Aidan

ON ST. AIDAN, OR MAEDOC, BISHOP OF FERNS IN IRELAND.

At the beginning of the seventh century.

Aidan or Moedoc, Bishop of Ferns in Ireland (St.)

From various sources.

[1] The Slaney is a river of Ireland, in the southern part of Leinster, which scholars conjecture to be the Modona or Modonus of Ptolemy; and the city of Manapia, Bishop of Ferns or Menapia, now called Wexford, situated at its mouth, was founded by the Menapii of Belgium. On the Slaney, about ten leagues from Wexford, lies the city of Ferna, or Fearna, called Ferns in English — at this time distinguished, as Camden attests, solely by its episcopal dignity — which the Geraldines formerly fortified with a castle. Indeed, an archiepiscopal see is said to have existed here; it now falls under the Archbishop of Dublin.

[2] The first Bishop here was St. Aidan, also called Aedan, Edan, Aidus, Edus, Eda; by another name Maidoc, Maedoc, Moedoc, Modoc, Maedog, Moeg — all of which names (as the most learned John Colgan, St. Aidan, or Maedoc, of the Order of St. Francis, Professor of Sacred Theology, who is soon to publish much about the sacred antiquities of his homeland Ireland, has taught us) mean the same thing. For diminutive names (which is relevant here) have a double form among the ancient Irish: -an and -oc. If then you add -an to the name Aid, or Ed (which roughly corresponds to the French or German Eudo, Udo, Otto), you will produce Aidan, or Edan. But if you add -oc, with the letter M prefixed (which, thus added to proper names, means "my" and indicates love and reverence — as may also be observed in French and German proper names, and more frequently in common nouns), the result will be Maidoc, or Maedoc, or Medoc. Names of similar etymology — Medanus and Modanus — are found in writers on Scottish affairs.

[3] feast day, St. Aidan of Ferns (a different person from the Aidan of Lindisfarne, of whom we shall treat on August 31) is venerated on the day before the Kalends of February, on which day the Catalogue of the chief Saints of Ireland reads: St. Medogus, who is also called Edanus. The Cologne Martyrology printed in 1490, the Carthusians of Cologne in their additions to Usuard, the manuscript Florarium: On this day, of St. Edan, Bishop and Confessor. Ferrari: In Scotland, of St. Medothus, Bishop and Culdee. He is also recorded in the Calendar of Adam King, of which more below. David Camerarius writes of him thus: On this same day, St. Modocus, Bishop and Confessor, renowned for the sanctity of his life and for miracles, in that part of Scotland which is called Kilmodok from him (that is, "the place sacred to Modoc"). He then cites the Aberdeen Breviary and the Chronicles of Scone.

[4] Ferrari writes in his Notes that the memorial of the same St. Medothus, as he calls him, is observed on March 14; commemoration, but on that day, neither in Ferrari nor in any Martyrology, do we find his name. The same Ferrari, on September 7, in his Notes: Likewise on this day, of St. Modocus, Bishop in Scotland, who lived around the year 534.

[5] The Life of St. Aidan, or Maedoc, transcribed from ancient codices of Kilkenny in Leinster, Life, was shared with us by Hugh Ward, formerly Guardian of the monastery of St. Anthony of Padua of the Order of St. Francis at Louvain, and Lecturer in Sacred Theology. We collated it with an ancient codex received from the Irish College of the Society of Jesus at Salamanca. The same exists, though somewhat abridged, in the Legend of the Saints of England by John Capgrave. We also received it from the distinguished gentleman Philip O'Sullivan. James Ware cites this life in his book On the Bishops of Leinster and reports that a manuscript exists in the library of James Ussher, Royal Archbishop of Armagh. It contains much about the Kings of Ireland, which could be more clearly illuminated if the secular history of the Irish had been more carefully recorded.

[6] That St. Aidan lived in the sixth century is established both from the Acts of other Saints mentioned in this Life date. and from the fact that, when his spirit was called to heaven, he is recorded to have seen the triumphal entry of St. Columba into the heavens, which occurred around the year 565, as we shall say in his Life on June 9. Whence one may correct the Scottish Calendar of Adam King, in which the following is found at this day: Modoch, Bishop in Scotland, under King Cratlinth. Unless he is speaking of a different Modoc — as also Hector Boece, who in book 6, after treating of King Crathlinthus as a contemporary of Diocletian and Maximian, adds: Among our countrymen at the same time, distinguished in sacred learning, were Amphibalus the Bishop, the ancient Modocus, Calanus, Ferranus, Ambianus, and Carnocus, worshippers of God (called Culdees in our ancient vernacular language), sowing the doctrine of Christ the Saviour throughout all the regions of the Scots by preaching, with many and pious labors. That ancient Modocus is unknown to us and to the records of Camerarius; if he is our Moedoc, he does not belong to the age of Diocletian and Constantine the Great. Ware briefly summarizes the date of St. Moedoc, or Aedan: After he had discharged the pastoral office for approximately fifty years, he says, on the 31st of January, 632 (on which day his memory is celebrated), having founded many churches and wrought the greatest miracles (so says the aforesaid author, that is, of the Life), he departed to Christ in a most happy death. He was buried in his own church.

[7] Honorable mention of St. Aidan is made in the Lives of many Irish Saints. In the Life of St. David, Bishop of Menevia, he is listed among the three most faithful disciples of David, and the miracles narrated below in chapter 2 are recounted there, as well as this one, omitted here: After this, St. Aidan returned to Ireland, and having built a monastery there, in the place called Ferna-Guarin, By divine admonition he prevents St. David from being poisoned. he led a most holy life. While he was there on Easter night, more devoutly intent upon prayer, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying: Do you know that tomorrow at dinner poison will be set before your spiritual Father, St. David, by certain Brothers? He answered: I do not know. The Angel said to him: Send one of your disciples who can bring him this news. And St. Aidan said: Neither is a ship prepared, nor is the wind favorable. The Angel replied: Let your disciple Scutinus go to the seashore, and I will transport him. When he carried out the angelic commands and entered the sea up to his knees, a sea creature received him and carried him across the sea to the place where the man of God, David, was.

[8] In the Life also of St. Molua, or Luan, of whom St. Bernard writes in the Life of St. Malachy the Bishop: He also handed over to him the place of Bangor, St. Molua, or Luan, that he might build a monastery there, or rather rebuild it. For it had been a most noble place under its first father Comgall, generating many thousands of monks, the head of many monasteries. A truly holy place, and fruitful in Saints, bearing fruit most abundantly for God, so that one of the sons of that holy congregation, named Luan, is reported to have been alone the founder of a hundred monasteries. In the Life, therefore, of this Molua, or Luan, or Lugid, the following is found: At another time, St. Aidus, Abbot of Ferns, wished to go across the sea to David, that he might become the friend of his soul. When Aidus had sailed upon the sea, the sea and a contrary wind rose against him; and an Angel said to him: Do not go across the sea, but go to a man near to you, namely Lugid-Coche, and he will be your friend. Aidus therefore came with seven men to Lugid at Hirfoybeleth. And Lugid killed for them a fatted calf, and Lugid blessed the meat, and they became eight fishes. Knowing this, Aidus blessed those fishes; a holy man renowned for miracles, they were turned back again into meat. But Lugid a third time made fishes from the meat. Then Aidus, bending his knees before Lugid, took him as his friend, he wishes to subject himself and his possessions: and said to Lugid: Come with me, that I may offer you my place together with my people. Lugid therefore went to the city of Ferns; and Aidus offered him the place before his people. But Brandub, King of Leinster, did not permit this, saying: I will not be subject to a subject; King Brandub intervenes. it is cunning of the cleric to place Aidus between them all. To whom Lugid said: If I had held all the men of the world in my own hand, on account of the murmuring of one man, if it displeased him, I would have dismissed them all from my hand. From the race of the King who forbade this, no King shall come, and all shall be slaughtered — which has been fulfilled to this day. Yet I cannot close heaven against you on account of Aidus. I and Aidus have one heart but two bodies, and we shall be together in heaven.

