¹ Here begins the Life of Saint Ciarán, bishop and confessor.

² The most blessed bishop Ciarán, first-born among the saints of Ireland, was from the western region of the people of Leinster, which is called Osraige. At the time when he was born, all the Irish were pagans. His father was called Lugneus, who was among the noblest of the people of Osraige; his mother, however, was called Liadán, who came from the southern region of the Munstermen, that is, from the people called Corcu Loígde. His mother, before she conceived him, saw in a dream a star fall into her mouth. When she told this to the wise men, they said to her: “You will bear a son who will be a venerable man, whose fame and virtue will be throughout all Ireland until the end of the world”. Then the chosen one of God, Ciarán, was conceived, and he was born and brought up in the region of Corcu Loígde, namely on the island of Cléire. For truly God chose him from his mother’s womb; for when the name of Christ was then unheard of in Ireland, the rigor of Christian devotion immediately began to arise in him. His parents already marveled, and all who saw him, at the sobriety of his mind, the kindness of his nature, the sweetness of his speech, his timely fasts, his perfect counsels, and the other qualities that belong to holy men.

³ Then indeed, on that same island of Cléire, the beginning of the miracles of Saint Ciarán took place in this divinely ordered way. When he was still a boy there, a kite, swooping down from the air, seized a certain small bird that was sitting upon her nest, before Saint Ciarán’s eyes, and carried her up into the air in its talons. When the blessed boy saw this, he was deeply grieved by her distress, and, praying for the one that had been snatched away, immediately the predator returned with its prey and set the half-alive, wounded bird before him. The poor creature was at once healed by the grace of God in the sight of the most merciful boy, according to the desire of his heart; and, restored and unharmed, she joyfully settled again upon her nest before the saint.

⁴ For thirty years Saint Ciarán lived in Ireland in holiness and integrity of body and soul without baptism; for the Irish were pagans at that time, as we have said above. Yet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, God’s holy servant Ciarán lived a devout and perfect life in conduct. And hearing that the Christian religion flourished in the city of Rome, he left Ireland and went to Rome. When he arrived there, he was baptized and instructed in the Catholic faith; and there he remained for twenty years, reading the divine Scriptures, gathering their books, and diligently learning ecclesiastical rules. When the Roman people saw the wisdom and prudence, the devotion and faith of the man of God Ciarán, he was ordained bishop there, and afterwards was sent back to his native land of Ireland. And on the way in Italy he met Saint Patrick, archbishop of all Ireland; and when they saw one another, the saints of God rejoiced greatly.

⁵ At that time Saint Patrick was not yet a bishop, but afterwards he was ordained archbishop by Pope Celestine and sent to preach in Ireland. To him, although other saints had been in Ireland before him, God reserved the authority of teaching and the whole archbishopric of Ireland; for through no one before Patrick did the kings or leaders of Ireland believe in God. And Patrick said to Ciarán: “Go to Ireland before me, and go to a spring in the middle of Ireland, on the border of the southern and northern Irish, which is called Fuaran, and establish a monastery there; for there your honor and your resurrection shall be.” Saint Ciarán said to him: “The place where that spring is located is unknown to me.” Saint Patrick answered him: “Dear brother, you will go in safety, and the Lord will be with you; and take this bell as a companion on your journey, which will remain silent until you reach the aforesaid spring. And when you arrive there, your bell will give a clear voice and will sound sweetly. And after thirty years I will come to you in that place.”

⁶ And after the servants of God had kissed and blessed one another, Saint Ciarán set out on his journey to Ireland. Blessed Patrick, however, remained in Italy. From that day the bell of Saint Ciarán was silent and without any sound, until he came to the spring of Fuaran, just as Saint Patrick had foretold.

