No More Learning

57 See his Life in the Third Volume of
this work, at March 16th, Art. i.
s8 See Professor " Lee Eugene O'Curry's
;
s 3 The other three were, St. Patrick, St. Colum-kille, and St. Braccan, or Berchan. The latter was the Bishop and Prophet of God, of Clonsast in Eli-Failghe, and whose feast occurs on the 4th of December, in the "
Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves. See pp. 326,
"Transactions
7i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17.
been ascribed to him, than to any of our early saints. 58 He is said to have
been the writer of other works, such as the Yellow Book of St. Moling, which
was extant in the year 1630. 59 It is now supposed to be lost. Colgan
60
informs 11s,
intercession,61 and invoked his aid as a tutelary saint.
that St. Moling in his writings often prayed for St. Comgan's He also prayed to St.
62 of Athfoda, now
Bishop Ahade, county
A peculiarity of St. Molyng's humane disposition was his kindness towards irrational animals. At one time, weary and wandering, thirty
hounds came to him. The holy prelate desired, that a place should
be prepared for their reception and feeding. Thirty loaves with butter he ordered to be distributed among them. Meantime, while these pre- parations were making, fifteen of the number strayed away to find an exit from that place. When the attendants were ready to lay their food before the hounds, they informed St. Molyng, that one half of them was
or
festival was formerly observed there. 63
of and whose Carlow,
Id,
Idus,
found to be
missing.
" Give the whole of what have to those you prepared
" and those other hounds shall soon return. "
said the
When the thirty buttered loaves had been laid before the fifteen hounds,
remaining,"
saint,
every one of these took one loaf each and eat it.
they neither touched nor ate. The missing hounds coming, in like manner, every one of them took a loaf and eat it. After this refreshment of their
strength, they came out where the man of God stood. They expressed joy before him, after the manner of dogs, as if thanking him for their repast, with theirearsandtailsinmotion. Afterwards,theholymangavethemleaveto go. Then running, they leaped forth and went rejoicing on their way. Seeing and hearing of so great a manifestation of the brute animals, in presence of St. Molyng, all persons magnified the grace of Christ which was found in him.
On a certain day, as the holy bishop Molyng was reading, and sitting in a certain place with his Master, that bird, which is called the magician or diviner 6* of birds, came to him. It is regarded as the smallest bird. 65 It had a fly alive, and screeching in its bill. While that little bird, in the sight of the man of God, was engaged devouring the fly, a cat seized the little bird itself, and instantly killed it, and began greedily to eat it. Seeing this, Molyng was moved by the fate of that creature, and he commanded the cat to throw back the little bird out of his jaws. Instantly, hearing the voice of the saint, that cat cast forth with fear and trembling, from his throat, on the ground, the diviner bird. It was dead and half eaten. Making the sign of the cross on the dead creature, the bird rose up alive and sound, although before made bloody with
tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. xx. , p. 420, and pp.
427, 428. It appears now to be the opinion of some among our modern antiquarians, that there were two Maidocs, Bishops of
"
Chronicon Scoto- rum," died a. d. 656, on January 31st. See Rev. John Francis Shearman's "Loca Patri-
ciana," part ix. , pp. 220 to 222.
S9 It is referred to, by Rev. Dr. Jeoffry
Keating.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Feb-
ruarii xxvii. De S. Comgano Abbate, pp. 417, 418, and n. II.
6l heofGleanUissenorKilles- Namely,
hin.
6a Sirinus thus speaks: "He is often in-
voked in a distinguished manner by St. Moling, in this holy man's metrical prayer for the relapsing sinner, which prayer translated into Latin is subjoined to our Acts of St. Moling, 17th June. "
*3 On the 14th of July.
6*Itissaidtohavebeensocalled,because it gave divination to some persons.