[9] This is what is said more obscurely in the Life of St. Aidan about his Confessor. The same is narrated thus in another, shorter Life of Luan which we possess: Blessed Edus, Bishop of Ferns, going to him in order to subject himself and all his possessions to him before his entire community, brought him. When Brandub, King of Leinster, who had St. Edus as his Patron, heard this, he said: I will not be subject to a subject. Then Blessed Lugid said: If I held the kingdom of the whole world and it displeased anyone, I would relinquish it. Meanwhile, he unfailingly fulfilled the duties of both this and the twin life.

[10] He is also treated in the Life of St. Lasrian, or Molassius, on September 12; Mention of Aidan elsewhere. of St. Colman, Bishop of Dromore, on June 7; and of another Colman, surnamed Elo, on September 26. From these some things will be cited below.

LIFE

from two ancient manuscripts.

Aidan or Moedoc, Bishop of Ferns in Ireland (St.)

BHL Number: 0185

From manuscripts.

CHAPTER I.

The birth and holy youth of St. Aidan.

[1] There was a certain nobleman in the regions of Connacht, named Setna, and the name of his wife was Ethne, of the seed of Aula. Having no heir, The conception of St. Aidan obtained by alms, they asked God to give them a son; and they gave many alms, frequenting the Saints dwelling in the monastery of Druimlethain; and those Saints besought the divine mercy on their behalf, that they might have a son. Afterward, on a certain night, Setna slept with his wife Ethne; the future sanctity foreshown to the parents, and on that night he saw a dream — namely, a star falling from above into his wife's mouth; and his wife saw in her dream the moon falling into her mouth. Rising from sleep, they told each other what they had seen. And on that night St. Aedan, who is commonly called Maedoc, was conceived, and for this reason was called by many the Son of the Star. The next day, when they told what they had seen, wise men said to them: A star led the Magi to adore Christ; and by the same sign it has been shown to you that a son will be born to you, full of the Holy Spirit. One day, Ethne, the mother of St. Maedoc, foretold by a certain man, still carrying him in her womb, was sitting in a chariot. A certain magus met them on the road, and hearing the sound of the chariot, he said to his companions: That chariot is driven for a King. And coming to the chariot and seeing that no one was in it but the wife of Setna with her attendants, he said to her: Woman, you have a wondrous son in your womb, who will be full of the grace of God.

[2] Afterward the holy child Maedoc was born on the island called Inis Breagai; the place of birth illuminated from heaven, and the Holy Spirit immediately appeared remarkable and wondrous in him, for the place in which he was born did not lack light for a long time. And the blessed boy Maedoc was carefully nurtured by his parents; and he guarded himself more diligently from unlawful things, pious upbringing. the grace of God inspiring him. When St. Maedoc was still a small child in his father's house, the King of Tara, named Anmire, compelled the land of Hua Briun to give him hostages, among whom St. Maedoc was given as a hostage; for his father was a noble and powerful man. Given as hostage, he obtains freedom for himself and his companions: When the hostages appeared before King Anmire, the grace of God appeared in the face of the boy Maedoc; and the King said to all: This boy is gracious, and he ought to remain in the royal court and be with me; or, if it please him, I will send him free to his parents. The blessed boy, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to the King: If you defend me, Lord King, I ask you, by the grace of my God whom I wish to serve, to send free the boys who were brought with me. The King said to him: What you have asked shall be done. Then the King sent St. Maedoc and all the hostages for whom he interceded, free to their homeland, commending himself to the prayers of St. Maedoc and declaring that he would be a great pillar in the Church.

[3] he gives individual rams to hungry wolves; One day the holy boy Maedoc, playing with the shepherds of the sheep in the field, saw eight hungry wolves coming to him as if tame; and looking at them, he said: Take eight rams and eat. At this word the wolves rushed upon the flock and carried off eight rams with them into the woods; and those rams belonged to the aunt of St. Maedoc, who had nursed him. afterward he obtains their restoration by divine aid. The shepherds sent word and told this to the aforesaid woman, who came out in great anger to the boy Maedoc. The pious boy, seeing her, greatly feared her and said: My Lord Jesus Christ, help me, for in your honor I offered food to the hungry. Immediately, between him and his nurse, from a nearby place, eight rams appeared — such as those which the wolves had carried off — and familiarly entered the flock. No one yet knows who they were or whence they came. But the mystery of this thing the Lord Almighty, who sent them for the sake of His servant, knows. By this miracle St. Maedoc burned greatly with love of the Trinity. And those hearing and seeing it, both kinsmen and neighbors, glorified the Lord in His servant.

[4] When the parents of St. Maedoc saw such great grace in him, they handed him over to holy men for liberal studies. he is instructed in letters: And the fame of his sanctity began to spread widely throughout all the lands of Ireland. On another day, certain good men asked God to show them the place of their resurrection, wishing to serve God there. Then the Angel of the Lord said to them: Go to Blessed Maedoc, he instructs others: and he will show you the place of your resurrection. Coming to him, the Saint said to them: Did you hear the sound of a bell as you came here? They said: We did not hear it. The Saint said to them: Come with me, and I will show you the place where you will rise again. Going together, the Saint of God showed them the place of their resurrection, and those wonderful men remained there throughout their lives until their death.

[5] One day, while St. Maedoc was staying in a secluded place and reading there, a weary stag came to him, he frees a stag fleeing from hounds: with hounds pursuing it; and the stag stood before the servant of God, as if asking for protection. The man of God, knowing its plight, placed his writing tablet upon its antlers; and when the hounds came after it, the stag appeared to them as a kind of statue. Unable now to find it there or to follow its tracks from that place, the hounds turned back. And so the stag, having the writing tablet of the man of God removed from its antlers, escaped free.

[6] St. Maedoc and St. Laserian of Devenish were companions. It happened one day that they were in the shade of two trees, asking God to make known to them by divine direction he parts from St. Lasrian: whether they should remain together or separate. Then the two trees, by divine direction, under which the Saints were sitting, fell — one to the North and one to the South; the tree under which St. Laserian was sitting fell to the North, and the tree under which St. Maedoc was sitting fell to the South. Then, filled with the divine Spirit, they said: The sign of separation has been given to us by God, and so we must go just as our signs have fallen. Afterward, weeping and kissing each other, Blessed Laserian betook himself to the northern part of Ireland, and built the most famous monastery on the lake of Erne, called Devenish, which in Latin means Ox-Island. But St. Maedoc went to the southern part of Ireland, in whose honor the city of Ferns exists there — though he did not go there immediately.

[7] One day as St. Maedoc was walking on the mountain called Betha, wishing to go to the place called Ardrionnygh, the day failed him on the journey. Praying to Christ the Lord to help him, behold, Angels came to him he is carried by Angels to his destination: and took him up in their hands, after the example of Habakkuk the Prophet; and leading him to the aforesaid place, they set him down in the middle of the fortress, where a Cross is placed as a sign of power, which is called the Cross of St. Maedoc.

