could be seen through a small aperture over the altar, protected the priest and his congregation against a surprise. The cemetery
of carrying the dead around the graveyard. This is said to be of Pagan or Druid ical
origin, as representing the course of the sua round the earth, widen it is thought was the
belief of the Sun-worshippers. According to some, the round tower representing the earth was made the centre of the sacred circle, and the dead was buried to face the east,
thus meeting the rising sun ; just as Chris- tians are now, because we are told, that the
Sovereign Judge will come with the rising sun ; and our spiritual rulers are placed with face to the west, for they will have to stand facing their people, to give an account of their stewardship.
is much
or Tumulus 35 marks most probably, the last resting-place of some Irish war-
adjoining
frequented
for interments. 2* At St.
look after the weir, which was thrown across the river at this point. The old watercourse is something more than a mile in length, and not seven miles, as stated in his Life ; the seven had reference to the number of years he was engaged upon it.
22 See Very Rev. Michael Comerford's
" Collections relating to the Diocese of Kil-
dareand Leighlin," vol. hi. , pp. 308, 309. 2J The accompanying illustration has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Mil-
lard.
24 An old custom is preserved here, at
funerals, as in many other old burial places,
a Dun Mullins, great
702 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 17.
rior or chieftain of pagan antiquity. From this moat, a fine view may be obtained and embracing the old monastic ruins, the River Barrow flowing majestically on to the sea, with its elevated and richly wooded banks. It is joined at this spot by an humble tributary. This rivulet passes through a deep ravine, from the village of Glyn to St. Mullins. This is only the distance of one mile, and it presents many points of attraction 10 lovers of the pic-
26 to build an edifice for the honour of God in his own turesque. Wishing
monastery, a skilful builder was employed by the holy Abbot, and he began to do the work, which was ordered. That builder went on a certain day, together with his workmen, into a wood to cut timber for the use of that edifice. Hacking during the whole day a very large oak, about evening that tree fell precipitately, and contrary to their will, into the ditches and the dense wood of a very rough valley. The tradesmen could by no means split it there, or take it thence. Seeing this failure, alter much and useless labour, the workers
St. Molyng said to his workmen " Go and divide your log, which has been
:
brought to the port of our monastery, owing to the flood-tide and through
Divineagency. " Theyandothersranthither,andimmediatelyonwitnessing that miracle, they blessed God and their saint. 38
The holy bishop entertained a great love for and a most respectful homage towards the Most Blessed Trinity, as a result of his deep reli- gious feeling. The following is an instance furnished. At one time, he had employed a famous builder, who addressed his workmen at the early
:
dawnofday "Letusbeginourwork,inthenameoftheFatherandofthe
Son. " He omitted the name of the Holy Ghost. St. Molyng who was pre-
returned sad to their home. However, St. Molyng cried out
cheer, for this has been effected by the will of God. " Afterwards, the blessed man poured forth a prayer to the Lord, that he would assist and comfort his workmen. Whereupon, the good God, on account of the prayer of his servant, caused that log to be removed from its place in the River Berba. 2? When it had come in, the tide carried that tree to its proper place. In the morning,
"
duringthisday. " Nextmorning,thesamebuildersaidtohisworkmen,and
in like manner " In the name of the Father and of the Son, let us rise and
:
begin. " The Bishop again interposed : " Bathe to-day, and refresh your bodies. " On the third day, the builder said: "Rise speedily, as for these two days we have been sufficiently refreshed, and let us work in the name of the Father and of the Son. " On hearing this, St. Molyng interfered in a similarmanner. Andsoitwasdoneforaconsiderabletime,whilethesaint gavethelabourersdietandwages,asiftheyworked. Theyallwondered,
as " On the top of the moat maybe seen the Kildare and Leighlin," vol. iii. , pp. 314,
sent
replied :
To-day
you shall not
begin,
but whet
your
iron
implements
foundations of a building, probably a fort or
315.
breastwork constructed by the banes while "7 The Latin is M lignum. " Allusion is
"
in possession of St. Mullins ; they usually here made, probably, to the great yew
took advantage of those old pagan monu- ments when waging war against the native
Irish, and in this place could, by turning the water of St. Moling's mill-race into the surrounding trench, have made it a formida- ble fortress, at a time when the arrow and celt or spear were —the only known imple- ments of wariare. " "Ancient Life of St. Molyng," by Patrick O'Leaiy, pp. 8, 9,, and Notes (g), pp. 33, 34 (/), p. 3/ ; also, Ap- pendix, pp. 48, 49, 50, 52.
36 See Very Rev. Michael Comerford's •'Collections relating to the Diocese of
tree of Let hglen, known as the to Kossa, which fell, and St. Molaise divided it among
the saints of Ireland, and St. Moling having claimed his share sent lor the famous artist Goban to construct an oratory lor him of the wood. " —
:
Leslie " of Stephen's Dictionary
National Biography," vol. xiii. , p. 3S0.
28
It is said, parts of that timber were in the house ol God, when the author ol St. Moling's ancient Life had been written. It is probable, the tree was oak, which lasts for centuries in a dry place, and time appeals to have hardly any effect on Irish bog-oak.
M Be of good
June 17. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS.
703
not knowing the cause for their idleness ; but, the saint was unwilling to dis- close to them the reason, until the builder should make mention of the Holy Ghost. Bydivinegrace,hewasatlastinspired,andonacertainmorninghe
:
said "Inthenameofthe
saidwithacheerfulcountenance "
: To-day, you ought
Father,
let us begin on this good day our work. "
Holy Ghost, The holy bishop on hearing this
andofthe andofthe Son,
this day, the grace of the Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, has appeared to you. " Then, knowing that the holy father Molyng had hindered the builder, because their master did not say on every day, of the Holy Ghost, together with the mention of the Father and of the Son, all glorified the bishop, because he would labour only in the name of the Most
Holy Trinity.
