¹ Here begins the Life of Saint Comgall, Abbot and Confessor

² From the northern region of Ireland, named Dál nAraide, which lies opposite the sea in the northern part of the province of the Ulstermen, Saint Abbot Comgall was born. His father was called Sethna, who was a soldier of the ruler of Dál nAraide, and he himself in his old age begot Saint Comgall. Now Saint Comgall was carefully brought up in the house of his parents, his parents loving him greatly, as though he were their only son.

³ At a certain time, when Saint Comgall was a boy in his father’s house, the ruler of Dál nAraide gathered his army for war against his enemies. And Sethna, the father of Saint Comgall, was summoned by his lord the ruler to that war; but because of extreme old age he was not able to go to the battle. And Saint Comgall, still a boy, took his father’s place and, although he was unwilling, nevertheless by the command of his parents he went to the ruler who wished to wage war with his men. But almighty God, wishing to preserve His servant Saint Comgall lest either his hands or his eyes be defiled by the shedding of blood, by divine prompting caused those enemies to make peace among themselves. And blessed Comgall returned to his parents with his companions, sound in body and soul.

⁴ After these things the holy boy Comgall abandoned secular dress and took on ecclesiastical habit, and he learned letters from a certain cleric who lived in a village in the countryside. But that cleric was weak by nature in carnal pleasures. Truly Saint Comgall used to teach his master by parables. One of these is as follows. For on a certain night, when that cleric had slept with a woman, Saint Comgall, praying and keeping vigil, wrapped his tunic in sheep’s dung. On the following day his master said to Saint Comgall: “O Comgall, why is your tunic filthy?” Saint Comgall answered him: “It is more dangerous for you, master, to have a filthy soul than a tunic. For truly worse is the dung in which you wrapped yourself last night in body and soul than this.” But that cleric, not contradicting him, kept silent; yet he was unwilling to amend his life. Then the pious young man Comgall, seeing that his master still remained in error, left him together with his homeland directed his way toward the southern part of Ireland. And he entered the province of the Leinster people and came to Saint Fintan, abbot, who governed a monastery named Cluain Edhnech, situated among the people of Laigis, in the northern part of Leinster, near the foothills of Mount Bladhma. And Saint Fintan carefully received blessed Comgall into his community.

⁵ And when Saint Comgall was there, persevering in holy conduct and a harsh manner of life, the devil sent a great weariness into his heart concerning his homeland his parents, while he endured great and hard labor. And he confessed his temptation to the holy father Fintan; and the holy father poured forth prayers and supplication to God for him. And immediately the devil was driven out from Comgall through the prayer of his elder. For when Saint Comgall had prayed with tears beside the cross which is on the western side of the monastery of Cluain Edhnech, a heavenly light shone around him, and his heart was filled with great spiritual joy. And from that hour throughout all his life weariness never again came upon him.

⁶ We recapitulate other matters concerning the birth and childhood of Saint Comgall. Now Saint Mac Cnessi, bishop, who lies in his city called Connyre, which is in the region of Dál nAraide, prophesied concerning the birth of Saint Comgall. For when on a certain day Sethna, the father of the blessed Comgall, and his wife named Brig were riding together in one chariot and passed by the place where the bishop was, he, hearing the sound of the chariot, said to his servants: “See who they are in the chariot, for beneath the man in whom the grace of God abounds it resounds.” And the servants, looking, said to the bishop: “Lord, the soldier Sethna and his wife are riding in the chariot.” To them the holy bishop said: “Truly that woman has in her womb a son whose glory will be great in heaven and on earth. That same woman Brig tomorrow, at sunrise, will give birth in the settlement of Mourne to a most venerable son, whose name shall be called Comgall. And he shall be great before God, and like a most bright ray of the sun he shall shine in Ireland.” And she conceived, just as Bishop Mac Cnessi said.

⁷ On a certain day afterward the holy infant was brought to a certain priest named Feidhlimidh, so that he might baptize him. And that priest had been blind for many years; but nevertheless he retained the order of baptism in his memory. In that place previously there had been no water; but at the arrival of the holy infant Comgall a clear spring immediately arose from the earth. And the blind priest, hearing this, washed his face there, and at once his eyes were opened, and in his light, after long blindness, he reread the order of baptism. And giving thanks to God, he baptized the holy infant, the author of his salvation. And in the house of his parents Saint Comgall himself was brought up as a holy child.

⁸ On a certain day, when the blessed boy Comgall was growing up, he alone was outside doing some small piece of work, and see sleep came upon him and he fell asleep. But his mother, coming to look for him, saw a column of fire stretched down from heaven as far as the holy sleeping boy. The woman, now terrified, did not know what to do, for she did not dare to approach the boy and thought that he was being burned by the fire. Then, by divine prompting, while she waited patiently, the holy boy awoke from sleep, having a ruddy face and glowing eyes. And he said to his mother: “See to it, mother, that you do not quickly tell anyone what you have seen.” She too, keeping silence for a time, later told everyone in due order what had appeared to her.