[8] On another day, Damhairghid, son of Ethach, a powerful man, was drowned in the lake of Erne with two boys; and their bodies were not found. he raises those long drowned: His mother, going about to many Saints, asked that at least their bodies might be revealed by the grace of God through them. One of them, namely the aforesaid Laserian, said to her: Go and wait beside the lake; then the most blessed Maedoc will come there; for I know by the gift of God that he will find their bodies and, by the grace of God, will raise them. Afterward she hastened with her companions to the lake, and immediately St. Maedoc came to her. The pious mother, weeping greatly, told him all the aforesaid things. Then Blessed Maedoc, trusting in the mercy of God and the prophecy of the holy man Molassius, who had foretold that they would be raised, entered the water where the dead were; and praying to God, he raised them, and accompanying them out of the water, he delivered them to their mother with her companions. The chieftain Ethach, seeing his son raised from the dead, offered that son and his descendants and their posterity forever to the honor of God and St. Maedoc.

CHAPTER II.

His deeds in Britain under the tutelage of St. David the Bishop.

[9] Afterward, when the fame of St. Maedoc's sanctity had spread widely, many came to him and wished to be under his direction. Then Blessed Maedoc began to flee from his own land, not wishing to be held in such great honor. When Aed the White, King of Hua Briun, learned of this, he resisted him, against the King's will he goes to Britain: because he did not wish to let him leave his territory. St. Maedoc said to him: Let me go in peace, and you shall be given rest in heaven. While the King still resisted him, God by His power peacefully conducted His servant to the borders of Leinster. And from those borders St. Maedoc sailed to Britain, he dwells with Bishop St. David to Blessed David, Bishop of the city called Ceallmuininn, and remained with him for a long time.

[10] One day, while St. Maedoc was reading in his cell, the steward of the monastery of St. David came to him with an angry mind and said harshly: Go, worthless man, after the Brothers, to carry wood from the forest. For the Brothers had gone out to the forest that day at dawn, without the knowledge of the man of God, St. Maedoc. by command of a steward who envied him, That steward hated the Saint without cause. Obeying most quickly, St. Maedoc left his book open outside. And the steward ordered him to take two untamed oxen, to put them in a wagon, and gave him a yoke without reins — and all this he did with evil intent. But the oxen became tame by divine power before the man of God, and the yoke firmly adhered to their necks. he yokes untamed oxen to the wagon: And putting the oxen to the wagon, he followed the Brothers, one small boy going out with him. Now there was a great marsh between them and the forest, around which the road went. The companion of St. Maedoc said to him: O how much sooner we would reach the Brothers he crosses impassable waters with his companion. if there were a road through the marsh! St. Maedoc said to him: Sign your heart and your eyes, and you shall see the power of God. Then St. Maedoc turned the oxen with the wagon into the marsh; and God by His power made a level path through the marsh, the track of which remains to this day and benefits many. Afterward they reached the Brothers, giving thanks to God.

[19] One day when St. Maedoc was by the sea, he said to his Brothers: "I am sorry he walks upon the waters: that I did not ask my Master David to tell me who in Ireland should be my Confessor." And when his disciples did not wish to go with him, or to prepare a ship for him, fearing greatly the sea, the man of God walked upon the sea, wishing thus to cross all the way to Britain to his Master David. Then an Angel of the Lord came to him, saying: "You have shown great boldness." St. Maedoc answered, saying: "I did it not out of boldness, but out of God's power and kindness." The Angel said to him: "It is not necessary for you to have another c Confessor besides God; for He knows your most pure confession; he takes St. Molua as his Confessor: but if you wish to have a witness of your conscience, take Molua, son of Coche, as your Confessor to God." Then St. Maedoc returned from the sea to Ireland and entered the port in the region of Hua Kennselach, in the town called Ardlachan. And when he had sat there in the place called Achell, he realized that he had forgotten his d bell in Britain. When it was necessary for him he miraculously receives the bell across the sea: to ring the bell, he saw it coming across the sea and resting near him on the shore. Then the man of God, taking his bell, gave thanks to God.

[20] One day when St. Maedoc was on the shore of the strait that divides e the Munstermen and the Leinstermen, situated between the land of the Desi and the Kinselechi, he wished to cross the strait to the land of Mandesi; for he was riding with his companions; and not finding a ship far off, the horses unwillingly began to enter f the strait. Then the Saint said to his companions: [he crosses the strait with his companions, nor are the hooves of their horses wetted:] "Let the horses go; for God is powerful to make the wave dry beneath their feet." Afterward the horses crossed the strait, and their hooves were not wetted in the strait, but by divine power it was dry like land; and so they arrived at the land g of the Desi.

[21] Then St. Maedoc established the cell called h Disert-Narbe; and there he dwelt for some time with his Brothers; and the Brothers had two cows with one calf. he gives the calf to hungry wolves: One day when St. Maedoc was alone in the cell, he saw wolves coming to him, howling as if asking food from the Lord. Then the man of God, moved by mercy, took the calf and extended it to them. The wolves, snatching the calf from the hands of the Saint, devoured it. A Brother who milked the cows sought the calf; the holy Father said to him: "Do not seek the calf, for I in your absence gave it to the wolves." That Brother said to him lightly: "How shall we calm and milk the cows without the calf?" Maedoc said to him: he miraculously arranges that the cows allow themselves to be milked: "Place your head before me that I may bless it; and when the cows see your head, they will love you and give their milk." And so it was done: for the cows, seeing the head of that Brother, licked it and were milked with all gentleness. Many times St. Maedoc performed this miracle; and when the calves died, he would bless the heads of those who milked, and the cows loved them as their calves.

[22] One day when St. Maedoc was grinding wheat at the mill, a certain man of the Oscargian people unwillingly took flour from him. All the Brothers of the man of God were outside serving. Again the same man, having changed his clothing and blinding one eye, came as if one-eyed to St. Maedoc, [he denounces the punishment of one pretending to be one-eyed to extort alms again:] asking flour from him. The Saint said to him: "Why have you done this? For the name of my Lord I will give to you, but you will be one-eyed until your death, and as long as your family endures, a blind man will not be lacking from it." And so all was fulfilled.

CHAPTER IV.

Victory Obtained over Enemies. The Power of Almsgiving. Aidan's Episcopate.

[23] St. Maedoc built many monasteries throughout the region of Kinnselach; and when he was in one of them, called a Cluain-mhor of Dicolla Garbhir (this Dicolla being a holy Abbot of that place under the care of Father Maedoc), b Aedus, son of Anmirech, King of Ireland, gathered a very great army to devastate the people of Hua Kennselach. For Brandub, son of Ethach, King c of Kennselach, was against him. Many people of that region with their property had fled to St. Maedoc in the aforesaid place, he protects those who flee to him, hoping for protection through the sanctity of the man of God. Hearing this, the King of Tara came to take plunder from that place. St. Maedoc went out against the army with a sign raised against the enemy, and signed with the point of his staff against them; but one soldier, who was ahead of the rest, wishing to cross the sign, said: "There is no one who can prevent me with his sign." And when he had said this, he fell and died. The rest, greatly afraid, returned to the King, and one who scorns it suddenly dies: and carried the lifeless body with them, narrating to the King what had happened and glorifying St. Maedoc. Then the King returned with his army, saying: "We can no longer fight against God."