°s Probably a wren is meant, and there are
yet many Irish superstitions in reference to it. * The Rev. S. Baring Gould, who relates
Ferns; thefirst, MaidocUa
of the Leinstermen, appointed thereto, chiefly through the powerful influence of King Brandubh, after the battle of Dunbolg. There is much confounding of these saints' Acts, but it is recorded, that this Maidocdied April nth, A. D. 624. The second is called Maidoc of Drumlaine, and "of the Conna- cians," who is supposed to have succeeded hisnamesake,aboutthislatteryear,and
who, according to the
Dunlaing,
The other fifteen loaves
June 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
715
its own blood. Then, the saint commanded him to cast out that fly, it had
swallowed, in his presence. Instantly, the little bird cast the fly from its stomach. The latter arose and flew about humming. The bird also flew
66
and
went out and told the brethren, that he had seen the resurrection of the dead, from out the close sepulchres. Knowing what had happened, the brethren gave glory to Christ. According to a legend in his Life, certain nuns had their cells near the habitation of St. Molyng, and there they kept hens. In honour of their Creator, the blessed Molyng was accustomed to feed wild anddomesticanimals. Theformertookfoodoutofhishand. Ahenwhich belonged to the monks had been stolen and eaten by a fox, and they made complaint to their superior. He reproved the fox for this treachery. Respect- ing the senior's reproof, and cunning according to his nature, the fox went to the hen-roosts of the nuns, snatched a hen from the number, and brought
" You have offered
away chirping
rejoicing.
Seeing this,
the attendant of St.
Molyng
her alive to the saint. He smiled and said
theft. Carry back this hen to her owners, and give her over safe to them, and afterwards try to live like the other animals. " Hearing this, the fox obeyed, and taking the hen again between his teeth, he deposited her safely inthecellofherowners. Theywhowitnessedsuchamiracleperformedin both places blessed God, rejoicing on that' occasion. Another fox carried off a book from the brethren, on some occasion, and hid it outside in one of his own dens, wishing to eat it very soon afterwards. Returning to the monastery, he was found taking it away and eating a honeycomb. Then, the brethren apprehending him, brought him to St. Molyng, and accused him of taking the book. And the holy senior ordered his brethren to let him off free.
: Whenhewasdismissed,thesaintsaidtohim "Othouwilyandslyfox,go
and bring back to me very soon that book entire. " At this saying, the animal went out, and brought back speedily from his own den, that same book quite dry and whole. He then laid it before the holy prelate. Afterwards he lay on the ground before the man of God, as if asking for his pardon. The saint
saidtohim "Riseupyouwretchedcreature,fearnothing,butneveragain
:
remove any book. " The fox rejoicing then rose up, and wonderfully fulfilled the saint's mandate. Afterwards he did not touch books, and if anyone in sport showed him a book, he turned as if to fly away from its sight.
Two men, affected with excessive pain of the emblena,6? and in the whole body, caused by great dropsical swelling, were brought to St. Molyng, that in the name of Christ, he might cure them. At that time, the holy senior Molyng was out in the open air, and digging the earth in a held along with the brethren.
Seeing
clayofthisearth,Ihavejustnowdug. " Unwillingtotasteit, oneofthem reproved the holy man, saying that for no good end could he bid men to eat earth. The other man, however, humbly chewed it, and he was healed from his infirmity. He arose strengthened, and he gave thanks to God. Then, he walked home to his own people. Unwilling to return, the proud man died and was there buried. In both, the words of the Sacred Scriptures
"
were fulfilled. In the case of the humble man, those words,
made thee whole," and in the case of the proud man, " He who exalteth himself shall be humbled," were verified. 68 On account of this miracle, many were confirmed in Christ.
"
the foregoing legend, alludes to the Life of santry. "— Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. ,
St. Moling, and justly remarks, that it "is June 17th, p. 249.
: theiraffliction,thevenerablemansaidtothem "Chewsomeofthe
closed with many grossly absurd stories which havearisen fromthelove of humour and of the marvellous combined in the Irish pea-
6? Meaning the belly.
6S See Mr. Patrick O Leary s Ancient
Life of St. Molyng, pp. 21 to 25.
:
rapine
for
Thy faith hath
7 1 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June i 7.
CHAPTER IV.
ST. MOLING IS SAID TO HAVE RESIGNED THE SEE OF FERNS—HE HEALS VARIOUS PERSONS—VISITS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO HIM—CLOSE OF ST. MOLING'S LIFE—HIS DEPARTURE—FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORATIONS—MEMORIALS AND RELICS—CELEBRITY OF ST. MULLINS—CONCLUSION.
