¹ Here begins the Life of Saint Boecius, Bishop

Chapter 1: On the origin and conception of Saint Boecius. #

¹ The holy father and chosen bishop of God, Boecius, born of noble parents, became known to the world first by grace rather than by birth. For on the night in which he was conceived, while his parents were keeping watch in hidden places under the open sky because of a pirate raid, a star flashing with fiery brilliance was seen descending from heaven and entering the mouth of his mother.

Chapter 2: On the clerics who, by divine prompting, were sent to baptize him. #

¹ After our child was born, his parents were greatly concerned about who might baptize him. At that time there were few priests, and those who did exist were far away from them. Meanwhile, they saw certain unknown clerics, carried in a small boat, landing at a nearby harbor. The child’s father, joyful and eager, ran to them and asked whether any of them knew how to carry out the office of baptism. The one who was first and chief among them replied: “For this reason God has sent us here, that we might baptize the newborn child. Bring him here to us.” When the child was brought, the man ordered water to be brought. The father said, “Look, the river is at hand.” But he replied, “The mystery of baptism must be carried out in pure water.” For at that time the seawater was mingled with the river water. When the father answered that there was no other water nearby, the holy man ordered the child’s hand to be placed upon the ground. When this was done as he commanded, at once a most pure spring of honey-like sweetness burst forth from that very spot; because of the sign of this unusual miracle it is called Honey-Spring (Melhifons) to this day. Then the holy man, sprinkling the child with the water, completed the entire rite of baptism and named him Boecius. Speaking then with a prophetic spirit about the boy, he said: “This one will be great before God and men; he will be outstanding in life and teaching, and he will rule over many and benefit many” [Luke 1:15]. Having said these things and blessed both the child and his parents, he sailed away with his companions.

Chapter 3: On the growth of the boy and the miracles that God worked through him. #

¹ The boy grew and was strengthened in spirit, shining forth frequently with signs and miracles [Luke 2:40]. At a certain time his mother sent him to bring the calves home. When he did not return at the proper hour, his parents were deeply distressed, and as they searched for the boy they multiplied their groans and cries. And because so burning and shining a lamp could not remain hidden [John 5:35], look, they saw a fiery column rising from a nearby reed bed up to heaven. Since they already knew that he shone with many miracles, they did not doubt that the boy was there. Hastening to that place, they found him sleeping. When they woke him from sleep, he reproved them, saying: “You have acted unwisely in waking me from sleep. For the angels of God were teaching me psalms and the rest of the church office up to this point; and if I had not been awakened from sleep until this hour tomorrow, I would have learned wisdom perfectly.” To this his mother said: “Do not be troubled by this, my son, for God will teach you fully.” And he replied: “You speak truly, mother; so it will indeed be.” After this the boy Boecius returned home with his parents, and he was obedient to them [Luke 2:51].

Chapter 4: How he traveled to Italy. #

¹ So that he might drink more fully from the waters of saving wisdom, and, living as a pilgrim, serve God more securely, he left his native land, boarded a ship, and came to Italy. Entering the monastery of the holy father Tylianus, he was thoroughly trained there in the discipline of monastic life and in knowledge of sacred Scripture, and by his humility and gentleness he was pleasing to all. After spending several years there, he was warned by a divine oracle to return to his homeland. Having therefore received the blessing and permission of the holy father Tylianus, and having been sent with the same holy elder Codrus, who would restrain his zeal against evildoers, and having been given sacred books and garments, as well as relics of the saints, in the thirtieth year of his pilgrimage he returned once more. As his reputation spread along the journey, certain holy men from Germany joined him, sixty in number, of whom ten were biological brothers and ten were virgins. When they came to the sea, they boarded a ship, and with a favorable voyage they landed in the territory of the Picts.

Chapter 5: How he raised King Nectan from death. #

¹ It happened at that time that Nectan, the king of that land, had departed by the way of all flesh [Genesis 25:8]. They too were invited to his funeral rites, so that they might keep vigil over the dead king and pray to the Lord for him. When they arrived at the house in which the lifeless body lay, all others were excluded, and the man of God, Boecius, devoted himself to prayer. When the prayer was completed, look, the dead man rose again from the jaws of death. All were astonished; mourning was turned into joy; and God was glorified in his saint. Finally, the king granted to blessed Boecius the stronghold in which the miracle had taken place, together with all its property. After consecrating it as a cell, he left one of his companions there as its guardian.

