ON ST. RODAN OR RUADAN,
ABBOT OF LOTHRA IN IRELAND.
SIXTH CENTURY.
PrefaceRodanus, or Ruadanus, Abbot of Lothra, in Ireland (St.)
D. P.
[1] A parchment codex from antiquity, brought to us from the College of the Irish Fathers at Salamanca, gave us the Life of this Saint. Whence the Life is received: It is written in a simple style, such as you may find to be almost that of the other Lives of Irish Saints written in the twelfth century or later; though the Saint himself lived in the sixth century, as a contemporary of, or somewhat older than, St. Columba of Iona, as appears from the whole course of this Life. That Colgan had it in a somewhat more polished and fuller style, but also more recent, appears from the story, another later Life omitted. or rather fable (for monuments written so long afterwards are not always free from an admixture of fables), which here followed after no. 16, and which we have omitted lest it cause scandal: this itself, however, in a different style, is read in the said Colgan in the second Appendix to the Acts of St. Columba, in the Triad Thaumaturga, chapter 39. We did not think we ought to labor greatly to obtain that later Life: because the earlier can suffice by itself for those who follow after more ancient things, and do not expect truer things from a more recent age.
[2] That this Life is placed among the Lives of the more illustrious Saints of Ireland arguments of ancient cult, was for us the chief argument for believing that the name of this Saint also was great and venerable to the Irish while the Catholic cause stood firm among them. More, perhaps, concerning the ancient and solemn cult of this same Saint will be suggested by the Acts of Saints for April and the following months, to be shortly, as we hope, published by Colgan's successors: now there is at hand only the testimony of the ancient Tamlacht Martyrology, where after the Saints referred from the Hieronymian Martyrology to the 17th day before the Kalends of May, the location of the monastery of Lothra, almost immediately is added, Ruadanus de Lothra: which was a monastery in Ormond or the Northern part of Munster, as Colgan's Topographical index teaches, and is gathered clearly enough from this Life; although, not having yet more carefully weighed it, we once doubted whether it might itself be the city of Luthir, which is said in no. 2 to have been offered to St. Rodan, in the region of Greater Carbry or northern Connacht.
[3] The name of the Saint is variously expressed. Our codex first writes Rodanus up to no. 10: then Ruodanus is found written, the Saint's name variously written, and once and even again Ruadanus: which Colgan seems to embrace, and the one who transcribed for us the Tamlacht Martyrology. We retain the first spelling as easier. By the occasion of the later spelling we think it happened that the name, less perfectly written, seemed to the Cologne Carthusians, who were about to publish Usuard's Martyrology with their additions in the year 1521, to be Candanus. They therefore wrote: In Ireland, of Candanus the Bishop: but wrongly Candanus, which Canisius followed in his German Martyrology, and Ferrari in his General Catalogue of Saints followed Canisius. Certainly in all of Colgan's indexes of proper names the name Candanus is nowhere read, or any other near it, from which we might be warned to believe it is Irish.
[4] Yet lest we deny this absolutely, Henry Fitzimon's Catalogue of the principal Saints of Ireland makes us hesitate, whence Ballycandan is named. in which, after the name set forth from the authority of Canisius, is added, "from whom Ballycandan in Ireland": which it is difficult to believe crept into an Irishman's mind for Baile-Ruadan, or (as it is written in this Life) Pol-Ruodan. However, whoever gave the name Ballycandan, we entirely judge that he who has no place in the Irish Martyrology on this day, does not pertain to this day or to the St. Ruadan of whom we treat.
LIFE
From our Salamanca Manuscript.
Rodanus, or Ruadanus, Abbot of Lothra, in Ireland (St.)
BHL Number: 7349
FROM THE MS.
CHAPTER I.
The first beginnings of the Saint and certain miracles.
