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
24. Thereafter Ciaran went to Aran to hold converse with Enda, and
Enda and Ciaran saw one and the same vision--a great fruitful tree
beside a river in the middle of Ireland, a-sheltering the island of
Ireland, and its fruit was going over the sea that was around the
island outside, and the birds of the air were coming and taking of the
fruit. Ciaran went and told the vision to Enda. Said Enda, "That great
tree which thou hast seen is thyself; for thou art great before God
and man, and Ireland shall be full of thine honour. This island
shall be protected under the shadow of thy grace, and many shall
be satisfied by the grace of thy fasting and of thy prayer. Rise
therefore at the word of God, and go to the shore of the stream, and
found a church there."[30]
XXXIII. HOW A PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED
25. Once when he was in Aran a-drying corn in the kiln, and Lonan the
Left-handed with him (one who ever was contradictious of Ciaran) they
saw a ship foundering in their sight. "Methinks," said Lonan, "yonder
ship shall be drowned to-day and this kiln shall be burned with the
greatness of the draught." "Nay," said Ciaran, "yonder ship shall be
burned, and this kiln with its corn shall be drowned."[31] And this
was fulfilled; for the crew of the ship escaped, and the ship was cast
on shore close to the kiln. The fire seized the kiln, and the ship is
burned. A blast of wind struck the kiln and its corn into the sea, so
that it was drowned, according to the word of Ciaran.
XXXIV. HOW CIARAN VISITED SENAN
26. When Ciaran left Aran a poor man met him on the way. Ciaran gives
him his linen cloak, and goes to Inis Cathaig to salute Senan. That he
was in one mantle only was revealed to Senan, and he went to meet him,
with a linen cloak under his armpit. And he said to Ciaran, "Is it not
shame," said he, "for a priest to travel without a cowl?" "Mercy on
us," said Ciaran, "God will have pity [on my nakedness];[32] there is
a cloak for me under the covering of mine elder."
XLIII. HOW CIARAN SENT A CLOAK TO SENAN
27. When Ciaran arrived at Cluain maccu Nois he wished to send another
cloak to Senan. The cloak was laid upon the stream of the Shannon, and
it travelled without being wetted to the harbour of Inis Cathaig. Said
Senan to his monks, "Rise and go to the sea, and ye shall find there a
guest, which bring with you, with honour and dignity." When the monks
went out they found the cloak on the sea, dry, and they brought it
with them to Senan, and offered an offering of thanks to the Lord.
That is now called "Senan's cloak."
XXXV. CIARAN IN ISEL
28. Thereafter he went to his brethren to Isel, and Cobthach son of
Brecan gave Isel to God and to Ciaran; and he lived there with his
brethren. One day when he was doing his lesson outside in the field,
he went to attend upon his guests, and left his book open till morning
under the rain; and not a damp drop fell upon the book.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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