¹ The beginning of the Life of Saint Edan, also called Maodhóg, bishop and confessor

² There was a certain noble man in the regions of the Connachtmen, named Sethna, and the name of his wife was Ethne, of the stock of Amhlaygh. These, not having an heir, begged God that He would give them a son. And they made many alms, frequenting the holy men dwelling in the monastery of Druim Leathain. And those holy men begged the divine mercy for them, that they might have a son.

³ Afterwards, on a certain night, Sethna slept with his wife Ethne; and that night he saw a dream, that is, a star falling from above into the mouth of his wife. And the wife herself saw in a dream the moon falling into her mouth. And rising from sleep they told one another what they had seen. And that night Saint Edan, who is commonly called Maodhóg, was conceived; and therefore by many he is called “son of the star.” On the next day, as they were recounting what they had seen, wise men said to them: “A star led the Magi to adore Christ” [Matthew 2:2, 9], “and by the same sign it has been shown to us that a son will be born, full of the Holy Spirit.”

⁴ On a certain day Ethne, the mother of Saint Moedhog, still having him in her womb, was sitting in a chariot. There met them on the road a certain magician. And hearing the sound of the chariot, he said to his companions: “This chariot runs under a king.” And coming to the chariot, and seeing that there was no one in the chariot except the wife of Sethna with her companions, he said to her: “Woman, you have a wonderful son in your womb, who will be full of the grace of God.” Afterwards the holy infant Moedhog was born on the island which is called Inis Breagh Mhuighe. And the Holy Spirit immediately appeared in him in signs and miracles. And in the very place in which he was born, a light for a long time did not fail. And the blessed boy Moedhog was carefully nourished by his parents, and he carefully guarded himself from unlawful things, as the grace of God inspired him within.

⁵ When Saint Moedhog was already a little child in his father’s house, the king of Tara, named Ainmire, compelled the land of the Uí Briúin to give hostages to him. Among them Saint Moedhog was given to him as a hostage, for his father was a noble and powerful man. And when the hostages were already standing before King Ainmire, the grace of God appeared in the face of the boy Moedhog. And the king said to all: “This boy is full of grace; and it is fitting that he remain in the royal court, and he shall be with me. Or, if it pleases him, I will send him back free to his parents.” The most blessed boy, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to the king: “If you protect me, lord king, I beg you through the grace of my God, whom I wish to serve, that you set free the boys who were brought with me.” To whom the king said: “What you have asked shall be done for you.” Then the king released Saint Moedhog and all the hostages for whom he had interceded, free to their homeland, commending himself to the prayers of Saint Moedhog and declaring that he would be a great pillar in the Church.

⁶ On a certain day, while the holy boy Moedhog was playing with the shepherds of sheep outside in the field, he saw eight hungry wolves coming to him as if tame. And looking at them, he said to them: “Take eight wethers from the flock and eat.” At this word the wolves rushed in and carried off eight wethers with them into the woods. And those wethers belonged to the foster-mother of Saint Moedhog, who was nursing him. The shepherds sent and reported this deed to the same woman. And she came out in great anger to the blessed Moedhog. Seeing her, the pious boy was greatly afraid of her and said: “My Lord Jesus Christ, help me, because in your honor I have given food to the hungry.” Immediately, between him and his foster-mother, from a nearby place, eight wethers appeared, just like those which the wolves had snatched away, and they entered familiarly into the flock. No one knows even now who they were, or from where they had come. But God Almighty, who sent them by the grace of His servant, knows the mystery of this matter. Through this miracle Saint Moedhog burned greatly in the love of the Trinity; and those who heard and saw it glorified God in His servant. When the parents of Saint Moedhog saw so great a grace in him, they handed him over to holy men for liberal study. And the fame of his holiness began to spread widely.

⁷ On another day certain good men begged God that He would show them the place of their resurrection, wishing to serve God there. Then the angel of the Lord said to them: “Go to the blessed Moedhog, and he will show you the place of your resurrection.” And when they came to him, the saint said to them: “Have you heard the sound of a cymbal coming here?” They said: “We have not heard it.” The saint said to them: “Come with me, and I will show you the place in which you will rise again.” And going together, the saint of God showed them the place of their resurrection; and there those men remained in a wonderful life until their death.

⁸ On a certain day, while Saint Moedhog was remaining in a secret place, and reading there, a weary stag came to him, with dogs pursuing it. And the stag stood before the man of God, as if it were asking for protection. And the man of God, knowing its cause, placed his little bell upon its antlers. And when the dogs came after it, the stag appeared to them like a certain image or phantom. And since the dogs could no longer find it there, nor follow its tracks from there, they returned. And thus the stag, laying aside the little bell of the man of God from its antlers, escaped free.

⁹ Both Saint Moedhog and Saint Lasreanus of Daiminis were companions. It happened that on a certain day they were under the shade of two trees, asking God to show them whether they ought to be together or to separate. Then the two trees, by divine will, under which the saints were sitting, fell—one toward the north and one toward the south. The tree under which Saint Lasreanus was fell toward the north; and the tree under which Saint Moedhog was fell toward the south. Then, filled with the divine Spirit, they said: “A sign of separation has been given to us by God; and thus we must go, just as our trees have fallen.” Afterwards, weeping and kissing one another, the most blessed Lasreanus went out to the northern region of Ireland, and he built a most famous monastery in the lake of Erne, named Daim Inis, which in Latin means “the island of the ox.” But Saint Moedhog went on to the southern region of Ireland, in whose honor the city of Ferns was founded; but he did not go there immediately.

¹⁰ On a certain day, while Saint Moedhog was walking on Mount Bethat, wishing to go to the place which is called Aird Sinnaidh, the day failed him on the journey. And he begged God that He would help him, and look, angels came to him and took him up in their hands, according to the example of the prophet Habakkuk [Daniel 14:36–38]. And leading him to the same place, they set him down in the middle of the fort, where a cross is set as a sign of power, which is called the Cross of Saint Moedhog.