[1] Holy Rodan, son of Birrus, born of a noble family, was sprung from the descendants of Dubrugius, grandson of Duach. This Rodan, Born of noble family, elected by God from his mother's womb, from his infancy loved God greatly: who, at the Lord's prompting, leaving his parents, went out to read the Holy Scriptures and to learn ecclesiastical discipline. He proceeded into the borders of the descendants of b Neill, He studies under St. Finnian the Bishop: and there, under c Finnian, Bishop of Cluain-Hiraird, reading, he remained a long time. When he was learned in the divine Scriptures, and perfect in all the disciplines, having received his degree and bidding farewell to his master, he came to the borders of d Muscrige: and there first established a place for himself with e Mac-Cunethin, he departs to Mac-Cunethin until an Angel sent from God said to him: "In this place shall not be your resurrection." Then Rodan, leaving that place, came to the spot where now the city is: and there a wild boar, terrified at his arrival, leapt swiftly from a hollow log: thence to Lothra: and there Rodan founded his city.
[2] At the same time St. f Brandan Mac-Tualti established a place for himself not far from Rodan, in that town which is called Tulach-Brendin: and the sound of the bell of each could be heard from the place of the other. Then Brandan said: "I and Rodan cannot dwell together; therefore this region to Rodan
let us leave." And Brandan went out and built g Clonfert, and Rodan blessed him, saying: "Your city shall not be weaker than my city." When holy Rodan had gone out to the northern part of Ireland, he performed many miracles there, and acquired a great parish there, then to northern Ireland. and wished to build a place for himself in those regions: but a certain man, in whose field he wished to build, holding his hand, drove him away: and immediately the sea and sand covered the field of that man, and it is not inhabited forever.
[3] On a certain day, when Rodan had come to the city which is called h Snam-Luthir, in the region of the family of Carbre, at that very hour the King of the family of Carbre was being carried dead in a chariot to that city, and the whole people round about him were greatly mourning. He raises the King of Carbre, Then Rodan, pitying them, prayed to the Lord, and immediately the King rose up alive, and the King offered his city of i Luthir, and the people attached to him, to St. Rodan. On a certain day, when St. Rodan had come to Ros-Enni in Hi-crich-archer, he found a great crowd of people there, He opens by prayer the place of a hidden treasure, and asked what they were doing there. And they answered, saying: "In this city the substance of the people is hidden in the ground, in a great mortality, but we do not know in what particular place that treasure is hidden." Then Rodan went around the city, striking his bell and blessing the city, and prayed; and immediately the earth opened its mouth over that place in which the substance of the people was. Then those people, giving thanks to God, offered to Rodan the city itself and the people who were round about it.
[4] He visits his sister, After this Rodan came from the north to his sister Daroi, in the borders of the descendants of k Ailella, and he himself founded with her that place which is called Senchue, and that place was offered by the people to Rodan free forever. At a certain time, when the cook was bringing milk from the l cowhouse into the city, entering through the gate of the city daily, the milk was being poured out on the ground for seven days. On a certain day St. Rodan went to the gate that he might learn the cause of this evil: and he saw in the porch two demons, he restrains demons spilling the milk: one on the right and one on the left, having in their hands iron hammers, and striking on both sides the milk vessels, which immediately broken fell from the horse to the ground. Now the demons were doing this because the cook was not courteous to guests. Then Rodan sent the demons into the depth of the sea, where they might harm no one.
[5] A certain youth from m Aradab-Cliach, wishing to learn the art of medicine, asked Rodan to bless his hands. Then Rodan blessed his hands and his eyes, He bestows skill in healing on a youth; and immediately he was made perfect in every art of medicine. At that time the Queen of the King of Kualan, in the borders of the n Leinstermen, was tormented with an incurable pain; and there were beside her fifty physicians, who gave her no health. Then that Queen, and being ordered to cure the sick Queen, leaving the physicians, commended herself into the hands of God and St. Rodan. And the Angel of the Lord, coming to Rodan, said: "To you the Lord has granted that the Queen of the King of Kualan should through you receive health, the cause of whose pain the physicians have not known: for she has in her womb a bloody offspring." On a certain night St. Rodan showed himself to the Queen in a dream with a great light, and said to her: "Do not be afraid, He appears to her and promises a physician, because you will receive health: I will send to you a youth in such a habit, and on such a day, who will cure you of your infirmity: and leave the physicians, who can do you no good": and he departed from her.