[24] That same King of Tara, Aedus son of Anmirech, again on another occasion from the northern part of Ireland, and from the regions of the Connachtmen, the Munstermen, d the Conallenses, and the northern Leinstermen, gathered many armies he divinely obtains victory for King Brandubius: and came to devastate the same region of Kinnselach and to expel their King, namely the same Brandub. He was a most cunning man and very capable in warfare; and e acting cunningly, he boldly entered the camps of the enemies, and killed the King of Ireland himself, Aedus son of Anmirech, and made a great slaughter of the noble men of all Ireland with him. f

[25] One day St. Maedoc came to the monastery called Seanbhothai, near the base of the mountain which in Irish is called Suighe Lagen, that is, "the Seat of the Leinstermen"; he provides food for a she-wolf: and while he was journeying, a she-wolf came to him, panting greatly and starving, in a familiar way; and the man of God, seeing her, said to the boy who was near him: "Do you have any food?" The boy answered, not knowing what the Saint wished: "I have one loaf and a piece of fish." And the man of God, taking them, gave them to the she-wolf; he converts leaves into bread. and the boy was embarrassed, saying: "I fear my Master." Then he said to the boy: "Bring me leaves." When the leaves were brought, the Saint blessed them; and by divine power, g converted to their former use, he gave them to the boy, giving thanks to God.

[26] One day the aforesaid King Brandubius, having received the kingdom of all the Leinstermen, and not only that but also of all Ireland as far as Callachuari, after the killing of Aedus son of Anmirech, was passing along a certain shore, having great spoils before him from the regions of the North. A certain leper met him there, asking alms; then the King h gave a bald and tawny sheep as alms. Afterward the King came into his own land and encamped near the river i Slane, and was seized with great pain there, and saw this vision: he saw himself being carried to hell, and all the beasts of hell running toward him with gaping mouths; [Brandubius, freed from the danger of damnation by almsgiving and the prayers of Aidan,] and he saw one, great and stronger than the rest, at the gate of hell with its mouth open, prepared to devour him; whose breath drew the King to itself and nearly swallowed him. Then a certain fair and joyful Cleric came to him and placed a sheep, such as the King had given to the leper, into the mouth of the beast; and the King was delivered from the mouth of the beast. And again the beast drew him to itself and nearly swallowed him. Then the Cleric struck the head of the beast with a staff and closed its fiery mouth; and so the King escaped the peril of hell. And his spirit was brought back to his body, and afterward he arose from the ecstasy and narrated to his household what he had seen.

[19] One day, when St. Maedoc was near the sea, he said to his Brothers: I regret he walks upon the waters: that I did not ask my Master David to tell me who in Ireland should be my Father Confessor. And when his disciples were unwilling to go with him or to prepare a ship for him, fearing the great sea, the man of God walked upon the sea, wishing thus to cross over to Britain to his Master David. Then an Angel of the Lord came to him, saying: You have done a great act of boldness. St. Maedoc answered, saying: I did it not from boldness, but from the power and goodness of God. The Angel said to him: It is not necessary for you to have any other Father Confessor besides God, for He Himself knows your most pure confession; St. Molua becomes his Confessor: but if you wish to have a witness of your conscience, take Molua, son of Coche, as your Father Confessor before God. Then St. Maedoc returned from the sea to Ireland and entered a port in the region of Hua Kennselach, in the town called Ardlachan. And when he had sat there in the place called Achell, he realized that he had left his bell in Britain. And since it was necessary for him he miraculously receives his bell across the sea: to strike his bell, it came across the sea and he saw it near him on the shore. Then the man of God, taking his bell, gave thanks to God.

[20] One day, when St. Maedoc was on the shore of the strait that divides the Munstermen and the Leinstermen — situated between the territory of the Deisi and the Kinsellagh — he wished to cross the strait to the territory of the Mandesi. He was riding with his companions, and not finding a ship nearby, the horses reluctantly began to enter the strait. Then the Saint said to his companions: he crosses the strait with his companions, the hooves of the horses not wetted: Let the horses go; for God is able to make the wave dry under their feet. Afterward the horses crossed the strait, and their hooves were not wetted in the strait, but by divine power it was dry as land; and so they reached the territory of the Deisi.

[21] Then St. Maedoc established a cell called Disert-Narbe, and there he dwelt for some time with his Brothers; and the Brothers had two cows with one calf. he gives the calf to hungry wolves: One day, when St. Maedoc was alone in the cell, he saw wolves coming to him, howling as if asking food from the Lord. Then the man of God, moved by compassion, took the calf and offered it to them. The wolves, snatching the calf from the hands of the Saint, devoured it. The Brother who milked the cows, looking for the calf, the holy Father said to him: Do not look for the calf, for I, while you were absent, gave it to the wolves. To whom that Brother said lightly: How shall we calm and milk the cows without the calf? Maedoc said to him: he miraculously enables the cows to be milked: Place your head before me that I may bless it; and when the cows see your head, they will love you and give their milk. And so it was done: for the cows, seeing the head of that Brother, licked it and were milked with all gentleness. Many times St. Maedoc performed this miracle; and when calves died, he would bless the heads of the milkers, and the cows would love them as if they were calves.

[22] One day, while St. Maedoc was grinding wheat in a mill, a certain man of the Oscargi people took flour from him against his will. All the Brothers of the man of God were ministering outside. Then the same man, having changed his garment and blinding one eye, came as if one-eyed to St. Maedoc, he denounces punishment upon one who feigns being one-eyed to extort alms again: asking for flour from him. The Saint said to him: Why have you done this? For the name of my Lord I will give to you, but you shall be one-eyed until your death, and as long as your family shall endure, a blind man shall not be wanting from it. And so all was fulfilled.

CHAPTER IV.

Victory obtained over enemies. The power of almsgiving. The episcopate of Aidan.

[23] St. Maedoc built many monasteries throughout the region of Kinsellagh; and while he was in one of them, called Cluain-mhor of Dicolla Garbhir — which Dicolla, a holy Abbot of that place, was under the care of Father Maedoc — Aed, son of Anmire, King of Ireland, gathered a very great army to devastate the people of Hua Kennselach. For Brandub, son of Ethach, King of Kinsellagh, was against him. Many people of that region had fled with their possessions to St. Maedoc, who was staying in the aforesaid place, he protects those who flee to him, hoping for defense through the sanctity of the man of God. Hearing this, the King of Tara came to take plunder from that place. St. Maedoc went out against the army, opposing a sign to the enemy, and signed the ground with the tip of his staff against them. One soldier, who was ahead of the rest, wishing to cross the sign, said: There is no one who can stop me with his sign. And when he had said this, he fell down and died. one who scorns it dies instantly: The rest, now greatly afraid, returned to the King, and carried the lifeless body with them, telling the King what had happened and glorifying Maedoc. Then the King returned with his army, saying: We cannot now fight against God.

[24] That same King of Tara, Aed son of Anmire, once again from the northern part of Ireland and from the regions of Connacht, Munster, he obtains victory by divine aid for King Brandub: Tyrconnell, and the northern Leinstermen, gathered many armies and came to devastate the same region of Kinsellagh and to expel its King, namely the same Brandub. That man was very cunning and extremely valiant in warfare; and acting shrewdly, he boldly entered the camp of his enemies and killed the King of Ireland himself, Aed son of Anmire, and wrought a great slaughter of the nobles of all Ireland with him.

[25] One day St. Maedoc came to the monastery called Seanbothai, near the foot of the mountain called in Irish Suighe Lagen, that is, the Seat of the Leinstermen; he gives food to a she-wolf: and as he was journeying, a she-wolf came panting and very hungry, approaching him familiarly. The man of God, seeing her, said to the boy who was nearby: Have you anything to eat? The boy answered, not knowing what the Saint wanted: I have one loaf and a piece of fish. And the man of God, taking them, offered them to the she-wolf. he turns leaves into bread. The boy blushed, saying: I fear my Master. Then the man said to him: Bring me leaves. When the leaves were brought, the Saint blessed them; and by divine power, converted to their former use, he gave them to the boy, giving thanks to God.

