It is a sort of large
conglomerate
rock, and of an
"
and,onit,heissaidtohavecelebratedMass.
"
and,onit,heissaidtohavecelebratedMass.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
Columbanus.
4 This work
he continued in localities, where several congregations and sacred offices
were instituted ; and where many miracles were wrought by him, during life,
and through his invocation, after deaths At one time, St. Molaissi was
afflicted with an ulcer in the breast, while his mouth was turned away,
through pain ; yet, he refused to avail himself of natural remedies. St.
Molua came to him and enquired if he might be allowed to relieve that part
of the body, in which he suffered pain. Molaissi told him, on no account
to touch that ulcer ; but, to offer up prayers, and to make the sign of the
cross over it. Our saint complied with his request. Immediately, all pain
vanished from the breast of Molaissi, a radical cure having been effected.
Both saints, with their disciples, gave thanks to God, for so propitious an
6
event.
A great number of monks flocked to Clonfert Molua, and placed them-
selves under the rule of its holy abbot, who received them most affectionately. Indeed, it was his habitual practice, to deal leniently with all his subjects;
so that only by mild persuasions, and without asperity of speech or manner, did he seek their spiritual correction or improvement. An anecdote is related, whereby we may understand, he had an indirect and a pleasantly quiet way for administering reproof. A laic, who was probably with him as a novice, seems to have been so eccentric, that he did not wish any other person to live in the house with him. One day, while he was alone, Lugid paid him a visit, and found that he was sitting before the fire warming himself. Then said the laic to him " Sit down and warm your feet. "
:
" You
the man went out, and on returning, he found Lugid walking about the fire- place and turning around, so as to obstruct the heat from reaching the owner. Then said the laic to him : "Why are you thus acting, or why do you walk before the fire. " Then Lugid replied in a vein of satiric humour : "I do so turn myself, that I may receive the whole benefit of the blaze, and that
it alone may warm every part of my body. " The reproof was felt, and then that man consented to have another share his place of dwelling. ?
tomus i. , Augusti iv. De S. Lugido sive Luano, Abbate Cluainfertensi, Vita, &c. cap. ii. , sect. 25 recto, p. 346.
Lugid replied :
give
me
good advice,"
and he sat down.
However,
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. ,
« It is plain from his text, th. it St. Bernard meant Luanus as being a founder of monas- teiies in Ireland ; nor does he speak of Columbanus or other of
See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
disciples Comgall that went to the Continent, until after
sect, vii. , p. 206.
3 He states, in the "Index
touching upon the foundations of the present
Chronologicus," atA. D. dcxx. : "Luanus (Jonae in Vita
saint. See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesias- Lanigan's
Columbani, Lua dictus) Benchorensis
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , n. 93, p. 209.
S See " Collectanea Sacra," Fleming's
Vita S. Moluoe, cap. xxxi. , p. 374.
6 See ibid. , cap. xxxiii. , p. 375.
7 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
caenobii apud Hibernos alumnus, claruit
:
qui centum solus monasteriorum foundator "
extitisse dicitur. "— Britannicarum Eccle- siarum Antiquitates," p. 537.
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 55
Having approached a spot called Tuaim Domnaich,8 near which a cross
was erected, a certain monk accompanying him felt great contrition, because
he had not confessed the sins, committed on that day, to his director. He
asked the permission of our saint, that he might be able to repair such a
""
fault. But, is it so great a sin," said he, to avoid confession in this life ?
"
or is it not quite sufficient, to ask pardon of God for our sins ?
Molua
said: " If a man do not confess his sins, he cannot obtain pardon, unless
the omnipotent God in his mercy shall grant it to the penitent, after inflicting
a great punishment of penance on him here, and after a public accusation by the Devil, on the day of future judgment. For, as the pavement of a house is daily covered by the roof, so must the soul be covered by daily confession. " The monk, hearing this from his abbot, promised to confess his venial faults, which he afterwards did with great exactness, while the saint and his brethren were greatly rejoiced, because this monk abandoned his
former presumption. 9
A bard named Conan had joined his religious community, but he was
:
not used to manual labour. One day, Lugid said to him " Let us go
together,anddoalittlework. " Takingwiththemtworeaping-hooks,and going into a wood, they found there a great quantity of thistles. Then said
" Come, and let us cut down this brake of thistles
Lugid : together. "
n when
one of the thistles, the bard soon struck it down. Then the abbot told him
to cease work for that day, much to the surprise of Conan, and both returned
to the monastery. Going again the next day, they cut down only two thistles ; on the third day, they cut down three ; and on each succeeding day, they cut down one more in addition. 10 It was probably to give a practical lesson in persevering industry to his monk, that the abbot so willed. In due course, a great clearance was effected, and afterwards the open was characterized as the Road of Conan. 11 One of his monks, named Dochonna, whilst walking with our saint, fell into a deep pit, and his thigh was broken, in three different places. Moiua approached, and setting the bones with prayer, Dachonna was enabled to rise, without difficulty. Our saint told him, that this cure should be kept a secret, during the term of his own life. He told Dochonna, also, that whenever he should reveal this miracle to any person, he must immediately die. Such also should have been the case on this occasion, but for a cure which was wrought, through the mercy of God. However, conversing with his brethren a long time after this occurrence, Dachonna told what had been done for him by the abbot, when instantly the limb was broken in three places, as before, and he died shortly after- wards, as the saint foretold. His brethren conceived therefore the highest
answered,
" I alone can cut them
off;
Lugid pressing
a fork
against
of their
wished to tack a piece of leather to a shoe, which had been usually worn by
the
impressions, regarding
the brothers, and Lugid was present. When he joined it to the seam, the
" :
tomus i. , Augusti ir. , Vita, &c, cap. iv. , num. 25, p. 347.