[6] But on another day, calling to himself that youth whose hands he had blessed, Rodan said to him: "Go to the Queen of the King of Kualan, and heal her. that same youth;" And Rodan, taking his brazen vessel full of water, blessed it, and cast his saliva into the water, and the youth drank the drink. And Rodan said to him: "Go, and thus shall you do: you shall bless the water, and cast your saliva into the water: you shall give the drink to the Queen, and she shall be saved." The youth went out therefore, and did so: and having dismissed the physicians, blessing the water, and casting his saliva into the water, which when he blessed the water, the Queen is healed. he gave the drink to the Queen: and she drinking immediately brought forth the bloody and dead offspring which she had in her womb: and she was immediately healed. The youth, however, according to Rodan's word, accepted no gifts, except only a linen cloth of the King of Kualan, which was for a long time over the altar of Lothra.
[7] At a certain time the ship of Brandan in the sea which is called o Livemnech was sunk in the depth of the sea, and the son of the King of [p] Britain was sleeping in the prow of the ship. Then Brandan [q] said to his men: "Go to Rodan: He recalls the sunken ship from the depths, for to him the Lord has granted to lift up our ship from the depths, and to raise up the son of the King sunk in it." Going to Rodan, he immediately went with them, and praying in the place where the ship had sunk, it immediately rose up from the depths, and the son of the King in it as if sleeping, alive and well: the boy within safe: who said that St. Rodan had placed his cowl around his head, so that he did not feel the water.
NOTES.
p Let this seem wondrous to no one: since Ireland at that time was, not only to the neighboring Britons, but even to nations far off, a school of religion and letters.
q St. Brandan, being farther away, must have known this event in spirit: for the monastery of Cluainferta is more than four days' journey distant from that bay: to which the place of St. Rodan was far nearer, and therefore Brandan sends his disciples to him.
CHAPTER II.
What was done by St. Finnian with St. Rodan: King Dermot at his prayers is compelled to release an innocent prisoner.
[8] The number of the people of St. Rodan was thrice fifty men, to whom almighty God, without any labor except fasting and prayer, gave wonderful food. For there was with them in the city b a tree, from whose most sweet sap, dripping into a certain vessel placed beneath it, a tree from which wine dripped daily they were fed with their guests: and from this wonderful liquor, having the taste of wine, each one took his full cup, and they ate herbs in like manner. Then the Saints of Ireland, moved by envy against Rodan, sufficient for the household and guests, began to murmur, because their monarchs and pupils, fleeing from them, were going out to Rodan. The Saints went with such a complaint to Finnian, Bishop of Cluain-Hiraird, who came with them to ask Rodan to cease from this free life, lest he should produce envy and murmuring among the other Saints. St. Finnian makes it drip more sparingly: Now when St. Finnian had entered into the city, and seen that tree, lifting up his hand he blessed it, and immediately the tree ceased to flow, c so that on the following night that liquor would suffice for the household alone without the guests.
[9] Then their cook went with them to Rodan complaining. but Rodan blessing the water, To whom Rodan said: "Pour water from our fountain for the guests, and it will be turned into wine for them." And as the cook went and drew water from the fountain, suddenly through the stone foundation of the spring there broke forth a fish of wonderful size, whose trace remains in the stone to this day, and it was given to the guests: and the water being turned into wine, the guests were intoxicated, and the sleep of God fell upon them. Then the Saints of Ireland asked Rodan that he would make his monks similar to their monks, and he himself humbly obeyed them. But St. Finnian said to Rodan with his men: this is turned for them into wine, "Plow and reap your land, and without any cultivation and enriching with dung it will produce rich fruits forever." Then St. Finnian blessed Rodan, and his place, and his land, and departed
in peace.
