23. Also, when the most blessed abbot of Christ, Columba, heard of the
death of Saint Keranus, he composed a notable hymn about him: and he
brought it down with him to the monastery of Cluayn, where, as was
fitting, he was received with hospitality in honour. Now as for the
hymn, the abbot who was then presiding, and the others who had heard
it, lauded it with many lofty praises. But when Saint Columba was
departing thence, he took away with him earth from the sacred grave of
Saint Keranus, knowing in the spirit how useful this would be against
future perils of the sea. For in the part of the sea which bears
towards the monastery of Í, there is a very great danger to those who
cross, partly because of the vehemence of the currents, and partly
because of the narrowness of the sea; so that ships are whirled round
and driven in a circle, and thus are often sunk. For it is rightly
compared to Scylla and Charybdis; I mean that by its grave and
unmitigated dangerousness, evil is there the lot of sailors. When they
were coming to this strait, they suddenly began to glide into it in
their course: and when they looked for nothing but death, and because
they were as though apt to be devoured by the horrible jaws of the
abyss, then Saint Columba taking some of the aforesaid dust that had
been taken from the tomb of blessed Keranus, cast it into that sea.
Then there befell a thing marvellous and worthy of great wonder; for
sooner than it is told, that cruel storm ceased, and accorded them a
quiet passage. Truly do the just live for ever; among whom blessed
Queranus reigneth, the earth or dust of whose sepulchre stilled the
sea, established in the Faith the hearts of those who feared, and
strengthened them to good works. Wherefore blessed Keranus liveth not
only for God, to whom he is inseparably bound, but also for men, on
whom in time of need he bestoweth benefits.