⁷ When Saint Ciarán came to Ireland, God directed him to the spring of Fuaran, and there at once the bell of the man of God cried out clearly with an open voice. That bell is called the Bell of Ciarán, and it is held in great honor in the city and throughout the whole parish of Saint Ciarán. For it is carried through the regions for the solemn oaths of princes, for the defense of the poor, and for the collection of the dues of the monastery of Saint Ciarán. That bell, moreover, was made by Bishop Germanus, the teacher of Saint Patrick. The spring itself, as has been said above, lies on the boundary of two parts of Ireland, yet it is in the southern region, in the land of Munster, namely in the people called Éile. And there the blessed bishop Ciarán began to live like a hermit, for the wilderness around was broad and thick with forests. From humble materials he began his little cell, and from that the monastery. Afterwards, by God’s gift and through the grace of Saint Ciarán, a settlement grew up. All these are called by one name, that is, Saigir.

⁸ When Saint Ciarán had arrived there, he first sat beneath a certain tree, under whose shade there was a very fierce wild boar. When the boar first saw the man, it fled in terror, and then, made gentle again by God, it returned like a servant to the man of God; and that boar was the first disciple, as it were a monk, of Saint Ciarán in that place. For the boar at once, before the eyes of the man of God, cut branches and grass with its teeth, strongly, to provide material for building the cell. For no human being was yet there with the saint, since he had escaped alone from his disciples into that wilderness. Then other animals came to Saint Ciarán from the lairs of the desert, namely a fox, a badger, a wolf, and a deer; and they remained with him in great gentleness. For they obeyed the commands of the holy man in all things like monks.

⁹ On another day, however, the fox, who was more cunning and deceitful than the other animals, stole the figs of its abbot, that is, Saint Ciarán, and abandoning its purpose, carried them to its former dwelling in the wilderness, intending to eat them there. When Saint Ciarán the holy father learned of this, he sent another monk or disciple, namely the badger, after the fox into the wilderness, to bring the brother back to his place. The badger, skilled in the woods, immediately obeyed the word of his elder, went straight on his way, and reached the cave of his brother the fox. Finding him about to eat the figs of his lord, he cut off its two ears and its tail, plucked out its hair, and forced it to come with him to their monastery, so that it might do penance there for its theft. And the fox, compelled by necessity, together with the badger, came with the figs unharmed to Saint Ciarán at his cell at the ninth hour. And the holy man said to the fox: “Why have you done this evil, brother, which it is not fitting for monks to do? See, our water is sweet and shared by all, and food likewise is divided in common among everyone. And if by nature you had wished to eat meat, God Almighty would have made it for you for our sake even from the bark of trees.” Then the fox, asking for forgiveness, did penance by fasting, and did not eat until it was commanded by the holy man. Afterwards it remained on familiar terms with the others.

¹⁰ Afterwards his disciples and many others from every side gathered to Saint Ciarán in that same place, and there a renowned monastery was begun. The aforementioned animals, however, remained there as tame companions during his lifetime, for the holy elder gladly looked upon them. Meanwhile the Christian faith was growing in Ireland, because three other holy bishops had preached in it before the arrival of Patrick: namely, Bishop Ailbe, here and there in various places; likewise Saint Ibar, bishop; and the most blessed Bishop Declán in his own people, which is called the Déisi. Saint Ciarán himself converted many in the surrounding regions, and very many of his own people, the Osraige, to the faith. Then the glorious archbishop Patrick, sent by Pope Celestine, came to Ireland, and by God’s grace converted kings, leaders, princes, and peoples to Christ. And all Ireland was filled with the faith and the baptism of Christ.

¹¹ The mother of Saint Ciarán came to him, and through her son she became a faithful Christian and a holy servant of God. Saint Ciarán built a cell for his holy mother Liadán in a nearby place apart, and gathered holy virgins there to live with her. Among them was a very beautiful virgin named Bruineach, the daughter of a certain prince of Munster. The holy mother of the man of God loved her greatly, because she had been her foster-child and was upright in conduct. Now the ruler of the region of Uí Fhiachach, named Dimma, hearing of the beauty of that virgin, came with his warriors and violently seized her from her cell. She remained with him in his fortress for many days, living with him as a wife, and he loved her greatly.