Chapter 6: How he also raised the daughter of the king of Dál Riata. #

¹ After this he came to the Irish Sea and there boarded a ship; he made landfall at a harbor in the region called Dál Riata, where he raised from death the daughter of the king of that land. For this reason the king offered him land, on which he founded a church; and after leaving there one of his priests, he directed his steps toward his native land, that is, the territory of the Kyanactae. When he approached the king there, however, the king did not admit him, because he was a pagan.

Chapter 7: How he spent the night in the open air and remained untouched by snow. #

¹ While the man of God and his companions spent the night outside before the king’s fortress, the right hand of the Lord worked mighty deeds [Psalm 118:16]; and it so protected them from the deep snow, which that night covered the face of the whole land, that not only did it not touch them, but it did not even reach the places nearby. When the king heard on the next day from his steward what had happened, he quickly came and fell at the feet of the holy man. In satisfaction for his offense, he gave that place, with all its possessions, to the holy man. After founding a monastery there, he preached the word of salvation throughout the whole region. The king himself, his household, and many others besides, he baptized with the saving washing [Titus 3:5].

Chapter 8: How the man of God raised a certain nobleman from death. #

¹ After this, the man of God hastened to visit his brothers according to the flesh. When he arrived there, he restored to his former life a certain nobleman who had died, after offering prayer. That man gave the servant of God a broad tract of land to dwell in, which is called the Plain of Dornglays from the name of the donor. Then he returned to the land of the Kennactae, to his monastery.

Chapter 9: How an angel warned him to go to the land of the Bregnenses. #

¹ After spending some time there, he was warned by an angel to go into the territory of the Bregnenses. Leaving Bishop Nectan there, he set out on his journey with his holy community. When he reached that land, having been forewarned by an angelic oracle, he was honorably received by Eugenius, king of the land, son of Cassius. From the estates granted to him by the king, he built there a renowned monastery, which to this day is called the Monastery of Boecius, after the name of the saint himself. There too, living well with his sacred community and teaching diligently, he urged many to reform their lives and refreshed them with an outpouring of heavenly gifts.

Chapter 10: How he built many monasteries. #

¹ As very many gathered to him, the number of servants of God in that place increased, so that from the storehouse of pure grain gathered there many monasteries were filled, like many fields. From that monastery, as from a nursery of every good plant, many holy men grew up, and having become perfect shepherds of souls, they brought many souls like gentle sheep into the Lord’s fold. He also directed that a monastery of nuns be established at a distance from the place of the men, so that the reputation of chastity might not be harmed in any respect. It is impossible to describe this man fully, point by point, with praises worthy of him.

Chapter 11: How thieves who stole the brothers’ horses wandered all night. #

¹ At a certain time thieves came and stole the horses that were necessary for the brothers’ use. Though they thought they were traveling by the correct road, the wicked men wandered all night around the monastery. When day finally dawned and they marveled at what had happened, they acknowledged their fault and came to the blessed man. Offering themselves in satisfaction for their wrongdoing, they were received by him into the monastic habit, and for the rest of their lives they devoutly served God under the yoke of his rule and regular discipline.

Chapter 12: Concerning other robbers who stole the monks’ pigs. #

¹ Other robbers also stole the pigs of the monastery and, after killing them, planned to cook them. But although they kept the fire burning constantly under the cauldron for an entire day, by evening the meat was so raw that it appeared just as it had at the beginning. When they saw this miracle, they were struck with compunction of heart and immediately ran to the man of God. Seeking to make satisfaction for so great a crime, they subjected themselves and their descendants to his authority and lordship.

Chapter 13: How he healed a wounded wolf. #

¹ One day, when the brothers had gone out on monastery business and the blessed man was sitting alone in the cloister, a wolf suddenly came and killed and ate the calf of the brothers’ only cow. A shout went up, and a great outcry arose in the place. When he heard it, the holy man went out to see what was causing the commotion. Meanwhile the wolf, leaping over the fence, was caught by its foot on a stake; thus, by a miracle, it was held fast for its misdeed, so that it could neither flee nor move. The compassionate father ran up to give help to the wolf in its need. When the wolf perceived this, it laid aside its ferocity, lowered its ears, and displayed signs of gentleness, though in an unusual way. But the compassionate father, returning good for evil, gently drew the stake from the wolf’s foot and, marking the wound with the sign of the cross, immediately healed it.

Chapter 14: How the wolf brought a fawn in place of the slain calf. #

¹ Then the wolf went off into the woods and afterward, bringing back a certain fawn, presented itself to the man of God. He marked it with the sign of the cross and made the wild animal gentle; and the cow, bereaved of her calf, loved it as her own calf.

