¹ Here begins the Life of Saint Barri, Bishop and Confessor

² Saint Barri, the chosen one of God and a worthy bishop, was born of the people of Connacht, namely of the descendants of Brion. The chieftain of the descendants of Brion indeed begot a son named Amargen through adultery, and he took him into his household. For that chieftain, after becoming drunk and being deceived, like Lot, lay with his own daughter; and she bore two sons. One of them was thrown into a river, lest the crime become known to men, though it could not be hidden from God. The other, namely Amargen, was left in the wilderness to be devoured by beasts. But by divine providence a she-wolf nourished him until he was grown. Afterwards swineherds wandering through the wooded wilderness found him and brought him back to their dwelling; and he appeared of very noble appearance. In time they brought him to the chieftain, who was his father. And the chieftain recognized that he was his son, and loving him, took him in, as has been said, into his household. Then, because of shame, at the command of his father, that son Amargen came into the province of Munster, and dwelt in the southern part of Munster, that is, in the region of Uí Liatháin. There his offspring grew into a great people, so that they could not remain in one place; and they divided themselves through various regions of Munster. A certain part of them came to the land of the lord of Rath Luin, and from that line Saint Barri was descended.

³ This wondrous sign the Lord worked on behalf of Saint Barri before he was born, while he was still in his mother’s womb. For his father Amargen was a blacksmith in the service of the lord of Rath Luin, and that lord was called Tigernach, who was of the descendants of Eochu, son of Cass. Now in the territory of that lord there was a young woman of great beauty, whom he wished to have as a concubine; and he commanded that no one should take her as a wife. This decree Amargen the blacksmith, who loved her greatly, despised; he took her as his wife and lay with her. And she conceived Saint Barri by him. When the aforesaid lord heard this, he was greatly enraged; and they were summoned before him, and he said to the young woman: “Who has taken you as a wife? Or have you conceived secretly through adultery?” She answered, saying: “Not through adultery, but this man has taken me as his wife, and by him I have conceived.” Then the lord, filled with anger, ordered them to be bound, and commanded his servants to build a very great pyre of the driest wood and to throw them both into it. But divine power prevented this; for the elements obeyed God, resisting one another so that the deed could not be completed. For the fire was extinguished in a wondrous way by the driest wood, as if it were soaked stones. God did this for the sake of the holy child who was enclosed in his mother’s womb, whom they wished to burn. When this deed was reported before the lord, they were again brought before him. Then the holy child Barri spoke clearly from his mother’s womb, saying: “O lord, you intend to commit a sacrilegious and most wicked act; if you persist further in such a deed, you will soon die and go down to hell.” Then the lord, greatly afraid, said to his servants: “Wait a little, that we may see what this means, and that we may know who it is that speaks with us.” And knowing truly that an infant had spoken to him from the womb, he released the parents unharmed, because he could not resist God; and all who were there glorified God for such miracles. After a short time the holy and wondrous child Barri was born, and appeared full of the grace of God. Immediately the aforesaid lord came humbly to see him and to ask a blessing from him. And the holy infant greeted the lord, asking him to show kindness to his parents. After this he remained silent until the proper time for infants to speak; and whatever his parents asked of the lord was granted to them. Then they returned joyfully with their son to their own region, that is, the plain of Duntáen, and they carefully raised their child; and admirable good character appeared in him.

⁴ At the same time there were three anchorites from Munster in the region of Leinster, who, compelled by some cause, returned to their own region. As they came near the house of Amargen, the father of blessed Barri, they turned aside to it and by divine prompting stayed there that night. Seeing the graceful boy, one of the elders among them said: “This boy is beautiful in appearance, but more beautiful still in true faith. I know that he is chosen by God, and that the Holy Spirit dwells in him. Would that he were with us and might study, for the grace of God shines in his face.” Hearing this, Amargen, his father, said to them: “If you wish, take him with you, and let him study. For we are his parents, and we offer him to God.” The elders replied and said: “He will not come with us now, because we wish to go farther on and then return here again, and afterward go back to the region of Leinster; and then, when we go, he will go with us, for this has already been ordained by God.” And so it happened. For on another day the aforesaid holy elders, returning, took the blessed boy from his parents with them in the summer season.