According to some accounts, St. Moling resigned the See of Ferns, and chose to serve his Maker in a private life, which he is said to have spent in strict seclusion. Several legends—and nearly all partaking of a marvellous
1
Among the many miracles recorded, it is stated, that a boy of royal descent
was bound in strong iron chains, and thus brought to the holy senior Molyng,
on a certain 3 That child was affected with madness, and thus day. only
couldhisfriendsrestrainhim,forhehadbrokenallotherbonds. Owingto weakness, Molyng had bathed in warm water. He said to those who had come: " Place that youth after me, and in that water. " This order was complied with, but the youth died on that instant. When his body had been removed from the bath, his friends felt very sorrowful. Then, they said to St. Molyng : "Until now, we had hoped, that the mercy of God should relieve him; but, we have no longer any hope of his restoration. " The holy senior grieved for his
:
death,andsaidtothem "Donotweep,but,besilent,andplacehisbodyon
the ground. " Then, the holy pontiff talked with them, endeavouring to console them a little. Afterwards, according to his custom, he poured forth prayers to Christ, and he made the sign of the cross of Christ on that youth's cold
body. When the sign of the cross had been made, the youth instantly recovered life, while the holy senior bade him to arise sound. His friends,
seeing him alive and sane, rejoiced greatly, and returned along with him to his own place, telling with gratified feelings all persons what had happened to him. Hearing of or seeing this miracle, with great sympathy, all were confirmed strongly in the faith of Christ. 3
When the most blessed Pontiff Molyng was in his own city of Fearna, a
multitude of foxes collected in the woods, and afterwards they came straight-
way to that place. Then, they passed through the city, so far as the dwelling oftheholyPontiffMolyng. And,inamannermostwonderful,neitherdog nor man did hurt to those by pursuing them, either on their going to the pious senior, or on their return from him. The holy and venerable Molyng
" Unknown
:
however, he said to them " After a short time, I will leave this city, and return
to my own place. "4
The servant of Christ now asked to take farewell of Fearna, and he
character—are related about our
saint.
their arrival to his
guestsshallsooncometous,thatnevertill thisdaycameamongmen,nor shalltheydwellalongtime,amongthem. " Hisdisciplesknewnotwhat guestshespokeof,untilthefoxescame. Meantime,themanofGodwent out into the woods to meet them. On seeing him, these animals expressed signs of gladness, and then they came to lie down at his feet. The saint receivedthemmeekly. Onthatnighttheyremained,andtheywerewellre- freshed. All wondered at their respect for the holy prelate. On the morrow,
predicted
disciples, prophetically saying :
Chapter iv. —* See one of those, ac- countingforthebuildingofhischurchatSt. Mullins, by the Gobban Saer, in Frofessor Eugene O'Curry's " Lectures on the Man- ners and Customs of the Ancient Irish," vol. iii. , Lect. xx. ( pp. 34 to 36. Edited by
VV. K. Sullivan, Ph. D. , &c.
2 SeetheMarquisofBute's"ActaSanc-
torum Hiberniae," ActaSancti Moling, num.
8, cols. 822, 823. 3"
See Mr. Patrick O'Leary's Ancient Life of St. Molyng," p. 26.
June 17. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
717
requested the prayers of its clergy and people. In turn, he bestowed his blessing, and he gave them holy admonitions. He had then a presentiment, that his career on earth was nearly run. Afterwards, he departed for his own monastery, Teach-mullin. The oldest of the foxes already mentioned then appeared to be sad. They all received the saint's blessing, however, and returned to their dens.
Certain wise men who were present dwelt on his words to those animals, and they considered, that the holy Prelate intimated through them the shortness of his own life in this world. Both men and animals felt sorrowful, as if they understood such an
to have been made. 5 A certain
dael,
eventothebrain,withexceedinggreatpaintohim. Asaconsequence,his friends brought him to the holy man Molyng, and then asked him to deliver an opinion about that man's condition. Seeing his anguish, the servant of Christ
very poisonous animal, which
6 and the Latins a
a man was sleeping out in the open air, and it began to bore into his head,
interpretation the Irish call a
Scorpio?
entered into his
ear, while
laid his own hand the man's against
ear,
and commanded the little
8 animal, in
thenameofChrist,tocomeforthfromtheinnermostpartofhishead. Forsome
of his friends contended, that the animal had penetrated so far as his brain,
while others of them supposed, that it had not done so. At the saint's bid-
ding, however, the poisonous animal immediately came forth, settled upon the
saint'shand,anditfellbloodyandswollenupontheground. Thatman,be-
smeared with blood and weak from its loss, was in great pain, and he complained
about it in the Prelate's presence. Thereupon, the holy bishop, praying and
breathing upon his ear, blessed it with a sign of the cross. Forthwith, the
running from that man's ear was stopped, and no longer complaining about
the internal affection of his head, the patient was cured from that dangerous
malady. Thereupon rejoicing, along with his friends, the restored person
returned to his own home, praising Christ and his Saint.
