Att text: A late note in the Martyrology of Óengus once linked the 7^th century scholar Ailerán the Wise to the Life of Saint Fechin. However, Plummer (1910) notes that “I know no other evidence that Aileran wrote any such life, and certainly no trace of it exists". Scholarily consensus is that it was written in Latin in the late 13^th century by an unknown ecclesiastic, as part of a wave of hagiographical writing in Ireland during that period (Sharpe, 1991).

Plummer, C. (1910) Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae: Partim Hactenus Ineditae, 2 vols. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Sharpe, R. (1991) Medieval Irish Saints’ Lives: An Introduction to Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

¹ Here begins the life of Saint Fechin, abbot.

² The holy and venerable abbot Fechin, illustrious by the noble lineage of his parents, was born of his father Kelcharnanus and of his mother Lasrea. From his infancy he shone forth with many prodigies of miracles; of which, because of their multitude exceeding our powers, let us touch upon a few.

³ For certain saints, taught by the spirit of prophecy, foretold his holiness many ages before he was born. For Saint Columba, to whom God had betrothed the spirit of prophecy in a certain vision under the appearance of a most beautiful queen, thirty years before the birth of Saint Fechin foresaw him coming into this world as a light of the nations [Isaiah 42:6; 49:6].

⁴ Another holy man, named Cridanus, saw in the Spirit a great and white bird, and very many other birds following it, filling the whole valley which lies between two mountains, where his church, called Foveria, was afterward founded. For that bird, great in size and shining in beauty, prefigured Saint Fechin, great in the measure of virtues and most resplendent in the innocence of his life. But the many birds following the greater bird signified the multitude of holy monks obedient in all things to the will of their father.

⁵ Again, to confirm his holiness, there is added a marvelous vision, which a certain petty king of his parents, although an enemy, saw with open eyes, so that not only those who were near through faith and love, but also those who were far off through hatred and ill will, might believe in his holiness. For there was in the land where the parents of the blessed child, namely Fechin, dwelt, one who desired to seize what belonged to others, if he could; who, coming by night to the village of his father, saw the whole village burning with flames, yet nothing was consumed by the burning of fire. Struck with amazement and terror at this unusual miracle, he was turned away from his evil intention, and approaching the door of the master of the house, knocked at the door, asking whether any holy man lay hidden within. When, however, he received an answer from one who hastened at his knocking, that no such person dwelt there, but that the master of the house, named Kelcharnanus, was there with his household and with his wife suffering in childbed, the petty king, prophesying like another Balaam, declared: “The woman who is now suffering in childbed will bear a son who will appear truly marvelous to all by the splendor of grace” [Numbers 22–24]. The petty king, laying aside the ferocity he had conceived, is changed from a wolf into a lamb, from a lion into a gentle man; he takes the newly born infant with him, carefully nourishing him, until afterward, when he had grown in age, he entrusted him to a certain holy priest, named Nathineus, to be instructed in sacred letters and good morals.

⁶ When, however, his master on a certain day sent the holy disciple to seek water, and those places were without water, the true and obedient one, trusting in the mercy of Him who brought forth water abundantly from the rock [Exodus 17:6], pulled a sod from the earth, and in its place a living spring immediately gushed forth. And this spring is distinguished to this day by the name of Saint Fechin.

⁷ After these things, the boy of good disposition, inspired by a desire of learning, came to another holy man. And when this man of God rejoiced at the coming of so great a disciple and wished to test him in the service of humility, he entrusted to him the care of a certain grassy field, that he should guard it unharmed from animals. When the true obedient one desired to fulfill this, certain men, stirred by an evil spirit, drove the horses of the petty king of that land into that pasture. But as the Lord avenged the injury done to His servants, as soon as the king’s horses tasted the grass of that field, as though having taken poison, they died. When the petty king heard what had happened to his horses, fearing lest the wrath of God should rage against him as it had against the horses, doing penance he acknowledged his fault before the man of God Fechin. The man of God, accepting this, prayed to the Almighty for the resurrection of the horses, and immediately they were restored to life. And the king, receiving his horses alive and sound, offered that land to God, in whose power these miracles had been done, and gave it to Saint Fechin. But the man of God returned the same land to his master, in order to obtain his blessing and as recompense for his labor.

