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
23. One day when Saint Ciaran was making a journey, there met him a
poor man in the way, who begged of him something in alms; and holy
Ciaran gave him his cloak, and he himself went on afterwards in his
under-garment only. His journey led him to the island of Cathi which
is in the entrance of the ocean to the west, in the estuary of
Luimnech between the territories of Kiarraighe and of Corco Baiscind:
wherein was the most holy senior Senanus, who first dwelt in that
island. For a venomous and most hurtful monster had alone possessed
that island from ancient times, which holy Senanus, by the power of
God, had driven far from thence unto a certain lake; and to-day there
is a shining and holy settlement in that island, in honour of Saint
Senanus. Now when Saint Kiaranus was approaching that island of Cathi,
Saint Senanus foresaw in the spirit his coming and his nakedness: and
he sent a ship to bear him to the island, while he himself, taking
a cloak secretly in his hands, went out to meet him at the island's
harbour. Now when most blessed Senanus saw Saint Kyaranus coming to
him, in an under-garment, he chid him sportively, saying, "Is it not
shame that a presbyter should walk in a sole under-garment, without a
cowl?" To him, Saint Kiaranus, smiling, said, "This my nakedness shall
soon receive its alleviation, for there is a cloak for me under the
vesture of mine elder Senanus." And Saint Kiaranus remained for
some days with Saint Senanus, they passing the time in the divine
mysteries; and they made a pact and a brotherhood between them, and
thereafter Saint Kiaranus with the kiss of peace went his way.
XXXV. CIARAN IN ISEL
24. Now when blessed Kiaranus came from Saint Senanus, he went out to
his brethren Luchennus and Odranus, who were living in a _cella_ which
is called Yseal, that is "the lowest place"; and he lived with them
for a time. And his brethren made Saint Kiaranus their almoner and
guest-master: but Luchennus, who was the eldest, was the abbot of
that place, and Odranus was the prior. Once, when Saint Kiaranus was
reading out of doors in a field facing the sun, he suddenly espied
weary guests entering the guest-house; and rising quickly, he forgot
his book, and left it out of doors open till the following day. As he
himself was settling the guests in the house, washing their feet and
diligently ministering to them, the night fell. In that very night
there was a great rain, but by the favour of God the open book was
found perfectly dry; for not a drop of rain had touched it, although
the whole ground was wet around it. For this did Saint Kiaranus with
his brethren render praises to Christ.
XXXVI. THE REMOVAL OF THE LAKE
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