⁵ When they came to the place which in Irish is called Munchill Monadh, the boy became thirsty, wept greatly, and asked for a drink of milk. Then, seeing a deer nearby on the mountain, one of the elders said to his servant: “Go to that deer and milk her, and bring a drink of milk from her to the boy, for the holiness of the boy will make her gentle toward you.” And he, trusting in the word of the elder, went to her; and she was most gentle before the servant, as if to her own calf. He milked from her a vessel full of milk and brought it to the boy; and he drank, and his thirst was quenched. At that very hour and in the same place, another of them said to his companions: “Now it is fitting that, where God has worked such a wondrous sign for this holy boy, there he should learn the alphabet and have his hair cut in the name of the Lord.” And there he learned the alphabet, and all who were present marveled at his ability; and he was tonsured according to the word of the holy elder. When he was being tonsured, the elder said: “Beautiful is the hair which this servant of God had.” Another elder said: “You have spoken well, for his name shall be changed, and he shall be called Findbarr”; yet they will not call him so, but only Barra. For he had previously been called Lochán, and now by all he is called Barra, just as the elder prophetically foretold.

⁶ On that same day also the holy elder Brendan worked seven notable miracles in the name of Christ. And when he was on the same mountain, that is, Munchill, where the crosses of Brendan are, he wept bitterly and afterward smiled. His disciples, seeing him thus, were astonished and said: “Father, tell us why you now weep and now smile.” And the holy elder answered, saying: “I will tell you, most beloved sons. I smile because, for the sake of a certain little boy who now stands near us, God has worked great wonders and will yet work more. He is called Barra, and he will have great honour before God and before men. But I am sorrowful because I did not obtain from God what I secretly asked of him just now; rather, he granted it to that holy boy, though he did not ask for it—namely, that I might be allowed to remain in the midst of these peaceful regions, where my monks could dwell in peace after my death. For our dwelling is on a border, and there will often be disputes and wars there; and my God has rightly granted a peaceful seat to that boy, who himself will live very peacefully.” And having spoken these words about blessed Barra, the holy elder Brendan went on his way.

⁷ The aforesaid elders went out with their boy Barra into the region of Leinster; and building a cell in that same region, they commanded him to mark it with the sign of the cross and to bless it. When he at first refused to do this before them, they said to him: “It shall not be so; rather, you shall mark our cell, because every place that you mark will be blessed and inhabited.” Then he marked their cell, which is called Cillín Cantailig; and he remained there with his elders and studied under them. There indeed he grew in body, but still more in hope and faith and charity, patience, modesty, humility, chastity, and the other virtues.

⁸ When he had reached mature age, there then came from Rome a wise and holy man, who was a disciple of Saint Gregory the pope, and skilled in the rules of the Church. The holy elders, teachers of Saint Barri, sent him to that man, that he might learn and study under him who had come from Rome. And Saint Barri, having received the blessing and permission of his elders, came with some disciples to study and learn under him. It happened that a certain good man offered him a field, in which he might build a cell in the name of the Lord. And the man of God marked the cell there, which is called Cul Caisel, and he left disciples there to build it and to dwell in it. And blessing them, he went on his way. While he was traveling, a powerful man met him, saying: “Man of God, come with me to help my misery in the name of Christ.” As he went with him, the man brought to him his blind son and his mute daughter. Then the holy man, seeing their distress, blessed them full of faith, and immediately they were healed before him. For the daughter spoke with a clear voice, and the son saw with bright sight; and he restored them healthy to their parents, as if they had previously suffered no illness at all.