⁸ At a certain time the mother of Saint Fechin entrusted to him, as to a good and discreet shepherd, the care of seven cows with one calf. And when the man of God was more intent upon heavenly contemplation than upon the care of earthly animals, a wolf came and slew the calf, and had already eaten it even to the bones. And when his mother reproved him for negligence in pastoral care, moved by his mother’s rebuke he hastened his steps after the wolf. Calling the wolf as though it were his familiar and domestic animal, the wolf, as if forgetful of its natural ferocity, did not seek flight, but waited at the voice of the caller, and showed signs of obedience with tail and ears as best it could. This wolf the good shepherd handled with his hands, bound him, and kept him bound. And when he looked around and did not see where he might keep him bound, by revelation of the Spirit he ran to a stone near him, held the wolf with one hand, and pierced the stone with the finger of the other hand, and bound him there. But the cows, when they hastened at the accustomed hour to be milked, came to the wolf thus bound as though to their own calf, and gently gave milk. And the stone pierced by the finger of Fechin, as a sign of this miracle, offers a spectacle to those who see it even to the present day.

⁹ It also happened in recent times that a certain woman dwelling near the place of that stone was betrothed to a man, and a ring, as is the custom, was placed on her finger with some difficulty. After a short time the finger swelled so greatly that the ring could no longer be seen around it. The woman, now in a dire strait, through excessive pain and anxiety of mind despaired of life. Hence it was commonly said by those who examined so great a distress that she could by no means be cured, unless either the hand were entirely cut off or at least the finger were cut by the art of physicians. What more? The anxious woman, struggling within herself in her mind and abhorring such a remedy, by revelation of the Spirit hastened, as best she could and without delay, to the same stone of Saint Fechin pierced by his finger. When she came to the stone, there she devoutly and humbly implored Saint Fechin, that by his holy merits, just as he had pierced that hard stone with his finger, so he might heal her finger from the violent and hard pain. And when she finished her prayer and put her infirm finger into the hole of the stone, the ring which tightly held her finger, being broken into pieces as if loosened by a certain force, fell to the ground; and the finger was restored to its former health. And then the woman, breaking forth into the voice of the Lord and the praise of God, is said to have spoken: “You have broken my bonds, O Lord; to You I will offer the sacrifice” [Psalm 115(116):16–17].

¹⁰ At another time it happened that the care of guarding the cows was entrusted to him by his mother, among which there was one bull. But the boy Fechin, wearied by long abstinence, began to hunger. And when he looked upon the bull, through dove-like simplicity not knowing how to distinguish between a bull and a cow, he ran to the bull and pressed its genitals as though they were the udders of a cow. And at the first attempt, finding no milk, he attributed it to his own fault, saying: “My Lord,” he said, “does not know me, because this cow gives milk to women and not to me.” A wondrous thing, and unheard of in its novelty; for the bull gave him milk more abundantly than any of the milk-bearing cows would give. For this was possible to Him alone who brought forth honey from the rock and oil from the hardest stone [Deuteronomy 32:13].

¹¹ Therefore Saint Fechin, growing not only in the maturity of age but also advancing in virtues and good morals, was promoted to the dignity of the priesthood. But after he had attained the summit of so great an elevation, as a true despiser of the world he left his homeland, and desiring a place where he might give himself to God, he found a suitable place by revelation of an angel. And when the owners of that land saw so great a man come to them, they freely granted him the place to dwell. There also he built a monastery according to the will of God; and as the fame of his holiness spread, he gathered many to himself, as bees to the scent of flowers. For in this monastery he governed about three hundred monks according to the rule established by the holy fathers, in knowledge and good works. But he himself, surpassing all in the mortifications of the body, the austerity of life, and long perseverance in labors, offered himself as a mirror of all virtues.

¹² When at a certain time guests came to the pious father, and, compelled by scarcity, he had nothing to set before them, he humbly prayed to God that He who provides for the young of ravens that call upon Him would provide for their necessities [Psalm 146(147):9; Luke 12:24]. And the merciful and compassionate Lord immediately heard his prayers and abundantly supplied grain, butter, and milk. Therefore, giving thanks to God for these gifts bestowed by the generous giver of all gifts, he liberally ministered to his guests according to their need.