In the Legend of his Life, it is stated, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Son of the living God, came to Molyng, in the form of a very beautiful boy, and desiring to console his holy servant. It is related, furthermore, that He rested for some time upon this holy man's bosom, and gave him advice, re- garding those many labours the Prelate was undergoing for Him.
The holy abbot Oiblan, a devout man and one who greatly loved God,
was a faithful friend also of St. Molyng, who loved him much. On his own part,
wishing to prove this mystery, Oiblan came to see it in person. He earnestly besought our saint, that he might witness for himself, Christ resting on his bosom. At this time, the holy old man was working in the field, along with his brethren, and he was engaged digging the earth. The bishop then said to
"
him, that St. Thomas did not believe the other saints, saying
let us see the body of the Lord," until he saw for himself, our Lord's side so far as it was pierced, and the place in the limbs of Christ, wherein the nails had been "You,inyourturn,actlikeuntohim,youbelieve not when you are told, that the Son of God took up his abode for some time,
driven. 10 Thensaid
Molyng,
* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Junii xvii. De S. Molingo sive Dayrgello Episcopo Fernensi in Hibernia,
"
Cauda semper in ictu est," "Historia Natu-
ralis," lib. xi. , cap. 30.
I0
p,4 ""
.
s See Mr. Patrick O'Leary's "Ancient Life of St. Molyng," pp. 26. 27.
6 According to Edward O'Reilly, the •oaoiI means "leech. " See " Irish English
Dictionary," sub voce.
7 Or scorpion, an animal which is said to
strike with its tail, in which there are seven
n. 1, p. 194. " 9 See Mr. Patrick OLearys
Life of St. Molyng," pp. 28, 29.
Ancient
joints. According to Pliny :
scorpionis
8 The words -oopc n&el, pronounced Dhorrig-a-Dael, signifies dark or "black leech. " This is said to be an insect of the cockchafer tribe. See Rev. John Francis Shearman's "Loca Patriciana," No. ix. ,
718 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17.
within my bosom, unless you shall see it yourself, with your own eyes. Lest you might be scandalized in me, behold my garments are dirty and wet through
and through with the moist earth; give me thy clean cassula, or cassock, and hold
itupforawhile. Then,thoushaltbeholdtheSonofGodwithinmybosom. "
At the same time, St. Oiblan readily handed his cassock to the renowned
bishop, and after a short time, the real Christ, the Son of the living God,
appeared in a corporeal state, and took his abode within the bosom of the
venerable man Molyng. Immediately, a very great flood of light appeared, in and about Christ. It proved to be so great, that St. Oiblan was not able
to withstand its radiance. Afterwards, coming out of St. Molyng's bosom,
with the rays of heavenly effulgence still around Him, the Son of God satis-
fied his saints regarding his corporeal presence. Each, in turn, and in com- pany with Molyng's attendants, made obeisance before Him. From that place, and in the greatest possible state of ecstasy, St. Oiblan returned to his cell. With a cheerful countenance, he told how he had just seen Christ in St. Molyng's bosom. His faithful disciples were filled, also, with great rejoicing and devotion, when they heard that account An indescribable love of Christ was kindled in their hearts. From this circumstance arose the con- viction in St. Molyng's mind, that as our Lord Jesus Christ rested within his bosom, so should he be endowed with many virtues, and especially with the spirit of prophecy, in regard to the past, present and future.
The holy Prelate's end was now fast approaching ; but, although his body wasfeeble,hismindstillcontinuedvigorousandactive. Hisreligiousinstruc- tions were given to his monks, at the very hour of his death; while he enjoined charity, above all things, as also humility, gentleness, and every virtue, which he had possessed, and had so often proved to them, through his own good deeds. Sure of an eternal reward, the holy Prelate maintained his cheerful- ness, to the very moment of his departure. In anticipation of this event, all
his disciples felt exceedingly sorrowful.
11
It has been stated, that this
renowned saint attained his
there is sufficient authority for such a statement.
According to one account,
St. died, after a Moling
of
This latter date is
followed, likewise, by
Father
1 ?
The
year
of
as
St. death is not known for
8 unless he is to be
— regarded
Moling's — certain,'
12 we do not believe eighty-second year; but,
on the
while the Annals of the Four Masters
a. d. x 3 The 689.
old
Annals of Clonmacnoise place his demise at a. d. 692,'+ the Chronicum Scotorum
at a. d.
