Part 4 (1/2)
Next, Mochuda, at the suggestion of his master, the bishop, and the King Maoltuile, built a famous cell called Kiltulach [Kiltallagh] at a place between Sliabh Mis and the River Maing in the southern part of Kerry.
Here his many miracles won him the esteem of all. In that region he found two bishops already settled before him, scil.:--Dibhilin and Domailgig. These became envious of the honour paid him and the fame he acquired, and they treated him evilly. Whereupon he went to Maoltuile and told him the state of affairs. Soon as the king heard the tale he came with Mochuda from the place where he then was on the bank of the Luimnech and stayed not till they reached the summit of Sliabh Mis, when he addressed Mochuda: ”Leave this confined region for the present to the envy and jealousy of the bishops and hereafter it will become yours and your coarbs' to the end of time.” The advice commended itself to Mochuda and he thanked the king for it. Thereupon he abandoned his cell to the aforesaid bishops and determined to set out alone as a pilgrim to the northern part of Ireland.
In the meantime an angel visited Comghall and repeated to him what had been foretold him already--that there should come to him a young priest desirous for Christ's sake of pilgrimage beyond the seas--that Comghall should dissuade him and, instead, retain the stranger with him for a year at Bangor. ”And how am I to recognise him?” asked Comghall. The angel answered:--”Whom you shall see going from the church to the guest-house” (for it was Mochuda's custom to visit the church first).
[See note 1.] Comghall announced to his household that there was coming to them a distinguished stranger, well-beloved of G.o.d, of whose advent an angel had twice foretold him. Some time later Mochuda arrived at Comghall's establishment, and he went first to the monastery and Comghall recognised him and bade him welcome. In that place Mochuda remained a whole year, as the angel had said, and at the end of the year he returned to his own country where he built many cells and churches and worked many wonders, winning many souls to religion and to good works. Many persons moreover placed themselves, their children, and their kindred under his jurisdiction, and the great parishes of their own territory were a.s.signed to him, and finally the episcopate of Kerry became his.
Subsequent to this Mochuda, having committed the care of his cell and parish to certain pious and suitable persons, set out himself, accompanied by a few disciples, through the south of Munster to visit the Monastery of Ciaran Mac Fionntan at Rosgiallan [Rostellan]. From Ciaran Mochuda enquired, where--in south Munster (as the angel had mentioned to Comghall)--the chief and most distinguished of these churches should be. Ciaran, who possessed the spirit of prophecy, replied--”You shall go first to Meath where you will found a famous church in the territory of Ibh Neill and there you will remain for forty years. You shall be driven thence into exile and you will return to Munster wherein will be your greatest and most renowned church.”
Mochuda offered to place himself under the patronage and jurisdiction of Ciaran: ”Not so, shall it be,” said Ciaran, ”but rather do I put myself and my church under you, for ever, reserving only that my son, Fuadhran, be my successor in this place.” This Mochuda a.s.sented to and Fuadhran governed the monastic city for twenty years as Ciaran's successor in the abbacy.
Next, Mochuda entered the territory of the Munster Decies where dwelt the Clanna Ruadhain who placed themselves and all their churches under him, and one Colman Mac Cobhthaigh a wealthy magnate of the region donated extensive lands to Mochuda who placed them under devout persons --to hold for him. Proceeding thence Mochuda took his way across Sliabh Gua looking back from the summit of which he saw by the bank of the Nemh [Blackwater] angels ascending towards heaven and descending thence. And they took up with them to heaven a silver chair with a golden image thereon. This was the place in which long afterwards he founded his famous church and whence he departed himself to glory.
Hence Mochuda travelled to Molua Mac Coinche's monastery of Clonfert [Kyle], on the confines of Leinster and Munster. He found Molua in the harvest field in the midst of a 'meitheal' [team] of reapers. Before setting out on this present journey of his Mochuda had, with one exception, dismissed all his disciples to their various homes for he, but with a single companion, did not wish to enter the strange land ostentatiously. The single follower whom Mochuda had retained wis.h.i.+ng to remain at Clonfert, said to St. Molua: ”Holy father, I should wish to remain here with you.” Molua answered:--”I shall permit you, brother, if your pious master consents.” Mochuda, having dismissed so many, would not make any difficulty about an individual, and so he gave the monk his freedom. Mochuda thereupon set out alone, which, Molua's monks observing, they remark:--”It were time for that aged man to remain in some monastery, for it is unbecoming such a (senior) monk to wander about alone.” They did not know that he, of whom they spoke, was Mochuda, for it was not the custom of the latter to make himself known to many. ”Say not so,” said Molua (to the censorious brethren), ”for the day will come when our community and city will seem but insignificant beside his--though now he goes alone; you do not know that he is Mochuda whom many obey and whom many more will obey in times to come.”