8
Rathdowney and Lisdowney lie some few miles to the south of Clonfert Molua, and they seem to have been very ancient
It should be a
if that welt stuck to the shoe.
:
places. It cannot be asserted, however, solete.
that either was identical with the place here named.
9 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra"
I2 "
See Fleming's Collectanea Sacra,"
Vita S. Moluae, cap. xxxiv. , p. 375.
J3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
sanctity
superior.
5'
good job,
" To God all things are possible. " Immediately, the leather
monk said
said the abbot
remained indissolubly united to the shoe, and it so continued. 13
Then
12 At one a monk time,
Vita S. Moluse, cap. xxxii. , pp. 374, 375.
I0
See this anecdote related in Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. viii. , August 4, p. 39.
" The name at present is probably ob-
Conan
56
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
One
day,
towards evening. Molua pressed him to remain, during the night; but, Sedna answered, that this was impossible, as he had promised to revisit
Saiger, on that very day. He requested the prayers of St. Molua, that day-
light might be continued during the prosecution of his journey ; for, although the distance from Clonfert Molua was considerable, yet, he hoped for a
miracle, through the merits of its holy abbot. With parting salutations, Sedna prosecuted his journey, and whilst Molua prayed, the sun continued to beam on the bishop and on his companions, until they reached Saiger. The people of that place attributed this miracle, to the merits of their
x Bishop ; their bishop, however, ascribed it to the prayers of St. Molua. 7
The story is told of a certain captive detained by King Neill, and who was afterwards allowed by him to beg for the price of his ransom. With such an object in view, that man went over the mountains to Clonfert, and there he found Lugid engaged in sowing grain. Of this the abbot gave him a handful, which immediately was converted into gold, and this he was directed to give the king. The latter, on learning how it had been obtained,
refused to accept it, but, he told the captive to re-visit Lugid in chains.
The abbot was also authorized to set him at liberty. When the gold was
brought back, it turned again into grain, and Lugid restored the prisoner to freedom. Goingoutfromhischurchoneday,hefoundfourmenbehind
prophecy was fulfilled. However, they all went in company to Rome, and
thence returned together; afterwards, their lives were finished and they were
buried in that same place. The O'Clerys inform us, that Molua was
,8
to David of Cill-muine ; as also to Maedhedg, to Mochaemhog, and to Comhgall, according to an ancient quatrain. '9
The holy Archbishop of Leinster, Moedhog or ^Edan,20 at one time desired making a voyage to Wales, where he might consult with St. David,21
at Kill-Muini, regarding the person he should adopt as his confessor in Ireland. However, the winds were contrary, and he was admonished by an angel not to venture on the sea, but to select Lugid or Molua, the son of Coche. Onthis,theprelate,withsevenothercompanions,paidoursainta visit, who hospitably entertained them ; and the archbishop having made choice of Molua, as spiritual director, returned with joy to his home, after both saints had the kiss of
St. Sedna, '* or T 5 of
Setna, Bishop Saiger,
and they desired to become exiles. Lugid said to them
going into exile, but I say to you, that on the spot where you stand now, there shall your bodies be buried and await the final resurrection. " This
it,
:
Confessor
given
" Come with me, that I may offer you my place before my people. " How-
peace.
ever, the King of Leinster, who was named Brandubh, would not permit
tomus i. , Augusti iv. , Vita, &c, cap. iv. ,
word is anmcara, or "soul frie—nd. "
J 9 It runs in the strain : following
M Molua was Confessor
To David across the tranquil sea, And to Maedhog. and Mochamhog, And to Comghail. "
90
The Acts of this saint are to be found, at the 31st of January, the day for his
in the First Volume of this festival, work,
num. 28,
14 His feast occurs on the ioth of March,
at which day notices of him may be found, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iv.
15 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bernise," x. Martii. De S. Sedna sive Se-
donio Episcopo et Confessore, p. 572.
16
See ibid. , Martii v. , Appendix ad Vitam S. Kierani, cap. v. , p. 473.
" et
Molua? , cap.
p. 348.
17 The author of our saint's life
nos scimus hoc fact—um per merita amborum
a Domino fuisse. " xxxvii. , p. 375.
Vita S.
Art. i.
2I His feast occurs on the 1st of
"A note by Dr. Todd says he was a " Confessor," or "spiritual director. " The
March, when his Life may be found in the Third
adds,
16 came to our saint
22 On Aid said to parting, Molua,
Volume of this work, Art. i.
M See Vita S. Moluse, cap. xl. , p. 376.
" You think of
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
57
"
astute, that he might be a middle-man between Aid and his master. " Then
Lugid replied in a manner sufficiently enigmatical ; however, his words may be interpreted in the sense, that he did not accept the gift offered to him. 23
There are popular traditions, relating to the eailier possession of Clon- fert Molua, by the Druids, and it is said, that there these necromancers practised magical rites, before it had been consecrated by the presence of St. Molua and his monks. About five chains south-west of Kyle graveyard, thereisalargeirregularly-shapedstone,almostburiedintheground. The part above it measures about five by four feet. It has five circularly-shaped
such a transfer, saying :
I shall not be subject to a subject
;
the cleric is too
Stone of St. Molua, Kyle, Queen's County.
holes, which are said to have been impressions of St. Molua's head, knees and elbows when he prayed. ** This curious relic of a very early but un- ascertained period lies in the middle of a field, on the opposite side of the road to Kyle grave-yard.