⁹ At another time Saint Comgall was with the ruler of Dál nAraide in the camp, and a great snow fell upon the camp one night. But to Saint Comgall, remaining with his companions in the middle of the camp, the snow in no way came near; rather, in the manner of a small fortress, the snow surrounded the saint on all sides. And all marveling at this, the ruler then said to them: “From this day onward the blessed boy Comgall with his companions shall be free from me and from all secular power; for he is a holy one of God.” Afterwards Saint Comgall, having received freedom and permission, and having in turn given his blessing to the ruler, returned with his companions to his home. And that ruler became powerful and favored on account of the blessing of Saint Comgall.

¹⁰ On a certain day Saint Comgall and his father were walking through their own field; and he said to his father: “Father, we must leave this land with its cares.” His father not agreeing with him, he said to him again: “You cultivate this small piece of land, dear father; but I will go and diligently seek from the Lord my God another land, better and greater.” Afterwards he left his parents and for a time learned letters in his own homeland. Then he came to Saint Fintan, living in his monastery Cluain Edhnech in the province of the Leinster people, and he was received there.

¹¹ On a certain day in that monastery, Cluain Edhnech, a certain blind man was led to Saint Comgall, he and his companions asking in the name of Christ that he grant him the light of his eyes. Then Saint Comgall placed saliva from his finger upon his eyes in the name of Christ; and immediately the saliva of the saint, by the grace of God, healed the eyes of the blind man, and he received sight, and rejoicing in his vision returned home.

¹² After much time had now passed, Saint Comgall was commanded by Saint Fintan to return to his homeland for the purpose of building cells to nurture the servants of Christ. At that time Saint Comgall, even after many years, was still without ecclesiastical order; for he did not wish to receive rank. And having received the blessing and prayer of the holy father Fintan, Saint Comgall, with disciples appointed to him, began to journey to his homeland. And he came to the holy community which was in the monastery of Saint Ciarán, in his city Cluain meic Nóis, and he stayed there for some time in great holiness. Then he proceeded to his homeland, with Catholic men gathering to him day by day. And Saint Lugaid the bishop, with great persuasion, ordained Saint Comgall there as a deacon; and after an interval of time he was ordained priest. Afterwards Saint Comgall went about his homeland, preaching for a time the seeds of the Gospel to the peoples.

¹³ And Saint Comgall, wishing to despise transitory things and desiring to embrace eternal ones, went to Lough Erne and entered a certain island which is called Custodiaria Island, and there he lived a most austere life, without any concern for earthly things. And his monks entered that island after him. And being unable to live with such extreme rigor as their abbot, seven of them died from hunger and cold. When the holy fathers heard this, they came to him and begged him, for true charity, to relax his excessive severity a little, for the sake of nourishing his body for God and preserving the brothers in the service of Christ. But Saint Comgall did not wish to relax his rigor for man, which he had undertaken for God. Yet he piously relaxed the rigor for the brothers, and granted them to live and work as other monks do.

¹⁴ After these things the blessed Comgall wished to leave the whole of Ireland, for Christ, to live as a pilgrim across the sea in Britain, and to remain there. But, God permitting, overcome by the prayers and tearful entreaty of Saint Lugaid the bishop, his consecrator, and of other saints, he was kept in Ireland. And they led him forth so that he might build cells and monasteries for God throughout his homeland. And he founded a great monastery, which is called Bangor, in the region called the Height of the Ulstermen, beside the eastern sea. And a very great multitude of monks came there to Saint Comgall, so that they could not remain in one place. And from there he established very many cells and many monasteries, not only in the region of the Ulstermen, but throughout other provinces of Ireland. And in diverse cells and monasteries three thousand monks were under the care of the holy father Comgall. But greater and more renowned than all the other places is the same monastery of Bangor, where a famous community was built in honor of Saint Comgall.

¹⁵ On a certain day, when Saint Comgall was there alone in a certain place, after a fast of three days, weary and thirsty, he was stretching out his hands to heaven and casting his saliva upon the ground. For Saint Comgall was a man of wondrous abstinence. And look, as the saint raised his face upward to heaven, a certain leprous beggar came quietly to him, seeking help. And seeing the saliva of the saint upon the ground, he went forward little by little, gathered it from the pavement, and mixed it in water; and washing himself with it, full of faith, he was immediately cleansed from his leprosy. And with great joy he came to Saint Comgall, who was still unaware of it, and confessed to him what he had done. To whom the saint said: “Go in peace, and tell no one; but give thanks to God your Savior.” But he, going out, told it all the more to everyone.