¹¹ On another day Damhairgidh, son of Eathach, a powerful man, with two boys, was drowned in the lake of Erne; and their bodies were not found. And his mother, going around to many saints, begged that at least their bodies might be revealed by the grace of God through them. Now one of them said to her, namely the same Lasreanus: “Go, and wait by the lake, until the most blessed Moedhog shall come to you. For I know by the gift of God that he himself will find their bodies and by the grace of God will raise them up.” Afterwards she hurried with her companions to the lake; and immediately Saint Moedhog came to her. But the pious mother, weeping greatly, told him all the same things. Then the blessed Moedhog, trusting in the mercy of God through the prophecy of the holy man Molasse, who had foretold that they would be raised, entered the water where they were dead; and praying to God, he raised them up. And bringing them out of the water, he restored them to their mother with her companions. And now the leader Eochaidh, seeing his son raised from death, offered that son with his offspring and his grandsons to Saint Moedhog forever, for the honor of God.

¹² Afterwards, when the fame of the holiness of Saint Moedhog was very widely spread, many came to him and wished to be under his teaching. Then the blessed Moedhog began to flee from his own land, not wishing to be in such honor. When Edus Albus, king of the Uí Briúin, learned this, he resisted him, because he did not wish to let him leave his land. Saint Moedhog said to him: “Let me go in peace, and rest will be given to you in heaven.” But while the king was still resisting him, God by His power led His servant peacefully to the borders of the Leinster men. And from those borders Saint Moedhog sailed to Britain to the blessed David, bishop of the city which is called Cill Muni. And he remained with him for a long time.

¹³ On a certain day, while Saint Moedhog was reading outside in his cell, the steward of the monastery of Saint David came to him with an angry mind and spoke harshly to him: “Go, O wicked man, after the brothers to carry wood from the forest.” For the brothers had gone out early that day into the forest, without the knowledge of the man of God. That steward, without cause, hated Saint Moedhog. The saint, obeying most swiftly, left his open book outside. And the steward ordered him to take hold of two untamed oxen and put them into the wagon; and he gave him a yoke without straps; and he did all these things with evil intent. But the oxen were made gentle by divine power before the man of God, and the yoke clung firmly to their necks. And putting the oxen to the wagon, he followed the brothers, and a little boy went out with him. Now there was a great bog between them and the forest, around which the road went. The companion of Saint Moedhog said to him: “O how much more quickly we would reach the brothers, if there were a way through the bog.” Saint Moedhog said to him: “Sign your heart and your eyes, and you will see the power of God.” Then Saint Moedhog turned the oxen with the wagon into the bog. And God by His power made a level path through the bog, the track of which remains even to this day and benefits many. Afterwards they came to the brothers, giving thanks to God.

¹⁴ All the things which the steward had done to him Saint David the bishop saw, and how he had left the book open outside. On that very day, indeed, a strong rain was falling. And when the bishop learned that the book was open outside, he went out to help him. And not a single drop of rain fell upon the book, but it appeared dry before the bishop. And when the bishop saw such a miracle, he still left the book there, and went out to meet the brothers as far as the shore of the sea. For the city of Cill Muni is near the sea. And passing by all, he came to Saint Moedhog, saying to him: “Why did you leave the book open outside under the rain?” Hearing this, Saint Moedhog prostrated himself on the ground. And the bishop did not say to him, “Rise,” but immediately returned after the brothers. And Saint Moedhog did not rise from there until the brothers had come to the house. That boy who had been with the wagon of Saint Moedhog was telling everyone how they had gone out through the bog. The holy bishop said to the brothers: “Where is brother Moedhog?” They said: “We have not seen him since he prostrated himself before you on the shore.” Sending the brothers to the sea, they led Saint Moedhog to the bishop, his master. Then the bishop told all the various miracles which had been done that day through Saint Moedhog, and rebuked that steward. All who knew such deeds glorified God in His wonders.

¹⁵ Still the steward pursued the innocent Moedhog with wicked hatred. And on a certain day through envy he was thinking of killing him. And he sent him into the forest with a layman, and the steward persuaded that man to kill Saint Moedhog. When the man of God had bent himself to move a log, that man brandished an axe, wishing to kill the saint of the Lord. But immediately his hands were dried up by divine power around the axe, and he could not move them. Then he confessed his fault, begging forgiveness from the man of God. When Saint Moedhog knew this, he poured forth a prayer to God; and immediately by his prayer the hands of that man were loosened. And that man ran to the city and told all what had happened. This was divinely revealed to the bishop, Saint David. And rising from his bed, he held his shoe on one foot, and ran very swiftly to the forest to meet Saint Moedhog. When the brothers saw their elder with one foot bare, they ran and followed him. And Saint Moedhog came out of the forest as far as the river which is called Gwyddius. And when David saw him, he stood and said to his brothers: “Withdraw from me a little.” For David saw a host of holy angels around Saint Moedhog, and therefore he said to the brothers: “Withdraw.” When the blessed Moedhog saw David waiting for him, he ran quickly to his holy master; and a cross stands there to this day. And blessing God and giving thanks to Him for His wonders, they returned to their church. And when they had come to the house, the blessed David rebuked the steward before all. Then the blessed Moedhog said to David his holy master: “Father, do not rebuke him; for God for our sake will rebuke him enough, and he will soon die. And no one will know his grave.” And so all these things happened to that envious steward according to the prophecy of Saint Moedhog, the man of God.

¹⁶ On a certain day Saint Moedhog was sent to bring a wagon with ale to the monastery. But when he had come to a certain valley, the wagon with the oxen by chance fell from a rock on a slope. But the man of God, making the sign of the cross against the fall, nothing was broken of the wagon, nothing was lost of the ale, nor were the animals harmed. And again through this sign the name of God was magnified by Saint Moedhog.

¹⁷ The king of Britain had a son who was blind, lame, and deaf. When his parents and his nurses heard of so many miracles done through Saint Moedhog, they sent their paralytic son to him, asking that in the name of God he would heal him. And the most blessed Moedhog, being ordered by his holy master and entreated by many, took him aside and prayed to God for him. And immediately he was healed of all his ailments, and Saint Moedhog restored him sound and unharmed to his people, all rejoicing and blessing God.

¹⁸ A certain man in Britain, having a flat face—that is, born from the womb without eyes and without nostrils—was brought to Saint Moedhog to be healed. And Saint Moedhog praying for him, God gave him through the prayer of His servant eyes and nostrils. And giving thanks to God and to Saint Moedhog, he went away whole.