It is a sort of large conglomerate rock, and of an
"
and,onit,heissaidtohavecelebratedMass. After- wards, that Druid, to whom it had formerly belonged, disappeared from this part of the country, according to the popular tradition. This story is interesting, moreover, as appearing to connect the bullan relics with the pagan period of our history; while all reasonable indications and researches
irregular shape, "St. Molua'sstone;
2* over the surface of the field. This is called cropping up
23 The words attributed to him are : "Si
virostotiusmundiinmanupropriatenuissem,
propter murmurationem unius viri, si illi
displicuisset, illos omnes ex manu mea relative to the Antiquities of the Queen's dimississem. Verumtamen regis, qui hoc County, collected during the Progress of prohibuit, de genere non erit rex, et omnes the Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. jugulabuntur. (Quod usque hodie com- Letter of P. O'Keefe, dated Mountrath, pletum est :) Nee possum tamen claudere Dec. 1st, 1838, pp. 117, 118.
coelum contra te propter Aidum : ego vero 25 The accompanying illustration of this
et Aidus unum cor in terra habemus, et simulerimusin coelo. "
24 See " Letters containing Information
5* LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
point to the same conclusion. 26 That stone is a very curious specimen of the bid- fan*"* or rock-basin memorials, so commonly found in Ireland, and the holes in it have been artificially formed in the undisturbed rock. That stone resembles one known as or u the
grit
of the
flag, near Cong, in the County of Galway ; but, the conclusion is unwarranted,
styled bullauns, It has been
bulla, meaning
spot by
1890.
maintains,
engraved by 26
" 23
Leach-na-poll,
Flag-stone
holes,"
that because such specimens of antiquity have been invariably found in immediate connection with the most ancient churches, they might be regarded as primitive baptismal fonts. It is said, moreover, that they have been
the writer, in October,
that Kill-da-lua " " the signifies
"
from the Latin word — a bowl. "
thought,
that the church of Killaloe in Irish or Kill-da-Lua,
—
the "cell of Lua" had its name from our saint either on account of his
;
having lived there for some time, or because it had been dedicated to him. 29 Sir James Ware opines, that St. Molua lived there, towards the end of the sixth and beginning of the seventh century 3° however, he has given
;
us no authority for such a conjecture, and probably, it was founded only on a fancied coincidence with the denomination. 31 His editor Harris falls into
an egregious error, when he tells us, that this saint lived at Killaloe, for some
time,
curious ancient memorial was drawn on the
William Frederick Wakeman to the wood,
beginning
of this same 2 The latter mistake century. 3
and about the
has been too carelessly copied, by another writer on Irish ecclesiastical affairs. 33 Although it is not certain, that our saint gave name to the church of Killaloe,3* this is not considered, however, to be an improbable con- jectured Nevertheless,therewereothersaints,bearingthenameofLuaor
34 The Rev. Dr. Ledwich, however,
Shannon, while St. Molua was only "an
ideal See " of personage. " Antiquities
of Ireland," p. 144.
i. , No. 2, xxvi. , pp. 257 to 264. Waters and that, wherever said word occurs,
87 The Irish word bullans has been it must be understood of the element water ?
rendered into English, by the translation Supposing even that his derivation of
Killaloe is correct, will it follow that no St.
Lua or Molua ever existed ? Whence then
the name of Clonfert-Molua, a place known at this very day? The Luanus of St. Bernard must have been a phantom, not- withstanding all the monasteries, which he orhisdisciples(phantomsalso)hadfounded. The churches, &c, erected by them must be considered as castles in the air. St. Moedoc
After-
wards, it was copied and transferred by church upon or near the water," i. e. , the
Mrs. Millard.
See a very interesting paper, read before
the Royal Irish Academy, June the nth,
1888, by W. F. Wakeman, F. R. H. A. A. I.
It is intituled " On the Bullan or Rock- "But pray, were there not hundreds of Basin, as found in Ireland ; with special churches near the Shannon and other waters Reference to two inscribed Examples. " in Ireland ; and how has it come to pass, This is accompanied by various lithograph that the church of Killaloe alone has got its illustrations. See "Proceedings of the name from water? Will this charlatan Royal Irish Academy. " Third Series, vol. maintain, that there is no such family as
Little holes. "
This is figured in Sir William Wilde's
"Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands:
with Notices of Lough Mask," chap, vii. ,
p. 164. Dublin, 1867, sm. 4to. 2""
9Sce Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical HistoryofIreland,"vol. ii. , chap,xii. ,sect, vii. , p. 206.
^See^De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib.
i. , cap. iii. , p. 17, as also in his work, " De of Ferns, Pulcherius, &c. , and even Com-
Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxix.
gall, of Bangor, must likewise be ideal personages, who, as appears from numberless authorities, were connected with Molua. Who can bear with patience the falsehoods and equivocations of an ignorant scribbler, who, while he never ceased to endeavour to
cast ridicule upon Vallancey, a man vastly more learned and honest, as dealing in etymologies, recurs himself to the most ex- travagant and unfounded one's, whenever it
31 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect,
vii. , n. 96, p. 210.
32 " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
Killaloe," p. 589.
31 " St. Molualobhair, the grandson of
Eocha Bailldearg, King of North Munster,
founded an abbey here about the beginning
of the 6th century. "—Archdall's " Monas-
ticon Ilibernicum," p. 52, and n. (f. ) Ibid. suits his vile purpose to do so? " Dr.
35 Referring to the ignorant assumptions of Ledwich, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes:
28 a red
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 50
Molua, and living about the time of our saint. If Molua Lobliar and Molua of Clonfert Molua were distinct persons, as there is every reason to suppose, it may be fairly admitted, that the Molua surnamed Lobhar was the founder of the church of 6 in the
Killaloe,3
suggests, likewise, that a Lughaire Lobhar, venerated in the Irish Calendars,
at the nth of
opinion
have been Lua or Molua Lobhar. 38
May,37 may possibly
CHAPTER IV.
MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ST. LUGID OR MOLUA—HIS RELATIONS WITH OTHER IRISH SAINTS—THE RULE OF ST. MOLUA—CLOSING SCENES OF HIS LIFE—HIS LAST VISIT TO ST. CRONAN—HIS DEATH—REVERENCE PAID TO HIS MEMORY—MEMORIALS AND FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
The following legend is only worth insertion, because it introduces some ancient names of places, which still require identification. A certain alumnus
of who was named Cruimther Lugid,
Luighdech,
Our saint directed this disciple to settle in a place, called Ochtar Narde,
2
within a district known as Corcho Luigde 3 and, in view of marking out ;
that spot, Lugid with seven men accompanied him on the road. While
travelling through a place, designated Cugenachte,* they met a confederated band of men, said to have been of the Devil's school, and having peculiar badges s on their heads. When Lugid saw them coming in the distance, to avoid the danger threatened to his fellow-travellers, he blessed these, and immediately they were transformed into blocks of decayed wood. On
coming up, the evil-designing wretches said to our saint
:
" Where are the
men we have seen in company with you ?
" He answered
"
They have
disappeared. " Twoofthepartythenstruckthedriedblocksofwood,and
immediately their hands and feet withered ; which judgment coming on them
so frightened the rest, that all fled precipitately away, except those two.
AskingpardonandhealingfromLugid,hehadcompassiononthem. The
use of their limbs he restored, and afterwards they became monks. They were associated, likewise, with the priest Luigdech, and with him they
6
remained in Ochtar Narde, to the very day of their death.
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vii. , n. 97, p. 210.
chap, xii. , sect, v—ii. , n. 98, pp. 210, 211.
r Bollandist Life of Chapter iv. In the
our saint, this name is incorrectly set down as Cruimcher Luichteth. Of the many Cruimthers mentioned in the Irish Calen-
36 In the tract, published by General Val-
lancey, in " Collectanea de Rebus Hiber
nicis," on The Law of Tanistry, Molua dars, we do not find any such title in
Lobhar is called the first Bishop of Killaloe ;
but, it would have been more correct,
according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, to give him only the title of Abbot.
37 See a notice of him, at that date, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
apposition with the name ; nor do we meet
with Luigdech, although there are several
Lnghaidhs.
38 However, Dr. Lanigan thus concludes : " The whole subject is so obscure, that I cannot form any decisive opinion on it. Supposing that these Moluas were different, yet they were contemporaries, and hence it may be easily accounted for why they have been sometimes confounded "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
this ancient denomination among the local
designations on the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland.
3 This district has not been identified,
4 This place has not been identified.
s These are called "vexilla" in Latin,
and which probably may be translated into
"cockades. "
6 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernige
together. "—
ex
2
There seems to be no near approach to
of Rev. Dr. who Lanigan,
1 had been ordained him. by
" Codice Salmanticensi nunc primum integre
:
people,
"
lying
May there be everlasting joy for
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
At another time, St. Molua visited St. Eimen,? Abbot of Ross Mictreoin,8 on
the River Barrow, and within the territory of Hy Kinsellagh. 9 He and St. Molua were natives of the same territory ; but, on the return of Molua to his
he found his sister Cron or Croin 10 dead, with other women
own
weeping around her bier. Molua said,
youinHeaven. " However,onprayingoverthedeceased,shearosetolife. No sooner had St. Molua saluted Croin, than she expressed a wish to die once more, and to remain at rest with the saints. Having participated in the Holy Sacrifice, with the blessing and prayer of Molua, she then slept in peace. " Another curious legend is related of the cook in Lugid's monastery wanting milk, as the calves had already drained the cows of their usual supply for the community wants. Lugid desired them to take the vessel in which water had been drawn and to fill it from a well. This water was converted into milk, sweet as honey and exhilarating as wine. On it the brothers supped that same evening. Lugid ordered what remained of the liquid to be poured into the well, near a place called Milsal. 12 Some of the cowshavingdrankfromit, theirmilkretainedasimilarflavourtothatalready described. For long afterwards, that fountain imparted a like taste to the milk used in the monastery. However, some laics, having been guilty of
shedding blood, drank from it ; when the spring went dry very suddenly, T
and never afterwards did its water flow. 3 While Lugid and two of his
disciples sat in a certain place reading, suddenly their master wept, and after a little while, his face beamed with joy. They asked why he felt so and
received for " On this reply :
f4 has been ordained for the
St.
primacy in Rome. He wept and refused this honour offered to him by the
people, until the Angel of the Lord had been sent to him, commanding that he should fill the See of Peter. Then Gregory rejoiced. When Gregory
so did
and when he
I likewise felt
overjoyed. "
1 *
day,
Gregory
wept,
the cows apart from their calves, while he read, the animals remained perfectly
separated. While he was in Leinster, a certain queen, believed to have been
possessed by evil spirits, was brought to him in chains. On praying for her recovery, the energumena was healed, and the demons fled from her.
As an instance of the respect in which Lugid was held by Berach, King of Leix, at one time, when the latter entertained the King of Leinster, the liquor served at that feast was aught but agreeable to the taste, and its effects were made manifest by a sickness of the stomach affecting all the guests. On going out of his house, Berach saw a poor man, bearing shoes on his shoulders, while his feet were bare. That person also asked for food. Having enquired why he did not wear the shoes, on such a cold day, Berach
rejoiced,
I,
When Lugid was in the city of Benchuir, 16 and had been in charge of keeping
edita opera Caroli de Smedt et Josephi de Backer, e Soc. Jesu. De Sancto Lugido, num. 44, col. 279.
7 Also called Emneban in the Salamancan Life of our saint. His feast occurs, on the 23rd of December.
a town in the
9 The most southern division in the Province of Leinster.
"There are four saints,
virgin designated
Croine, noted at different days in the Irish Calendars, but the present holy woman has not been identified with any of them.
