¹ The Life of Blessed Fursey, Confessor, on the 16th Day Before the Kalends of February (January 17th).

² There was a man of venerable life named Fursey, noble indeed by birth, but even more noble in faith. Though he was esteemed among his people for his worldly dignity, he was all the more distinguished everywhere by the grace of divine gifts. Signs of sacred miracles shone forth even in his infancy, foretelling his holiness. By the providence of divine grace, he was entrusted to the care of eminent priests and was educated in sacred literature and the disciplines of monastic life.

³ As he grew older, the grace of divine providence increased in him daily, fostering the virtues of a righteous life. He was remarkable in appearance, chaste in body, devout in mind, gracious in speech, and pleasing in presence. He was endowed with wisdom, renowned for his temperance, steadfast in inner strength, unwavering in the judgment of justice, constant in patience, meek in humility, and fervent in charity. So greatly did wisdom adorn in him the beauty of all virtues that, as the Apostle says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt”. Thus, filled with the grace of good works, he left his homeland and his family. This man, having dedicated several years to the study of Sacred Scripture, became well-versed in it. Thus prepared, he established a monastery in a certain place, where devout men gathered from all directions. Out of pious concern, he also took care to call some of his own relatives to join him.

⁴ For this reason, as he hurried to visit his homeland and his family, he spread the seeds of the sacred word among them with spiritual teachings. One day, however, he was struck by an illness that afflicted his body. Heeding the advice of his friends, he then returned to his father’s house, leaning on another’s hand for support as he made his way. Not far from the house, he began his evening psalmody, immersed in prayer, when suddenly he was enveloped in darkness and halted. His weakened body could no longer move his feet, and as if already dead, he was carried to a nearby dwelling.

⁵ As he found himself surrounded by thick darkness, he saw four hands stretched out above him. These hands, holding him by the arms, lifted him up, soaring with snow-white feathers. The hands were beneath the feathers, supporting him on both sides, and in the midst of the gloom, he perceived what seemed to be angelic figures. Ascending even higher, he beheld the radiant faces of the holy angels, shining with a marvelous brilliance. From their very presence, he perceived an extraordinary brightness of light, and he could see nothing corporeal except the splendor of that illumination. He also saw a third angel, armed with a brilliant white shield and an exceedingly radiant sword, leading the way before him. These three heavenly beings, gleaming with the same light, filled his soul with an indescribable sweetness through the sound of their wings, the harmony of their singing, and the beauty of their appearance. As they sang, one began with the verse: “They shall go from strength to strength; the God of gods shall be seen in Zion”. In their song, there was both exaltation and a descent to a lower tone. He also heard another chant, as if unknown to him, sung by many thousands of angels, from which he could scarcely understand a few words: “They went out to meet Christ.” As far as he could comprehend, the faces of all the angels appeared alike, though the brilliance of the light prevented him from distinctly perceiving their bodily forms.

⁶ Then, one of the heavenly hosts, commanded by the armed and leading angel, was ordered to bring the venerable man back to his body and to bear his concern alongside him. Immediately, the holy angels, obedient to the command, retraced the path by which they had come. At that moment, the holy man, realizing that he had been separated from his body, asked his holy companions where they were taking him. The holy angel standing on his right replied, “You must receive your own body again until you have fulfilled the duty that is required of you.” Then the holy man, sorrowful at the thought of being separated from the angelic company, declared that he did not wish to part from them. But the good angel of the Lord answered, “When you have completed the duty foretold, we will return to receive you.” And they sang half of the verse: “The God of gods shall be seen in Zion”. Then, so great was the sweetness of this chant that the holy man could not comprehend how his soul reentered his body, for he was filled with joy.

⁷ Then, at the crowing of the roosters, his face was suffused with a rosy hue, and in an instant, as the angelic songs ceased, he heard the voices of those who marveled and mourned. Gradually, as they moved the garments placed over him, they uncovered his face. Then the man of God said to those around him, “Why do you stand astonished and utter restless cries?” They replied, recounting to him the entire course of events—how he had passed away in the evening hour and how they had kept his lifeless body in their midst until the crowing of the roosters. But he, sitting up and pondering in his heart the brilliance and sweetness of the angelic presence, reflected on the duty about which he had been admonished. He was also sorrowful that he had no wise man there to whom he could clearly explain the things he had seen, lest the angels, upon their return, should find him unprepared. He then asked for and received the Communion of the sacred Body and Blood, and he lived in weakness that day and the next.

