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
5. When at another time he was feeding the herds of his parents, as
men are wont to do,[1] a cow brought forth a calf in his presence. But
there came a hound consumed with leanness, seeking to fill his belly
with what fell from the body of the mother along with the calf; and
moved with compassion he said unto him, "Eat, poor wretch, yonder
calf, for great is thy need of it." The hound fulfilled the commands
of Keranus, and ate the calf to the bones. As Keranus returned home to
the house of his parents with the herds, the cow, recalling the
calf to memory, went running about lowing. The mother of Keranus,
recognising the cause of its lowing, said with indignation to the
boy, "Restore the calf, Keranus, even though it be burnt with fire or
drowned in the sea." But he, obeying his mother, returned to the place
where the calf had been devoured, collected the bones, and carried
them with him and placed them before the mother [_father_,
MS.], asking his God with diligence to hear his prayers for the
resuscitation of the calf. And God hearkened to the holy one, and
resuscitated the calf in the presence of his parents.
X. HOW CIARAN WAS DELIVERED FROM ROBBERS
6. At another time there came robbers to him when he was feeding the
herds of his parents, wishing to slay him, so that they might the more
easily reave what they would. But God had regard to their attempt from
on high, and so multiplied infirmities upon them that they turned in
haste to God. For they were smitten with blindness, nor could they
move hand or foot, till they wrought repentance, and were loosed by
the merit of Saint Keranus: recovering the light of their eyes and the
vigour of their other members.
XIV. HOW CIARAN GAVE THE KING'S CAULDRON TO BEGGARS AND WAS ENSLAVED
7. It happened after this that he gave a cauldron belonging to the
king, as he had nothing else to give to poor folk asking of him an
alms. When the king heard what had been done, he was greatly enraged,
and commanded his people to bring Saint Keranus to him in bonds. When
he was led to the king, he gave sentence that he should be reduced to
servitude, and be set apart for grinding at the quern. But God, having
regard to the humiliation of His servant, caused the mill to be moved
of itself without human hand, and left Ciaran free to chant his
Psalms. After a few days coppersmiths from the land of the Mumunienses
brought three cooking-pots with them, and offered them to Saint
Keranus. Giving thanks for these to God, he was delivered from the
yoke of servitude.
XXIII. THE BLESSING OF CIARAN'S FOOD
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