41. Here then is Ciaran with the eight men whom I have mentioned, and
many thousands of saints besides. Here are the relics of Paul and
Peter, which Benen and Cumlach left in the hollow tree here. Here are
the relics of the blind boy, the disciple of Peca. Here is the shrine
of the guest Peca, whom a certain devout man saw borne by angels to
the burial of Ciaran. There were three wonders here that night: the
guest-house being without fire, without guest, without prayer, for
Peca was sufficient of fire, and guest, and prayer.
There is not one to relate completely what God wrought of signs and
wonders for this holy Ciaran; for they are more than can be told or
mentioned. For after the coming of Christ in the flesh there was
not one born greater in almsgiving and mercy, greater in labour and
fasting and prayer, greater in humility and fervour of good-will,
greater in courtesy and mildness, greater in care for the Church of
God, greater in daily labour and in nightly vigil.
He it is who never put tasty food or heady drink into his body, from
the time when he embraced the religious life. He it is who never drank
milk or ale, till a third of it was water. He it is who never ate
bread, till a third part of sand was mixed with it. He it is who never
slept save with his side on the bare ground. Beneath his head was
never aught save a stone for a pillow. Next his skin never came flaxen
or woollen stuff.
A man with choice voluntary full offerings to the Lord, like Abel
son of Adam. A man with zealous entreaties to God, like Enoch son of
Jared. A steersman full-sufficient for the ark of the Church among
the waves of the world, like Noah son of Lamech. A true pilgrim with
strength of faith and belief, like Abraham son of Terah. A man loving,
gentle, forgiving of heart, like Moses son of Amram. A man patient and
steadfast in enduring suffering and trouble, like suffering Job. A
psalmist full-tuneful, full-delightful to God, like David son of
Jesse. A dwelling of true wisdom and knowledge like Solomon son of
David. A rock immovable whereon is founded the Church, like Peter the
apostle. A chief universal teacher and a chosen vessel for proclaiming
truth, like Paul the apostle. A man full of the grace of the Holy
Spirit and of chastity, like John the breast-fosterling.
A man full of likeness in many ways to Jesus Christ the Head of all
things. For this man made wine of water for his folk and his guests in
this city, as Jesus made choice wine of water at the feast of Cana of
Galilee. This man is called "son of the wright," as Christ is called
"Son of the wright" in the Gospel (_hic est Filius fabri_, that is,
of Joseph). Thirty-three years in the age of this man, as there are
thirty-three years in the age of Christ. This man arose after three
days in his bed in Cluain to converse with and to comfort Coemgen, as
Christ arose after three days from the grave in Jerusalem, to comfort
and strengthen His mother and His disciples.
So for these good things, and for many others, is his soul among
the folk of heaven. His remains and relics are here with honour and
renown, with daily wonders and miracles. And though great is his
honour just now in this manner, greater shall be his honour in the
holy incorruptible union of his body and his soul in the great
assembly of Judgment, when Saint Ciaran shall be judge of the fruit
of his labour along with Christ Whom he served. So shall he be in the
great assembly, in the unity of holy fathers and prophets, in the
unity of apostles and disciples of the Saviour Jesus Christ, in the
unity of the nine grades of angels that have transgressed not, in
the unity of the Godhead and Manhood of the Son of God, in the unity
nobler than every other unity, the Unity of the Holy Trinity, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
I beseech the mercy of the Lofty Omnipotent God, by the intercession
of Saint Ciaran, that we may reach that unity. May we dwell there, _in
saecula saeculorum!_
[Footnote 1: Following the reading _córdus_ in the _Leabhar Breac_
text of the Homily from which this section is an extract, instead of
the unintelligible _comhlud_ of the MSS. of the _Life_.]
[Footnote 2: This Latin extract in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 3: In this paragraph the less corrupt Brussels text
is followed. In the original the Latin passages, here printed
consecutively, are interspersed sentence by sentence with the Irish
translation here rendered into English.]
[Footnote 4: This is the apparent sense of the passage: the MSS. are
here corrupt.]
[Footnote 5: Only the first two words of this extract in the
Lismore MS. The Brussels MS. erroneously repeats _reg[i]mina_ after
_Diuulgata_.]
[Footnote 6: The last two words in the Brussels MS. only, which also
adds "of the Elements" after "Lord," two lines further down.]
[Footnote 7: Following the Brussels MS.: the Lismore text is here
again corrupt.]
[Footnote 8: The bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 9: The bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 10: The bracketed words represent the sense of a passage
that has evidently dropped out of the MSS.]
[Footnote 11: _Sic_ MSS.: we should read "Iustus."]
[Footnote 12: The Lismore text is slightly imperfect in this
paragraph: it is completed with the aid of the Brussels MS.]
[Footnote 13: This represents the sense of a passage that must have
dropped out.]
[Footnote 14: _Ut dixit_ and the stanza following in the Brussels MS.
only.]
[Footnote 15: Bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 16: In Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 17: Emending the _dia fhoglaim_ of the text ("as he was
learning") to _dia fhognam_.]
[Footnote 18: These words in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 19: "Apostle" in the Brussels MS.]
[Footnote 20: From "as is verified" to the end of the stanza in the
Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 21: The Lismore MS. is here illegible: the rendering follows
the Brussels MS.]
[Footnote 22: The Lismore MS. is here illegible: the translation
follows the Brussels MS.]
[Footnote 23: The Brussels MS. adds "and may it be on thy cheek as
thou goest to thy house."]
[Footnote 24: Bracketed words represent the sense of a passage
evidently lost from the MSS.]
[Footnote 25: Literally "intoxication."]
[Footnote 26: In Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 27: The bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 28: The MSS. read "Findian."]
[Footnote 29: These words in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 30: In this incident again it is necessary to follow
the Brussels MS. in places, as the Lismore MS. is corrupt and
unintelligible.]
[Footnote 31: Literally "'tis a drowning that shall drown this kiln."]
[Footnote 32: These words in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 33: In Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 34: This name in the Brussels MS. only.]
[Footnote 35: Here the Brussels MS. is corrupt.]
[Footnote 36: _Sic_ MSS. We should read "came from heaven,"]
* * * * *