⁸ In the middle of the night on Tuesday, as his parents, relatives, and many neighbors visited the illustrious man, darkness fell, and his feet, growing cold, stiffened. With his hands extended in prayer, he joyfully received death. For he remembered the joy of the vision he had previously seen through these same signs. Now, as he sank back onto his bed as if overcome by sleep, he heard the dreadful voices of a great multitude shouting and compelling him to depart. But when he opened his eyes, he saw no one except the three holy angels he had seen before—two standing on either side of him and the third, armed, positioned at his head. And, in a wondrous manner, though deprived of human sight and voices, he beheld the holy angels and heard their songs with all sweetness and delight. Then the angel standing at his right, comforting him, said, “Do not fear; you have a defender.”

⁹ As the angels lifted him up, he saw nothing of the roof or house but heard the howls and cries of demons. Passing through their midst, he heard one of them say, “Let us go ahead and prepare for battle before his face.” Then he saw a black cloud swirling on his left side and, before him, a battle line arrayed for war. The bodies of the demons, insofar as his soul could perceive them, were full of deformity and blackness. Their necks were stretched out, their emaciated forms burned with gauntness, and they were filled with every kind of horror. Their heads swelled like bronze cauldrons. Yet, when they flew or fought, he could discern no fixed bodily shape—only a terrible, shadowy, and flying form. But what prudent reader would not understand that such visions are also fashioned by unclean spirits to terrify the soul that beholds them? Their faces he could never see, due to the horror of the darkness, just as he could not fully behold the faces of the holy angels because of their overwhelming brightness.

¹⁰ The warring demons hurled flaming arrows against them, but every wicked missile was extinguished by the angelic shield. The adversaries fell before the sight of the fighting angel, who, as if reasoning with them, said: “Do not delay our journey, for this man is not a participant in your destruction.” But the adversary objected and, blaspheming, declared that it was unjust for a man who consents to sinners to be exempt from punishment, since it is written: “Not only those who do such things, but also those who approve of those who do them, are worthy of death”. As the angel fought, the holy man believed that the clamor of battle and the cries of the demons resounded throughout the whole earth. And when Satan, having been defeated, raised his venomous head like a crushed serpent, he said: “He has often spoken idle words, and therefore he should not enjoy a blessed life unscathed.” The holy angel replied: “Unless you bring forth his principal crimes, he will not perish for minor faults.” The ancient accuser then said: “If you do not forgive men their sins, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your sins”. The holy angel responded: “Whom has he sought vengeance upon, or to whom has he done injury?” The devil answered: “It is not written, ‘If you do not take vengeance,’ but rather, ‘If you do not forgive from your hearts’”. The holy angel, defending him, said: “He had forgiveness in his heart, but he refrained from expressing it due to human custom.” The devil retorted: “Just as he adopted wrongdoing by custom, so will he receive vengeance from the supreme Judge.” The holy angel declared: “Let us be judged before the Lord.” Then, the defeated enemy renewed his serpent’s venom, saying: “If God is just, this man will not enter the kingdom of heaven. For it is written: ‘Unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven’”. This command he has not fulfilled. The angel of the Lord replied: “Let us be judged before the Lord.” As the holy angel fought, the adversaries were crushed.

¹¹ Then the holy angel who stood at his right said, “Look upon the world.” He looked in every direction and saw beneath him, at the lowest depths, a dark valley. And in the air above it, he saw four fires, each separated from the others by some distance. The holy angel then asked, “Do you know what these four fires are?” The man of God answered that he did not know. The holy angel replied, “These are the four fires that are kindled after all sins have been washed away in baptism through confession and the renunciation of the devil, his works, and his deceptions. The first is the fire of falsehood, for those who, after having promised in baptism to renounce Satan and all his deceptions, fail to keep their word. The second is the fire of greed, for those who prefer worldly riches over the love of heavenly things. The third is the fire of discord, for those who do not hesitate to offend their neighbors, even over trivial matters. The fourth is the fire of impiety, for those who consider it nothing to defraud and rob the weak. As the fires grew, they merged into one immense blaze, drawing ever closer. Fearing the threatening fire, the man of God said to the holy angel speaking with him, ‘The fire is approaching me!’ The angel answered, ‘What you have not kindled will not burn you. Though this fire is indeed great and terrifying, it examines each person according to the merit of their deeds, and as one’s greed increases, so shall they burn in this fire. For just as the body is consumed through illicit pleasure, so too shall the soul burn in due punishment.’ Then he saw the holy angel going before him, dividing the fire into two walls on either side. And two holy angels stood at his sides, shielding him from the flames.”