¹⁹ At a certain time the English gathered a very great army and came into Britain without the Britons knowing. And when the Britons suddenly gathered against the English, they sent to David that Saint Moedhog should be sent to bless the battle before them. When he was asked, the blessed Moedhog came to the place where the Britons and the English were facing one another from afar. And when the Britons, not well prepared, entered into battle, the man of God Moedhog prayed to God for the Britons against the English. And immediately the English were turned to flight, and the Britons pursued them for seven days with great slaughter. And no one of the Britons was killed in that battle. And the English did not dare to return into Britain as long as Saint Moedhog was there, knowing that miracle had been done through his prayer.

²⁰ A certain powerful man, wishing to deceive Saint Moedhog, ordered his servants to lead him to him, saying that he was deaf and blind. To him Saint Moedhog said: “You would have the lordship of your region, if you had not wished to deceive the divine gift. For you see well and you hear well. But because you have lied, you shall be blind and deaf until your death.” And so it was done. Many other signs God worked in Britain through Saint Moedhog, which we omit for the sake of brevity.

²¹ Afterwards, by the command blessing of Saint David the bishop, his master, Saint Moedhog, having taken disciples, sailed to Ireland. And when he had drawn near to the shore of Ireland, he saw robbers plundering and wounding pilgrims. Saint Moedhog said to his men: “Let us go quickly to help the wretched pilgrims who are being slaughtered.” Then he struck his bell from the sea. And when the leader of the robbers heard from afar the sound of the bell, he said: “This is the voice of the bell of the man of God; and therefore he is ringing, lest we should commit such a crime.” And they ceased to plunder and wound the pilgrims. That leader of the robbers was a powerful and rich man, having wealthy soldiers under him. And when Saint Moedhog came to the harbor, that leader, pierced in heart, sent one soldier, named Dymma, to meet the man of God. And that soldier Dymma took Saint Moedhog on his shoulders from the ship. And immediately that leader, doing penance, offered a field as an offering to God and to Saint Moedhog. And that soldier Dymma offered himself and his region with his kindred to blessed Moedhog forever. Those places are in the southern part of Ireland which is called Cennselach; and in those places the man of God caused churches to be built.

²² On a certain day, when Saint Moedhog was by the sea, he said to his brothers: “It grieves me that I did not ask my master David to tell me who in Ireland will be the father of my confession.” And when his disciples were unwilling to go with him or to prepare a ship for him, fearing the sea greatly, the man of God walked upon the sea, wishing thus to cross over to Britain to his master. Then an angel of the Lord came to him, saying: “You have done a great boldness.” Saint Moedhog answered him, saying: “I did not do it for boldness, but for the power and kindness of God.” The angel said to him: “It is not necessary for you to have any other father of confession besides God; for He Himself knows your most pure confession. But nevertheless, if you wish to have a witness of your conscience, have Moluam son of Coche as the father of your confession before God.” Then Saint Moedhog returned from the sea to Ireland, and entered a harbor in the region of the Uí Cennselach, in the town which is called Ard Lathrann. And when he had sat there in a place which is called Acchell, he thought that he had forgotten his bell in Britain. And when it was necessary for him to strike his bell, he saw it coming across the sea to him, near at hand on the shore. Then the man of God, taking his bell, gave thanks to God.

²³ On a certain day, when Saint Moedhog was on the shore of the strait which divides the Munstermen and the Leinstermen, placed between the land of the Déisi and the Uí Cennselach, he wished to cross the strait to the land of the Déisi. For he was riding with his companions. And since they did not find a ship nearby, the horses unwillingly began to enter the strait. Then Saint Moedhog said to his companions: “Let the horses go. For God is able to make the water dry beneath their feet.” Afterwards the horses crossed the strait, and their hooves were not wet in the strait, but by divine power it was dry like land. And thus they came to the land of the Déisi.

²⁴ Afterwards Saint Moedhog established a cell which is called Dyssert Narbri, and there he dwelt for some time with his brothers. And the brothers had two cows with one calf. On a certain day, when Saint Moedhog was alone in the cell, he saw wolves coming to him, who were howling as if asking food from their lord. Then the man of God, moved by mercy, took the calf and handed it to them. The wolves, snatching the calf from the hands of the saint, ate it. When the brother who was milking the cows sought the calf, the holy father said to him: “Do not look for the calf; for I, while you were absent, handed it to the wolves.” To whom that brother gently said: “How shall we quiet and milk the cows without the calf?” Moedhog said to him: “Place your head for me, that I may bless it. And when the cows see your head, they will love you and will give their milk.” And so it was done. For when the cows saw the head of that brother, they licked it and were milked with all gentleness. Many times Saint Moedhog did this same miracle: when the calves died, he blessed the heads of those who were milking, and the cows loved them as if they were calves.

²⁵ On a certain day, while Saint Moedhog was grinding wheat in the mill, a certain man of the people of Ossory unwillingly took flour from him. For all the brothers of the man of God were serving outside. Again the same man same, having changed his appearance and blinding one eye, came as if one-eyed to Saint Moedhog, asking for flour. The holy man said to him: “Why have you done this? For the name of my Lord I will give to you; but you shall be one-eyed until your death. And as long as your race shall endure, a blind man shall not be lacking from it.” And so it was all fulfilled.

²⁶ Saint Moedhog built many monasteries throughout the region of Cennselach. And when he was in one of them which is called Cluain Mór Dicholla Gairbh (for Dicholla was the holy abbot of that place under the care of Father Moedhog), Edus son of Ainmirech, king of Ireland, gathered a very great host to devastate the people of the Uí Cennselach. For Brandubh son of Eathach, king of the Uí Cennselach, was against him. Many men of that region with their goods fled to Saint Moedhog staying in the same place, hoping for protection through the holiness of the man of God. When the king of Tara heard this, he came to take booty from that place. Saint Moedhog went out against the army and made the sign with the point of his staff against them. But one soldier, who was foremost of the others, wishing to pass beyond the sign, said: “There is no one who can forbid me by his sign.” And when he had said this, he fell and died. The others, now greatly afraid, returned to the king. And they carried the lifeless body with them, telling the king what had happened and glorifying Saint Moedhog. Then the king with his army returned, saying: “We can no longer fight against God.”