Chapter 15: How he gave a horse to a leper, and made a blind man and a lame man whole. #

¹ It once happened that Boecius, a protector of the afflicted, went at the request of a certain woman to free her son, whom the king of the land of the Breghensians, named Euchodius, was holding in chains. Along the way, when a leper begged him for one of the horses that were drawing his cart, he gave it to him. And when he tried to mount the cart with the remaining horse, look, a horse of remarkable beauty, gray in color, came up and, entirely gentle, submitted itself to the cart and was yoked to it. Then a blind man came after him carrying a lame man, and each of them earnestly begged for healing. To them the compassionate father spoke kindly, saying: “If any water remains in the track of the cart, anoint your limbs with it.” When they did this, they immediately recovered the health they desired.

Chapter 16: How he restored to life the son of a woman who had already been beheaded. #

¹ When the man of God had reached the River Boyne, it was then overflowing because of the sea’s tide. At that moment the same woman ran to meet him and complained bitterly about the delay of the journey, saying, “Now I despair of my son’s life.” But the compassionate father, distressed at being delayed from works of mercy and placing great trust in the Father of mercies, took a staff from the hand of the driver and struck the river in the name of the Lord. At once it provided a straight path, just as Moses once had through the Red Sea [Exod 14:21–22]. When he arrived where he wished to go, the aforementioned king came out to meet him and greeted him with honor. When the king asked the reason for his coming, the man of God explained it to him. And the king said, “Lord, if the man whom you seek were alive, I would willingly grant him to you. But now he has been beheaded.” Then the man of God approached the body and ordered the mother to fit the head back onto the neck. When this was done, he prayed, and to the amazement of all who were standing by, the one who had previously been beheaded rose again unharmed and whole. Therefore, as all saw this miracle and offered the sacrifice of praise with proclamations, he returned to his own place, commending the man who had been restored to life. That man, for the rest of his life, served the estate of the monastery.

Chapter 17: Concerning his being taken up to heaven on a golden ladder. #

¹ Adorned with such great virtues, the most blessed bishop Boecius, shining like the midday sun, though he dwelt on earth in body, lived in heaven in mind and devotion. And when one day, on the Kalends of May, he was walking through the cemetery of his monastery, he was ineffably set ablaze with desire for heavenly things. And look, suddenly, like another Elijah, he was taken up by angels into heaven on a certain golden ladder [cf. 2 Kgs 2:11], and he heard and saw hidden things that he had not known before. When this became known to the brothers, they ran together to the place where he had been lifted up; and with many groans and tears they lamented that they had been unexpectedly abandoned by their father before he had strengthened and blessed them. While they were thus complaining among themselves and weeping bitterly, the holy father was brought back by the angels and descended to them, with a glass-like wheel placed before his face, through which he could see, yet was not seen.

Chapter 18: How he prophesied concerning Saint Columba and of his passing from this world. #

¹ From that time until the seventh Ides of December he lived with his disciples, earnestly exhorting them, refreshing them by recounting the heavenly mysteries he had seen, and prophesying many things about future times. And on the most holy day of his death itself, speaking prophetically of Saint Columba, he said: “Today,” he said, “a child has been born whose name is Columba, who will be glorious before God and men; and after thirty years from now he will come here, reveal my tomb, and designate the cemetery, and he will pour out his blessing upon this place and its inhabitants.” After this, having strengthened the brothers with a fatherly blessing and commended them to God, and having received communion of the Lord’s body and blood [cf. Matt 26:26–28], he happily fortified his departure. And thus, taken up by angels, he returned his spirit to God, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Chapter 19: Concerning the miracles of the blessed man Boecius in his childhood; and first, how, when a flood came and the fire was extinguished, he lit his five fingers, by which the fire was rekindled. #

¹ On one occasion, when a flooding of the river and the return of the sea tide occurred together, and invaded the dwelling in which the boy was with its household goods, all the fire in that house was extinguished, so completely that not even a living spark remained. But the boy, being hungry in a childlike way, asked his mother for something to eat. His mother answered him, saying, “Why do you not prepare the fire, and we will prepare food for you?” At his mother’s word he immediately rose, breathed upon his right hand, and look, the five fingers of his hand were at once kindled like five candles. When these were lit, the fire was suddenly rekindled, and from it food was prepared for him.

