Carthach, Saint, Bishop of Lismore, active 570-637 -- Legends
An angel came to Mochuda at Rahen on another occasion announcing to him
the command of God that he should go that same day to Mac Fhiodaig, king
of his own region of Kerry Luachra, and administer to him Holy Communion
and Confession as he was on the point of death. Mochuda asked the angel
how he could reach Kerry that day from Rahen. The angel thereupon (for
reply) took him up through the air in a fiery chariot until they arrived
at the king's residence. Mochuda administered Holy Communion and
Confession and the king having bestowed generous alms upon him departed
hence to glory. Mochuda returned that same day to Rahen where he found
the community singing vespers.
On another occasion Mochuda visited Colman Elo at the latter's monastery
of Lynally and requested Colman to come with him to consecrate for him
his cemetery at Rahen, for Colman, assisted by angels, was in the habit
of consecrating cemeteries and God gave him the privilege that no one
should go to hell who was interred in a grave consecrated by him.
Colman said to him:--"Return home and on the fifth day from now I shall
follow." Mochuda returned home, where he remained till the fifth day,
when, seeing that Colman had not arrived he came again to the latter.
"Father," said he, "why have you not kept your promise?" To which
Colman replied, "I came and an angel with me that day and consecrated
your cemetery. Return now and you will find it marked (consecrated) on
the south side of your own cell. Lay it out as it is there indicated
and think not that its area is too small, because a larger will be
consecrated for you later, by the angels, in the southern part of Erin,
namely--in Lismore." Mochuda returned and found the cemetery duly marked
as Colman had indicated.
About the same time clerics came across Slieve Luachra in the territory
of Kerry to the church of Ita, honoured [abbess] of Conall Gabhra. They
had with them a child upon seeing whom Ita wept bitterly. The clerics
demanded why she cried at seeing them. "Blessed," she answered, "is the
hour in which that youth in your company was born, for no one shall ever
go to hell from the cemetery in which he will be buried, but, alas, for
me, that I cannot be buried therein." The clerics asked what cemetery
it was in which he should be buried. "In Mochuda's cemetery," said she,
"which though it be as yet unconsecrated will be honoured and famous in
times to come." This all came to pass, for the youth afterwards became
a monk under Mochuda and he is buried in the monastic cemetery of
Lismore as Ita had foretold.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account