⁹ After this miracle, Saint Barri and the lord Fíachna came together in one place. When they had greeted one another, they heard from a nearby place a great sound of mournful weeping. Then the lord said to the man of God: “I am greatly distressed now, holy one of God, because my wife has just died. This wailing makes it clear that she is dead, for she was weakened beyond endurance.” But Saint Barri, knowing that God would raise her up through his prayer, said to the lord: “Let our lady be washed in this water, and she will live.” Then the holy man, praying, blessed the water, and the blessed water was carried to the dead noblewoman, that she might be washed in it. And when she had been washed with that water, she rose up healthy, as if from a deep sleep. Then the lord Fíachna granted that place to Saint Barri forever, which is called Rath Íthir.

¹⁰ Then a certain powerful man tested blessed Barri, saying: “We wish to see some wondrous sign from you among the wonders that God works through you daily.” The man of God replied, saying: “God is able to do whatever he wills.” Now it was the spring season, and they were sitting outdoors under the shade of a walnut tree. And the holy man, knowing that he was testing divine power, prayed secretly within himself; and immediately the walnut tree under whose shade they sat poured forth into their laps the ripest nuts, so that they were filled. Then the saint said: “Perceive the power of God in such a deed.” And that man thereafter did the will of the servant of God, performing penance.

¹¹ After this the servant of God Barri came to the aforesaid holy man, and studied with him the Gospel according to the apostle Matthew, and the ecclesiastical rules, just as that man had received and learned them from Pope Gregory. And after he had studied these books, his teacher said to him: “Now I wish to receive from you the profit of my labour.” Saint Barri replied, saying: “It will be given to you, if I have it.” That holy man, returning to his own country, visited apostolic places and turned aside to Saint David, that he might inherit his blessing. And when Barri stayed for a time with that holy man David, fearing that danger might threaten his disciples because of his absence, he asked Saint Bishop David for the horse on which he was accustomed to ride, that he might complete his journey more swiftly. When this was granted and the blessing obtained, he mounted the horse and thus confidently entered the sea upon it, and came all the way to Ireland. The aforesaid horse he kept with him in the service of the brethren. But in memory of the miracle his disciples made a bronze horse, which remains to this day at Cork.

¹² After he had studied the four Gospels and the Epistles, the teacher said: “This is what I ask of you: that on the day of judgment we may rise together in one place.” Barri said: “So it will be, as you have said; for we shall be buried in one place and shall rise together”.

¹³ After this the holy man Mac Cuirp, the aforesaid teacher, went to Rome to his master Gregory, that he might receive the rank of bishop from him. And Saint Gregory said to him: “You will not receive the episcopal rank from me, because one more worthy than I will consecrate you. For you and Saint Barri will be consecrated bishops by the angels of God in the place of your resurrection.” And he, admonished by these words, returned to Ireland.

¹⁴ Meanwhile Saint Barri, at the command of an angel, went into the region of the Mumenenses, and there he built a cell called Achad Durbhcon. While he was there, an angel of the Lord came to him and said, “This is not the place of your resurrection.” Then the man of God went to the cell of Cluane and founded a church there, and he remained there until two pupils of Saint Ruadan came to him, asking for a place where they might live. Then Saint Barri left them his place with all who were there, saying, “Remain here, and I will go to seek another place, because this is not the place of my resurrection.” But an angel of God came to the holy man and led him, together with his disciples, from the aforementioned place to the place where his city now stands, which is called Corchaidh, and said to him, “Stay in this place, for here will be the place of your resurrection.” Afterward Saint Barri first fasted there for three days and prayed continually, wishing to bless his place with fasting and prayer. Then a layman named Aedh, son of Comgall, of the descendants of Mac Hyer, while seeking a cow that had strayed from the herd so that he might reclaim it, came to the place where the man of God was with his companions. By God’s will, however, the cow came to the holy men and calved there among them. When the man saw this, he was amazed and asked them, saying, “What are you doing here?” Saint Barri, the man of God, answered, “We are here seeking a place in which we might pray to God for ourselves and for the one who would give it to us in honour of the Lord.” The field in which they were staying belonged to the man who had come after the cow. Inspired by the grace of the Holy Spirit, he said to them, “I offer to you, Saint Barri, in honour of the Lord, this place and the cow which God has brought to you.” Then the man of God, giving thanks, blessed him and his descendants, and the man returned home rejoicing. The servant of the Lord remained there most holy, living a wondrous life until his death.