¹² He also saw four unclean demons flying through the fire, waging a terrible battle in the midst of the flames. And one of them said, “The servant who knows his master’s will and does not do what is worthy shall be beaten with many blows”. The holy angel replied, “But what has this man failed to fulfill regarding his Lord’s will?” Satan answered, “It is written: ‘The Most High rejects the gifts of the wicked’, and this man has received the gifts of the wicked.” The holy angel responded, “But he believed that each of them had repented.” The devil said, “First, he should have tested the perseverance of their repentance, and only then received their offering. For ‘gifts blind the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous’”. The holy angel replied, “Let us be judged before the Lord.” The deceitful devil, having fallen, burst into blasphemies against the Creator, saying: “Until now, we believed that God was truthful.” The holy angel replied: “And what else could He be?” The brazen demon said: “Because He promised that every sin not purged on earth would be avenged in heaven, as the prophet Isaiah proclaims: ‘If you are willing and obey me, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you refuse and provoke me to anger, the sword will devour you’. But this man did not atone for his sins on earth, nor did he receive punishment here. Where, then, is the justice of God?” The holy angel rebuked them, saying: “Do not blaspheme when you do not understand the hidden judgments of God.” The devil responded: “And what is hidden here?” The holy angel said: “As long as repentance is possible, divine mercy accompanies a person.” Satan replied: “But there is no place for repentance here.” The angel said: “You do not comprehend the depths of God’s mysteries—and perhaps even here, there is still hope.” The devil responded: “Then let us leave, for there is no basis for judgment here.” One of his followers said: “There still remains for him that narrow gate, through which only a few enter, and there we may yet overcome him. And it is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.” The holy angel replied: “This man has done good to his neighbors.” The adversary responded: “It is not enough to do good works unless he has also loved his neighbors as himself.” The holy angel replied: “The fruit of love is to do good, for God will render to each according to his deeds.” The wicked demon said: “But because he did not fulfill the word of God through love, he must be condemned.” As the vile horde fought, the holy angels emerged victorious. The devil, having been defeated six times, once again burst into blasphemy, saying: “If God is not unjust, and if He despises lies and the transgression of His word, then this man will not go unpunished. For he promised to renounce the world, yet, on the contrary, he loved the world—against the command of the Apostle, who says: ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world’, and so on. Therefore, neither the word of his own vow nor the Apostle’s decree restrained this man.” The holy angel replied: “He did not love the things of the world for himself alone, but rather to distribute them to all who were in need.” The most wicked devil said: “No matter how he loved them, it was still against the divine command and against the vow of Christianity made in baptism.” But as the adversaries were once again defeated and the angels triumphed, the devil turned to cunning arguments, saying: “It is written: ‘If you do not warn the wicked of his wickedness, I will require his blood at your hand’. Yet this man did not proclaim to sinners the repentance they deserved.” The holy angel replied: “Concerning this time, it is written: ‘The prudent man will keep silent in that time, for it is an evil time’. For when listeners despise the word, even the teacher’s tongue is hindered from speaking, since God sees that the preaching, once heard, is disregarded.” The ancient accuser responded: “Even so, he should have proclaimed it to the very end, neither consenting nor remaining silent.”

¹³ In every struggle against the demons, the battle was exceedingly intense until, by the judgment of the Lord, the holy angels triumphed. The adversaries were crushed and defeated, and the holy man was surrounded by an immense radiance. As the choirs of holy angels sang in harmony, he reflected within himself that no labor should seem too difficult, nor any length of time too long, when it is through these that the glory of eternity is attained, bringing both joy and sweetness together. Then, looking upward, he saw vast hosts of angels shining with extraordinary brilliance, along with all the saints who had gone before. They flew toward him like birds, surrounding him with immense radiance, casting away all fear of fire and terror of demons. He also beheld two venerable men from the region where the man of God, Fursa, was known. One was named Beoan, and the other Meldan. The memory of these bishops has been honored by all up to our own time. As they drew nearer to him, they began to speak to him in a familiar manner, revealing their names to him.