As Mochuda went on his lonely way he met two monks who asked him whither he was bound. ”To Colman Elo,” he answered. Then said one of them to him:--”Take us with you as monks and subjects,” for they judged him from his countenance to be a holy man. Mochuda accepted the monks and they journeyed on together till they came to Colman's monastery [Lynally].
Mochuda said to Colman: ”Father I would remain here with you.” ”Not so,” replied Colman, ”but go you to a place called Rahen in this vicinity; that is the place ordained by G.o.d for your dwelling and you shall have there a large community in the service of G.o.d and from that place you will get your first name--Mochuda of Rahen.” Having said farewell to Colman and obtained his blessing Mochuda, with his two monks, set out for the place indicated and there in the beginning he built a small cell and Colman and he often afterwards exchanged visits.
Colman had in the beginning--some time previous to Mochuda's advent--contemplated establis.h.i.+ng himself at Rahen and he had left there two or three [bundles] of rods remarking to his disciples that another should come after him for whom and not for himself G.o.d had destined this place. It was with this material that Mochuda commenced to build his cell as Colman had foretold in the first instance. He erected later a great monastery in which he lived forty years and had eight hundred and eighty seven religious under his guidance and rule.
Subsequent to Mochuda's foundation of Rahen his miracles and the marvels he wrought spread his fame far and wide through Ireland and through Britain, and mult.i.tudes came to him from various parts of those countries to give themselves to the service of G.o.d under his guidance.
In the beginning he refused worldly gifts from others although his church was honoured and patronised by neighbouring kings and chieftains who offered him lands and cattle and money and many other things.
Mochuda kept his monks employed in hard labour and in ploughing the ground for he wanted them to be always humble. Others, however, of the Saints of Erin did not force their monks to servile labour in this fas.h.i.+on.
Mochuda was consecrated bishop by many saints and from time to time he visited his parish in Kerry, but as a rule he remained at Rahen with his monks, for it is monks he had with him not clerics.
On a certain day in the (early) springtime there came to tempt him a druid who said to him:--”In the name of your G.o.d cause this apple-tree branch to produce foliage.” Mochuda knew that it was in contempt for divine power the druid proposed this, and the branch put forth leaves on the instant. The druid demanded ”In the name of your G.o.d, put blossom on it.” Mochuda made the sign of the cross [over the twig] and it blossomed presently. The druid persisted:--”What profits blossom without fruit?” [said the druid]. Mochuda, for the third time, blessed the branch and it produced a quant.i.ty of fruit. The druid said:--”Follower of Christ, cause the fruit to ripen.” Mochuda blessed the tree and the fruit, fully ripe, fell to the earth. The druid picked up an apple off the ground and examining it he saw it was quite sour, whereupon he objected:--”Such miracles as these are worthless since it leaves the fruit uneatable.” Mochuda blessed the apples and they all became sweet as honey, and in punishment of his opposition the magician was deprived for a year of his eyesight. At the end of a year he came to Mochuda and did penance, whereupon he received his sight back again and he returned home rejoicing.
On another occasion there came to Mochuda a secular who brought with him his deaf and dumb son whom he besought the saint to heal. Mochuda prayed to G.o.d for him and said, ”My son, hear and speak.” The boy answered immediately and said, ”Man of G.o.d, I give myself and my inheritance to you for ever,” and thenceforth he possessed the use of all his senses and members.
Another day a young man who had contracted leprosy came to Mochuda showing him his misery and his wretched condition. The saint prayed for him and he was restored to health.
At another time there came to Mochuda a man whose face was deformed. He besought the saint's aid and his face was healed upon the spot.
On yet another occasion in the springtime a poor man who dwelt some distance from the monastery of Rahen, came to Mochuda, and asked the loan of two oxen and a ploughman to do a day's ploughing for him. But Mochuda, as we have already said, had no cattle, for it was the monks themselves who dug and tilled the soil. Mochuda summoned one of his labourers named Aodhan whom he ordered to go into the nearest wood to bring back thence a pair of deer with him and go along with them to the poor man to do the spring work for him. Aodhan did dutifully all that Mochuda bade him--he found the two deer, went with the poor man and ploughed for him till the work was completed when the deer returned to their habitat and Aodhan to Mochuda.
On another day there came to Mochuda a man troubled by the devil.