²⁷ For that same king of Tara, Edus son of Ainmirech, again on another occasion, from the northern part of Ireland from the regions of the Connachtmen and the Munstermen and the Uí Néill, gathered many armies against the northern Leinster men. And he came to devastate the same region of the Uí Cennselach and to drive out from there their king, namely the same Brandubh. That man was very shrewd and very proven in war. And acting cleverly, he boldly entered the camp of the enemies and killed the king of Ireland himself, Edus son of Ainmirech, and made with him a very great slaughter of the noble men of all Ireland.

²⁸ On a certain day Saint Moedhog came to the monastery which is called Seanbotha, near the roots of the mountain which in the Irish tongue is called Sliabh Laighean, that is, “the seat of the Leinster men.” And while he was making his journey, a she-wolf, panting greatly and very hungry, came familiarly to him. And when the man of God saw her, he said to the boy who was near him: “Do you have anything of food?” The boy answered, not knowing what the saint intended: “I have one loaf and part of a fish.” And the man of God, taking it, handed it to the dog. And the boy blushed, saying: “I fear my master.” Then the saint said to him: “Bring me leaves.” When the leaves had been brought, the saint blessed them, and by divine power, turned back into their former substance, he handed them to the boy, giving thanks to God.

²⁹ On a certain day the same king Brandubh, having received the kingship not only of all the Leinster men but of all Ireland as far as Calla Ruaidh, after the killing of Edan son of Ainmirech, was coming along a certain shore, having great spoils before him from the northern regions. There met him there a certain leper, asking alms from him. To whom the king gave a cloak, bald and tawny, as an alms. Afterwards the king came into his own land pitched camp by the river Slane; and there he was seized by great pain. And there he saw this vision.

³⁰ He saw himself being carried to hell, and all the beasts of hell with open jaws running to meet him. And he saw one very great and more savage than the others at the gate of hell with open mouth, which was ready to devour him. Whose breath drew the king to itself, and it almost swallowed him. And when the beast had swallowed him, a certain cleric, beautiful and joyful, came to him, and placed in the mouth of the beast a cloak such as the king himself had given to the leper, and the king returned from the mouth of the beast. And again the beast drew him to itself and almost swallowed him. Then the same cleric struck the head of the beast with a staff, and closed its fiery mouth, and thus the king escaped the danger of hell; and his spirit was brought back to his body, and afterwards he arose from the ecstasy. And he told his household what he had seen.

³¹ Then the king, placed in pain, was led to a place which is called Inber Crumthin; there he remained sick. Then his friends said to him: “There is a certain holy man, named Moedhog, in your land, who does great miracles. Send therefore to him, that blessed water may be brought to you by him.” To whom the king said: “It shall not be so; but rather I myself will go to the man of God.” And immediately the king mounted his chariot and came to Saint Moedhog. But when the blessed Moedhog heard that the king was coming to him, he went out to meet him. And when the king from afar had seen the saint coming to him, he said: “This saint delivered me from the mouth of the beast and from every infernal punishment. I now recognize his form.” Then the king prostrated himself at the feet of the saint, saying: “I repent, because I have done many evil things; and whatever you shall say to me for the remedy of my soul, in the name of God I will fulfill.” And then, as the saint prayed, the king was immediately healed of all his infirmity. And he said to the man of God: “You have healed me of infirmity and have loosed me from hell.” And he told him his vision.

³² Afterwards again the king said to Saint Moedhog: “Look, I offer myself to you, that I may be buried in your cemetery, and that my race may always be buried with you.” And the king gave great offerings to Saint Moedhog, and a field, in which the man of God built a monastery which is called Ferns. In which Saint Moedhog was buried; and King Brandubh, and his race after him, are always buried there. And a great city grew there in honor of Saint Moedhog, which is called by the same name, that is, Ferns.

³³ Afterwards, when a great synod had been held in the land of the Leinster men, King Brandubh decreed, and both laymen and clerics, that the archbishopric of all the Leinster men should always be in the seat and chair of Saint Moedhog. And then Saint Moedhog was consecrated archbishop by many Catholics.

³⁴ While Saint Moedhog was building the monastery of Ferns, his disciples made complaint to him that they had no water there. There was before him a certain tree, and he said to his disciples: “Cut down this tree, and there will burst forth for you a clear spring from its place.” And immediately, when the tree was cut down, a bright spring appeared, which is called Tober Moedhog, that is, the spring of Moedhog.

³⁵ For women used to come to the stream of the same spring to wash clothes. Now a certain common man, named Becc, had a farm near the monastery of Saint Moedhog, whose field came down to the stream of the holy spring. And therefore the women came there to wash, as if to their own water. And this greatly displeased the man of God; and he said to them: “Go out from here, and do not come so near to us.” The women said to him: “We will not go out; for it is our place and our water.” After this word, the daughter of the same man, washing clothes and trampling them with her feet, her feet stuck to the clothes, and the clothes to the stones, and the stones to the ground. And the woman was like a dried-up statue, and almost died. When Becc, her father, heard this, he came to Saint Moedhog, humbly begging him that he would loose his daughter. And when the saint was praying for her, that woman was immediately loosed. And when she was loosed, that man Becc offered himself and his offspring with his farm to God and to Saint Moedhog forever.

³⁶ A certain herdsman was near the city of Ferns, whose mother was being tormented by a grievous pain, near death. That herdsman came to Saint Moedhog, that he might ask blessed water from him. Then the most blessed bishop humbly went to that sick woman; but the herdsman went before the man of God to the house, and found his mother dead. And returning he said to the man of God: “Do not trouble yourself, holy man, for my mother is dead.” To whom the saint said: “Go, and tell your mother to come to me to greet me.” He, obeying the man of God, said to the dead woman: “The holy bishop Moedhog calls you.” At this voice she rose up, as from a heavy sleep. And giving thanks to God, the sick woman came to meet the man of God.