¹⁴ Then he gazed upon the great serenity of heaven and saw two angels returning to the joy of its nearness, entering as if through an ethereal gate. As they passed through, a radiance of marvelous magnitude burst forth around them. He then heard the voices of multitudes of angels singing in four choirs, proclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts”. At that moment, his soul, filled with the sweetness of the heavenly melody and the ineffable sound of joy, reached beyond the sky in its hearing. Hosts of angels surrounded him, standing at his right side. Then, the holy angel standing beside him said: “Do you know where this joy and exultation take place?” When he responded that he did not know, the holy angel replied: “In the heavenly assembly, from which we also come.” Then his mind, forgetting all labor and tribulation, was filled with immense joy, for he heard the heavenly hymns resounding even more clearly and harmoniously. He imagined they were being sung for him alone, and in amazement, he exclaimed: “It is a great joy to hear these songs!” To this, the angel of the Lord replied: “We are often deprived of hearing this because of our ministry of caring for humanity. What we strive to announce, demons seek to undo by corrupting human hearts.” Once again, as the blessed man listened intently to the celestial hymns, the angel of the Lord spoke to him, saying: “In this heavenly kingdom, no sorrow ever exists—except for the loss of human souls.”

¹⁵ Then he saw the aforementioned priests proceeding from the hidden places of heaven with great brilliance, shining with angelic radiance as they approached him. They commanded him to return to the world. But he remained silent, stunned by the sorrow of this message. In an instant, he was brought back, led by the holy angels. The venerable men asked for time to speak with him and said: “Why are you afraid? It is only a day’s journey in which you will labor. Therefore, preach to all and proclaim that judgment is near.” When the blessed Fursa inquired about the end of the world, they replied that the end of creation was not yet, though it was near. However, humanity would be afflicted by plagues of famine and mortality. This was also signified by a sign in the sun, which hid its rays in the past year and continuously shone like the moon. There are two kinds of famine. One is in the abundance of wisdom and understanding of the word of the Lord, yet failing to fulfill it. The other is in the stubbornness of mind amid the abundance of riches. Just as a miser is never satisfied with money, because the bitterness of greed does not allow him to taste the sweetness of good precepts while he craves unlawful gains, so too do others fail to perceive the sweetness of the Lord’s word, as their souls are occupied and held fast by malice and bitterness. As for mortality, it has been briefly delayed because of God’s patience. But whoever has seen these signs or disregards the warnings of Holy Scripture—if he does not repent, death is near for him.

¹⁶ Although the wrath of the divine Judge already hangs over those who despise His warnings, His anger burns most fiercely against the teachers of the Church and its rulers. For four things cause the ruin of faithful souls: the alluring vices of this world, the temptations of the warring devil, the negligence of teachers, and the wicked examples of corrupt rulers. Let the teachers, therefore, consider the books of the prophets, understand them, and recognize what kind of time this is. There are men of half-hearted works—those who, through the mercy of Almighty God, have received the grace of generosity, yet are unstable due to the incontinence of the flesh. Others are chaste in body but are consumed by the fires of avarice. Some possess the grace of gentleness, yet are weak-spirited due to resentment in their hearts. Others quickly forgive injuries done to them but, failing to guard their hearts with caution, easily provoke quarrels by their sudden anger. Some take pride in what God has freely granted them, as though they had acquired it through their own labor. Others have conquered the vices that once assailed them by keeping watch over their hearts, yet they neglect the diligence of good works necessary to maintain virtue.

¹⁷ There are also some who are assailed by spiritual vices, and while neglecting these, they afflict their bodies with abstinence. For example, they consider nocturnal illusions or trivial sins to be of great consequence, yet they regard pride—which cast the angels down from heaven—as nothing. They do not abhor avarice, which drove the first man out of the delight of paradise, nor envy, through which the fratricide Cain slew his brother Abel. They do not detest false testimony, by which the Savior was condemned, nor blasphemy, nor do they consider what kind and how great the punishments are that have been laid upon those who commit such things. Many abstain from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving, yet they consume these abominable things as though they were lawful—namely, pride, avarice, envy, false testimony, and blasphemy—tearing others down as if they were devouring the flesh of their neighbor along with his blood. They judge the lighter sins more severely in God’s judgment, while considering the grave ones to be trivial.