[26] One day the aforesaid King Brandub, having gained the kingdom of all Leinster — and not only that, but of all Ireland as far as Callachuari — after the killing of Aed son of Anmire, was coming along a certain shore, leading great spoils before him from the regions of the North. There a certain leper met him, asking alms from him; and the King gave as alms a bald and tawny ram. Afterward the King came to his own territory and encamped beside the River Slaney, and there he was seized with great pain, and he saw this vision: he saw himself being carried to hell, and all the beasts of hell meeting him with open jaws; [Brandub, freed from the danger of damnation by his almsgiving and the prayers of Aidan,] and he saw one great beast, stronger than the rest, at the gate of hell with open mouth, ready to devour him, whose breath drew the King to it and nearly swallowed him. Then a certain handsome and joyful cleric came to him and placed a ram, such as the King had given to the leper, into the mouth of the beast; and the King was drawn back from the mouth of the beast. And again the beast drew him to itself and nearly swallowed him. Then the cleric struck the head of the beast with a staff and closed its fiery mouth; and so the King escaped the peril of hell. And his spirit was restored to his body, and afterward he rose from the ecstasy and told his familiars what he had seen.

[27] Then the King, in his pain, was brought to the place called Inbher Crainchiun; there he lay ill. Then his friends said to him: he visits him, There is a certain holy man named Maedoc in your territory, who performs great wonders; send therefore to him, that blessed water may be brought to you from him. To whom the King said: It shall not be so; rather I myself will go to the man of God. And immediately the King, mounting his chariot, came to St. Maedoc. Hearing that the King was coming to him, Blessed Maedoc went out to meet him. When the King saw the Saint coming to him from afar, he said: This Saint delivered me from the mouth of the beast and from all the punishment of hell; and offers himself to do penance: I now recognize his form. Then the King prostrated himself at the feet of the Saint, saying: I repent, for I have done many evil things; and whatever you shall say to me for the remedy of my soul, I will fulfill in the name of God. And then, at the prayer of the Saint, he was immediately healed of all his infirmity; by his prayers he is freed from illness: and he said to the man of God: You have healed me of my illness and released me from hell; and he told him his vision.

[28] Afterward the King said to the holy Maedoc: Behold, I offer myself to you, that I may be buried in your cemetery, and my descendants shall always be buried with you. he bestows many gifts upon him. And the King gave great offerings to the holy Maedoc and a field in which the man of God might build a monastery, which is called Ferns — in which St. Maedoc was buried. And King Brandub and his descendants after him are always buried there; and a great city grew up in honor of St. Maedoc there, which is called by the same name, that is, Fearna. Then, in a great synod held in the territory of the Leinstermen, St. Moedoc is made Bishop of Ferns: King Brandub decreed, and both laity and clergy, that the archbishopric of all the Leinstermen should always be in the see and chair of St. Maedoc. And then St. Maedoc was consecrated Archbishop by many Catholics. While St. Maedoc was building the monastery of Ferns, his disciples complained to him that they had no water there. Before him was a certain tree, and he said to his disciples: he miraculously brings forth a spring: Cut down this tree, and a clear spring will burst forth for you from its place. And immediately, when the tree was cut down, a bright spring appeared, which is called Tiobrad Maedoc, that is, the Spring of Maedoc. Now women were accustomed to come to the stream of the aforesaid spring to wash their garments. A certain common man, he forbids women from that spring, named Becc, had a farm near the monastery of St. Maedoc, whose field came to the stream of the Saint's spring; and therefore women came there to wash, as if it were their own water. And this greatly displeased the man of God, and he said to them: Depart from here, and do not come to us so close. The women said to him: We will not leave; this is our place and our water. After this word, the daughter of the aforesaid man, washing garments one woman's feet adhere to the ground, and trampling them with her feet, her feet adhered to the garments, and the garments to the stones, and the stones to the earth; and the woman was like a statue, drying up and almost perishing. then she is released by his prayers: Hearing this, Becc her father came to St. Maedoc, humbly asking him to release his daughter. When the Saint prayed for her, the woman was immediately released. When she was released, that man Becc offered himself and his descendants, together with his farm, to the Lord and to St. Maedoc forever.

h O'Sullivan: a ram.

CHAPTER V.

Life and health restored through his merits. Other assistance brought to the needy.

[29] A certain herdsman lived near the city of Ferns, He summons a dead woman to himself and raises her: whose mother was being tormented by grievous pain near death. The herdsman came to St. Maedoc to ask for blessed water from him. Then the most blessed Bishop humbly went to that sick woman; but the herdsman went ahead of the man of God to the house and found his mother dead. Returning, he said to the man of God: Do not trouble yourself, holy man, for my mother is dead. To whom the Saint said: Go and tell your mother to come and greet me. That man, obeying the man of God, said to the dead woman: The holy Bishop Maedoc calls you. At this word she arose as if from a heavy sleep, and giving thanks to God, came, though still ill, to meet the man of God.

[30] At a certain time the holy Bishop Maedoc went out to visit St. Munna the Abbot, dwelling in his monastery called Teach Munne; and the holy Bishop was received with great honor. Visiting St. Munna, he heals all who are sick there; The holy Abbot said to his attendant: Tell the holy Bishop that all who are in this place shall be refreshed tonight at his coming. The holy Bishop said: All who are in this place shall be refreshed tonight. St. Munna said again to his attendant: Tell our Lord the Bishop: We cannot refresh all, because many of us are sick. Hearing this, the Bishop said: The Lord Abbot has cleverly asked for the health of his Brothers; for my Lord is able, at my coming, to grant health to all of them. And when he had said this, all the sick received their health. And those who could scarcely live before ate heartily with the rest. But on the third day, when Blessed Maedoc wished to leave, St. Munna said to him: You shall not leave until all the Brothers who were previously sick are in the same condition as before. at his request, he obtains from God that they fall sick again: To whom the Bishop said: The Lord has granted me their health. And Blessed Munna said: It shall not be so; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Then, with Maedoc consenting, they were turned back to their sickness. Afterward the holy Bishop, bidding farewell to all with a blessing, departed.

[31] When St. Maedoc was in the place called Ardlathra, he saw from there six oxen in the plow, turned wild and rushing toward the gate of his city of Ferns. he perceives distant events and aids one in peril: Between that place and the city of Ferns there were nearly a hundred miles. The man of God, seeing this from a great distance by divine power, raised his hand and blessed; and the plowman then fell between the plowshare and the coulter, but was not harmed, because the oxen were immediately made tame; and so he escaped from such great danger. When the disciples asked the holy man about this, he told them what had happened.

[32] At a certain time the blessed Bishop Maedoc went out to visit the holy Virgins, daughters of Aed son of Coirpre; and he brought with him his plow as an alms together with the oxen, that they might plow for the Virgins. he gives an ox to a poor woman, While the plowmen were immediately yoking the oxen for plowing, a leprous woman came, asking the man of God Maedoc to give her an ox; and the Saint gave her the best ox. The plowmen said to the man of God that they did not have an even number of oxen. The holy man said to them: Wait until a good ox is sent to us by God. Suddenly (marvelous to tell!) they beheld an ox coming from the sea, he miraculously obtains another: which, bellowing, cried out three times and humbly placed its neck into the yoke beside the other ox. And for three spring seasons that ox plowed there; at the beginning of each day on which it was to plow, it came from the sea for the plowing, and bellowing three times, at the end of the day it returned again into the sea. All who heard and saw this miracle glorified God and His servant St. Maedoc.