693 ;'s
prolong John Colgan.
it to a. d. ,6 696.
good
age,
17th
June,
identical with Moling Luachra I0 as is generally supposed who died in the
year 696, according to the Annalist Tighernach. However, the Dublin copy
of this latter writer has a. d. 697, as the date, with an additional remark, that Moling died in Britain. 20 This, however, is incorrect. In the Annals of the Four Masters, at a,d. 696, his day is erroneously given in the text as 17. Maii,
10
See St. John, xx. , 24, 25.
"See Mr. Patrick O'Leary's "Ancient
Life of St. Molyng," &c, pp. 29, 30, 31.
12 See Leslie Stephen's "Dictionary of
National Biography," vol. xiii. , p. 381.
13 See Challenor's " Britannia Sancta," part i. , June xvii. This must be a mistake, as the Borumha Tribute was not remitted
until A. d. 693.
14 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. L, pp. 298, 299, and n.
They also place his death at May See William M. Hennessy's edition,
pp. 112, 113.
* 6 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 29S, 299.
,? See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Brigidre, lib. ii. , n. 2, p. 564, and Secun-
dus Index, p. 665.
,8 See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptori-
(x), ibid.
13th. 15
See William M. Hennessy's Chroni-
bus Hibernix," lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 22. Also, "De Prxsulibus Lagenix," p. 54.
'» See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus
Hibernix," lib. i. , cap. xiii. , pp. 88, 89. TO "
cum Scotorum," n. 3, p. 112.
2I
However, it is correctly stated, in Dr.
June 17. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
719
and it is translated 13th May. 21 Under the head of Teach Moling, Luachra its bishop is set down as having departed 696, on June 17th, by Duald Mac
22
Firbis.
The holy Patron of St. Mullins is said to have been buried in his own
church. In the interior of the largest of the ruins, now standing at St. Mullins, there is a flat stone, round which the people pray nine times, when making a pilgrimage, and placing a small pebble on the stone at each round. This stone, though comparatively modern, very probably marks the place where the saint's body was interred. The fact of praying, at that particular spot, might reasonably be supposed to denote the particular place.
"
on this day, and a most encomiastic tribute is paid to his virtues and renown.
Feihre"23 of St. ^Engus, this holy Prelate was venerated To this, the glossographer has subjoined several legends, in reference to him.
According to the
The is set down name, Moling, Luaim,
of 2* Tallagh,
in the
atthe17thofJune. TheSalamancancopyofSt. Moling'sLife2*placeshis
death, at the 7th of the June Ides. This corresponds, with the 7th of June; but, we suspect it to be an error for the 17th of this month. At this latter
2<5 date,theancientMartyrologyofUsuard mentionshim. Intheanonymous
Calendar, issued by O'Sullevan [Beare, the name Enolichus, for Molingus,
is likewise, at the of entered, — 17th
2? Under the same erroneous
— spel-
Henry Fitzsimon has entered his festival, at the 17th of June.
28
In the
simply,
Martyrology
June.
lingofEnolichus forwhichtheCarthusianMartyrologyisquoted Father
of 29 and at the same date,
Donegal, appears Moling Luachra,
30
Martyrology
Bishop and Confessor, of Tigh Moling. In the List of Irish Saints,31 left by Father John Colgan, St. Moling is entered at the same day. He is
entered, at the 17th of June, as St. Molocus, in the Martyrology of Aber-
deen. 32 Likewise, among the Trinity College, Dublin, Manuscripts, are notes regarding this saint; and these prove, that his chief festival had been
constantly kept, on the 17th of June,33 and that it was formerly celebrated with an office, containing Nine Lessons.
Several local practices and traditions, having reference to the holy Patron,
are still preserved among the people ;
while those usages and stories appear
sive Dayrgello Episcopo Fernensi in Hiber-
nia, p. 410.
26 The first edition of this work printed
was in 1515, and another edition appeared A. D. 1521. In the latter is printed: "In Hibernia S. Enolich, Confessoris. " The first line of the letter m seems to have been converted into e, in the process of
O'Donovan's note, in vol. i. , p. 298. 22 "
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 128, 129, and nn. by William M. Hennessy, the editor.
23 From the " Leabhar Breac "
we find the following stanza, thus translated
into — English, by
Dr.
Whitley
copy, Stokes,
printing, spelling.
LL. D.