¹⁵ Not long afterward, the holy man Mac Cuirp, the teacher of blessed Barri, returned from Rome and came to Saint Barri, and he was received by him with honour. He told him all that Saint Gregory had said to him in Rome. When these things were heard, many other holy men came from other churches to witness this promise. On an appointed day they all entered the church and prayed, awaiting the divine mystery. While they were praying, behold, angels of God appeared descending, and they lifted Saint Barri and Saint Mac Cuirp up with them and consecrated them there as bishops. Then, setting them down beside the altar, they bore witness that they were bishops. As a sign of this power, at that time much oil burst forth from the ground beside the altar, until it flowed beyond the feet of those standing there. All gave thanks to God in that place for these wondrous deeds, glorifying the saints whom the angels had consecrated. After this, on that same day, Saint Barri the bishop, and Saint Mac Cuirp the bishop, and the other clerics with them marked out the cemetery of the church of Saint Barri, which is called Corchach; and after they consecrated it, they promised this and said in the name of the Lord: “Whoever is buried in the soil of this cemetery, hell will not close over him after the Day of Judgment.” Then Saint Bishop Mac Cuirp asked that he himself might be the first to be buried in that cemetery, and his prayer was heard. For he was immediately seized by illness and died happily, and with honour he was buried first in the cemetery of Corchaigh by the venerable Bishop Barri and the other holy clerics. He was a most holy and very wise man, a disciple of Saint Gregory of Rome and the teacher of Saint Barri, and he himself, together with his holy pupil Barri, was consecrated bishop by the angels of God. In that place Saint Barri remained until his death, and there a great city grew up in his honour, which is called by the same name, that is, Corcach. Many holy men were his disciples there, some of whom are named as follows: Fachtna son of Monghich, Mocholmog son of Gillian, Mocolmog son of Cainnich, Fachtnanus, Fergus, Conaire, Silennus, Segenus, Trienus, Liber the bishop, and many others. Because of their holiness they were sent to other places, and they offered their own places and themselves to their holy teacher Barri; and their places serve to this day the successors of Saint Barri.