¹⁶ On a certain night also, a young man from among the brothers, named Meldanus, came to Saint Comgall, who was living alone in a cell, wishing to make something known to him. And when he had come near, he saw the whole little dwelling burning within with flames and filled with light like the sun. And through all the windows and openings of the dwelling rays of light burst forth outside. Then that prudent young man, not daring to approach closer, signed himself with the sign of the cross of Christ, and little by little returned. Saint Comgall, already knowing what had happened, called that brother to himself on the following day and said to him: “See, my son, that you tell no one in your lifetime what you have seen.” But nevertheless he was not able to keep it hidden.

¹⁷ On another day also, when Saint Comgall had made with his own hands a small bed of wooden boards, so that each of the brothers might die there, one of the brothers, named Enanus, said to him: “O holy father, you do a good work for the brothers who are to die on this little bed, because it will greatly profit them for obtaining forgiveness. Would that I had merited to depart from this world on this little bed.” To whom Saint Comgall said: “It shall be done for you, brother, as you wish. For from this little bed you shall go to heaven.” Now it happened that brother was sent far from the monastery of Bangor to a certain place; and living there he died, and his body, at the command of Saint Comgall, was carried cold to the monastery of Bangor; whom the holy father Comgall raised to life after two days. And that brother lived afterward for many years, and at the end of his life departed to heaven from his own little bed, as Saint Comgall had foretold. This brother, who had been raised to life, frequently reported to the brothers what he had seen and heard, saying: “I was led to heaven by two angels sent by God. And when I was between them midway on the journey, see other angels came to meet us, saying: ‘Carry back this soul to its body, for the servant of Christ Comgall asks it from God to be given to him. Therefore restore it to its body, and let it remain with Saint Comgall until his old age.’ And thus it was done.”

¹⁸ Certain thieves and robbers were stealthily taking the vegetables and fruits of the brothers. Grieving over this, the brothers made a complaint to Saint Comgall, saying: “We labor in vain, father, because our labor profits neither the brothers nor the guests, since evildoers take it away from us.” On the following night Saint Comgall blessed the garden with the sign of the holy cross, saying: “Blind, O Lord God almighty, the thieves who come here, and let them wander about within here until they know their guilt; for you, O Lord, can do all things.” Accordingly, on that night the thieves, arriving there, were struck blind, and going round the garden many times within, they found no gate or opening by which they might go out. At last, however, they came with their burdens into the courtyard, and laying down their packs there, in the sight of the monks they bent their knees and did penance; and there they were made monks by Saint Comgall.

¹⁹ A certain holy old man and venerable hermit, named Critanus, was called to Saint Comgall for the feast of Easter. And he saw on holy Easter angels shining beside Saint Comgall as he was offering, who touched and blessed now the altar, now the chalice, now the hands of Saint Comgall, and his mouth and his head; and they blessed the offering together with him. Seeing these things, the holy hermit Critanus, after fasting, being very thirsty, said in his heart: “Would that, my Lord, I might quench my thirst by tasting some drink first tasted by Saint Comgall.” Saint Comgall, knowing by the spirit of prophecy the thought of the blessed hermit, when the order offering was completed, entered the house and immediately tasted a drink. And calling to himself a certain attendant named Segenus, he said to him: “Carry this drink to the elder Critanus, who is very thirsty, and let him drink, blessing God. And say to him from me that he is a faithful and patient man.” And that old man gave thanks to Christ for all these things.

²⁰ On a certain night a brother who was the attendant of Saint Comgall, named Crymthanus, after he had left father Comgall in his cell to rest and had closed the door from outside, went himself to the dormitory. Then wishing to see whether the saint was sleeping, he returned after a short interval; and at that time the saint was resting. When that brother had remained before the door of the hut, after a while he saw a bright light filling the whole dwelling. And he saw Saint Comgall quickly awakened, and rising with a wondrous and beautiful face, rejoicing and praying. Afterwards he said to the brother who was standing outside: “O Crymthanus, what are you doing there? Do not stay there, but depart quickly, and tell no one what you have seen. And for your boldness due penance will be imposed on you tomorrow.” And that brother departed in fear; and on the following day he performed penance.

²¹ Walking one day, Saint Comgall met on the road a certain man named Beoganus, carrying his little son dead in his bosom. And he said to Saint Comgall: “O holy father, I beg you in the name of Christ that you raise my only son. For I know that whatever you ask from God, He will give to you.” Then Saint Comgall, looking up to heaven, prayed to the Lord, and after the prayer said to the father: “If God wills, your son shall live. And wait here until the holy abbot Cainnech comes to you. And give him your son, that he may bless him with the holy sign; for he himself will come this way today.” Therefore Saint Cainnech came almost an hour later, and the grieving man said to him: “Look, my only son is dead; I beg you, lord, that you bless him with the sign of the cross of Christ.” Then Saint Cainnech, turning to that man, looked up to heaven praying, and said to him: “Your son shall now live; for he has been granted by God to the holy father Comgall.” And immediately he revived, sound and strong, who was called Glassanus. And giving thanks, he departed with his father.