³⁷ At a certain time Saint Bishop Moedhog went out to visit Saint Munnu the abbot, dwelling in his monastery which is called Teach Munnu. And with great honor the holy bishop was received. The holy abbot said to the brother who was ministering to him: “Tell the holy bishop that all who are in this place be refreshed this neart at his coming.” The blessed bishop said: “Let all who are in this place be refreshed this neart.” Saint Munnu again said to the one ministering to him: “Tell our lord bishop: ‘We cannot refresh everyone, because many of us are sick.’ ” Hearing this, the bishop said: “The lord abbot has wisely asked health for his brothers. My Lord is now able, at my coming, to grant health to them all.” And when he had said this, all the sick received health. And those who scarcely were able to live before dined in strength with the others. On the third day, when the blessed Moedhog wished to depart, Saint Munnu said to him: “You shall not go out until all the brothers who were sick before are again in the same condition.” To whom the bishop said: “The Lord has given me their health.” And blessed Munnu said: “It shall not be so, for ‘power is made perfect in weakness’ [2 Corinthians 12:9].” Then Moedhog consenting, they returned to their pain. Afterward the holy bishop, bidding farewell to all, went out with a blessing.

³⁸ When Saint Moedhog was in the place which is called Ard Lathrann, he saw from there six oxen in a plow turned into madness, hastening toward the gate of his city, Ferns. Between that place and the city of Ferns there are almost one hundred miles. The man of God, seeing this divinely from very far away, raised his hand blessed. And then the plowman fell between the plowshare and the knife, and it did not injure him, because very swiftly the oxen were made gentle. And thus he escaped from so great a danger. And when the disciples asked the holy man, he made this deed known to them.

³⁹ At a certain time the blessed bishop Moedhog went out to visit the holy virgins, the daughters of Aed son of Corpre. And he led with him his own plow as an alms, with oxen, that they might plow for the virgins. And when immediately the plowmen were yoking the oxen for plowing, a leprous woman came, asking that the man of God Moedhog would grant her an ox. And the saint gave her a chosen ox. The plowmen said to the man of God: “What shall we do, since the number of oxen is not even for us?” The holy man said to them: “Wait until a good ox comes, sent to us by God.” Suddenly, marvelous to tell, they saw an ox coming from the sea, who, raising a bellowing cry, cried out three times, and humbly placed his own neck more fittingly in the yoke of the other ox. And for three years that same ox plowed there, who at the beginning of each day on which he was to plow came from the sea to plow, and, raising his voice three times, again at the end of the day returned into the sea. All who heard and saw this miracle glorified God and his servant, Saint Moedhog.

⁴⁰ At another time Saint David the bishop, the teacher of Saint Moedhog, sent to him that he should come to greet him before he died. And the bishop, immediately obedient, went to Britain and for some time remained spiritually with his holy teacher, Bishop David. And on a certain day Saint Moedhog said to Bishop David: “Today, father, I have promised good men that I will come to Ireland.” The holy old man David answered him: “Already today you will be in Ireland.” He said: “How?” The venerable old man said: “Your household will come after you by ship. But you receive my blessing. And let there be between me and you, and between our descendants, a most firm brotherhood in heaven and on earth forever. And now go to the sea, and whatever unknown animal shall come to you, upon it you shall mount, and it will lead you safely and swiftly to Ireland.” And blessing him, the holy old man, Bishop David, his pious teacher, the blessed Moedhog came to the shore of the sea, and finding there a great unknown animal, he mounted upon it with firm faith. And the man of God was led swiftly and gently to Ireland. And the animal set the holy man down in the place which is called Inber Crumthin. And the animal returned into the sea, as if seeking a blessing. And Saint Moedhog, as he had promised, came to his own.

⁴¹ At another time the most blessed bishop Moedhog, according to the example of Moses and Elijah, indeed according to the example of the Creator of all, the only Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, fasted forty days and forty nights in his city Ferns, eating nothing, nor even drinking any human food. And after the fast of forty days the man of God was seen by his disciples to be taller and stouter than before. When the fast was completed, Almighty God granted four petitions to Saint Moedhog, which the holy man had asked of him. The first petition is that whoever of the royal race of the Laginenses, and especially of the seed of Brandubh son of Eathach, shall sit in his seat and die in it, shall not be with him in heaven. And whoever of his monks shall deny him and be a fugitive from him, likewise shall not be with him in heaven. And that hell shall not be closed over those after the day of judgment who shall lie in his cemeteries. And that he shall release one soul from hell every day until the day of judgment.

⁴² On a certain day Saint Moedhog, coming to the ford Imgain, his charioteer said to him: “Tell me, lord, who will sit after you as bishop in your seat?” The saint answered him: “He who before us shall open the barrier of the ford, he himself shall be the sitter of my chair after me.” And immediately they saw some playful students coming toward them with shields and spears in their hands for sport. And when they had seen the band of students, one of them leaped out and opened the barrier for them. Seeing this, the same charioteer, when he saw a very playful youth opening the barrier, was astonished and said aloud: “Shall this trifling fellow be bishop among us after our patron?” Then that student, pierced by the grace of the Holy Spirit, humbly came to Saint Moedhog and said to him: “O holy man of God, I wish to go with you and to live under your discipline.” The holy man said to him: “From where are you, and by what name are you called?” He said: “I am of Munster, that is, from the inhabitants of Luachra, and I am called Cronan.” To whom the man of God said: “You are called by another name, that is, Mochua of Lochre.” And he said to him: “Follow me.” From there Mochua of Lochre followed Saint Moedhog until his death. And afterward he became wise and holy, and a man of marvelous abstinence, who worked great miracles. And him, because of the honesty of his life and the goodness of his conduct, the most blessed Moedhog appointed as bishop after himself.

⁴³ At another time Saint Moedhog, hearing that certain of his own kin among the Munstermen, namely in that region which is called Uí Chonaill Gabhra, were in captivity, went in order to free them from captivity. And when the man of God had arrived there, the leader of that land did not wish to hear him, nor did he allow him to stay in his fortress. Before the door of that fortress the man of God fasted for three days. And when the fast was finished, the daughter of that same leader, whom he loved very much, suddenly died. The wife of the leader, knowing that this had happened because of the man of God, brought the lifeless body to Saint Moedhog. And being much entreated by her mother and by her companions, the servant of the Lord raised her from death. But still the leader, hard of heart, resisted Saint Moedhog with harsh words. And when Saint Moedhog began to curse the leader, a certain boy, who was standing nearby, said: “Hail, holy elder; let your curse be upon this stone.” And when the man of God had said, “Let this curse be upon this stone,” immediately that stone was divided into two parts. Seeing this now, that leader did penance, and released his kinsmen free to Saint Moedhog. And he offered him a place which is called Cluain Claidhbhach, and there the holy man built a monastery; and blessing that place itself and the leader who gave it, he departed from there.