11 See " Collectanea Fleming's Sacra,"
Vita S. Molua:, cap.
he continued in localities, where several congregations and sacred offices
were instituted ; and where many miracles were wrought by him, during life,
and through his invocation, after deaths At one time, St. Molaissi was
afflicted with an ulcer in the breast, while his mouth was turned away,
through pain ; yet, he refused to avail himself of natural remedies. St.
Molua came to him and enquired if he might be allowed to relieve that part
of the body, in which he suffered pain. Molaissi told him, on no account
to touch that ulcer ; but, to offer up prayers, and to make the sign of the
cross over it. Our saint complied with his request. Immediately, all pain
vanished from the breast of Molaissi, a radical cure having been effected.
Both saints, with their disciples, gave thanks to God, for so propitious an
6
event.
A great number of monks flocked to Clonfert Molua, and placed them-
selves under the rule of its holy abbot, who received them most affectionately. Indeed, it was his habitual practice, to deal leniently with all his subjects;
so that only by mild persuasions, and without asperity of speech or manner, did he seek their spiritual correction or improvement. An anecdote is related, whereby we may understand, he had an indirect and a pleasantly quiet way for administering reproof. A laic, who was probably with him as a novice, seems to have been so eccentric, that he did not wish any other person to live in the house with him. One day, while he was alone, Lugid paid him a visit, and found that he was sitting before the fire warming himself. Then said the laic to him " Sit down and warm your feet. "
:
" You
the man went out, and on returning, he found Lugid walking about the fire- place and turning around, so as to obstruct the heat from reaching the owner. Then said the laic to him : "Why are you thus acting, or why do you walk before the fire. " Then Lugid replied in a vein of satiric humour : "I do so turn myself, that I may receive the whole benefit of the blaze, and that
it alone may warm every part of my body. " The reproof was felt, and then that man consented to have another share his place of dwelling. ?
tomus i. , Augusti iv. De S. Lugido sive Luano, Abbate Cluainfertensi, Vita, &c. cap. ii. , sect. 25 recto, p. 346.
Lugid replied :
give
me
good advice,"
and he sat down.
However,
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. ,
« It is plain from his text, th. it St. Bernard meant Luanus as being a founder of monas- teiies in Ireland ; nor does he speak of Columbanus or other of
See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
disciples Comgall that went to the Continent, until after
sect, vii. , p. 206.
3 He states, in the "Index
touching upon the foundations of the present
Chronologicus," atA. D. dcxx. : "Luanus (Jonae in Vita
saint. See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesias- Lanigan's
Columbani, Lua dictus) Benchorensis
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , n. 93, p. 209.
S See " Collectanea Sacra," Fleming's
Vita S. Moluoe, cap. xxxi. , p. 374.
6 See ibid. , cap. xxxiii. , p. 375.
7 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
caenobii apud Hibernos alumnus, claruit
:
qui centum solus monasteriorum foundator "
extitisse dicitur. "— Britannicarum Eccle- siarum Antiquitates," p. 537.
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 55
Having approached a spot called Tuaim Domnaich,8 near which a cross
was erected, a certain monk accompanying him felt great contrition, because
he had not confessed the sins, committed on that day, to his director. He
asked the permission of our saint, that he might be able to repair such a
""
fault. But, is it so great a sin," said he, to avoid confession in this life ?
"
or is it not quite sufficient, to ask pardon of God for our sins ?
Molua
said: " If a man do not confess his sins, he cannot obtain pardon, unless
the omnipotent God in his mercy shall grant it to the penitent, after inflicting
a great punishment of penance on him here, and after a public accusation by the Devil, on the day of future judgment. For, as the pavement of a house is daily covered by the roof, so must the soul be covered by daily confession. " The monk, hearing this from his abbot, promised to confess his venial faults, which he afterwards did with great exactness, while the saint and his brethren were greatly rejoiced, because this monk abandoned his
former presumption. 9
A bard named Conan had joined his religious community, but he was
:
not used to manual labour. One day, Lugid said to him " Let us go
together,anddoalittlework. " Takingwiththemtworeaping-hooks,and going into a wood, they found there a great quantity of thistles. Then said
" Come, and let us cut down this brake of thistles
Lugid : together. "
n when
one of the thistles, the bard soon struck it down. Then the abbot told him
to cease work for that day, much to the surprise of Conan, and both returned
to the monastery. Going again the next day, they cut down only two thistles ; on the third day, they cut down three ; and on each succeeding day, they cut down one more in addition. 10 It was probably to give a practical lesson in persevering industry to his monk, that the abbot so willed. In due course, a great clearance was effected, and afterwards the open was characterized as the Road of Conan. 11 One of his monks, named Dochonna, whilst walking with our saint, fell into a deep pit, and his thigh was broken, in three different places. Moiua approached, and setting the bones with prayer, Dachonna was enabled to rise, without difficulty. Our saint told him, that this cure should be kept a secret, during the term of his own life. He told Dochonna, also, that whenever he should reveal this miracle to any person, he must immediately die. Such also should have been the case on this occasion, but for a cure which was wrought, through the mercy of God. However, conversing with his brethren a long time after this occurrence, Dachonna told what had been done for him by the abbot, when instantly the limb was broken in three places, as before, and he died shortly after- wards, as the saint foretold. His brethren conceived therefore the highest
answered,
" I alone can cut them
off;
Lugid pressing
a fork
against
of their
wished to tack a piece of leather to a shoe, which had been usually worn by
the
impressions, regarding
the brothers, and Lugid was present. When he joined it to the seam, the
" :
tomus i. , Augusti ir. , Vita, &c, cap. iv. , num. 25, p. 347.
8
Rathdowney and Lisdowney lie some few miles to the south of Clonfert Molua, and they seem to have been very ancient
It should be a
if that welt stuck to the shoe.