²² There was a certain cruel man and tyrant, very harsh and wicked, of the descendants of Turtaraide, named Croidh, whose mother was called Luch, which in Latin means “mouse.” And when the brothers of Saint Comgall were already in distress without grain, they said to Saint Comgall: “See the silver vessel which has been sent to us as alms; if it pleases you, let it be sold for grain, so that the brothers may live.” Then the same tyrant Croidh was called to Saint Comgall. And the saint said to him: “See the silver vessel which God has sent to the brothers; give grain in exchange for it.” For he abounded in grain. But that wicked man said with pride: “What is yours I do not want, and what is mine you shall not have. I would sooner let mice eat my grain than you.” He spoke as a man of his mother. To him Saint Comgall, angered, said: “As you have said, so shall it be to you. For all your grain mice shall eat, and it shall profit you nothing.” And so it happened. For two granaries which he had, in which there were fifteen wagonloads, the mice consumed. And nothing remained of them by the third day except straw and chaff, just as the saint had said.

²³ In the seventh year also after the monastery of Bangor had been founded, the holy father Comgall sailed to Britain, wishing to visit certain holy men there, and to remain there for a time. And he founded there a monastery in a certain village in the region of Heth; and he stayed there for a time. On a certain day, when Saint Comgall was alone working outside in the field, he placed his chrismal upon his garment. On that day many pagan raiders from the Picts burst into that village, to seize everything that was there, whether people or livestock. When therefore the pagans came upon Saint Comgall working outside and saw his chrismal upon his cloak, they thought that the chrismal was the god of Saint Comgall; and the raiders did not dare to touch him out of fear of his god. But the brothers of Saint Comgall the predators led with all their possessions to their ships. But the holy father Comgall, seeing this, was moved and said: “The Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer” [Psalm 17:3 / 18:2]. And adoring the Lord, he signed heaven and earth and sea; and immediately the pagans were struck with blindness. Moreover, the sea swelled terribly, so that it cast the ships upon the shore, and the bodies of the pagans were grievously wounded. Then they, leaving behind all that they had seized, begged pardon from Saint Comgall with great prayers. And the saint, moved by mercy, prayed for them. And they received their sight, and when calm was restored, they returned empty-handed and infirm. Afterwards Saint Comgall was led back to Ireland by many holy men.

²⁴ There was a custom in the monasteries of the holy father Comgallus, that if anyone reproved another, whether that person was guilty or innocent, the one who was reproved would immediately bend his knees humbly. Therefore, when the father Comgallus himself was on a certain island in the northern region of Ireland, one day, while the brothers were sailing in the middle of a lake, the helmsman of the boat reproved one of the brothers. That brother at once, caring nothing for the danger of the water, leapt out of the boat in order to bend his knees before him, asking pardon, for the little boat was narrow; but the water immediately swallowed that brother. Then the brothers, coming in great sadness to Saint Comgallus, reported to him what had happened. To them the holy father said without disturbance: “God is able to preserve our brother alive under the waters. Withdraw, and seek him where he was swallowed.” The brothers returned to the place where he had sunk, and one of them, who was very skilled at swimming both on and under the water, cast himself into the depth of the lake and found that young man lying with his face toward the ground, and raised him up with himself alive and unharmed. And he had been under the waters from the first hour of the day until the ninth hour; and he said before the elders: “I had no discomfort under the water, but I was as if upon dry land.” And hearing this, the brothers were strengthened in humility to endure reproaches.

²⁵ There was in the monastery of the holy father Comgallus a certain young man very obedient and gentle, whom the brothers surnamed Obedient, who immediately did the commands of all, and avoided things forbidden as poison. Therefore one day, when the holy father Comgallus was traveling, that young man was with the others in his company. And when they had come across a certain shore where a tidal flooding of the sea was coming in, one of the brothers reproved the same young man Obedient. But he, on hearing it, immediately fell on his face on the shore; and he was holding the sandals of Saint Comgallus. For that brother was accustomed to serve the holy father greatly. But the brothers, not knowing that the brother was lying there, went on their way. That brother was now behind the others. And when they had come from the shore onto dry land, Saint Comgallus asked where brother Obedient was. And when he was not found, the holy elder said to his men: “Did any of you reprove the brother?” Then one confessed that he had reproved him; and Saint Comgallus ordered that the brothers return to seek him. But as they hastened, the flooding of the sea met them, and they found the brother prostrate on the shore, and the sea filling the whole shore. Yet it did not approach him, leaving between him and the land a space as wide as a house. And rousing him, the brothers came with him to Saint Comgallus. The holy father, together with him and the other brothers, gave praise to God.

²⁶ One day, when Saint Comgallus was on a journey, there was a certain little body that was cold. And when he had prayed there, the dead man came back to life, and the holy father said to him: “Do you wish, little son, to remain this life?” And when the pious boy chose to die, Saint Comgallus blessed him, and thus he sent forth his spirit in peace. A certain secular man earnestly begged Saint Comgallus to receive some possession of his as an offering. But the man of God was unwilling to receive it. Finally, when he was troublesome to him, he said to him: “Why do you wish to cast your leprosy upon me?” Struck by this word, the man departed in anger.