¹⁸ Thus, every teacher must apply the appropriate remedy to each vice. For whoever considers gluttony and fornication to be lesser sins is to be judged more as an enemy of souls than as a teacher. The cure for pride is public rebuke and frequent humiliation in dust and ashes. The remedy for greed is the practice of generosity. Envy, in turn, is healed through goodwill and kindness. Whoever has given false testimony must humbly confess to the person against whom they spoke falsely and seek their forgiveness. The evil of blasphemy is cured in a similar way—through humility in submission, restraint of the tongue from all useless speech, and perseverance in prayer. For opposing vices are healed by opposing virtues; nor is it enough to afflict the body if the soul is not healed of malice and wickedness. Therefore, the leaders and teachers of the Church of Christ must urge the faithful to lament their sins in repentance and strengthen them with the nourishment of spiritual doctrine and the participation in the sacred Body and Blood. Those who refuse should be excommunicated, lest the guilt of condemnation fall upon them for their negligence, and lest they plant an elm instead of a vine or an alder instead of an olive—preferring earthly and fruitless labor over the love of God, which is known to be both the root and summit of all good works.

¹⁹ The Lord is angered against teachers because, in their negligence of the divine books, they devote themselves with all their love to the cares of this world. For if those who neglect the words of the prophets had understood them, not even one who had risen from the dead could have instilled greater fear and compunction in those who heard him. But there is no one to restrain or to correct; for both king and priest, each one, does what seems right in his own eyes, as it is written. Indeed, the cause and root of all evils is pride. The people rise up against their ruler, the clergy against the priest, monks against the abbot, children against their parents, the young against their elders—each harboring different opinions in arrogance. And just as each of them, having failed to learn obedience in humility under their appointed superior, does not submit with reverence to their own prelate, so by the just judgment of God, no one submits humbly to them in turn. Thus, what one person unjustly suffered at the hands of another’s pride, he himself will, by the justice of the strict Judge, painfully endure from another. The evil of pride, which once corrupted and cast down the exalted court of angels, continues to destroy this present world, overturning it in disorder.

²⁰ The holy priest Beanus, addressing the blessed Fursa, who was diligently exhorting him, said: “Preserve your life as a creature of God by using it rightly, rejecting all that is evil through denial. Be like a faithful steward, claiming nothing for yourself beyond food and clothing. In gaining wealth, be temperate; in losing it, I urge you, be just as willing as when you receive it. For the one who accepts loss as readily as a gift will be able to open the mouths of the mute, begging from no one and refusing no one. It is hateful to God to covet what belongs to another while clinging to one’s own. It is fitting for the poor and the imprisoned to ask, but those who have should distribute to those in need. Alms should be given to the poor without being asked. Good works should be done for all people, especially for those of the household of faith. Gifts from the wicked should be distributed among the poor and all who lack comfort. Therefore, let there be no discord in the Church of God; rather, those who lead the people should adhere to the apostolic order and the teaching of the holy Church. And those who dwell in monasteries should eat their bread while working in silence. There are some who excuse themselves from the duty of holy teaching and, due to worldly concerns, rush into public affairs. By keeping the good they do hidden, they conceal the light of good example from their neighbors. Yet, by engaging in worldly disputes and conflicts openly, they publicly pour the poison of deadly greed into the hearts of others. Therefore, do not decide to remain always withdrawn nor always in public. If you wish to live in seclusion, guard your heart with all vigilance by observing all divine commandments. And when you go out in public, let it be for the salvation of souls, not out of a desire for the riches of this world. Moreover, if someone gives you a gift in the morning but regrets it by evening, return it to them as cheerfully as you first received it. Take no anxious care over an inheritance, nor concern yourself with the affairs of this world with an overly focused heart. Rather, in all adversity and opposition, repay good for evil with a pure heart, and pray to God for your enemies. For whoever preserves the gentleness of a peaceful heart unharmed despite opposition and resistance will tame the fierceness of all wild beasts and animals into meekness. No sacrifice of good works is as acceptable and pleasing to God as the meekness of a most patient heart, which, with gentleness, endures all attacks. Through this, all adversity and loss are received with joy, as if they were gains and prosperity, in the hope of future reward, with the Lord’s help. For there are two proven enemies of the human soul: the devil and the world. Each of them, in turn, fosters love for the other, so that when the soul succumbs to the allurements of this world, it is overcome and possessed by its adversary. Go, therefore, and proclaim the word of God to the rulers of this land of Ireland, so that, abandoning iniquity, they may reach the salvation of their souls through repentance. Then, announce the same message to the most eminent priests of the holy Church: that Almighty God is zealous. For God is a jealous God toward those who love the world more than Him, who, neglecting the good of souls, devote themselves to the riches of this world, who preach repentance too late, only at the hour of death, and who, accepting gifts from such people, bring upon themselves the fire of their torment.”