:
places. It cannot be asserted, however, solete.
that either was identical with the place here named.
9 See Fleming's "Collectanea Sacra"
I2 "
See Fleming's Collectanea Sacra,"
Vita S. Moluae, cap. xxxiv. , p. 375.
J3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
sanctity
superior.
5'
good job,
" To God all things are possible. " Immediately, the leather
monk said
said the abbot
remained indissolubly united to the shoe, and it so continued. 13
Then
12 At one a monk time,
Vita S. Moluse, cap. xxxii. , pp. 374, 375.
I0
See this anecdote related in Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. viii. , August 4, p. 39.
" The name at present is probably ob-
Conan
56
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
One
day,
towards evening. Molua pressed him to remain, during the night; but, Sedna answered, that this was impossible, as he had promised to revisit
Saiger, on that very day. He requested the prayers of St. Molua, that day-
light might be continued during the prosecution of his journey ; for, although the distance from Clonfert Molua was considerable, yet, he hoped for a
miracle, through the merits of its holy abbot. With parting salutations, Sedna prosecuted his journey, and whilst Molua prayed, the sun continued to beam on the bishop and on his companions, until they reached Saiger. The people of that place attributed this miracle, to the merits of their
x Bishop ; their bishop, however, ascribed it to the prayers of St. Molua. 7
The story is told of a certain captive detained by King Neill, and who was afterwards allowed by him to beg for the price of his ransom. With such an object in view, that man went over the mountains to Clonfert, and there he found Lugid engaged in sowing grain. Of this the abbot gave him a handful, which immediately was converted into gold, and this he was directed to give the king. The latter, on learning how it had been obtained,
refused to accept it, but, he told the captive to re-visit Lugid in chains.
The abbot was also authorized to set him at liberty. When the gold was
brought back, it turned again into grain, and Lugid restored the prisoner to freedom. Goingoutfromhischurchoneday,hefoundfourmenbehind
prophecy was fulfilled. However, they all went in company to Rome, and
thence returned together; afterwards, their lives were finished and they were
buried in that same place. The O'Clerys inform us, that Molua was
,8
to David of Cill-muine ; as also to Maedhedg, to Mochaemhog, and to Comhgall, according to an ancient quatrain. '9
The holy Archbishop of Leinster, Moedhog or ^Edan,20 at one time desired making a voyage to Wales, where he might consult with St. David,21
at Kill-Muini, regarding the person he should adopt as his confessor in Ireland. However, the winds were contrary, and he was admonished by an angel not to venture on the sea, but to select Lugid or Molua, the son of Coche. Onthis,theprelate,withsevenothercompanions,paidoursainta visit, who hospitably entertained them ; and the archbishop having made choice of Molua, as spiritual director, returned with joy to his home, after both saints had the kiss of
St. Sedna, '* or T 5 of
Setna, Bishop Saiger,
and they desired to become exiles. Lugid said to them
going into exile, but I say to you, that on the spot where you stand now, there shall your bodies be buried and await the final resurrection. " This
it,
:
Confessor
given
" Come with me, that I may offer you my place before my people. " How-
peace.
ever, the King of Leinster, who was named Brandubh, would not permit
tomus i. , Augusti iv. , Vita, &c, cap. iv. ,
word is anmcara, or "soul frie—nd. "
J 9 It runs in the strain : following
M Molua was Confessor
To David across the tranquil sea, And to Maedhog. and Mochamhog, And to Comghail. "
90
The Acts of this saint are to be found, at the 31st of January, the day for his
in the First Volume of this festival, work,
num. 28,
14 His feast occurs on the ioth of March,
at which day notices of him may be found, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iv.
15 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bernise," x. Martii. De S. Sedna sive Se-
donio Episcopo et Confessore, p. 572.
16
See ibid. , Martii v. , Appendix ad Vitam S. Kierani, cap. v. , p. 473.
" et
Molua? , cap.
p. 348.
17 The author of our saint's life
nos scimus hoc fact—um per merita amborum
a Domino fuisse. " xxxvii. , p. 375.
Vita S.
Art. i.
2I His feast occurs on the 1st of
"A note by Dr. Todd says he was a " Confessor," or "spiritual director. " The
March, when his Life may be found in the Third
adds,
16 came to our saint
22 On Aid said to parting, Molua,
Volume of this work, Art. i.
M See Vita S. Moluse, cap. xl. , p. 376.
" You think of
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
57
"
astute, that he might be a middle-man between Aid and his master. " Then
Lugid replied in a manner sufficiently enigmatical ; however, his words may be interpreted in the sense, that he did not accept the gift offered to him. 23
There are popular traditions, relating to the eailier possession of Clon- fert Molua, by the Druids, and it is said, that there these necromancers practised magical rites, before it had been consecrated by the presence of St. Molua and his monks. About five chains south-west of Kyle graveyard, thereisalargeirregularly-shapedstone,almostburiedintheground. The part above it measures about five by four feet. It has five circularly-shaped
such a transfer, saying :
I shall not be subject to a subject
;
the cleric is too
Stone of St. Molua, Kyle, Queen's County.
holes, which are said to have been impressions of St. Molua's head, knees and elbows when he prayed. ** This curious relic of a very early but un- ascertained period lies in the middle of a field, on the opposite side of the road to Kyle grave-yard.