¹² After this Saint Ciarán went to Duke Dimma to seek his foster-daughter. But the duke was in no way willing, for any reason, to release her, and said mockingly to the man of God: “I will never give you this girl back, unless at the beginning of the next day the cry of a stork wakes me from sleep.” Now it was then a harsh winter, and on that night much snow fell. Yet in the place where the man of God Ciarán was with his companions, not a single drop of snow fell. When morning came, contrary to nature, by God’s command a stork was calling on the roof of every house in the duke’s fortress. When Duke Dimma saw this, he came and prostrated himself before Saint Ciarán and released his foster-daughter to him; and she was pregnant.

¹³ When the man of God saw that the womb of that woman was swollen with child, he blessed her womb with the sign of the holy cross, and from that moment her belly diminished and the conception vanished from her womb. The holy man then returned, leading her back to her cell, which in Irish is called Cell Liadáin.

¹⁴ Afterwards, however, the duke Dimma, once again seized by intense love for the aforesaid young woman Bruineach, came to take her back with him. But God brought it about, in accordance with the will of three persons—namely, the most blessed Ciarán, his holy mother, and the young woman Bruineach herself—that the duke found her dead. For as soon as she heard that the duke was coming to her, she immediately died. When the duke saw that she was already dead, he was deeply grieved and said sorrowfully to Saint Ciarán: “Why have you killed my wife? She was now truly my wife, for she knew no man but me, and I had resolved that she should always be my spouse. Therefore, Ciarán, you will not remain here, for I will drive you from this place.” The saint replied to him: “You have no power over me. But almighty God has given you earthly authority from above, as it were a shadow, for as long as he wills; and therefore I shall remain in my place against your will.”

¹⁵ When the duke heard these words, he departed angrily and sorrowfully along the road, threatening the servant of God. God swiftly avenged this injury upon the duke. For when he came to his fortress, it was then burning with flames, and the duke’s most beloved son had been left behind, sleeping in his bed. For he was only a small child. When no one was able to help him, his nurse cried out with a loud voice: “Into the hands of Saint Ciarán of Saigir I commend you, my son”. O great and wondrous miracle which God worked there! For when the fire was extinguished and the buildings consumed, that son was found unharmed and untouched in strength. When the duke saw this, he himself came, together with Bishop Édus, to Saint Ciarán, and he did penance, promising to do whatever Saint Ciarán should tell him. And he offered his two sons to Saint Ciarán: namely, Dúnchad, who had been delivered from the fire, and the other, with his descendants, to be buried for ever with Saint Ciarán. Afterwards the duke departed joyfully with the blessing of the man of God.

¹⁶ The man of God Ciarán, therefore, grieving that his foster-daughter Bruineach had passed quickly from this life, and knowing that the duke would not again do her violence, went to where her body lay; and praying for her, he raised her from death. She afterwards lived in her religious profession for many days.

¹⁷ On a certain day the prior of the monastery of Saint Ciarán came to him, saying: “Lord, pigs are lacking to us, and we must buy them.” The saint said to him: “The God who has given us other provisions will also give us pigs”. On the next day a splendid sow and twelve piglets were seen, sent by God according to the word of the man of God; and from her offspring many herds of pigs increased there.

¹⁸ Again, on another day, his steward said to Ciarán: “We have no sheep now, father, and we must buy them.” The holy man replied to him: “He who gave us pigs will himself also give us sheep.” And when the steward went out beyond the door of the enclosure, he saw there likewise, sent by God, twenty-seven white sheep grazing on the grass, which likewise increased there into flocks.

¹⁹ A certain powerful man, named Fintanus, brought his dead son, named Leogarius, to Saint Ciarán, asking that he might raise him in the name of Christ. The holy man therefore, trusting in Christ, went up to him, and raising him from death, handed him back alive to his father, and he lived for a long time afterward. And that man offered to Saint Ciarán the estate called Raith Fera with its lands.