²¹ After these words from Saints Beoan and Meldan, that heavenly company of angels, along with the blessed Beoan and Meldan, was received into heaven. However, as the blessed Fursey was about to return to earth with only three angels, a great fire approached. But the angel of the Lord, just as before, divided the fire in the middle and parted it. Then the demons seized a man from the midst of the flames and hurled him onto the shoulder of the blessed Fursey, pressing his jaw against Fursey’s own jaw, burning both his shoulder and his jaw. The holy Fursey recognized the man as the one to whom he had given his own garment when he was dying. Then that same man, seized by the holy angel, was cast back into the fire from which he had come, while the angel who was flying to the left stood between the blessed man and the fire. Then the ancient devil, repeating his deceptions, said: “Do not reject this man as if he were our companion and not yours, for you accepted him before. Just as you received his goods, so you ought also to share in his punishment.”

²² The angel of the Lord replied: “He did not receive it out of greed, but for the sake of saving his soul.” Then the fire ceased. The angel of the Lord then said: “What you have burned has burned in you. For if you had not received the garments of this man who died in his sins, neither would his punishment have burned in your body. Therefore, preach to all that repentance must be done and received from a priest until the final hour. However, no part of a sinner’s wealth should be accepted, nor should his body be buried in a sacred place. While he is alive, let him be admonished even more sternly, so that the bitterness of contrition may touch his heart; for if he is touched by it, he may one day be purified. Renouncing all his former iniquities, let him abundantly distribute alms to the poor. Nothing from his possessions should be accepted by the priest who preaches to him, but rather, his goods should be distributed to the poor near his grave, lest anyone become a participant in his iniquity.”

²³ With these and other words of holy exhortation, the man of God was instructed and stood upon the roof of the church among four holy angels. Looking at his own body, he could not see the walls of the house, the mourning crowd, or even the garments that covered his body. Then he was commanded by the angel to recognize and re-enter his body. But he, recoiling in horror as if from an unknown corpse, responded that he did not wish to approach it. The holy angel said to him: “Do not be afraid to receive this body, for you will possess it without any resistance from weakness or the vices that once struggled against you, though it remains frail. In this trial, you have overcome unlawful desires, so they will no longer have power over you.” Then he saw his body open at the chest. The angel said to him: “When you return to life, let your body be washed with water from the spring, and you will feel no pain except that of the two burns. Therefore, let every step you take be in righteousness until the end, and in this way, we will receive you with joy as one who has done good works.” Rising as if from the deep rest of death, the holy man awoke and, reflecting on his extraordinary journey, marveled at his passage. He proclaimed in order all that he had seen, including the great reward awaiting those who reach the blessed abodes. When he was washed with living water, he felt the burning between his shoulder blades, and on his face appeared the mark of what he had taken from the wicked man. In a wondrous manner, what his soul alone had endured was now manifested in his flesh.

²⁴ So he went forth from there and preached the word of God throughout all of Ireland, proclaiming to all the people of the Scots what he had heard and seen. He possessed an incomparable grace: he sought nothing earthly from anyone but gave himself to all who asked. He was equal to both superiors and subordinates, feared by nobles and kings, yet an example for the humble and those who despised the world. He was beloved by all the good, terrifying to the wicked and sinners, and renowned for divine powers. For he cast out demons from possessed bodies and brought comfort to the poor.

