Life of St. Declan of Ardmore and Life of St. Mochuda of Lismore
Religion
Life of St. Declan of Ardmore and Life of St. Mochuda of Lismore
Carthach, Saint, Bishop of Lismore, active 570-637 -- Legends; Declan, Saint, Bishop of Ardmore, active 6th century -- Legends
43. The holy and glorious archbishop, i.e. Patrick, sent one of his own
followers to Declan with power and authority (delegation) from the
archbishop. And proceeding through the southern part of Decies he was
drowned in a river [the Lickey] there, two miles from the city of Declan.
When Declan heard this he was grieved and he said: "Indeed it grieves me
that a servant of God and of Patrick who sent him to visit me, having
travelled all over Ireland, should be drowned in a river of my own
territory. Get my chariot for me that I may go in haste to see his
corpse, so that Patrick may come to hear of the worry and the grief I
have undergone because of his disciple's death." The body had been
recovered before the arrival of Declan by others who were close at hand
and it had been placed on a bier to be carried to Ciaran for interment.
Declan however met them on the way, when he ordered the body to be laid
down on the ground. They supposed he was about to recite the Office for
the Dead. He (Declan) advanced to the place where the bier was and
lifted the sheet covering the face. It (the face) looked dark and
deformed as is usual in the case of the drowned. He prayed to God and
shed tears, but no one heard aught of what he said. After this he
commanded:--"In the name of the Trinity, in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost whose religious yoke I bear myself, arise
to us for God has given your life to me." He (the dead man) rose up
immediately at the command and he greeted Declan and all the others.
Whereupon Declan and his disciples received him with honour. At first he
was not completely cured but (was) like one convalescent until (complete)
health returned to him by degrees again. He however accompanied Declan
and remained some time with him and there was much rejoicing in Declan's
city on account of the miracle and his (Declan's) name and fame extended
over the country generally. This disciple of Patrick was named Ballin;
he returned with great joy and he told him (Patrick) that Declan had
raised him from the dead. To many others likewise he related what had
happened to him. Patrick, in presence of many persons, hearing of the
miracle gave glory and thanks to God and the name of Declan was
magnified.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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