At a certain time, the pious senior Molyng had assembled several persons
to remove a great rock from its place. This was an obstruction on a certain highway. Wishing to displace that stone, but being in no manner able, the
LagenianKing,whowasnamedDesgabur,cametothatspotoneday. The holy bishop Molyng applied to him, that with his army he would try to remove the stone from that road. Willingly the king and his army prepared for the work ; and, all began with the greatest labour and sweat to effect removal of
2
that stone. 9 Their efforts, however, were unavailing. Having declined to
continue the work with human assistance, St. Molyng entreated the Almighty that the barrier might be removed. On that very night, it was found, that through Divine aid, it had been fixed in the very place desired by St. Molyng. That king and all others, who knew and heard of this extraordinary miracle, effected through the holy man's prayers, gave praises to God. On a certain occasion, also, a great stone had been carried to St. Molyng by many persons; but, when near his monastery, it fell on the ground off the waggon, and it broke into two parts. The bishop had desired to make a dial of that stone. The carriers and craftsmen greatly lamented such an occurrence. However, going towards the broken stone, St. Molyng marked it with a sign of the cross. Owing to a prayer, which he offered, on the morrow that stone was found to be joined together, as if it had never been broken . 3° It was converted into
1
One day, while Molyng sat on the bank of the river, before his monastery, a certain woman approached him. The wretched mother bore a son lying dead onherbosom. SheentreatedthemanofGodwithearnestprayer,andin tears, that he would resuscitate her only son, who was very young, from death.
: ThemanofGod,mistrustfulofhisownmerits,saidtoher "Itisnotmy
province, woman, but bury him, and pray to God for yourself and for him. " The saint of God was unwilling, that the fame of raising the dead should be spread abroad. Seeing that St. Molyng was hesitating to resuscitate her son, that woman cast the cold corpse from her arms, and it fell on the saint's bosom. Beinggreatlyastonished,heimmediatelythrewthecorpseintotheriver. The holy man afterwards touching that boy, he was resuscitated instantly through the power of God. He began to swim skilfully, of which art he was ignorant before, and he went straight to St. Molyng. The holy bishop, seeing him alive and swimming, took him up cheerfully out of the water. Then, the saint
torum Hibernise," ex Codice Salmanticensi, &c. Opera Caroli de Smedt et Josephi de Backer, e soc. Jesu, Acta Sancti Moling,
•
3* The writer of the old Lite ot bt. Molyng, in the Liber Kilkennensis, relates, it was to be seen in his tune.
a dial, and for a long time subsequent, the mark of that breakage was visible. 3 Those who had before grieved at the accident, then rejoiced exceedingly.
=5 la the Legend of our saint's Life, as
published in the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," this action is attributed to the Ossorian
army. See tomus iii. , Junii xvii. De S. num. 2, col. 820.
Molingo sive Dayrgello, Episcopo Fernensi
in Hibernia, num. 2, p. 409.
30 See the Marquis of Bute's ' ' Acta Sane-
to becauseon begin,
704 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17.
returned that boy to his mother, giving thanks to Christ. She who had come in
thegreatestgrief, whencarryingthedeadcorpse,returnedhomeveryjoyfulwith her son revived. Walking with her on their way home, she magnified God and the merits of his saint. Another boy, and a paralytic, who was leprous, blind, dumb, and lame, with his parents hardly able to feed him, was brought to St. Molyng, that he might be cured in the name of Christ. This lie undertook to do. 32 Then, St. Molyng warmed a caldron full of water, while the other brethrenwereengagedatotheroccupations. ThemanofGod,seeingtheboy's wretchedness, took him and put him into the water, and immediately he was healed from all his infirmities. Being restored, he gave thanks to God. He then returned to his own people.
During the time of St. Moling, the people of Ossory, who lived in the
western tract of Leinster, and on the borders of Munster, owed allegiance to
the King of Leinster. However, owing to some unexplained cause, they re-
belledagainsthisauthority. Accordingly,theKingoftheLageniansmarched to attack them with an army, and he devastated the country of Ossory. 33 He
brought from it great plunder, with preys of herds and flocks. Whereupon, greatly commiserating the people who had been plundered, his sense of justice and of compassion having been greatly excited, St. Molyng went forth from his place to meet the Lagenians. Praying and looking up to Heaven, he stood opposed to the cattle. The army could neither urge the animals forward by cries nor by lashes, so long as he remained there, and the Leinster people all believed, that Heaven was not on their side. Accordingly, they resolved to deliver all their preys and plunder to St. Molyng. These he afterwards returned to the Ossorians. Ho\ve\er, as a reward for their ready compliance, he blessed the Lagenians, and he assured them, that the Ossorians should
soon become subject to them. This prediction came to pass. According to a local tradition,35 the foregoing occurrences happened at a place, where, to commemorate the event, St. Moyling afterward built a little church or oratory, called Thornpie na-bo, or the Church of the Cows. There,36 as it
"
3* See the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Junii xvii. De S. Molingo sive
Dayrgello, Fpiscopo Fernensi in Hibemia, Vita ex nostro MS. Salmanticensi, num. 5,
trust in God, and going out from his monas- tery, he met the cattle coming near the top of
thehillofThomple-na-bo,andmakingthesign of the cross at the place, the cattle all com- menced 'gadding,' so that all the king's
6, p. 409.
33 At the year 688, in the Annals of army couldn't get any good of them ; and
Clonmacnoise," there is an account of a battle between the Leinstermen and those of Ossory. In the " Annals of the Four Masters," it is placed at a. d.