It is a sort of large conglomerate rock, and of an
"
and,onit,heissaidtohavecelebratedMass. After- wards, that Druid, to whom it had formerly belonged, disappeared from this part of the country, according to the popular tradition. This story is interesting, moreover, as appearing to connect the bullan relics with the pagan period of our history; while all reasonable indications and researches
irregular shape, "St. Molua'sstone;
2* over the surface of the field. This is called cropping up
23 The words attributed to him are : "Si
virostotiusmundiinmanupropriatenuissem,
propter murmurationem unius viri, si illi
displicuisset, illos omnes ex manu mea relative to the Antiquities of the Queen's dimississem. Verumtamen regis, qui hoc County, collected during the Progress of prohibuit, de genere non erit rex, et omnes the Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. jugulabuntur. (Quod usque hodie com- Letter of P. O'Keefe, dated Mountrath, pletum est :) Nee possum tamen claudere Dec. 1st, 1838, pp. 117, 118.
coelum contra te propter Aidum : ego vero 25 The accompanying illustration of this
et Aidus unum cor in terra habemus, et simulerimusin coelo. "
24 See " Letters containing Information
5* LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
point to the same conclusion. 26 That stone is a very curious specimen of the bid- fan*"* or rock-basin memorials, so commonly found in Ireland, and the holes in it have been artificially formed in the undisturbed rock. That stone resembles one known as or u the
grit
of the
flag, near Cong, in the County of Galway ; but, the conclusion is unwarranted,
styled bullauns, It has been
bulla, meaning
spot by
1890.
maintains,
engraved by 26
" 23
Leach-na-poll,
Flag-stone
holes,"
that because such specimens of antiquity have been invariably found in immediate connection with the most ancient churches, they might be regarded as primitive baptismal fonts. It is said, moreover, that they have been
the writer, in October,
that Kill-da-lua " " the signifies
"
from the Latin word — a bowl. "
thought,
that the church of Killaloe in Irish or Kill-da-Lua,
—
the "cell of Lua" had its name from our saint either on account of his
;
having lived there for some time, or because it had been dedicated to him. 29 Sir James Ware opines, that St. Molua lived there, towards the end of the sixth and beginning of the seventh century 3° however, he has given
;
us no authority for such a conjecture, and probably, it was founded only on a fancied coincidence with the denomination. 31 His editor Harris falls into
an egregious error, when he tells us, that this saint lived at Killaloe, for some
time,
curious ancient memorial was drawn on the
William Frederick Wakeman to the wood,
beginning
of this same 2 The latter mistake century. 3
and about the
has been too carelessly copied, by another writer on Irish ecclesiastical affairs. 33 Although it is not certain, that our saint gave name to the church of Killaloe,3* this is not considered, however, to be an improbable con- jectured Nevertheless,therewereothersaints,bearingthenameofLuaor
34 The Rev. Dr. Ledwich, however,
Shannon, while St. Molua was only "an
ideal See " of personage. " Antiquities
of Ireland," p. 144.
i. , No. 2, xxvi. , pp. 257 to 264. Waters and that, wherever said word occurs,
87 The Irish word bullans has been it must be understood of the element water ?
rendered into English, by the translation Supposing even that his derivation of
Killaloe is correct, will it follow that no St.
Lua or Molua ever existed ? Whence then
the name of Clonfert-Molua, a place known at this very day? The Luanus of St. Bernard must have been a phantom, not- withstanding all the monasteries, which he orhisdisciples(phantomsalso)hadfounded. The churches, &c, erected by them must be considered as castles in the air. St. Moedoc
After-
wards, it was copied and transferred by church upon or near the water," i. e. , the
Mrs. Millard.
See a very interesting paper, read before
the Royal Irish Academy, June the nth,
1888, by W. F. Wakeman, F. R. H. A. A. I.
It is intituled " On the Bullan or Rock- "But pray, were there not hundreds of Basin, as found in Ireland ; with special churches near the Shannon and other waters Reference to two inscribed Examples. " in Ireland ; and how has it come to pass, This is accompanied by various lithograph that the church of Killaloe alone has got its illustrations. See "Proceedings of the name from water? Will this charlatan Royal Irish Academy. " Third Series, vol. maintain, that there is no such family as
Little holes. "
This is figured in Sir William Wilde's
"Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands:
with Notices of Lough Mask," chap, vii. ,
p. 164. Dublin, 1867, sm. 4to. 2""
9Sce Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical HistoryofIreland,"vol. ii. , chap,xii. ,sect, vii. , p. 206.
^See^De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib.
i. , cap. iii. , p. 17, as also in his work, " De of Ferns, Pulcherius, &c. , and even Com-
Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxix.
gall, of Bangor, must likewise be ideal personages, who, as appears from numberless authorities, were connected with Molua. Who can bear with patience the falsehoods and equivocations of an ignorant scribbler, who, while he never ceased to endeavour to
cast ridicule upon Vallancey, a man vastly more learned and honest, as dealing in etymologies, recurs himself to the most ex- travagant and unfounded one's, whenever it
31 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect,
vii. , n. 96, p. 210.
32 " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
Killaloe," p. 589.
31 " St. Molualobhair, the grandson of
Eocha Bailldearg, King of North Munster,
founded an abbey here about the beginning
of the 6th century. "—Archdall's " Monas-
ticon Ilibernicum," p. 52, and n. (f. ) Ibid. suits his vile purpose to do so? " Dr.
35 Referring to the ignorant assumptions of Ledwich, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes:
28 a red
August 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 50
Molua, and living about the time of our saint. If Molua Lobliar and Molua of Clonfert Molua were distinct persons, as there is every reason to suppose, it may be fairly admitted, that the Molua surnamed Lobhar was the founder of the church of 6 in the
Killaloe,3
suggests, likewise, that a Lughaire Lobhar, venerated in the Irish Calendars,
at the nth of
opinion
have been Lua or Molua Lobhar. 38
May,37 may possibly
CHAPTER IV.
MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ST. LUGID OR MOLUA—HIS RELATIONS WITH OTHER IRISH SAINTS—THE RULE OF ST. MOLUA—CLOSING SCENES OF HIS LIFE—HIS LAST VISIT TO ST. CRONAN—HIS DEATH—REVERENCE PAID TO HIS MEMORY—MEMORIALS AND FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
The following legend is only worth insertion, because it introduces some ancient names of places, which still require identification. A certain alumnus
of who was named Cruimther Lugid,
Luighdech,
Our saint directed this disciple to settle in a place, called Ochtar Narde,
2
within a district known as Corcho Luigde 3 and, in view of marking out ;
that spot, Lugid with seven men accompanied him on the road. While
travelling through a place, designated Cugenachte,* they met a confederated band of men, said to have been of the Devil's school, and having peculiar badges s on their heads. When Lugid saw them coming in the distance, to avoid the danger threatened to his fellow-travellers, he blessed these, and immediately they were transformed into blocks of decayed wood. On
coming up, the evil-designing wretches said to our saint
:
" Where are the
men we have seen in company with you ?
" He answered
"
They have
disappeared. " Twoofthepartythenstruckthedriedblocksofwood,and
immediately their hands and feet withered ; which judgment coming on them
so frightened the rest, that all fled precipitately away, except those two.
AskingpardonandhealingfromLugid,hehadcompassiononthem. The
use of their limbs he restored, and afterwards they became monks. They were associated, likewise, with the priest Luigdech, and with him they
6
remained in Ochtar Narde, to the very day of their death.
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vii. , n. 97, p. 210.
chap, xii. , sect, v—ii. , n. 98, pp. 210, 211.
r Bollandist Life of Chapter iv. In the
our saint, this name is incorrectly set down as Cruimcher Luichteth. Of the many Cruimthers mentioned in the Irish Calen-
36 In the tract, published by General Val-
lancey, in " Collectanea de Rebus Hiber
nicis," on The Law of Tanistry, Molua dars, we do not find any such title in
Lobhar is called the first Bishop of Killaloe ;
but, it would have been more correct,
according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, to give him only the title of Abbot.
37 See a notice of him, at that date, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
apposition with the name ; nor do we meet
with Luigdech, although there are several
Lnghaidhs.
38 However, Dr. Lanigan thus concludes : " The whole subject is so obscure, that I cannot form any decisive opinion on it. Supposing that these Moluas were different, yet they were contemporaries, and hence it may be easily accounted for why they have been sometimes confounded "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
this ancient denomination among the local
designations on the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland.
3 This district has not been identified,
4 This place has not been identified.
s These are called "vexilla" in Latin,
and which probably may be translated into
"cockades. "
6 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernige
together. "—
ex
2
There seems to be no near approach to
of Rev. Dr. who Lanigan,
1 had been ordained him. by
" Codice Salmanticensi nunc primum integre
:
people,
"
lying
May there be everlasting joy for
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 4.
At another time, St. Molua visited St. Eimen,? Abbot of Ross Mictreoin,8 on
the River Barrow, and within the territory of Hy Kinsellagh. 9 He and St. Molua were natives of the same territory ; but, on the return of Molua to his
he found his sister Cron or Croin 10 dead, with other women
own
weeping around her bier. Molua said,
youinHeaven. " However,onprayingoverthedeceased,shearosetolife. No sooner had St. Molua saluted Croin, than she expressed a wish to die once more, and to remain at rest with the saints. Having participated in the Holy Sacrifice, with the blessing and prayer of Molua, she then slept in peace. " Another curious legend is related of the cook in Lugid's monastery wanting milk, as the calves had already drained the cows of their usual supply for the community wants. Lugid desired them to take the vessel in which water had been drawn and to fill it from a well. This water was converted into milk, sweet as honey and exhilarating as wine. On it the brothers supped that same evening. Lugid ordered what remained of the liquid to be poured into the well, near a place called Milsal. 12 Some of the cowshavingdrankfromit, theirmilkretainedasimilarflavourtothatalready described. For long afterwards, that fountain imparted a like taste to the milk used in the monastery. However, some laics, having been guilty of
shedding blood, drank from it ; when the spring went dry very suddenly, T
and never afterwards did its water flow. 3 While Lugid and two of his
disciples sat in a certain place reading, suddenly their master wept, and after a little while, his face beamed with joy. They asked why he felt so and
received for " On this reply :
f4 has been ordained for the
St.
primacy in Rome. He wept and refused this honour offered to him by the
people, until the Angel of the Lord had been sent to him, commanding that he should fill the See of Peter. Then Gregory rejoiced. When Gregory
so did
and when he
I likewise felt
overjoyed. "
1 *
day,
Gregory
wept,
the cows apart from their calves, while he read, the animals remained perfectly
separated. While he was in Leinster, a certain queen, believed to have been
possessed by evil spirits, was brought to him in chains. On praying for her recovery, the energumena was healed, and the demons fled from her.
As an instance of the respect in which Lugid was held by Berach, King of Leix, at one time, when the latter entertained the King of Leinster, the liquor served at that feast was aught but agreeable to the taste, and its effects were made manifest by a sickness of the stomach affecting all the guests. On going out of his house, Berach saw a poor man, bearing shoes on his shoulders, while his feet were bare. That person also asked for food. Having enquired why he did not wear the shoes, on such a cold day, Berach
rejoiced,
I,
When Lugid was in the city of Benchuir, 16 and had been in charge of keeping
edita opera Caroli de Smedt et Josephi de Backer, e Soc. Jesu. De Sancto Lugido, num. 44, col. 279.
7 Also called Emneban in the Salamancan Life of our saint. His feast occurs, on the 23rd of December.
a town in the
9 The most southern division in the Province of Leinster.
"There are four saints,
virgin designated
Croine, noted at different days in the Irish Calendars, but the present holy woman has not been identified with any of them.
11 See " Collectanea Fleming's Sacra,"
Vita S. Molua:, cap.