²⁷ Likewise, an unrighteous king came to Saint Comgallus, having a little chest full of gold and silver, in order to offer it to him. But the king, standing before the door of the place, sent this through a messenger to Saint Comgallus. Yet the holy man did not even deign to look upon the little chest with his eyes, saying: “Why does a sinner wish to pour his sins upon us? Let him himself have his iniquities, and the fruit of them.” From there the king, thus confounded, departed with his little chest.

²⁸ At one time there came to the monastery of Saint Comgallus a man of venerable life, Saint Findbarr, a bishop, who lies renowned for many miracles in his city of Magh Bile. And father Comgallus rejoiced with his brothers at the arrival of so great and such a guest. Now while the bishop and Comgallus were dining with their brethren, someone informed Comgallus that the bishop wished to drink a little milk on account of his infirmity. Bread and water and vegetables alone were present at that meal. For milk and other foods had previously been unknown in the monastery of Saint Comgallus, both to sight and to taste. Then Saint Comgallus, knowing that there was no milk in the monastery, nevertheless sent to the cellar. And there was found there a vessel full of excellent milk, so large that it sufficed for all. And when it had been placed before the bishop, he ordered it to be divided among all. But when the vessel was carried back into the cellar, it appeared no more. Afterwards, at the urging of the bishop and other saints, by the rule of charity milk was received for the infirm and the elderly in the monastery of Saint Comgallus.

²⁹ A certain boy was learning to write; but no one was able to teach him, because what he wrote could scarcely be recognized as to whether the hand of a man or the claw of a bird had drawn it. And so it was for many days. At last, however, coming to Comgallus, the holy man blessed his eyes and his hands; and immediately his writing was improved, so that he surpassed the other scribes. And in that very art he was an originator and teacher in his lifetime.

³⁰ One night, when the brothers had assembled at the church, Saint Comgallus said to them: “Let us pray, dearest ones, for the soul of our holy father, Bishop Findbarr, who is now being borne to heaven by angels.” And it was found on the following day to be so, just as Saint Comgallus had foretold.

³¹ At another time, when Saint Columba had sailed, one of the brothers in the boat died. And when they had reached the harbor which is called Inber Becc, they hastened from the boat to the monastery of Saint Comgallus, and were received by him with joy. And that elder Comgallus washed their feet. And he questioned them, saying: “Is there anyone of you outside?” To whom Saint Columba said: “One has remained to guard the boat and the baggage.” Comgallus said: “Let the brother come to us; the boat with the baggage will be well guarded.” Saint Columba, already foreseeing the power of Saint Comgallus, said: “That brother will not come from the boat unless you yourself call him.” Then father Comgallus went to the boat, and finding the brother dead in the boat, he prayed to God for him, and said: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise, son, and come to your brothers” [Acts 3:6]. At this word he at once arose as if from sleep. He indeed was one-eyed. As Saint Comgallus and he were walking to the monastery, he saw that he was one-eyed, and said: “Did I ask from the Lord my God that he be one-eyed?” And he said to the brother: “Wash, brother, your face in water.” But there was no water near them there. Yet by the nod of God, at the word of the saint, a spring burst forth from the earth there, and when his face had been washed in it, the eye received sight. And that eye was more beautiful and more glorious than the other; and its sharpness was not diminished in old age. Seeing these miracles, the minds of the brothers were inflamed with the love of God.

³² On a certain day, while the brothers were working, one of them, laboring greatly, died. And from the middle hour of the day until the ninth he lay lifeless. But Saint Comgallus, bearing with difficulty the sudden death of his brother, prayed to God and raised him up. And he came with the brothers, healthy, to his cell.

³³ At one time Saint Columba came to Saint Comgallus; they entered the church and celebrated their hours there. Then returning to the refectory, they began to dine. Then Saint Comgallus ordered a certain brother to bring a certain food which was not in the monastery. But he, obedient and without hesitation, went out to the cellar; and by the grace of God finding what the saint had ordered to be brought, he carried it to the saints. Receiving it, the servants of God gave thanks to God. But Saint Columba, understanding that it was a gift of God, said to Saint Comgallus: “Your food, holy father, is not to be received without discernment. For it was not made by man, but prepared by an angel of God ministering.” But the others, knowing this, said: “Blessed be God in his gifts” [Ps 67:36].