²⁰ Meanwhile Saint Patrick, the preacher of Ireland, came into the region of the Men of Munster; and Aengus son of Nadfraech, king of Munster, believed in him in the royal city of Cashel and was baptized. Then a certain man, a son of Erch, of the descendants of Duach from the land of Osraige, by chance and not of his own will killed Saint Patrick’s horse. He was seized by the soldiers of King Aengus and put in chains, to be put to death. But Saint Ciarán, asked by that man’s friends, came and gave the king a quantity of gold and silver for him; and when he was freed, he returned to his own region. But after he had escaped, that gold and silver vanished into nothing. Then the king, angered, summoned Saint Ciarán and said to him: “Why did you give me a phantom in exchange for a man?” The holy man replied to the king: “All metals were made from nothing, and into nothing they will go.” Then the king, threatening in anger, was immediately struck by divine vengeance, and fell blinded to the ground. But Carthach, a disciple of Saint Ciarán and also a nephew of that same King Aengus, earnestly begged the man of God on behalf of the king. The man of God said: “He demanded gold by his own power, and he suffers vengeance unto death.” The king was almost already dead. Yet while the aforesaid Carthach and others were still pleading for the king, Saint Ciarán went to him and restored his sight, and, as it seemed to some, raised him from death. For some said that the king had died. And when the king was healed, he offered many gifts to Saint Ciarán, giving thanks to God.

²¹ At that time seven harpists of the king of Munster were killed by their enemies, and their bodies were hidden in a certain lake in a wilderness, because firm peace prevailed in Munster in the reign of Aengus. And their harps were hung on a certain tree overhanging the shore of the lake. King Aengus was greatly distressed, not knowing what had happened to them. Knowing that Saint Ciarán was filled with the spirit of prophecy, he came to him to learn what had happened to his harpists; for having become a Christian, he did not wish to consult magicians or diviners. And Saint Ciarán said to the king: “Your harpists, lord king, have been secretly killed, their bodies have been hidden in the lake, and their harps are hanging on a tree overhanging the lake.” Then the holy man Saint Ciarán, at the king’s request, came with him to the lake and fasted there that day. When the fast was completed, the water of the lake dried up and disappeared; and seeing the bodies in the depth of the dry basin, Saint Ciarán came to them, and before the king and all the people, praying in the unity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he immediately raised them as if from a deep sleep; and they were seven in number. They had been drowned and submerged under the water for a whole month. And rising at once, they took up their harps and sang sweet melodies before the crowds, in the presence of the king and the bishop, so that because of the sweetness of the music many people there fell asleep. And together with the others they gave glory to God. The lake in which they had been submerged has been empty of water from that day until today; yet even now the name of the lake is called Loch na Crutthere, which is translated into Latin as “the Lake of the Harpists.” Then, having received the blessing of the king and the people, Saint Ciarán returned to his own city.

²² A certain steward of the aforesaid king of Munster was walking with his companions in that same region called Muskerry, and he saw the pigs of a certain man and ordered his soldiers to kill one of them. And when they immediately began to roast the pig there in the forest, their enemies fell upon them and killed that steward and twenty of his soldiers with him on the bank of the river Brosnach. When this was reported to Saint Ciarán, the aforesaid Carthach, that is, the foster-son of Saint Ciarán and nephew of the same King Aengus, together with others, urged the saint himself to go to bring back the bodies, lest they be devoured by wild beasts. And Saint Ciarán, seeing that there were too few carts to carry so many bodies, said in a loud voice before all who were there to the slain: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise, you wretches, and come with me.” At this word, immediately that steward and his twenty companions rose up restored to health; and with them also rose up the pig that they had killed, and it returned to its owner, who was called Eccanus. And those men who had been raised lived religiously as monks with Saint Ciarán until the day of their death.