¹³ At another time also, when the man of God was caught up into a certain ecstasy of mind, an angel of the Lord came to him and showed him a certain island possessed by pagans, in which he himself ought to preach the word of God and convert the men of that island from the worship of demons to the faith of Christ. Relating the vision to his brethren, and making known how he had learned from the angel the form and situation of the island, and after holding some deliberation with the brethren, inspired from heaven he set out with his companions to the same place. And when he was building a cell there, the pagans who were there, inspired by an evil spirit and inflamed with the torches of envy, threw the monks’ hoes and other tools and utensils into the sea. But He who cast the prophet Jonah alive onto dry land from the belly of the sea-beast brought back the tools of His servants to the desired shore [Jonah 1:17; 2:11]. And when those pagans persisted in their malice and afflicted the servants of God with many injuries, and even denied them the food without which the present life cannot subsist, two of the brethren, compelled by hunger, died. But when Saint Fechin prayed for them, they were restored to life. And when the king of the land, named Guari, heard what had been done, he sent abundant provisions with his own cup to the man of God and his companions. After this the island also was given to God and to Saint Fechin, and the idolaters, converted to the worship of God, were all baptized. And lest these miracles should come into doubt for anyone, they have been confirmed by the account of the wise man Aileranus and by many other faithful witnesses attesting the same.

¹⁴ And when the man of God thus shone forth with many miracles and virtues, it happened that a certain leper, full of ulcers, came to him as he was staying at the gate of the monastery, and asked food from him with which to satisfy the want of hunger; and he ordered that a certain noble woman, who ought to be joined to him in service, should be sought by the holy man. But Saint Fechin, placing the leper upon his own shoulders, carried him to the guesthouse. And since he did not doubt that Christ is received in the poor [Matthew 25:40], wishing to fulfill his request, he went to the nearby fortress of King Dermicius and commanded the king’s wife, saying: “Come, that you may fulfill the desire of my leper and humbly carry out his service.” She replied that she would by no means do this unless she were assured from God of the reward of an everlasting inheritance. Saint Fechin, hesitating in nothing, promised her the eternal kingdoms if she would consent. Believing this, the faithful woman came with the man of God to the guesthouse where the leper was staying. And when Saint Fechin had gone outside, the leper said to the queen: “Place my nostrils in your mouth and draw out the phlegm from there.” But she, acting bravely for the sake of the promised reward, did as he commanded, and placed the phlegm in a cloth. Again also he ordered her to do likewise and to keep what she drew out for blessed Fechin. And the queen, conquering herself in all things, obeyed in everything that the leper commanded.

¹⁵ But when Saint Fechin returned home and looked around on every side, he saw a fiery globe extending from the roof the house up to heaven; from which globe he understood that he was being visited by the Lord, and he gave thanks to Him; and entering the guesthouse, he found the queen alone there. She, wishing to give to Saint Fechin what she had kept hidden in her cloth as the leper had commanded, found most pure gold. Giving thanks to God for the talent given from heaven [Matthew 25:14–30], the man of God divided it into parts. From one part he acquired land for the church; but the remaining part he placed in his staff, for a perpetual memorial of the matter and as an example left firmly to posterity for believing. But the queen, acting bravely in temptation, was found like gold that passes through fire [Wisdom 3:6]; she bestowed upon Saint Fechin that island from which she had come, and thus, with his blessing and the promise of an eternal reward, returned to her own home.

¹⁶ At another time the man of God, when he saw his brethren laboring greatly in the preparation of food, having compassion on their toilsome sweat, thought within himself to make a mill according to the will of God. For the three hundred men of God were accustomed to grind with their own hands. And when a certain craftsman was sought and found for building the mill, he completed the work to the end. And since the place where the mill was built was situated on a lofty hill, the carpenter, despairing of bringing water, said: “It is enough for me to live until I see this mill abound with water.” When the man of God heard this, trusting in the Lord, he said: “God is able to provide water for His servants whenever He wills.” And immediately rising, he came to a nearby lake which was on the other side of the mountain at a distance of almost a mile. Trusting in the power of Him who through the hand of Moses abundantly granted water from the rock to the thirsty people [Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11], he cast his two staffs into the lake. What more? The staffs, thrown into the pool, like quicksilver piercing through the intervening mountain and drawing the waters abundantly with them, submerged the unbelieving craftsman, who from weariness of labor was sleeping in the pit of the mill, by the rush of these waters.