[10] King Dermot, d son of Kerbuil, made peace in all Ireland. At that time the prefect of King Dermot, and his herald by name e Bacc-Lomm, went forth into the borders of Connacht, into the region of the family of f Mani. The herald himself, being persuaded by the devil, used to enter the castles, Hugh the fugitive, King's herald having been killed, having in his mouth his spear crosswise, that so before him the castles might be opened. Then Hugh-Guori, after his castle was destroyed before the herald, slew the herald himself: and for fear of King Dermot, Hugh fled to the regions of Muscrige, to g Bishop Senach: for the mother of Hugh-Guori and the mother of Bishop Senach were two sisters. and entrusted to him by Bishop Senach, Senach the Bishop led Hugh to St. Rodan that he might defend him. Now two sisters of Rodan, namely Kyell and Ruadnais, had nursed Senach himself. Then Hugh-Guori was led by St. Rodan to Britain.
[11] But Dermot sent to Britain that Hugh might not be able to dwell there. Again Hugh was brought back to Ireland to holy Rodan, Rodan hides him, who then was dwelling in the place called Poll-Ruodan, and he was hidden with him in the earth. Knowing this, Dermot came to Rodan who was dwelling in Poll-Ruodan: and Dermot sent his charioteer into the cell, that he might bring Hugh outside to him. When the charioteer entered into the cell, immediately his eyes were blinded. Then the King himself entered into the cell, and questioned Rodan saying: "Where is Hugh? and those sent to drag him out he punishes, For the King knew that Rodan would not tell a lie." To whom Rodan answered: "I do not know him, unless he be under his own seat." Then the King, having gone out of the cell far, recalled the word that Rodan had said to him, and returned again into the cell, and saw a lamp in the hand of a servant going in h to Hugh. Then King Dermot sent a man by name Donnanus to dig the earth where Hugh was. and also converts him. And when he had raised his hand with the hoe, immediately his hand dried up motionless, and he, doing penance, remained with Rodan together, and the one who had been blinded. These are the two Saints who stay at Poll-Ruodan.
[12] He pursues him, carried off by the King, with his men, Then Dermot himself came to lift Hugh out of the earth. But St. Rodan struck his bell. Hugh was therefore led out, and the King took him with him to the city of i Tara, and St. Rodan with his people likewise proceeded with the King, lest Hugh should be killed. When Rodan arrived at the city of Tara, with bells raised, he sang psalms with his people. But on the first night the King, caring little, refused to listen to them. On that night, however, twelve sons k of the Kings of Tara in one hour died: and a great mourning arose in the royal hall. and by the deaths of his own Then those twelve Kings said to Dermot: "This holy Cleric has slain our sons." On the next day the guardian of those boys, weeping and mourning, proceeded to Rodan, asking him to recall the boys of the Kings to life. As Rodan prayed, immediately the boys rose again. But on another night King Dermot saw a dream, namely a great tree reaching up to heaven, and terrified by a nocturnal vision, and saw thrice fifty men with axes cutting down that tree: and the great sound of the falling log aroused the terrified King from sleep: and immediately the cry of the Synod, continually singing psalms, filled his ears.
[13] and vainly expostulating against the Saint, Then the King, hastening at daylight, proceeded outside to them, and silence being made, said to Rodan: "I defend the justice of the commonwealth, that in every place there may be peace: you foster and defend evil: you will receive the vengeance of blood from the Lord, for in all Ireland your parish will first fail, and will withdraw from you." To whom Rodan replied: "Your kingdom will first fail, and none of your race shall reign forever." The King said: "Your place shall be empty, and swine dwelling in it shall root it up with their snouts." Rodan said: "The city of Tara many hundreds of years earlier shall be empty, and without inhabitant forever." The King replied: "Your body shall have a blemish, and one of your limbs shall perish, and your eye, blinded, shall not see the light." Rodan said: "Your body also shall be killed l by your enemies, and your limbs shall be ignominiously separated in parts." The King said: "A most ferocious boar shall with his tusk pierce your pyramid." Rodan said: "Your thigh, which was raised before me together with your body, shall not be buried: but a man upon a m spade shall cast it in the dung of sheep." Then King Dermot said to them: "You defend iniquity, I defend virtue. You confound my kingdom: he receives him back on payment of a ransom. yet God loves you more. Go, therefore, and carry your man, and pay the price for him." Then thirty horses, of hyacinth color and wonderful form, fleeing from the sea near Poll-Ruodan, came to Rodan at the city of Tara: and those very horses Rodan gave back to the King, and each of them, tested in the swiftness of running, obtained triumph, and those horses were given to the Kings. Then King Dermot was appeased, and Hugh-Guori was released. St. Rodan returned home in peace, and after a little time those horses, to the place whence they came, returned into the sea.