[33] At another time St. David the Bishop, Master of St. Maedoc, he visits St. David: sent to him to come and greet him before he died. Immediately the obedient Bishop went to Britain and remained for some time spiritually with his holy Master David. One day St. Maedoc said to Bishop David: Today, Father, I have promised good men to arrive in Ireland. The holy old man David answered him: Today you will be in Ireland. He said: How? The venerable old man said: Your household will come for you by ship; but take my blessing; and let the firmest brotherhood in heaven and on earth be forever between me and you, he returns to Ireland, carried by a sea creature: and between our posterity. And now go to the sea, and whatever unknown animal comes to you, you shall mount upon it, and it will bring you safely and swiftly to Ireland. And the holy old man, Bishop David, blessing him, Blessed Maedoc came to the seashore and, finding there a great unknown animal, mounted upon it in firm faith; and the man of God was carried swiftly and quickly to Ireland. The animal set the holy man down in the place called Inbher Cromchiun, and it returned to the sea as if seeking a blessing. And the holy Maedoc, as he had promised, came to his own.

[34] he fasts for forty continuous days, At another time the most blessed Bishop Maedoc, after the example of Moses and Elijah — nay, after the example of the Creator of all things, the only-begotten Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ — fasted for forty days and forty nights in his city of Ferns, eating nothing and drinking nothing of human nourishment. And after the fast of forty days, and afterward appears more vigorous: the man of God appeared to his disciples taller and stouter than before. When the fast was completed, the Lord Almighty granted to St. Maedoc the petitions which the holy man had asked of Him: he obtains four of his petitions from God: the first petition was that whoever of the royal race of the Leinstermen, and especially of the seed of Brandub son of Ethach, should sit wickedly in his see and die in it, should not be with him in heaven. And that whoever of his monks should deny him and be a fugitive from him, likewise should not be with him in heaven. And that hell should not be closed upon those who lie in his cemeteries after the day of judgment. And that he should free one soul every day from hell until the day of judgment.

CHAPTER VI.

Various prophecies. Health obtained for Kings.

[35] On a certain day, when St. Maedoc was coming to the ford of Imgain, his charioteer said to him: Tell me, Lord, who after you shall sit in your see? The holy Bishop answered him: He who before us shall open the turnstile of the ford, he shall be the occupant of my chair after me. And immediately they saw unruly students coming with shields and spears in hand for the purpose of sport. [he foretells that St. Cronan, then a young man and dissolute, will be his successor,] When they saw the band of students, one of them, leaping out, opened the turnstile for them. Seeing the very unruly young man opening the turnstile, the aforesaid charioteer was astonished and said aloud: Shall this trifler be our Bishop after our Patron? Then that student, struck with compunction by the grace of the Holy Spirit, came humbly to St. Maedoc and said to him: who, immediately struck with compunction, follows him. O Saint of God, I wish to go with you and live under your discipline. The holy man said to him: Where are you from, and what is your name? He said: I am from Munster, from the inhabitants of Luachair, and I am called Cronan. To whom the man of God said: By another name you are called, that is, Mochua Lothre. And he said to him: Follow me. From then on, Mochua Lothre followed St. Maedoc until his death; and afterward he became wise and holy, a man of wondrous abstinence, who performed great miracles; whom the most blessed Maedoc, for the probity of his life and the goodness of his character, appointed as Bishop after himself.

[36] Interceding for captives, he is repelled by a chieftain; At another time, St. Maedoc, hearing that certain of his kinsmen were captives among the Munstermen — namely, in the region called Hy Conaill Gabhrae — set out to free them from captivity. When the man of God had arrived there, the chieftain of that territory refused to hear him and did not allow him to stay in his castle. whose daughter therefore dies, Before the gate of that castle the man of God fasted for three days. When the fast was ended, the daughter of that chieftain, whom he greatly loved, suddenly died. The chieftain's wife, knowing this had happened by reason of a miracle, brought the lifeless body to St. Maedoc; and at the mother's request, he raises her: and that of his companions, the servant of God raised her from death. But still the hard chieftain resisted St. Maedoc with harsh words. When St. Maedoc began to curse the chieftain, a certain boy standing nearby said: Hail, holy elder; let your curse fall upon this rock. he splits a rock with his curse: And when he said, Let this curse fall upon this rock, immediately that rock was split in two. Seeing this, the chieftain did penance, sent his kinsmen free to St. Maedoc, the chieftain is converted: and offered him the place called Cluana Claidblasch. And there the holy man built a monastery, and blessing the place and the chieftain who had given it, he departed thence.

[37] One day, when St. Maedoc was with a hundred and fifty Brothers in the harvest, King Brandub came to the harvest, visiting the man of God. Seeing now the love and humility of so many Brothers, the King marveled and said to the holy Bishop: They love one another and obey one another wonderfully. The man of God said: It is more wonderful [he knows by divine knowledge and foretells that all his own will be saved, except one] that they are all sons of life, except one only. The King said: Who is that son of death? I would slay him, that he might not be among the sheep of God. The holy Bishop answered: You shall not slay him; but you shall know him now, because the hour of celebrating the Divine Office has come. For all the Brothers except him will prostrate themselves on the ground for the Divine Office, but he will not prostrate himself. When the Brothers had celebrated the third hour, he does not pray with the rest; he returned to the world and perished miserably. the holy Father and all with him bowed to the ground, except the son of death. Then the King asked him, saying: Why did you not bow down with the rest? He answered: My mind is thinking of something else now. Afterward that man went to his people in the world, and before the end of the week he was slain and died most wretchedly.

[38] At a certain time, when the most blessed Maedoc wished to go to the royal city of the Munstermen, called Cashel, the horses of his chariot stood motionless, after the example of the donkey of Balaam. The holy man, wondering at this, an Angel stops the horses an Angel of the Lord came to him, saying: The Lord wills that you go to another region, to the province of Connacht; he is sent to King Guaire: for Guaire of Aidne, King of Connacht, is tormented with most grievous pains in the cell called Ceallmic Duach, and is now tormented near death. For the Lord grants you to heal him. The man of God answered: Whatever the messenger of my Lord shall say to me, I will gladly do; therefore I wish to go there. The Angel said: Even if you were unwilling, you would go, because the Lord so wills, and your horses will not go by any other road. the horses of their own accord take that road. Then St. Maedoc said to his charioteer: Let the horses go wherever they wish. And immediately the horses turned toward the northern course; and when they came to Lough Derg, the horses cross the lake dry-shod: the horses, under the chariot, by divine power crossed the lake with dry feet, as if over dry land.

[39] After crossing the lake, they found two men in a field, to whom St. Maedoc said: Show us a good road. They answered: In these places there is no road for you. One of them said: If you are good clerics, you will make a smooth road through rough places. Then the holy elder said to Mochuda, blessing the way: The Lord knows what we are; but He can make a smooth road for us, just as you say. At this word a level road was made through mountains, forests, [the Saint smooths a rough way by his blessing: he heals the King: he promises him thirty years and eternal life.] and marshes without any obstacle, all the way to the monastery called Ceall Muduach, where Guaire of Aidne, King of Connacht, lay ill. And when prayer had been made by the holy Bishop for him, he was immediately healed of all his infirmity. And the holy man said to the King: You shall hold your kingdom again for thirty years; and at the end of your life you shall be in pain for three years, and in that illness you shall die, and you shall possess the kingdom of heaven on account of your almsgiving and your generosity. For the King was able to fulfill that saying: Give to everyone who asks of you. Luke 6:30. And blessing the King, and having made prayer and a pact between himself and the most holy man in whose honor that monastery and city were first built, the most blessed man Mochuda departed on his way.