²⁵ While he traveled throughout the island of Ireland for the span of a year, dedicating himself to the study of doctrine, the anniversary approached of the day when he had been taken up from the body in a vision. He always remembered that a journey of one day had been granted to him. As he was accompanied by many wise and devout men, that very night he was struck by an illness of the body, though life still trembled faintly in his breast. He saw the angel of the Lord announcing to him what was fitting for the work of preaching, explaining the journey of one day, and declaring that he was to complete twelve years in the work of his preaching—which indeed came to pass.

²⁶ After completing ten years, proclaiming the word of God to all without distinction, he could no longer endure the overwhelming crowds that pressed upon him. He also perceived that some, driven by envy, had turned against him. Therefore, leaving behind all that he seemed to possess, he set out with a few brothers to a small island in the sea. Not long after, he departed from the island of Ireland, seeking foreign shores. Traveling through Britain, he crossed into Saxony, where he was honorably received by King Sigebert. There, he softened the hearts of the barbarians with the word of the Lord.

²⁷ When the twelve years foretold by the angel had passed, the saint fell ill with a certain infirmity and was granted a vision of angels. There, he was also urged to persist in preaching, yet he received no revelation of the end of his life, knowing in silence the appointed day through the command of the Gospel: “Watch and pray, for you do not know the day nor the hour”. Understanding this more fully, the man of God hastened to build the monastery that had been granted to him by the aforementioned king. This monastery was called Cnocberesbruch and was constructed within a certain fortress, pleasantly situated near woods and the sea. King Anna of that nation, who was very devout, along with other noblemen, adorned the monastery with buildings and gifts.

²⁸ After accomplishing these deeds, the holy man, desiring to withdraw himself from all worldly concerns and even from the governance of the monastery, consulted with the wise brethren. For he had with him most venerable and spiritual men, who, following the example of so great a man, had advanced in humility and charity through their time of testing in the monastery and through various labors. Among them were also his own brothers: namely, the exceedingly holy Foylan, to whom, being a priest, he entrusted the care of the monastery and of souls, together with the holy priests Galbon and Tibullus. His other brother, Ultan, was a hermit, having been chosen for the eremitic life many years earlier after long probation in the monastery. Thus, having abandoned all cares and stripped himself of worldly possessions, he departed alone to join his brother Ultan, who was already devoted to the contemplative life. There, dedicating himself to daily labor and continual prayer, he remained for an entire year.

²⁹ Then, as certain circumstances arose, he was summoned—indeed, even compelled—by the king and the people to give counsel, as he was regarded as a man of superior wisdom. Thus, he abandoned the solitude of the hermitage he had so greatly desired. With a watchful mind, he considered everything and, seeing that the province was in turmoil due to the incursions of the pagans, and that the monastic order could not long endure there, he entrusted the governance of the monastery to its appointed leaders and set sail for the coasts of Gaul. There, he was honorably received by King Louis of the Franks and the noble Erchanald. He then built a monastery, which is now called Latiniacum. Not long afterward, after arranging the affairs of the brethren, he set out on a journey with the king and the nobleman, but along the way, he fell gravely ill. As he lay there for a long time, he was frequently visited by noblemen and by the most revered king himself, who eagerly received from his lips words of wisdom and the nourishment of eternal life. Then, leaving behind the present world, he departed for the eternal kingdom on the 16th of January, in a place called Maceria.

³⁰ His body, however, was retained by the illustrious nobleman Erchanald for the sake of the church, which he diligently built in the village called Péronne. Since the church’s dedication had been planned for the twenty-seventh day, in the meantime, the saint’s body was kept with the utmost care in a certain place in the church’s portico. After all those days had passed, it was found completely intact, as if his soul had just that very hour departed from this life. Reverently, according to custom, his body was placed near the altar, where it remained for nearly four years. Then, after a small chapel was built on the eastern side of the altar, his body—still uncorrupted and whole even after so many years—was transferred there by the most reverent bishops Eligius and Autbert, along with the abbots Follan and Emo, and other holy men. This transfer took place without any sign of decay. In that place, too, his merits became manifest to those who sought his intercession with true faith, through the divine power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

³¹ Here ends the first book.