Chapter 20: How, at his mother’s command, he restored a cow to life. #

¹ At a certain time, when his mother was hurrying to milk the cows and he was speaking to her in a childlike way, look, one of the cows—apparently finer than the others—was suddenly struck and fell down dead. Then, when the boy asked his mother for milk to drink, she, understanding that a divine power dwelt in him, replied: “Restore that dead cow to life, so that you may be refreshed by her milk.” The boy, obeying his mother’s command, placed his hand upon the dead animal and immediately restored it from death. When this had been done, he found the milk he desired from the cow that had been brought back to life.

Chapter 21: Concerning another cow that was swallowed by the earth because of his command. #

¹ On another day the mother of the blessed boy sent him to keep the cows away so that they would not approach the calves. As the boy obeyed his mother, look, one of the cows, which loved her calf too intensely, tried against his will to reach it. Then the boy, perceiving something humanly intolerable, said to the cow: “It would be easier for you to be swallowed by the earth than to touch the calf.” And immediately the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up that disobedient cow. The sign of this miracle remains in that place to this very day.

Chapter 22: How he changed a heap of grain trampled by cows into a heap of pure grain. #

¹ On one occasion the cows of his father entered the fields of a certain neighbor, named Conall son of Euchodius, and damaged his crops. Conall’s steward seized the cows and kept them in custody. When the boy’s father, whose name was Bronachus, heard this, he sent his son to recover the cows. When the boy presented himself to the aforementioned Conall, he said to him: “I have been sent to you to have the cows released.” Conall replied: “If you are able to turn the heap of ruined grain into pure grain, you may take back the cows—but not otherwise.” The boy said to him: “Do I have them for God?” He answered: “No.” The boy then said: “What you ask is not impossible for God.” Having said this, he returned home.

² But Conall’s steward, rising early the next morning, saw that the ruined grain had been transformed into pure grain. Astonished by this miracle, he returned to his master and reported what he had seen, saying: “The boy to whom you yesterday gave refusal is not powerless. For the heap of grain, just as you demanded of him, has been changed into a heap of pure grain.” Conall replied: “It will go badly for us if satisfaction is not made to him.” Then Conall and his steward hurried to the boy, humbled themselves, and released the cows to him. After this, the same Conall granted him two fields in that place, and his stronghold called Raith Conaill.

Chapter 23: On a vessel broken, yet the milk remaining in the vessel. #

¹ It happened one day that a certain man was carrying a vessel full of milk to the monastery of the man of God. As the porter, weighed down by the load, shifted himself this way and that, the vessel lost its bottom. When the man realized this, he said, “Blessed Boecius, may you be my helper.” Having said this, he took the bottom of the vessel in his hand carried the vessel itself on his back. A wondrous and unheard-of thing occurred: not a single drop of that milk fell from the vessel until he reached the monastery. In memory of this miracle, the name of that place is called in Irish Achad na Derba, that is, “the hill of the milk-pail.”

Chapter 24: On a calf raised from the dead by him. #

¹ On another occasion it happened that a certain thief took away a calf belonging to the monks. When the pious father came to the thief’s house to recover the calf, the evildoer was then boiling the flesh of the calf. Fearing that he would be accused of theft he had committed, he took up weapons against the man of God and tried to act violently, saying, “Why have you come here?” The man of God replied, “I have come to seek the calf that you stole.” The thief said, “What you say is not true.” When he said this, the cooked calf in the cauldron gave a lowing sound, as if betraying theft and the lie. When the thief heard this, he laid aside his savagery, threw down his weapons, fell prostrate on the ground, and, begging for pardon, handed over himself and his family to the service of Saint Boecius forever. The holy man said to him, “I accept this, provided the calf is restored.” Having said this, he then commanded the calf, in the name of God, to rise again; and immediately it rose alive from the cauldron. The holy man brought it with him back to the monastery.

Chapter 25: On a cup sent to him from heaven. #

¹ On one occasion, when he was visiting his monks at a place called Luinnach, many brothers, rejoicing at his arrival, received him hospitably and with charity. At the time of the meal, when drink was already being brought, there was neither a cup nor any vessel from which the drink could be served. Immediately the man of God, looking up and trusting in God, the giver of all good things, committed to Him the need caused by the lack of a cup. And look, the Lord heard His servant. For a small vessel of the finest electrum fell into the lap of the holy father, given not so much to relieve their need as to provide comfort.