CHAPTER VII.

A dead man raised. Other miracles of Aidan.

[40] A certain holy man named Molua came to St. Maedoc, [He transports St. Molua with himself to Rome in the space of a single day, and back to their homeland:] saying: I wish to go to Rome on pilgrimage. The Bishop said to him: You shall not have my permission. St. Molua answered: Surely if I do not see Rome, I will soon die. Then St. Maedoc took him with him in his chariot, and they were not seen by their own until the next day. And it seemed to St. Molua that they were in Rome that night, and that he had fulfilled his vows there at the threshold of the Apostles. On the next day, when the sun had risen, the Saints came to the city of Ferns; and the holy elder said to Blessed Molua: Do you wish now to go to Rome? He said: Why should I wish to? Did I not fulfill my prayers there yesterday and last night? But I am ashamed to return so soon to my monastery. Immediately the Bishop went with him and left him in his place, declaring that he had been to Rome. The mystery of this thing the Lord knows, but we know that the Saint was familiar with Rome, as if he had been there for a long time.

[41] It happened that Blessed Maedoc was near a certain cross with one boy, caught up in rapture, he sees the entrance of St. Columba into heaven, and then the man of God wrote a psalm for that boy. After he had written it, the boy saw St. Maedoc ascending a golden ladder between heaven and earth, carrying with him the boy's writing tablet. When after a time he had returned, the boy could not look upon his face because of its brightness. he returns with a shining face: He said to the boy: Take care not to tell anyone during my lifetime. The boy said to him: If you tell me where you went, I will conceal what I saw. The holy man said to him: Just now I went to the rejoicing which the household of heaven made at the coming of St. Columba, who was very dear to me. These words, after the death of St. Maedoc, that boy — now a faithful man — narrated before the people.

[42] One day the steward of St. Mochua Lothre came to St. Maedoc, saying: We have little grain; shall we sow it or give it to the Brothers? he foretells that a little grain will be divinely multiplied: To whom the Saint answered: Sow much, and distribute sufficiently to the Brothers. He said: How can this be done? The man of God said: What you now have will not fail either in sowing or eating, until bread comes to you from the earth. And so it was done, according to the prophecy of the man of God.

[43] On another day his cook came to St. Maedoc, saying: Today we have nothing in the kitchen the same happens with other provisions: except a small vessel of milk and a little butter. Shall this be given to the guests? To whom the Saint said: Give to all generously, as if you had a mountain of it. Afterward that night all ate sufficiently.

[44] he exposes the fraud of certain beggars: Certain cunning and deceitful men hid their garments in the woods and, coming naked to St. Maedoc, asked him for clothing. To whom the Saint said: Wait a little while, until you receive garments. Then St. Maedoc secretly sent a servant to where their garments were hidden, and their own garments were brought to them. And those men, recognizing their own garments, went away confused and empty-handed.

[45] A certain count of Leinster broke faith with his lord and slew the King of Leinster — nay, of all Ireland — Brandub, son of Ethach; and the King immediately died without confession and the divine Viaticum. Hearing this, the holy Bishop Maedoc grieved greatly for himself; and weeping and mourning, he said: Would that the hand which slew the defender of Churches and regions and the judge of widows and the poor might fall from his side! — which afterward was fulfilled. Then St. Maedoc went to the place he raises the slain Brandub, where the King lay dead; and having made prayer, he raised him before all. To whom the King said: I ask you, Father, if you promise me the kingdom of God, that I may now go to heaven; for I have sufficiently completed the course of this life. The Lord will appoint another King for you. This decision pleased the Bishop. And then, having received the Sacrament and made his confession, he fortifies him with confession and the Viaticum; who willingly dies: and with pardon given, King Brandub departed to heaven and was buried honorably in the cemetery of St. Maedoc, which is in his city of Ferns, where his descendants, the Kings of Leinster, are always buried. Afterward that Count Saran, who had killed the King, to the slayer, who does penance, touched with compunction, came to the tomb of the King and there did penance most bitterly; for he wept there in the most grievous fasts, nearly naked, not departing thence day or night. When he had been thus for some time, a voice spoke to him from the tomb — it is announced that the sin is pardoned, as if the voice of the King: O Saran Buite, you are forgiven for what you did. And when it had spoken, the hand of Saran fell from his side, just as St. Maedoc had previously wished. yet his hand falls off. When Catholic men learned this, they led Saran away from there, and for the remainder of his life he lived well.

[46] At a certain hour, St. Maedoc, hearing the sweet songs of Angels singing from above, asked the Lord St. Aidan hears the songs of Angels: he desires to die: that he might depart from this burdensome world to the kingdom of heaven and be with Christ, after the example of St. Paul. But the Lord, wishing him to remain longer in the flesh for the sake of many, said to him in a voice: You must still live for the sake of your people. And he said: As long as the Lord wills me to live, I do not refuse the labor.

[47] A certain poor man, from whom his lord was demanding a great tribute, came to St. Maedoc, seeking help. St. Maedoc was then in the field, and seed was being sown in the earth before him; and the holy man gave half a measure of barley to the man who asked. He said: What good is this to me? he gives barley to a poor man, which turns to gold; The man of God said: From this you will pay your entire debt, and you will have something left over. The man smiled; and the whole amount was turned into gold. And the holy man said to him: Pay your lord the chieftain what you owe, that you may be free. The chieftain, seeing the finest gold, said to him: Who has given you so much gold? but when returned to him, it becomes barley again: He answered: Blessed Maedoc. Then he said: I declare you free forever. Then that man, formerly a slave and now free, came rejoicing to St. Maedoc, telling him what the chieftain had done. And that man assigned all the gold to St. Maedoc; and at the prayer of the holy man, despising gold, all of it was turned back into barley, and by the Saint's command it was sown again in the earth.

[48] At a certain time, when Blessed Maedoc wished to build himself a church, he could not find a craftsman. by his blessing he makes a certain man an architect: Trusting in God, he blessed the hands of a certain unskilled man named Gobban, and immediately he became the most subtle of craftsmen. Afterward he built that church with the greatest skill.

[49] At another time the holy elder Maedoc went out to wash his hands at a stream with a few Brothers. Then certain other men, seeing him, said: thrown into the water, he is not wetted: No one can provoke St. Maedoc to discord. Then a boor among them said: I can. He was a man dressed in skins. Coming, that boor threw the holy man into the stream. To whom the Saint said: What have you done, O man? His garments were untouched by the water. Seeing that the garments of the holy man were dry, he promises heaven to the penitent. that man said: I repent what I did; give me pardon. To whom the Saint said: You have done well to confess and do penance; for if you had not asked, the earth would now have swallowed you. But now you shall have heaven, and on the fortieth day you shall die. And so it was done.

CHAPTER VIII.

Curiosity punished. Other miracles of Aidan.

[50] One day the steward of St. Mochua Lothre came to the holy elder Maedoc, saying: We are building a church, He obtains that timber for building a church be brought by Angels; and timber has been cut in the forest, but we do not have enough men or oxen to carry it to us. To whom the holy Bishop said: Go to your cell, and whatever you hear during the night, do not look. During that night they heard a great noise from the forest to the cell; and no one dared to look. But when a certain foolish lay brother, contrary to the command of St. Maedoc, looked through the keyhole, they cease because of one man's curiosity: he saw a multitude of youths of most beautiful forms, with golden hair down to their shoulders, carrying timber. Then a voice was heard, saying to the Angels: Cease from this work; had that man not looked, the Angels would have built the entire church. Afterward, however, Gobban the craftsman built that church.