¹⁷ But Saint Coemanus, to whom that man was a close companion, humbly prayed Saint Fechin that, just as he had deserved to be heard by the Lord for the bringing forth of water from the rock, so he might also be heard for the resurrection of the dead man. The merciful father, inclined by the prayers of the holy man Coemanus, implored almighty God for the life of the dead man, and for reverence of him he was heard; for before those standing by he restored the man from the jaws of death. And the man of God gave the restored craftsman a choice, whether he wished to go with Saint Coemanus or to remain with himself. But the man, not unmindful of the benefits of God and of the holy abbot Fechin, chose to remain there where he had merited to be recalled to the light of this life. This man, as though foreknowing future things, asserted that if anyone should choose to serve the Lord in the monastery of Saint Fechin, he ought not to doubt that he would obtain forgiveness of sins and merit the kingdom of heaven [Matthew 19:29].

¹⁸ At another time, when the pious father saw a certain monk being tormented by a demon, he prayed to God, cast out the demon, and restored the brother to health.

¹⁹ This man of God, when, as was his custom, he persisted in a vat of cold water, his steward, named Pastolius, went down into that vessel, wishing also to experience the penalty which the pious shepherd endured in the cold water. But as soon as he touched the water, he began to grow cold over his whole body and to chatter with his teeth. The blessed Fechin, however, beckoned to him to come near to himself. When the brother did this and prayed to God together with the man of God, by the power of their fervent devotion that cold water was so warmed that Pastolius, unable to endure the intense heat, left the bath in haste. To him, for the avoidance of vainglory, the man of God had commanded by prayer that, while he lived in this life, he should not disclose this to anyone.

²⁰ Likewise, in the territory of Saint Fechin, after the coming of the English to Ireland, it happened that a certain man, English by nation, held the vicarage of the same church. This man, commonly detesting the Irish nation and with special contempt despising and vilifying the patron of his church, namely Saint Fechin, on a certain day, when he entered the church of Saint Fechin and bent his knees before the altar, a certain great cleric approached him, marvellously wasted by leanness, terrible in appearance, grim of face, and rushing upon him as upon a blasphemer, struck him hard in the chest with the point of the staff which he carried in his hand. The vicar, stunned by fear at the terrible sight and by the pain of the intolerable blow, immediately returned to his house, declaring that his striker was Saint Fechin, whom before he had held in reproach and derision. And when he entered his house, casting himself upon his bed, after three days he died.

²¹ At the village of Favoria likewise a certain miracle worthy of memory occurred. For on the brow of the mountain there is a certain oratory of the holy man, in which he himself used to pray and withdraw himself from the tumult of men. Therefore, in that same oratory, where the man of God contemplated heavenly things, beneath the feet of the one praying there lay a certain stone, flat and broad. On a certain day, when a certain seneschal of that village, English by nation, came there for the sake of prayer, or rather of strolling about, and judged that stone suitable for shoeing horses, he had it carried off for that work. And when for this rash attempt he was reproved by others, scorning their reproof and mocking Saint Fechin, he treated him with contempt. But on the following night he was grievously seized by an illness, which so increased that before the rising of the sun on the next day he entered upon the way of all flesh. And so, divine vengeance following, it was decreed that in the same cart in which he had caused the stone to be carried to himself, he himself should be carried to the tomb.

²² At a certain time, when the holy man together with his monks went out from the monastery for certain affairs, and, when the business was completed, hastened back to the monastery, with the sun tending toward its setting, they did not think the day sufficient. For the men of God were worn out by the length of the journey and by bodily weakness, and therefore they doubted that they would come to the monastery before night. What more? He to whom all creation obeys, and who himself in all things complies with the will of his own, fixed the sun in its course until the men, accompanied by angelic guidance, reached their monastery without difficulty [Joshua 10:13].

²³ In the monastery of the holy man there was a church, in whose cemetery there had been a great stone quarry, which had so occupied the ground of the cemetery that space for burying bodies was lacking. But when all who were present complained about this, they approached the holy man, set forth so troublesome a inconvenience, and devoutly sought a remedy. Therefore the pious shepherd, taking compassion on the complaints of his brothers, turned himself to the accustomed patronage of devout prayer, and the man of God was heard because of his reverence; and a huge rock was immediately swallowed up by the earth, and a place suitable for burial was there arranged by God. For the same Savior said to the disciples in the Gospel: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here,’ and it will move” [Matthew 17:20].