³⁴ On another day, when the saints of Christ, namely Comgallus and Columba, were sitting at table, they saw a demon sitting calmly in the seat of their cook. Then Saint Columba said: “What do you see, father Comgallus?” Saint Comgallus said: “I see a demon sitting.” Columba said: “Now we shall test what sort of cook yours is, in whose seat a demon sits.” The cook, now called, came; and seeing the demon in his seat, he rebuked him fiercely with his eyes, saying: “Most wretched demon, what are you doing here? By what rashness do you sit in my seat? Surely I know that from my youth I have not consented to you. Otherwise, you would now show it. Therefore flee as quickly as possible into the depth of the sea or into the desert, where you can harm no one.” And immediately the demon, saying nothing, departed. Then Saint Comgallus and Saint Columba did penance, because they had been unwilling to hold the brother, who was blameless, guilty through a demonic illusion. But the others were edified by this.

³⁵ On a certain day, for some necessity, Saint Comgallus said to one of the brothers: “Hurry quickly, brother, by a straight path across the strait.” Then the obedient brother, delaying nothing, walked across the strait of the sea with dry feet and returned unharmed to Saint Comgallus. The others, knowing this, were strengthened in humility and obedience.

³⁶ Another day, when the smith of the monastery was not nearby, Saint Comgallus said to one of the brothers: “Go, brother, into the workshop of the smith, and make us a grate for roasting fish.” And the holy father blessed the hands of that brother. Then the obedient brother, as if he had learned this craft from boyhood, made in one day an excellent grate and other implements.

³⁷ The sister of Saint Comgallus had holy sons, who lived far from Saint Comgallus in their own cell. And those holy men sent to Saint Comgallus their mother’s brother, that he might give them a little bell. Then Comgallus, a kindly giver, sent them the little bell, namely with an angel carrying it. Those holy men, receiving it from the angel of God, gave thanks to the Savior.

³⁸ A certain poor man came to Saint Comgallus, asking something of him as alms. Then the most blessed Comgallus, having nothing that he could give him, cast his saliva, loosened by prayer, into the bosom of the poor man, and immediately it was turned into gold. And that was made into a ring in the bosom of the poor man according to the will of the man of God, in which there were four scruples and a half. That man went out rejoicing and told all that had happened to him.

³⁹ The holy father Comgallus once told brother Obedient to carry to him a stone burning from the fire. And that brother, holding the stone burning from the fire, carried it with his hand uninjured to Saint Comgallus, giving glory to God.

⁴⁰ The most blessed abbot Comgallus, with his disciples, beside the shore of the lake Feabhail, saw swans swimming upon the lake and singing sweetly. Then the brothers begged their elder that, by way of consolation instead of food, he would bring the swans to himself, and that they might touch them with their hands. For then the brothers ought to have eaten, but food was not ready for them. The pious father said to them: “If it is the will of God, let it be done.” At this word the swans, compelled by a divine nod, flew to the servants of Christ, and one of them in its flight stood in the bosom of the holy elder Comgallus. And again, having received leave, they returned to the lake.

⁴¹ On a certain day, when Saint Comgallus had divinely foreseen the coming of Saint Columba with his disciples laboring at the oars, he asked food from the Lord for his guests. Then an angel sent by God gathered a shoal of fish in the sea and led them to the shore before the monastery of Saint Comgallus. Knowing that this had been done, the holy man ordered his own to bring in the fish. And many fish were brought to the monastery, from which the holy guests and the holy household were satisfied.

⁴² Cormacus, son of Diarmodus, king of the Laigin, sprung from the race of Cennselach, offered himself together with three fortresses situated in the region of the Laigin—Ceatharlach, placed on the bank of the river Barrow, and Foibran, and Ard Crema—to God and to Saint Comgallus. And he came to the province of the Ulstermen, and was made a monk with Saint Comgallus in his monastery of Bangor. Afterwards the ancient enemy sent into his heart great weariness toward his homeland his sons, kinsmen, and dear ones. Then he came to the holy father Comgallus with great anxiety of mind and confessed to him that he could not endure staying there unless he visited and saw his homeland. Saint Comgallus, knowing that he could not hold him back, dismissed him with some brothers. And when they had begun the journey, immediately, as his holy abbot prayed for him, a sleep sent by God fell upon him on a hill overlooking the monastery of Bangor, and he slept there from the first hour of the day until the ninth; and he saw such a dream. For he saw himself walking through the borders of the Laigin, and surveying beautiful cities and fortresses, and traversing flowery fields and pleasant meadows, and possessing chosen chariots and holding his kingdom, and having dukes and nobles and prefects and the other insignia of his kingdom seated around him. And when he was satiated with all these things, he awoke at the ninth hour in great weariness. And by the help of God he hated all that he had seen, and fulfilling his will, he returned to his holy abbot Comgallus and told him all these things. And thereafter he remained there in religious life until his death.

⁴³ On a certain day also, in great cold, the holy father Comgallus was walking with his brothers, and they found a certain house on the road empty of men. And entering it, the cold brothers gathered the firebrands found there and brought them to Saint Comgallus, asking him that through the power of Christ they might have fire. Then the holy father blessed the firebrands in the name of God, and blowing from his mouth, fire blazed up in the brands. And when the fire was kindled, the brothers were warmed, giving thanks to Christ.