⁴⁴ On a certain day, when Saint Moedhog was with one hundred and fifty brothers in the harvest, King Brandubh came to the harvest, visiting the man of God. And now seeing the love and humility of so many brothers, the king, marveling, said to the holy bishop: “These men wonderfully love one another and obey one another.” The man of God said: “More wonderful is this, that they are all sons of life, except one only.” The king said: “Who is that son of death? Now I would wish to slay him, lest he be ‘among the sheep of God’ [John 10:1–16].” The holy bishop answered: “You shall not slay him; but nevertheless you will know him now, because the hour of celebrating the work of God has come. For all the brothers except him will cast themselves to the ground for the work of God; but he himself will not cast himself down.” And when the brothers celebrated the third hour, the holy father and all with him bowed themselves to the ground, except the son of death. Then the king questioned him, saying: “Why did you not bow with the others?” He answered: “My mind is now thinking of something else.” Afterward he went to his people in the world; and before the end of the week he was slain, and died most unhappily.

⁴⁵ At a certain time the most blessed Moedhog, wishing to go to the royal city of the Munstermen, by name Cashel, the horses of his chariot stood immovable on the road, according to the example of the ass of Balaam [Numbers 22:21–35]. The holy man, marveling at this, an angel of the Lord came to him, saying: “God wills that you go to another region, that is, to the province of the Connachtmen; because Guaire Aidhne, king of the Connachtmen, is tormented by most grievous pains in the cell which is called Cell meic Duach. He is now tormented near to death; but God grants to you that you may heal him.” The man of the Lord answered: “Whatever the messenger of my Lord shall say to me now, I will gladly do. Therefore I wish to go there.” The angel said: “Although you may be unwilling, nevertheless you will go, because God so wills. And your horses will not go by another road.” Then Saint Moedhog said to his charioteer: “Let the horses go wherever they wish.” And immediately the horses turned toward the northern course. And when they had come to the lake called Dergdirc, the horses without hindrance under the chariot went with dry feet through the lake, as if over dry land, by divine power. After crossing the lake, they found two men in a field, to whom Saint Moedhog said: “Show us our way.” They answered: “In these places there is no level road for you.” One of them said to them: “If you are good clerics, you will make a smooth road out of rough places.” Then the holy elder Moedhog said, blessing the road: “God knows what we are. But he himself can make a smooth road for us, just as you say.” At this word a level road through mountains and woods and marshes, without a single hindrance, was made as far as the monastery which is called Cell meic Duach, where the king of the Connachtmen, Guaire Aidhne, was sick. And when prayer had been made for him by the holy bishop, immediately he was healed of every infirmity. And the holy man said to the king: “You will again hold your kingdom for thirty years. And at the end of your life for three years you will be in pain, and in that infirmity you will die. And you will possess the kingdom of heaven because of your almsgiving and your generosity.” For the king was able to fulfill that sentence which says: “Give to everyone who asks of you” [Luke 6:30]. And blessing the king, and prayer and brotherhood having been made between himself and the most holy man in whose honor that monastery, indeed even the city, was built, the most blessed man Moedhog departed on his way.

⁴⁶ At a certain time a holy man named Moluacha came to Saint Moedhog, saying: “I wish to go to Rome on pilgrimage.” The bishop said to him: “You will not have my permission.” Saint Moluacha answered: “If I do not see Rome, surely I shall soon die.” Then Saint Moedhog took him with himself in the chariot; and they did not appear to their own people until the next day. And it seemed to Saint Moluacha that they were that night in Rome, and that he paid his vows there at the thresholds of the apostles. And on the next day, when the sun had risen, the saints came to the city of Ferns. And the holy old man said to blessed Moluacha: “Do you wish now to go to Rome?” He said: “Why should I wish it? Did I not yesterday and in the past night pay my prayers there? But I am ashamed to return so quickly to my monastery.” Immediately the bishop himself went with him and left him in his own place, bearing witness that he had been at Rome. The mystery of this matter God knows; but we know that holy man was as skilled in Rome as if he had been there for a long time.

⁴⁷ It happened that the blessed Moedhog was with one boy beside a certain cross; and then the man of God wrote one psalm for that boy. And after he had written it, the boy saw Saint Moedhog ascending by a golden ladder between heaven and earth, carrying with him the boy’s writing tablet. And when after some time he had returned, the boy could not look upon his face because of its brightness. And he said to the boy: “Take care that you tell this to no one in my lifetime.” The boy said to him: “If you tell me where you went, I will conceal what I saw.” The holy man said to him: “I have now gone to the joy which the household of heaven made at the coming of Saint Columba, who was very dear to me.” After the death of Saint Moedhog that boy, when he was a faithful man, told these words before the people.

⁴⁸ On a certain day the steward of Saint Mochua of Lochre came to Saint Moedhog, saying: “We have little grain; shall we sow it, or shall we give it to the brothers?” To whom the saint answered: “Sow much, and distribute sufficiently to the brothers.” He said: “How can this be done?” The man of God said: “What you now have will not fail in sowing and in eating, until bread shall come to you from the earth.” And so it was done according to the prophecy of the man of God.

⁴⁹ On another day his cook came to Saint Moedhog, saying: “Today in the kitchen we have nothing except a small vessel of milk and a little butter. Shall it be given to the guests or to the brothers?” To whom the saint said: “Give generously to all, as if you were drawing from a mountain.” Afterward that night all ate sufficiently.

⁵⁰ At a certain time some crafty and deceitful men hid their garments in the woods, and coming naked to Saint Moedhog, asked garments from him. To whom the saint said: “Wait a little, until you receive garments.” Then Saint Moedhog secretly sent a servant to where their garments were hidden, and their garments were brought back to them. But they, recognizing their own garments, withdrew in confusion, empty-handed.