[51] At another time, when St. Maedoc was in the borders of Munster, namely in Hy Conaill, near the monastery of St. Ita, wishing to visit St. Molua, his Confessor, he heard bells sounding loudly; and when the man of God inquired what this meant, he was told that the foster-daughter of St. Ita had just died, he raises a dead girl by the touch of his staff: whom the handmaid of God had greatly loved. The handmaid of God, hearing that St. Maedoc was nearby, sent to him, saying: Come to us, holy Father, and by your great sanctity raise my daughter. Then the Bishop sent one of his disciples with his staff, saying: Place this staff upon the breast of the dead girl. For I trust in the mercy of my God and in the blessedness of the most blessed Ita, that she will rise. When the staff of the Saint was placed upon the breast of the dead girl, she immediately rose up alive and well. All who heard and saw such a miracle glorified God and His servant.

[52] A certain thief stole a choice animal from the flocks of St. Maedoc he confounds a thief who swears falsely: and ate it. When that thief began to swear before St. Maedoc that he had not stolen or eaten the animal, the ear of the animal was seen at his lips; and all who stood around mocked him, glorifying Christ in His Saint. And that man went away in confusion.

[53] On another day, certain soldiers met St. Maedoc, having a man in chains whom they wished to hand over to the King of Leinster as a criminal. To them the man of God, moved by compassion, said: Release the bound man for the love of Christ. They said: Certainly we will not release him he frees a captive: until he is delivered to the King. When afterward they were going through a forest, it seemed to them that a great crowd of their enemies was rushing upon them from ambush; and they, fleeing this way and that, left the bound man alone. Seeing this, the man immediately returned to St. Maedoc. The King, hearing of this, ordered him to be free, magnifying the grace of God in St. Maedoc.

[54] One day, when the holy Bishop Maedoc and the holy Abbot Munna were in one place, he sees and shows St. Munna the whole world like a stadium: the Bishop raised himself to a high step in a corner of the church. Then the holy Abbot Munna, son of Tolchan, seeing him thus, said to him: What is it that you see? Reveal it to me. Then the blessed Bishop signed the eyes of the holy Abbot, and he immediately saw with the holy Bishop the whole world from the rising to the setting of the sun, as if it were one stadium. And giving thanks to God, they came down; and the Abbot Munna told the Brothers what had happened.

[55] he gives his horse to St. Colman On another day, when St. Maedoc was on a journey, he met on the road St. Colman, son of Fiachra. At that moment Colman's horse died; and immediately the holy Bishop gave his own horse, placing it under Colman's chariot. And when he had departed, and another is divinely sent to him: another horse, of hyacinth color, sent by God, immediately came gentle under the chariot of St. Maedoc. When Colman returned by the same road, his own horse rose alive to meet him, and he attributed this to the sanctity of the most blessed Bishop Maedoc.

[56] One day the holy elder Maedoc himself planted fruit-bearing trees in a garden; but the man he plants fruitless trees, which bear fruit: who was bringing him apple-tree seedlings brought, together with the rest, fruitless wood — that is, alder and willow. But when the blessed man, with holy faith, planted them all together, from the fruitless wood, by the grace of God, he made fruit-bearing trees with sweet fruits.

[57] At another time the King of Tara gathered a great army from his territories against the Leinstermen, and the King of Connacht and the King of the northern parts of Ireland came with their armies to the King of Tara; and these three Kings with their chieftains were a vast and innumerable multitude. And they agreed unanimously to devastate the province of the Leinstermen in vengeance for Cuasgius, he obtains victory for the King. son of Aed, son of Anmire, King of Ireland — which Cuasgius the Leinstermen had killed, he wishing to avenge upon them his father Aed, whom Brandub son of Ethach, King of Leinster, had slain in a great battle. Then the King of Leinster came to the holy Archbishop Maedoc, making complaint before him about this matter. To whom the man of God said: Many Saints have served the Lord in your land; go with brave heart to the battle, and we shall all be there with you. That night St. Maedoc stood with his hands stretched out in prayer. On the next day, the King of Leinster, trusting in the help of God through his Patron, Blessed Maedoc, joined battle against the vast multitude; and the northerners — twenty-four thousand of the strongest soldiers, besides the common infantry — were put to flight. And a great slaughter was made among them.

CHAPTER IX.

The posthumous miracles of St. Aidan.

[58] A certain paralyzed man was at Rome, who had been powerful, and he sought health through many places at his relics a paralytic is healed: but did not find it. Certain holy men said to him: There is a certain holy Bishop named Maedoc on the island of Ireland; and we know, by the gift of God, that if you could reach him, he would grant you health — and you will never have health until you reach him. When that man reached Ireland, he found the man of God, Maedoc, dead in the little field; but the paralytic, trusting in the sanctity of the servant of God, approached and touched the body, and immediately before all he was healed of all his pains, giving thanks to the Lord and to His servant, St. Maedoc; and safe and sound, he sailed from Ireland with his companions.

[59] There was a certain man, sick for thirty years, in the borders of the northern Leinstermen, named Finan. In a vision on the feast of St. Maedoc, he saw a wondrous chariot descending from heaven to the city of St. Maedoc, Ferns, St. Aidan appears with St. Brigid to the sick man and foretells his death. in which was a holy old man of most beautiful countenance, in clerical attire, and a most renowned Virgin in a cloak with him; and they gave honor to each other, as a servant to a Lord. That man asked them who they were. The Cleric answered him: This is the most blessed Virgin Brigid, Lady of Ireland; and I am the servant of Christ, Maedoc. My feast is celebrated tomorrow, and the feast of this most blessed Virgin is observed the day after. We have come now to bless our places and those who honor the day of our death with their gifts and offerings. But be joyful and prepared, for tomorrow you will depart to heaven. That man, rising from his ecstasy, mounted a chariot and went to the city of the Blessed Virgin Brigid, called Kildare, situated on the plain of the Liffey in the territory of the Leinstermen, telling everyone his vision; and as was foretold to him, on the third day he happily departed to heaven after the victory over his illness.

[60] When the most blessed Bishop Moling held the episcopal chair of St. Maedoc, St. Moling, sleeping in his bed, is seized with illness; by some chance the Saint climbed into the bed of the blessed man, where no one before him had dared to enter. To whom a canon of that church said: Until today, after the death of St. Maedoc our Patron, no one has climbed into this bed, because of his exceeding sanctity, who, keeping watch there briefly in spirit, rested in the Lord after the weariness of the body. The holy Bishop Moling said to him: We, who sit in his chair, may well sleep here. And when he had said this, immediately a severe pain seized him. upon invoking him he is healed. When he was being sorely tormented, pouring forth prayer, he sought the help of God; but when the pain still did not cease pressing upon him, signing himself again with the sign of the cross, he began to invoke St. Maedoc frequently to his aid. And when he did this, immediately the heat of the pain wondrously departed from him. Rising thence, St. Moling, safe and sound, said: No one in this time is worthy to sleep in the bed of our Father, St. Maedoc. In this it appears how great is the grace that St. Maedoc has with God in heaven, in whose little bed no one dares to sleep on earth. Many other signs and wonders St. Maedoc wrought in the body and after his death, by the grace of God through him, and even now they do not cease to be shown at his relics. This same Archbishop Maedoc, having founded many churches and wrought the greatest miracles, departed to Christ in a most happy death on the third day before the Kalends of February. But our holy Patron Maedoc feasts among the choirs of Angels and Apostles and all the Saints in heaven, in joy without sorrow, in a kingdom without end, in life without death, in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory with God in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.