⁴⁴ Likewise on another day, when Saint Comgallus was with his monks in a certain valley, a dark and cold night fell upon them in the wilderness. Then the brothers, afflicted by excessive cold, begged father Comgallus that by the grace of God they might have the comfort of fire; for they did not have fire-bearing iron. Immediately the saint of God blew with the breath of his mouth upon a piece of wood placed before his eyes, and fire blazed up in it, driving away darkness and cold, illuminating and warming the brothers. But on the following day neither fire nor any trace of it appeared in that wood; rather it was seen leafy like the others, with branches intact and bark, having no sign of burning. And at this the brothers greatly marveled, giving praise to God.

⁴⁵ And Saint Comgall once came to the fortress of Trachim, and he fasted there that night against a duke who was harsh toward him. In the middle of the night the Lord shook the fortress from its foundations, until weapons and other things fell from the walls. Then the duke, compelled by the nod of God, did penance, greatly pleasing the saint of God.

⁴⁶ A certain young monk, named Connath, came to Saint Comgall, wishing to see the way of life of the servant of God. For that brother thought that no one labored more than he himself. And he asked Saint Comgall that he might live in his sight according to his customary manner of life, hiding nothing. Now when it was already the middle of the night, Saint Comgall, according to his custom, went out into a nearby river; and that monk went down with him. And that brother could not remain either above between Saint Comgall and the river because of the excessive cold of the water, nor below because of the heat of the water which flowed down from the holy old man. Seeing so great a grace in Saint Comgall, that brother did penance for the swelling of his mind; and thereafter he remained under the rule of blessed Comgall.

⁴⁷ At a certain time Saint Comgall came to the fortress of Moenmadh, and there he fasted against the king dwelling in that place. But that king, hard and harsh, was unwilling to listen to the saint of God. At the end of the fast, however, the holy old man cast his saliva upon a great stone before the sons of the king, and the stone was immediately split into four parts, in the presence of the sons and friends of the king. Hearing this, the king was greatly afraid, and coming humbly, did penance; and he freely gave to Saint Comgall what he had sought.

⁴⁸ On another day, when the holy father Comgall was sailing in a certain strait, he rebuked a certain young man of the brothers, named Crimthan. And immediately that man went out of the boat and prostrated himself upon the sea, bending his knees; and the wave beneath him was like firm land. And he lay prostrate there until Saint Comgall called him back into the boat; and his garments were dry. Now when the wind was blowing and the sail was spread, by the great power of God the boat stood in one place until all this was done. Afterwards, rejoicing in God, they sailed on.

⁴⁹ Ronan, son of Aedh, leader of the people of Branain, had a wife beautiful and dear, who bore a son having a dark face. When that leader saw the unseemly child, he said: “This ill-favored one shall not be my son, nor will I have his mother as my wife.” And he drove out the son with his mother; and she immediately went to Saint Comgall, unaware of any crime, and told him the cause of her expulsion. When the cause was heard from the confession of that modest woman, the man full of God blessed the face and eyes of the boy, and immediately in his whole body and face, having eyes like hyacinths, he appeared most beautiful. For before this he had been uglier in the eyes than in the rest of his limbs. And returning, they were received joyfully by the leader Ronan.

⁵⁰ When Saint Comgall wished to build a cell on an island called Reachraind, thirty soldiers came and, taking hold of his hand, drove him out from there. And in vengeance for this crime, all of them died before the end of a month.

⁵¹ Once there came the three most blessed abbots, namely Saint Comgall, Saint Columba, and Saint Kannicus, to a pagan king named Brude; and he ordered the gates of the fortress to be shut against them. But Saint Comgall broke the gates with the sign of the holy cross, and they fell broken to the ground. Saint Columba likewise broke the gate of the royal house with the same sign. Saint Kannicus also marked the hand of the king as he brandished a sword to kill them, and immediately the king’s hand was dried up; and it remained so until he believed in God. And when he had become faithful in God, his hand was released.

⁵² The queen of King Fiachna, who reigned in the fortress which is called in Latin Atrium Magnum, but in Irish Raith Mhor, situated in the plain of Line, and who was of the people of the Ulaid, namely of the region of Dál nAraide, drank poison and was tormented by most grievous pains. And she with her friends did not know by whom the poison had been given to her. The queen herself was called Cantigern, and she was a faithful and modest woman. Physicians having been gathered from every side, they were in no way able to heal the queen. Finally, by better counsel, Saint Comgall was summoned to the queen on her behalf. The man now holy, blessing the queen, said to her: “By the grace of God you will receive health; and you will know the man who gave you the poison.” And immediately the queen was healed. But after a short time the devil entered into one of the queen’s handmaids, and having become senseless, she confessed that she had given the poison to her mistress. When all wished to deliver the handmaid to tortures, the queen did not permit it, until Saint Comgall, the author of her healing, should judge her. The holy old man Comgall, sending by a messenger, freed her from death and from servitude; and that former handmaid afterwards performed a penance pleasing to God. The same King Fiachna at that time held the kingship in Ireland, with whom the relics of many saints of Ireland were raised up and honorably laid away.