⁵¹ At a certain time a count of Leinster broke his faith against his lord and slew the king of the Leinstermen, indeed almost of all Ireland, Brandubh son of Eathach. And immediately thereafter the king died without confession and without the divine viaticum. Hearing this, Saint Bishop Moedhog grieved greatly, and weeping and lamenting he said: “Would that hand which slew the defender of the churches and of the regions, and the judge of widows and of the poor, might fall from his side.” Which afterward was fulfilled. Then Saint Moedhog went to the place where the king lay dead; and prayer having been made, he raised him before all. To whom the king said: “I beg you, father, if you promise me the kingdom of God, that I may now go to heaven. For I have sufficiently run the course of this life; the Lord will appoint for you another king.” This sentence pleased the bishop. And then, after the sacrifice had been received, and confession made, and indulgence given, King Brandubh migrated to heaven. And he was honorably buried in the cemetery of Saint Moedhog, which is in his city Ferns, where his race, the kings of Leinster, are always buried. Afterward that count Saranus, who killed King Brandubh, touched by repentance, came to the tomb of the king and did most bitter penance there. For he mourned there in most grievous fasts, almost naked, not departing from there by day or by night. And when he had been thus for some time, a voice spoke to him from the tomb, as if the voice of the king: “O foolish Saranus, what you did is forgiven you.” And when he had said this, the hand of Saranus fell from his side, just as Saint Moedhog had previously wished. Knowing this, Catholic men led Saranus away from there. And in the rest of his life he lived well.

⁵² At a certain hour Saint Moedhog, hearing the sweet songs of angels singing from above, asked the Lord that he might pass from this troublesome world to the kingdom of heaven and be with Christ, after the example of Paul, “to be with Christ” [Philippians 1:23]. But the Lord, wishing him to remain longer in the flesh for the sake of many, said to him by a voice: “You must still live for the sake of your own.” And he said: “As long as my God wills me to live, I do not refuse the labor.”

⁵³ At a certain time a poor man, from whom his lord was demanding a great tribute, came to Saint Moedhog seeking help. Now Saint Moedhog was in a field, and seed was being sown before him in the earth. And the holy man gave to the petitioner half a measure of barley. He said: “What good does this do me?” The man of God said: “From this you will pay all your debt, and you will have something left over.” The man himself, smiling, saw all of it turned into gold. And the holy man said to him: “Pay your debt to your lord the duke, that you may be free.” The duke, seeing the finest gold, said to him: “Who has given you so much gold?” He answered: “Blessed Moedhog made it for me from a grain of barley.” To whom the duke said: “This gold is not fitting for me to have; but I offer you to God and to Saint Moedhog free forever.” Then that man, formerly a slave, now free, came rejoicing to Saint Moedhog, making known to him what the duke had done for him. And that man assigned all his gold to Saint Moedhog. And while the holy man was praying, despising the gold, it was all turned back into barley. And at the command of the holy man of God it was again sown in the earth.

⁵⁴ At a certain time, when the blessed Moedhog wished to build a basilica for himself, he could not then find a craftsman. Trusting in God, he blessed the hands of a certain unlearned man named Gobbanus; and immediately he became a most skillful craftsman. And afterward, with the highest art, he himself built that basilica.

⁵⁵ At another time the holy old man Moedhog went out to wash his hands at the stream with a few brothers. Then other men, seeing him, said: “No man can stir the holy Moedhog to discord.” Then a certain rustic from among them said: “I can indeed.” The holy man was clothed in skins. That rustic came and threw the holy man into the stream. To him the saint said: “What have you done, O man?” His garments were untouched by the water. Seeing that the garments of the holy man were dry, that man said: “I repent of what I have done; grant me forgiveness.” To him the saint said: “You have done well in confessing and in doing penance; for if you had not repented, the earth would just now have swallowed you up. But now you will have heaven, and on the fortieth day you will die.” And thus it was done.

⁵⁶ On a certain day the economus of Saint Mochua of Lochra came to the holy old man Moedhog, saying: “We are building a church, and the timbers have been cut in the forests, and we do not have enough men or oxen to bring them to us.” To him the holy bishop said: “Go to your cell, and whatever you hear in this neart, do not look.” But in that night they heard a great sound from the forest to the cell, and no one dared to see. But nevertheless a certain foolish convert among them, against the command of Saint Moedhog, peered through the keyhole. And he saw a multitude of youths of most beautiful forms, with golden hair down to their shoulders, carrying the timbers. Then a voice was heard saying to the angels: “Cease from this work.” For if the man had not looked, the angels would have built the whole church that night. But afterward Gobbanus the craftsman, whom Saint Moedhog had blessed, built it.

⁵⁷ At another time, when Saint Moedhog was in the borders of the men of Munster, namely in Hua Conaill, near the monastery of the most blessed virgin Ita, wishing to visit Saint Molua, the father of his confession, he heard the bells sounding greatly. And when the man of God had asked what this was, it was told him that a foster-daughter of the most holy Ita had then died, whom the handmaid of God loved greatly. Hearing that Saint Moedhog was nearby, the handmaid of God sent to him, saying: “Come to us, holy father, and by your great holiness raise up my daughter.” Then the bishop sent one of his disciples with his staff, saying: “Place this staff upon the breast of the dead girl; I already trust in the mercy of my God and in the blessedness of the most holy Ita, that she will rise again.” And when the staff of the saint had been placed upon the breast of the dead girl, immediately she rose up alive and well. All who heard and saw such a miracle glorified God and his servant.

⁵⁸ A certain thief stole a crown (i.e., a sheep) from the flocks of Saint Moedhog and ate it. And when that thief wished to swear before Saint Moedhog that he had neither stolen nor eaten that animal, the ear of the sheep was seen from his lips. And all those standing around mocked him, glorifying Christ in his saint. And he, confounded, went away.