NOTES.
CHAPTER III.
The remaining miracles of St. Rodan.
[14] When St. Rodan had come from the city of Tara, behold certain lepers met him on the way, asking of him. Stags take the place of the Saint's chariot horses, Then Rodan gave them the horses of his chariot: and immediately two stags, running from the woods, made tame, placed their necks tamed under the chariot of St. Rodan; and they were under his chariot until Rodan came to his house. On a certain day, while St. Rodan was journeying with his men in his chariot, at his command a fallen tree is raised up, he found a great tree lying across the road. Then Rodan blessed the tree, which immediately rose up on high, and so the tree stood erect for many ages. At another time also St. Rodan commanded his monks, that on the arrival of their guests they should eat meat on days of Lent, bread is turned into bloody flesh. and Rodan blessed that meat, and made of it bread. There was a certain layman who refused to eat this supper with the Brothers. Then all the Brothers saw the bread, which that layman was eating, to be raw and bloody flesh. Then the layman did penance, and that bloody flesh, Rodan blessing, returned to the nature of bread.
[15] A spring bursts forth from the earth to heal leprosy, At another time also in summer twelve lepers came to Rodan, seeking alms from him. Then Rodan pressed his staff into the ground, and immediately a spring of water burst forth. And he made there a pool, and the lepers washing themselves in that pool, were cleansed of their leprosy. That pool is called Rodan's pool to this day. On a certain day, when the vessel in which fire is carried was not near, St. Rodan put burning coals into the bosom of a boy, coals are carried without harm to his bosom, that he might quickly carry them to the chilled guests: and not only were his clothes not burnt, but not even their color was changed. A certain doe, coming out of the woods, came to Rodan, a doe offers milk, and in the evening around the
setting of the sun was milked for him. The same doe, swiftly passing a long space of lands, at another hour, namely in the morning, was milked by St. Colman-Ela. b
[16] At another time, when St. Rodan and his monks were dwelling in that place which is called Butter miraculously received Dare-Etnech, the son of Darane of Dairimoir sent to him a large vessel full of butter. When this vessel had been placed in the morning upon two unruly oxen, the oxen proceeded through the marsh of a Dairi-moir, and in that marsh they found a very hard and level road, is not diminished: which no one before or after found there. And this vessel was divided at Rodan's among thrice fifty men, from the beginning of the spring season: and on the day of Pentecost the vessel was found full without diminution. At a certain time, when Rodan was in Ara, three dead boys are raised, a certain wretched mother came to him with tears, asking him to raise her son from death. And when Rodan had prayed, the boy rose up whole. Another boy also, in the borders of the descendants of Lugdech, he raised from death: for when the boy had been placed under the cowl of St. Rodan, he immediately rose up alive. A third boy also Rodan raised in Hi-Cuillin, in the regions of Ely: and the place in which this miracle was done is to this day called Tulach Ruodan. The father offered his son, with the field in which he was raised, to St. Rodan forever … c
[17] The height of St. Rodan, as experts relate, was seven feet, d for he had outwardly the form of a King, synopsis of his virtues. because he was a King within: fair without, but fairer within: noble according to men, but according to God more noble: he was great in body, and great in grace: great before God and man: great in the present: great in the future: great in charity, greater in humility: great in patience and mercy and in other good things. For these good morals, therefore, St. Rodan has great honor and reward in heaven in the sight of the eternal King almighty God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.