The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran: Translations Of Christian Literature. Series V. Lives Of; The Celtic Saints
Religion
The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran: Translations Of Christian Literature. Series V. Lives Of; The Celtic Saints
Ciaran, Saint, abbot of Clonmacnois
When Saint Kyeranus had come thither, he used to make a barrier in the
pastures between the cow and her calf with his rod; and by no means
did they ever dare to cross the tracks of the holy rod, nor used they
cross it; but the cow would lick her calf across the track of the rod,
and at the proper time they would come to their stall, with full store
of milk.
That cow was of a dun colour, and was called _Odar Ciarain_, "Ciaran's
Dun." Her fame endures for ever in Ireland, for she used to have the
greatest store of milk, such as at this time could not be believed.
Her milk was daily divided among the school, and sufficed for many.
Her hide in like manner remains to this day honourably in the city
of Saint Kiaranus; for through it, by the grace of God, miracles are
wrought. This grace greater than all it has, as the holy ancients,
the disciples of Saint Kiaranus, have delivered unto us; that it is
revealed by divine inspiration that every man who shall have died upon
it shall possess eternal life with Christ.
XVIII. THE ANGELS GRIND FOR CIARAN
16. Now in the school of the most holy master Finnianus there were
many saints of Ireland; to wit, two Saints Kiaranus, and two Saints
Brendanus, Columba, and many others; and each of them on his day would
grind with his own hands on the quern. But the angels of God used to
grind for Saint Kiaranus, as they did for him in his captivity.
XIX. CIARAN AND THE KING'S DAUGHTER
17. The daughter of the King of Temoria was conducted to Saint
Finnianus that she might read the Psalms and the other Scriptures with
the saint of God, and should dedicate her virginity. And when she
promised of her own free will to preserve her virginity for Christ,
Father Finnianus said to Saint Kiaranus, "Son, let this virgin,
Christ's handmaid, daughter of an earthly king, read with thee in the
meanwhile, till such time as a cell of virgins shall be built for
her." Which duty Saint Kiaranus obediently accepted, and the virgin
read with him the Psalms and other lections. Now when holy Father
Finnianus was establishing that virgin and other holy virgins in a
cell, the blessed fathers questioned Saint Kiaranus as to her manners
and her virtue. To them Kiaranus said; "Verily, I know naught of her
virtues, of manners or of body; for God hath known that never have I
seen her face, nor aught of her save the lower part of her vesture,
when she was coming from her parents; nor have I held any converse
with her save only her reading." For she was wont to take her
refection, and to sleep, with a certain holy widow. And the virgin
spake the like testimony of Saint Kiaranus, and many were confirmed in
the true faith by other testimonies of them.
XXII. THE STORY OF CIARAN'S GOSPEL
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