⁵⁹ On another day certain soldiers met Saint Moedhog, having a man in chains whom they wished to hand over to the king of the men of Leinster as a wrongdoer against the king. To them, moved by mercy, the man of God said: “Release to me this bound man for the love of Christ.” They said: “Surely we will not release him until he is handed over to the king.” And when afterward they were going through a forest, it seemed to them that a great crowd of their enemies was hastening upon them from ambush. Then they, fleeing here and there, left the bound man alone. When that man saw this, he immediately returned to Saint Moedhog. But when the king heard these things, he ordered that the man be free, magnifying the grace of God in Saint Moedhog.

⁶⁰ On a certain day, when the holy bishop Moedhog and the blessed abbot Munnu were in one place, the bishop stood up in a high step in a corner of the church. Then Saint Abbot Munnu, son of Tulchan, seeing him thus, said to him: “What is it that you see? Reveal it to me.” Then the blessed pontiff signed the eyes of the holy abbot. And he at once saw, together with the holy pontiff, the whole world from the rising of the sun to its setting, as if it were a single stadium. And giving thanks to God, they came down. And Abbot Munnu told the brothers what had happened.

⁶¹ On another day, when Saint Moedhog was making a journey, the blessed Colman, son of Fiachra, met him on the road. At that very hour the horse of Colman died. To him the holy bishop at once gave his own horse under Colman’s cart. And when they had gone on from there, another horse, dappled, sent by God, immediately came gently under the cart of Saint Moedhog. And when Colman had returned by the same road, his own horse rose alive to meet him. And he attributed this to the holiness of the most blessed bishop Moedhog.

⁶² On a certain day the holy old man Moedhog was planting fruit-bearing trees in an orchard. But the man who was bringing him seeds of apples brought along with the others barren trees, that is, sloe and thorn. When now the blessed man, planting all things together in holy faith, by the grace of God made the barren trees fruitful, with sweet fruits.

⁶³ At another time the king of Temoria gathered a great army from his territories against the men of Leinster. And the king of the Connacht men, and the king of the northern parts of Ireland, came with their armies to the king of Temoria. And those three kings with their leaders were a very great and innumerable multitude. And with one mind they agreed that they would devastate the province of the men of Leinster in vengeance for Cumascach, son of Áed, son of Ainmirech, king of Ireland. The men of Leinster had killed Cumascach, and he himself wished to take vengeance on them for his father Áed, whom Brandubh, son of Eathach, king of the men of Leinster, had killed in a great battle.

⁶⁴ Then the king of the men of Leinster came to his holy archbishop Moedhog, making complaint before him about this matter. To him the man of God said: “Many holy men serve God in your land; go you with a brave spirit to the battle, and we shall all be there with you.” And that same night Saint Moedhog stood with hands outstretched in prayer. On the next day, namely, the king of the men of Leinster, trusting in the help of God through his patron, the blessed Moedhog, joined battle against the immense multitude. And the northerners—twenty-four thousand of the bravest soldiers, besides a host of footmen—were put to flight. And a great slaughter was made among them.

⁶⁵ A certain man who was a paralytic was in Rome; he had been powerful, and through many places he sought healing and did not find it. To him certain holy men said: “There is a certain holy bishop, named Moedhog, on the island of Ireland; and we know by the gift of God that if you should come to him, he would grant you healing. And you will never have healing until you come to him.” And when that man came to Ireland, he found the man of God Moedhog dead in a little field. But that paralytic man, trusting in the holiness of the servant of God, approached and touched the body. And immediately before all he was healed from all his pains. Giving thanks to God and to his saint Moedhog, safe and strong he sailed from Ireland with his companions.

⁶⁶ There was a certain man sick for thirty years in the borders of the northern men of Leinster, named Finanus. On the feast of Saint Moedhog he saw in a vision a marvelous chariot descending from heaven to the city of Saint Moedhog, Ferns. In it there was a holy old man with a most beautiful face in clerical dress, and a most bright virgin, clothed in a mantle, with him. And they gave honor to one another, as a servant to a lord. That man asked them who they were. The cleric answered him: “This is the most blessed Brigid, lady of Ireland. I, however, am the servant of Christ, Moedhog. My feast is now celebrated tomorrow, and the feast of this most blessed virgin is observed the day after tomorrow. And for this reason we have come, that we may bless our places and those who by their gifts and offerings honor the day of our departure. But you, be joyful and ready; for on the third day you will pass to heaven.” Rising from his ecstasy, that man mounted the chariot and went out to the city of the blessed virgin Brigid, named Kildare, placed in the plain of the Liffey, in the land of the men of Leinster, telling all his vision. And, as it had been foretold to him, on the third day, happily after the victory over his illness, he passed to heaven.

⁶⁷ When the most blessed Moling held the episcopal chair of Saint Moedhog, by some chance he went up and lay on the bed of the blessed man, that is, he mounted it, where no one before him had dared to enter. To him a canon of that church said: “Up to this day, after the death of the most blessed Moedhog, our patron, no one has gone up onto this bed because of his exceeding holiness, who for a short time there, watching in spirit with God, after the weariness of the body used to rest.”

⁶⁸ Saint Bishop Moling said to him: “We who sit in his chair can well sleep here.” And when he had said this, immediately a severe pain seized him. And when he was now greatly tormented, pouring out prayer, he sought the help of God. But when the pain still did not cease to press upon him, again signing himself with the sign of the holy cross, he began frequently to invoke Saint Moedhog for his help. And when he had done this, immediately the heat of the pain wonderfully departed from him. And rising from there, Saint Moling, safe and sound, said: “No one in this time is worthy to sleep on the little bed of our holy father Moedhog.”

⁶⁹ In this it appears how great a grace Saint Moedhog has before God in heaven, on whose little bed no one dares to sleep on earth.

⁷⁰ Many other signs Saint Moedhog, while living in the body, and after his death, by the grace of God worked through him; and they still do not cease to be shown at his relics. He himself, now Archbishop Moedhog, having founded many churches and having accomplished very great miracles, on the second day before the Kalends of February, passed by a most blessed death to Christ.

⁷¹ But our saint and patron Moedhog feasts among the choirs of angels and apostles and all the saints in heaven, in joy without sorrow, in a kingdom without end, in a life without death, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom is honor and glory with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen. [cf. Romans 11:36; Ephesians 3:21; Jude 1:25]

⁷² Here ends the Life of Saint Édan, bishop and confessor.