Mochuda cured him at once, driving the demons from him and the man went his way thanking G.o.d and Mochuda.
Once, when the brethren were at work in the fields and in the kitchen, Mochuda went to the mill to grind meal for the monk's use, and nine robbers, who hated him, followed with the intention of murdering him.
The chief of the band sent each member of the gang to the mill in turn.
Not one of them however could enter the mill because of a violent flame of fire which encircled the building round about, through the goodness of G.o.d protecting Mochuda from the robbers. The latter, through the mill door, watched Mochuda who slept portion of the time and was awake another portion. And while he slept the mill stopped of itself, and while he was awake it went of its own accord. The gang thereupon returned to the chief and told him all they had seen, which, when he heard, he became enraged. Then he hastened himself to the mill to kill Mochuda. But he experienced the same things as all the others and he was unable to hurt Mochuda. He returned to his followers and said to them--”Let us stay here till he comes out of the mill, for we need not fear that he will call help nor need we fear his arm.” Shortly afterwards Mochuda came out carrying his load. The robbers rushed on him, but they were unable to do him any injury for as each man of them tried to draw his weapon his hands became powerless, so he was unable to use them. Mochuda requested them to allow him pa.s.s with his burden and he promised them on his credit and his word that he should return to them when he had deposited the sack in safety. They took his word and he went, deposited his bag of meal in the kitchen, and returned meekly to martyrdom. The brethren imagined he had gone to a quiet place for prayer as was his custom. When he returned to the robbers they drew their weapons several times to kill him but they were unable to do so.
Seeing this wonder they were moved to repentance and they gave themselves to G.o.d and to Mochuda for ever and, till the time of their death, they remained under his guidance and rule and many subsequent edifying and famous acts of theirs are recorded.
An angel came to Mochuda at Rahen on another occasion announcing to him the command of G.o.d that he should go that same day to Mac Fhiodaig, king of his own region of Kerry Luachra, and administer to him Holy Communion and Confession as he was on the point of death. Mochuda asked the angel how he could reach Kerry that day from Rahen. The angel thereupon (for reply) took him up through the air in a fiery chariot until they arrived at the king's residence. Mochuda administered Holy Communion and Confession and the king having bestowed generous alms upon him departed hence to glory. Mochuda returned that same day to Rahen where he found the community singing vespers.
On another occasion Mochuda visited Colman Elo at the latter's monastery of Lynally and requested Colman to come with him to consecrate for him his cemetery at Rahen, for Colman, a.s.sisted by angels, was in the habit of consecrating cemeteries and G.o.d gave him the privilege that no one should go to h.e.l.l who was interred in a grave consecrated by him.
Colman said to him:--”Return home and on the fifth day from now I shall follow.” Mochuda returned home, where he remained till the fifth day, when, seeing that Colman had not arrived he came again to the latter.
”Father,” said he, ”why have you not kept your promise?” To which Colman replied, ”I came and an angel with me that day and consecrated your cemetery. Return now and you will find it marked (consecrated) on the south side of your own cell. Lay it out as it is there indicated and think not that its area is too small, because a larger will be consecrated for you later, by the angels, in the southern part of Erin, namely--in Lismore.” Mochuda returned and found the cemetery duly marked as Colman had indicated.
About the same time clerics came across Slieve Luachra in the territory of Kerry to the church of Ita, honoured [abbess] of Conall Gabhra. They had with them a child upon seeing whom Ita wept bitterly. The clerics demanded why she cried at seeing them. ”Blessed,” she answered, ”is the hour in which that youth in your company was born, for no one shall ever go to h.e.l.l from the cemetery in which he will be buried, but, alas, for me, that I cannot be buried therein.” The clerics asked what cemetery it was in which he should be buried. ”In Mochuda's cemetery,” said she, ”which though it be as yet unconsecrated will be honoured and famous in times to come.” This all came to pa.s.s, for the youth afterwards became a monk under Mochuda and he is buried in the monastic cemetery of Lismore as Ita had foretold.
A child on another occasion fell off the bridge of Rahen into the river and was drowned. The body was a day and a night in the water before it was recovered. Then it was brought to Mochuda who, moved with compa.s.sion for the father in his loss of an only son, restored the boy to life. Moreover he himself fostered the child for a considerable time afterwards and when the youth had grown up, he sent him back to his own country of Delbhna. Mochuda's foster son begat sons and daughters and he gave himself and them, as well as his inheritance, to G.o.d and Mochuda, and his descendants are to this day servile tenants of the monastery.