⁵³ When the holy old man Comgall once came to the cell of a certain holy religious virgin, he heard there a great complaint, that a certain cruel man and robber, named Fergus, had violently carried off the beasts of that place. And Saint Comgall, going to him, said to him: “Release to me the cattle which you have seized by force from the handmaids of Christ.” But he, proud and tyrannical, despising the holy old man, not only did not release the beasts, but with a pestilent mouth and very harsh words he slandered the servant of God. On the following night, namely, that wretched man, going up onto the roof to sleep with his wife, died by a most terrible death in vengeance for his crime.

⁵⁴ A certain young man, named Aedhanus, the nephew of Dunlaing, while reading the twelve minor prophets with Saint Sinell, saw in a dream his garments around a certain leper of his own kin. And when he awoke from the dream, he saw his own body struck with leprosy. He, by the counsel of the blessed Sinell, his teacher, hastened to Saint Comgall, asking from him healing. Then the most blessed old man Comgall was in very great infirmity, and was being compelled by the holy fathers to make use of baths on account of his excessive pains. And Saint Comgall ordered the same young man Aedhanus to wash himself in the bath from which the old man himself had then come out. And when he washed himself there, plunging his whole body under the water, he was cleansed of all his leprosy; and with great joy, giving thanks to God, he returned to his own.

⁵⁵ Often companies of demons visibly fought against Saint Comgall, yet they were not able even to turn his mind from its inner intention toward Christ.

⁵⁶ Now as the time of the departure of the most blessed old man Comgall was already drawing near, he was tormented by immense and various pains. For his ears were closed without hearing; and, what was more grievous, his belly was closed without the passing of urine; and he suffered other sharp pains as well. And the servant of Christ Comgall was in such torment from the beginning of winter until Pentecost. Some were already saying that such great pains were given to him by God on account of the hardness and severity of his rule toward his monks. Others, however, said that because of his excessive pains he suffered without discretion in the body of his own will, so that he might endure in that same body against his own inclination. Others said otherwise.

⁵⁷ Meanwhile Saint Melldanus, an abbot born of the people of the Scots, sent by God from heaven, appeared to a certain holy monk named Colman in a dream, saying to him: “Not for the reason that men say are such great pains sent into the body of Saint Comgall, although their causes are true; but because of love for him he is afflicted by Christ for the increase of his merits. For just as he suffers torment before men undeservedly, so in the sight of the angels he will rejoice, crowned with eternal rewards beyond many.” Indeed the monks of Saint Comgall some days before his death wished to give him the divine sacrifice daily. To them Saint Comgall said: “I will receive the sacrifice from no one until there comes to me, sent by God, the holy abbot Fiachra from the province of the Laigin.” And an angel of the Lord came to Saint Fiachra, whose monastery is beside the river Berbha at the border of the Laigin, in the people called Uí Drona, which is named Airard, and sent him to the holy old man Comgall laboring in many pains, that he might receive from his hand the body and blood of Christ. And when Saint Fiachra had come to the monastery of Beannchor, he immediately gave the Lord’s communion to the most blessed father Comgall. Afterwards Saint Fiachra asked the servant of God Comgall that at a fitting time he might receive something of his relics. And what he sought was promised to Saint Fiachra by the disciples of Father Comgall. Then, in the presence of many holy fathers, the most holy old man Comgall, filled with the Holy Spirit, most happily on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of June, after the course of his admirable life, sent forth his spirit. And he was buried with due honor in his most renowned monastery of Beannchor, where the benefits of God are bestowed through him at all times.

⁵⁸ After much time had passed following the death of the holy father Comgall, the same Saint Fiachra came to the monastery of Beannchor. And when the relics of Saint Comgall had been honorably raised from the tomb, Saint Fiachra chose the arm of Saint Comgall and carried it to the borders of the Laigin, his own province. And while he was making his journey in the region of the Laigin, he came to the fortress of a certain leader there who was called Aedh. Then the son of that leader Aedh was brought to Saint Fiachra, that he might baptize him. But when Saint Fiachra opened his satchel to take out from there the book of baptism, the arm of Saint Comgall swiftly flew upward into the air. There the holy men, fasting and bending their knees and praying for a long time, at last the arm came to them from heaven and, entering the ground among them, appeared nowhere thereafter. For three days, therefore, they dug the earth and did not find it. Seeing this, the leader Aedh offered that fortress with its lands to the relics of Saint Comgall forever. And there Saint Fiachra the abbot built a renowned monastery in honor of our patron Comgall, and in the name of the Holy Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, to whom is honor and power to ages of ages. Amen.

⁵⁹ Here ends the Life of Saint Comgall, Abbot and Confessor.