²⁴ And so a certain versifier, briefly comprehending his wonders, spoke in verse:

²⁵ From childhood Christ at once blessed Fechin,
who, coming to his aid, enriched him with heavenly dew;
by whose merits may He renew us through the gifts of life.
He who caused living waters to spring forth from the earth,
may He drench the soil of our hearts with bitter tears,
that we may deserve always to be present, pure, with Christ.
Saint Fechin subdued many demons;
for by conquering himself he merited that trifles be subjected to him
by the Lord of all things, who exalts all saints.
To Christ’s servant, while he was tending flowering fields,
certain men bring back the king’s horses, though he was unwilling;
whom, after they had first been killed, he soon restored to life.
Cruel men were denying food to the monks,

²⁶ For hunger for bread consumed two men,
whom the saint caused to return alive from death.
The royal consort of a certain king of Leinster
resolved to serve Saint Fechin;
when she was suddenly snatched away, the saint brought her back from death.
When the saint wished to loose a certain bound man,
then suddenly the bars of the king’s hall were opened;
all alike handed him over, though a wicked man forbade it;
and he restored to life a savage man who was suddenly dying,
who afterwards repented of having fiercely resisted the saint;
and making him a monk, he renewed the wounds of his heart.
Careful to place a stone pillow beneath his head;
but clothed on the bare ground with the covering of a goatskin,
mastering his limbs by cold, he was accustomed to keep vigil in the waters.

Hymn about Him #

¹ Let us celebrate the solemn feast day,
and give praise to Fechin,
let us sing fitting hymns
of his glorious deeds.

² By many ways he was foretold
before he was born,
and, inspired from heaven,
he despised the bonds of the world.

³ While still a boy he began wonderfully
to keep the ways of God,
to serve Him alone
with purity of heart.

⁴ Thereafter he was leader and father
of three hundred monks,
whom he instructed by the rule of conduct,
a wall against vices.

At Lauds #

¹ Let us praise the King of kings,
and proclaim Him worthy of praise
by the ministry of our voice.

² He who made us that we might exist,
let us all honor Him
with the desire of the heart.

³ He who marked Fechin beforehand
as His servant and made him fit
before all ages;

⁴ whom He adorned divinely
and honorably exalted
upon the heights of virtues;

⁵ to whom He gave the grace of signs
and of wondrous works
from infancy.

⁶ He was accustomed to strengthen the step of the lame,
and also to give sight here
to the blind;

⁷ and to give hearing to the deaf,
and thus to heal the sick
by his word alone.

⁸ He raised up a queen,
she who had commended herself to him,
by wondrous divine power;

⁹ and he healed a certain blind man,
whose feet he washed with water,
and he soon received his sight;

¹⁰ but he attributed nothing to himself,
he ascribed all to God,
with pride removed;

¹¹ he submitted himself to God,
and God filled him
with abundant grace.

¹² He helped a certain king outside the law,
and sought that he
might release hostages.

¹³ When he refused, with God granting it,
they were loosed, restored,
and went forth unharmed.

¹⁴ Then the king fell,
and at that very hour, without delay,
for his contempt he died;

¹⁵ but he is asked, he is implored—
Fechin, worthy of praise,
though his life was exceedingly austere—

¹⁶ that for the life thus ended
he might deign to pray
and be present with mercy.

¹⁷ Then the man of God said to him:
“Rise joyful, let fear depart”;
and he rose at once.

¹⁸ And in return for the gift,
with a good heart,
that servant of the Lord gave lands which he possessed;

¹⁹ but he claimed nothing there for himself,
but sang praise
to the name of Christ.

²⁰ Therefore, O Christ, now assist
our vows known to You,
bring us help;

²¹ supreme rest, bright day,
law and norm, form of life,
grant right counsel.

²² You who are of all the just
salvation, life, longed-for light,
hope that brings consolation;

²³ whom the choir of holy angels
prays to and adores;
to You be praise and glory.

²⁴ Amen.

²⁵ Here ends the Life of Saint Fechin