¹⁶ After the death of his teacher, Bishop Mac Cuirp, Saint Barri did not know whom he should have as the confessor of his confession. Therefore he resolved to go to the holy old man Colingus, so that he might have him as the confessor of his confession, or, if he himself should not wish this, that he might ask whom else he ought to have. Learned men say that this holy elder had baptized blessed Barri. Now Saint Colingus, inspired by the spirit of prophecy, foresaw the coming of Saint Barri and said to his household: “A holy guest with blessed companions will come to us today; prepare at once, for the arrival of these guests, water for washing and food.” And after the man of God arrived there, he was received with honour; and the steward of Saint Colingus said to the blessed guests, greeting them: “The holy elder, our master, rejoices greatly at your coming. Let your footwear be removed from your feet, so that they may be washed with water, and afterward bathe.” Saint Barri replied, saying: “It pleases us more to greet the elder first than to bathe.” When these words were reported by the servant to Saint Colingus, he replied, saying: “Tell blessed Barri that his feet should be washed, and that tonight he should accept our hospitality; but on the next day let him go to his own cell, and there I will greet him. For on the seventh day I will come to him, and we shall greet one another there, because so it pleases God. Such a man ought not to undergo so much labour for my sake; therefore I will not see him until I myself have borne as great a labour for him.” And so it was done. For Saint Barri returned on the next day, and on the seventh day after him Saint Colingus came. When Saint Colingus arrived at the church of Corchaigh, he was honourably received by the venerable bishop Barri. At once the old man fell at the feet of the bishop, saying: “Whatever I now give to you, promise me that you will accept.” And the bishop promised him. Then the holy elder said: “Behold my body and my soul, and my place as well; I offer them to God and to you forever.” When he heard these words, the holy bishop wept bitterly, saying: “Alas, I did not intend this in my heart, but rather to offer myself together with my place to God and to you.” The holy elder answered and said: “It shall not be so, but as I have said, so it shall be; for you are dearer and greater before God than I. Yet I ask from you the interest on this offering, that is, that in one place we may await the resurrection.” Saint Barri replied: “This shall be granted to you; but the question for which I came out to you, concerning the confessor of my confession, has not yet been resolved.” Saint Colingus said to him: “You will have a true confessor and a true friend of the soul, who is Christ. Let him now receive your hand from my hand and hear your most pure confession.” And so it was done. For there on that day, with no small multitude of angels and archangels present, and with a surrounding choir of faithful people and saints, Christ the Lord received the hand of the most blessed pontiff Barri from the hand of the holy elder Colingus; and having heard his pure confession, he dismissed him. This took place beside the cross that is called the Cross of Colingus. From that day until the death of Saint Barri, his hand could not be seen by bodily sight because of its exceeding brightness, and therefore it was always covered with a sleeve.

¹⁷ When the departure of the blessed servant of God Barri from this life to the true light was drawing near, he announced to a few suitable disciples that he would die in his own church, which is called Corcaidh. Knowing, moreover, where he was to die, he went to the cell of Cluane, to the holy men Cormach and Buchen, whose memory we mentioned above. The holy man pretended, as it were, merely to visit them. For a period of seventeen years had passed from the time when blessed Barri built the church of Corcaigh until his death. After the beloved champion Barri arrived at the cell of Cluane and greeted the aforesaid saints, he was immediately seized by illness, and, having received the eternal viaticum of the Body and Blood of Christ, at the place where the cross now stands in the middle of the cell of Cluane, surrounded by a multitude of saints, he happily sent forth his spirit to God. His body, however, when a great crowd of people of various ranks had gathered, was brought with due honour to his city, Corcach, and was honourably buried there. Later his relics were raised by venerable bishops, abbots, monks, clerics, holy virgins, and by great crowds of ordinary people who came together, with signs accompanying them, and with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs they were placed in a silver shrine. These splendid and truly wondrous gifts of signs God bestowed upon Saint Barri, such as are not often heard of. For the grace of God granted him speech before his birth, while he was still in his mother’s womb, and immediately after his birth clear speech before the proper time for speaking; offerings made to him by powerful men before his baptism; an abundant grace of signs without imprecation; angels who always led him wherever he went and were often in his company; the fact that he received the episcopal rank from them; and that the Lord received his hand from the hand of the holy elder Colingus, while many saints looked on. Saint Bishop Furseus, moreover, when he was in the city of Corcaigh, saw a golden ladder beside the tomb of the man of God, for the receiving of souls into the heavenly kingdoms, and he saw the top of that ladder reaching to heaven. The blessed man Barri was great and wondrous in heaven and on earth: steadfast in faith like Peter, an outstanding teacher like Paul, courageous like Andrew, one who overthrew vices like James, filled with the grace of God like John. What more can be said? He drew into himself all the virtues of perfect men, that is, humility, obedience, patience, hope, faith, charity, and the rest. Therefore this holy father rightly earned the heavenly kingdom and the sight of the eternal King, that is, after many miracles performed, after the fight fought, after the course finished, after the faith kept, on the seventh day before the Kalends of October he happily passed to the Lord among the choirs of angels.

¹⁸ Here ends the Life of Saint Barri, Bishop of Cork.