²³ On a certain day Saint Ciarán spread a clean linen cloth over a thorn bush bearing many mulberries. For, filled with the spirit of prophecy, he foresaw that this would be necessary, and therefore he did it, so that the mulberries might be preserved for a year, ripening in due season and in their sweetness, and not be harmed by the winter cold. And for a year they remained under the cloth just as they were on that day, or even improved. In the following year, after Easter, King Aengus of Cashel went out with his queen to a great banquet which Conchrid, duke of Osraige, had prepared for him. At that banquet the queen greatly desired the aforesaid duke Conchrid and ordered him to sleep with her, for the duke was very handsome; but the duke in no way wished to commit that sin. When the queen realized this, she pretended to be seized by a sharp pain. She did this so that she might remain in the duke’s fortress after the king’s departure. When she was questioned, the queen said: “I would now be healed of my pain if I could find mulberries to eat.” For she thought that no mulberries could possibly be found at that time. But the duke, fearing that she might remain in his fortress after the king had gone, ran to his patron Saint Ciarán and told him everything. For the whole region of Osraige is the parish of Saint Ciarán. When the bishop heard the duke, he sent to the thorn bush under the white cloth in the forest, which was preserving mulberries from autumn until April; and a vessel full of mulberries was brought from there to the queen. When she ate them, she was immediately healed of her pain, that is, of her love for Duke Conchrid, for at once she no longer cared for him. And the mulberries were in the mouth of the queen and of the others who ate them like sweet honey. When the queen saw the miracle that had been done in her, she came and fell at the feet of Saint Ciarán, confessing her sin to him and asking for his blessing. And the holy bishop said to her with a sigh: “Lady queen, I cannot free you from the death that has been appointed for you. For you, daughter, and our lord the king will be slain by your enemies on the same day. But may God grant you mercy.” What the holy bishop Ciarán foretold came to pass. For King Aengus himself, together with his wife the queen, was killed in battle, which was fought on the plain of Fea in the province of the Leinstermen, near the great settlement of Cell Osnadh, by Illand son of Dunlaing, king of the northern Leinstermen, on the eighth day before the Ides of October. And this slaughter was a very great crime. The queen herself was called Ethne h-Uathach, and she was the daughter of Crimthann son of Enda of the Uí Cheinnselaig; this Crimthann greatly subdued the northern Leinstermen and received the great kingship of Ireland, after he had slain Ailill Molt, king of Ireland, in the great battle of Ocha, in the region of Meath.

²⁴ At one time Saint Patrick the archbishop and the king of Munster, together with nine dukes, came to Saint Ciarán. Blessed Ciarán ordered eight oxen, along with other provisions, to be prepared for them; and when it was said to him what these were among so great a multitude, he replied: “By the grace of God, who fed many thousands from a few loaves and little fishes, these people will have enough from this small preparation.” And he blessed his spring, and the finest wine appeared in it. All these things, by the grace of God, sufficed for the supreme pontiff and the king with their retinues for as long as they were there.

²⁵ At another time the king of Tara came with a great force to subjugate the men of Munster. But Ailill, king of Cashel, unwilling to submit to him, went out to battle against him. And when they came together near the city of Saint Ciarán, the man of God wished to reconcile them, but he could not do so in any way. And he obtained from God what he could not obtain from the proud. For when they had marched out from their camps to battle, a forest was torn up by the roots by divine will and cast between them against the Munstermen, and the bed of the river Brosnach was raised against the king of Tara up to its banks. When both sides saw these things, they were struck with terror; and the king of Tara turned back from the river, which before that both foot soldiers and horsemen could easily have crossed, and he withdrew to his own territory. The Munstermen, however, remained that night near the monastery of Saint Ciarán. And Saint Ciarán sent their king a cooked cow and a pig; and from these the army of Munster was satisfied, and they left what remained. And through this the name of Saint Ciarán became widely renowned.

²⁶ At another time a band of robbers from another region came into the borders of Munster to plunder and kill. But a certain nobleman of the Munstermen, named Lonán, rushed upon them, and they turned to flight. Despairing of being able to escape, they called upon Saint Ciarán to deliver them. When Lonán with his men had already begun to seize and cut them down, a fiery globe suddenly fell from above behind them, in front of Lonán. Greatly terrified, Lonán and his soldiers withdrew and were no longer able to pursue them. But they, knowing how they had been delivered from great danger by the power of God through the grace of Saint Ciarán, came to the saint and told him what had happened to them. And after taking counsel, they became monks with Saint Ciarán and remained under his care in good works until their death.

²⁷ At another time a certain robber from the region of the Laginenses violently took an excellent cow from the monks of Saint Ciarán. That robber was already called Carpreus. When he had reached Mount Smoil, otherwise called Bladhma, darkness and mist surrounded him, and he could not discern his way; and he came to a certain river, and there, falling in, he died. The cow, however, returned by the straight road to Saint Ciarán.