Chapter 26: How angels came to his aid in pulling oxen out of a stream. #

¹ At another time, as he was returning to his monastery from the place of the brothers who were at Mellifont, for that was the name of the place, a certain boy met him who was driving oxen with a cart. As they were traveling together along the road, they came to a stream, into whose depth the oxen fell, sinking up to their necks. By their own strength they were utterly unable to pull them out. Then the man of God, turning to his customary aid of prayer, begged Him who offered Himself like an ox upon the altar of the cross for the human race to come to his help in so great a need. And look, suddenly angelic assistance was present, with whose help they easily drew the cart and the oxen out of the deep stream.

Chapter 27: How Boecius, the man of God, helped a woman who had run out of the dye with which the king’s cloak was being colored. #

¹ When he had come to the stronghold of Euchodius, king of the men of Bregnia, in order to obtain the release of a certain captive, the wife of a man named Mend met him and complained that the dye with which she had been accustomed to color the king’s cloak had failed that year. For the ancients had a garden herb called glassen, from whose juice they made the dye for their cloth. Distressed, therefore, by the lack of that plant, the woman earnestly begged the holy man to help her in her need. He said to her, “Pull up all the plants that are under this cart, and add fresh green grass as well; then mix it in the name of the Lord, and put nothing unclean into it.” When this was done, the woman obtained such an abundance of dye that she had enough to color all the cloth of the whole region.

Chapter 28: How the gardener fell again into sin, and his head was severed from his neck. #

¹ When the gardener of the monastery, whom he himself had wondrously raised to life, had bound himself by a promise that he would cause no harm to the monks in his service, it happened one day, while he was working in the garden, that his wife and son, standing outside the enclosure, asked for something from the garden. The gardener replied, “I do not dare to give you anything without permission.” The woman added, “There is no need to be afraid; at least give some leeks to your son.” Overcome by the pleas of the petitioner, the man threw some leeks to them outside the garden. At that very moment, while the holy man was offering the saving sacrifice in his oratory, he learned by revelation of the Holy Spirit how the gardener had broken his vow, and he said, “Let the head that is upon your neck fall to the ground at this hour.” When the Mass had been celebrated, the holy man gave the signal at the door and, calling the brothers together, said, “Go after the gardener whose name is Moelcaych, for at this hour his head has fallen from his neck because of the harm he did the brothers, in that he gave their leeks to his wife and son without permission. Go, therefore, bring him back, bury him, and pray for his soul.” And this was done.

Chapter 29: On the wondrous covenant between Saint Boecius and Saint Moduca. #

¹ There was a certain spiritual covenant between Saint Boecius and Saint Moduca: that whoever among the monks should be clothed with Saint Moduca would, through Saint Boecius, obtain the grace of the forgiveness of sins; and that nuns who were veiled with Saint Boecius would obtain a similar grace through Saint Moduca. Now it happened one day that a certain nun, coming to one of the monks to have her garments washed, remained there with him that night because of the harshness of the weather. And since it is impossible that straw brought near fire should not burn [cf. Sirach 28:12], temptation suggested itself to the monk, that he should know the nun who lay near him. When he had known her carnally and the woman conceived, both, immediately stricken with horror at the deed, hastened to Boecius, the physician of souls, confessed their sin sincerely, and from him obtained absolution with fitting penance. To them, being truly contrite, he spoke words of comfort, saying, “From this, good will come. For that man who makes the unclean clean and the unjust just [cf. Ezekiel 36:25; Wisdom 12:2], from your conception, O woman, will bring forth one who shall be an abbot in the future and my successor in my monastery.” When the child was therefore born in due time and baptized, he was called Nemanus, and he became the second abbot there after Saint Boecius.

Chapter 30: How he assisted Saint Tilianus, abbot, under whom he learned wisdom and discipline of life. #

¹ After these things, the holy man crossed over to Gaul and afterwards to Italy, and then to the renowned and devout abbot named Tilianus, so that he might learn from him wisdom and the discipline of conduct. When Saint Boecius came to him, Abbot Tilianus received him with joy and nourished him in the depths of charity. And because obedience joined with true humility is the foundation of every virtuous work, the abbot assigned him the care of the monastery’s bees, that he should diligently watch over and tend them. This obedience he accepted willingly, and he kept them unharmed. Thus the true son of obedience lived under the discipline of so great a father with great integrity and uprightness of life.

Chapter 31: How he understood the sound of the bees. #

¹ Now on a certain day, when he came as usual to visit the bees, he heard a great commotion among them in the hives. When he approached more closely to find out whether something adverse had happened to them, he understood the cause of the murmuring plainly and without obscurity. When he reported this to his master, and the latter explained it to the brothers, one of them, wishing to test whether a man could gain practical knowledge from the sound of bees, prepared a broad loaf of bread and spread butter over its surface …