²⁸ The most blessed bishop Ciarán sent oxen to Saint Conch, his nurse, without any threat; and they came by a straight road to the saint of God. She recognised that her distinguished foster-son Ciarán had sent them to her for the sake of ploughing. Now the road is very long between the city of Saint Ciarán, Saighir, and the monastery of Saint Conch, which is called Ross Beannchair, and which is situated beside the western sea of Ireland. And the oxen ploughed each year for Saint Conch, and when the time of ploughing was completed, they returned each year to Saint Ciarán without any human companion.

²⁹ Indeed, Saint Ciarán was accustomed, on the night of the Lord’s Nativity, after his people in his monastery of Saighir had received the sacrifice from his hand, to go to the aforesaid monastery of Saint Conch, that is, Ross Beannchair, across very long stretches of land, so that he might offer the Body of Christ on that most holy night there before the blessed Conch. And after the saint of God, together with the others, had received the Lord’s communion from his hand, on the same night before dawn he would come to his own monastery, Saighir, situated in the middle of Ireland. How he went or returned is hidden from us, for he revealed this to none of us. But we know that God, who caused Habakkuk to be carried from Judea into Chaldea and brought back again in a short space of a day, did for his servant Ciarán whatever he willed.

³⁰ A certain great stone, which is now called the Rock of Saint Conch, on which the saint frequently prayed to the Lord, stands amid the waves on the seashore not far from the place of Saint Conch. At one time the most holy Ciarán entered the sea upon that very rock, and happily returned upon it to his own place. For it is written: “Wonderful is God in his saints”.

³¹ Carthach, a foster-son of Saint Ciarán, of whom we have spoken above, and a certain virgin from the cell of Saint Liadán, the mother of Saint Ciarán, had a carnal friendship with one another; and burning with fleshly desire, they loved one another greatly. And one day, after some time, they made an agreement between themselves to fulfil their desire. When they came to the place and wished to lie together, fire suddenly fell between them and almost burned them. Terrified by great fear, they fled back without saying anything. On that very day the virgin was struck with blindness until her death. It was fitting that she who had blinded her mind because of an unlawful deed should, in order to do penance, be deprived of the light of her bodily eyes. Carthach, however, became a penitent pilgrim. But this happened to them because of the holiness of the good shepherd Ciarán, for he was always watchful in guarding his flock.

³² Two brothers according to the flesh from the land of Muscraige Tíre wished to live as pilgrims in another province, that is, in the region of the Connachtmen near Tulach Ruadh. They were named Odhrán and Meadhrán, and their village was called Leitreach. When they came to Saighir, to Saint Ciarán, Meadhrán wished to remain there. His brother Odhrán said to him: “You did not promise me this, brother.” And he said to Saint Ciarán: “Do not, father, keep my brother here.” Saint Ciarán replied: “Let almighty God judge between you, whether he should remain here or go with you. Let him now hold a lamp in his hand for judgment; and if it is lit by the breath of his mouth, he should remain here; but if not, let him go with you.” And he immediately lit the lamp with his breath. And he remained there with Saint Ciarán until his death in great holiness. Then Saint Ciarán said to the blessed Odhrán: “Listen to me, brother Odhrán. I tell you in truth that even if you travel around the four quarters of the world, you will nevertheless die in your village of Leitreach. Therefore return and remain there, for that village will be called by your name for ever.” And so it came to pass. For Saint Odhrán, according to the word of Saint Ciarán, returned to the aforesaid place and built there a renowned monastery; and he was a man of great virtue and holiness. After many miracles which are read of him in his life, the abbot of that place passed happily to the kingdom of heaven. And, as was foretold, that place is called by his name, that is, Leitreach Odhráin.

³³ A certain matron, named Eachyll, fell carelessly to the ground and, her body being badly broken, died. After three days the most blessed Ciarán raised her to life; and that matron offered to Saint Ciarán the settlement which is called by her name, Saltus Eachille. And she, together with her household, gave thanks to God.

³⁴ A certain steward of the king of the Munstermen, named Ceannfaeladh, killed Cronán, a friend of Saint Ciarán. After seven days the most holy elder Ciarán raised him up in the name of Christ. And when he had been restored to life, the holy elder Ciarán said before all: “Ceannfaeladh, who unjustly killed this man, will himself soon be killed, and his body will be burned in the fortress which is called Ráith Maighe by the people of Hele.” And so all these things happened to him.

³⁵ At another time the king of Munster, named Ailill, spoke harsh words in anger against Saint Ciarán, and with these words the king departed from Saint Ciarán. Immediately afterwards the king was struck dumb and spoke nothing for seven days. After seven days the king came to the holy elder Ciarán, prostrated himself at the feet of the man of God, and did his will. Seeing that he was now repentant in heart, the holy elder blessed his tongue, and at once, before all, the king, his speech being restored, spoke clearly. And having received the blessing of the most holy bishop, the king, glorifying the divine miracles, departed with his people on his way.

³⁶ One night the most holy elder bishop Ciarán went down into a stream of cold water, and a devout pilgrim named Germanus was with him. When they were far out in the water, the pilgrim was seized by cold and said to the holy elder: “Holy father and lord, I can no longer endure the cold of this water.” Then the bishop made the sign of the holy cross over the water, and immediately it appeared warm around the pilgrim, like water in a bath. Then, praising the Lord there, Saint Ciarán said to the blessed Germanus: “Brother Germanus, my most dear guest will come to us tomorrow, that is, Carthach, son of King Caisse, whom I have nurtured for God from his youth. I sent him into pilgrimage for a fault which he wished to commit, unless God through me had restrained him, lest he should lose his vow and his labour. Now he is returning, pardon having been granted to him. Therefore take hold of the fish that is swimming near you, so that my beloved son may be refreshed by it.” Germanus therefore caught a great fish, as the elder had said. Likewise, on the following day Carthach came. The fault for which he had been sent into pilgrimage was that a column of fire was read to have descended between him and a virgin.

³⁷ At another time Saint Ciarán, abbot of Clonmacnoise, was seized by a certain king called Furbytheus and placed in chains. The king had seized him because, filled with charity, he had distributed to Christ’s poor the property of the king which was in his keeping. One day, mocking him, the king said to Saint Ciarán the abbot: “If you wish to escape from me free, give me seven cows, red in body and bald, but white in their heads.” The saint said to him: “With God all things are possible; release me, and I will seek such cows for you, or else I will return again to your judgment.” Then Saint Ciarán the abbot, being released, with God’s consent came to the aforesaid holy elder bishop Ciarán and told him all that had happened to him. Now there were then with the holy elder bishop Ciarán two holy Brendans, and they all rejoiced greatly at the arrival of Saint Ciarán the abbot. The holy elder bishop Ciarán said to his cellarer: “What do you have for our holy guests to eat?” The brother replied: “Of food I have nothing at all, except lard only, and I do not know whether they will wish to eat it.” The holy elder said to him: “Prepare it quickly, that they may eat.” And when it had been cooked, the holy elder Ciarán came and blessed it. Afterwards, before the brothers, it was turned into porridge, vegetables, fish, honey, and oil. And at that same meal, by divine generosity, wine appeared in sufficient quantity in vessels for the saints of the Lord. Now there was present a certain converted monk, son of Congal, who did not wish to eat with the saints, saying: “Indeed I will not eat what has been made from lard.” To him the holy elder bishop Ciarán said: “You will indeed eat meat in Lent, and on that very day you will be killed by enemies, and your head will be cut off, and you will not possess the kingdom of God. For, having lost your habit, you will live unhappily.” And all these things came to pass for him just so, and he was killed in the territory of the city of Saighir.

³⁸ Then those four saints, that is, the two Saint Ciaráns and the two Saint Brendans, always strengthened fellowship and brotherhood among themselves and among the inhabitants of their places. And having received permission and blessing from the other holy fathers, Saint Ciarán the abbot set out on his way, not yet knowing where the cows were that he had to return to the king. The most blessed elder bishop Ciarán went on the road with the abbot, the younger Ciarán, in order to lead him for part of the journey. And blessing one another, each established an exchange of blessing between them. The younger Ciarán said to the holy elder Ciarán: “In your place, father, there will be an abundance of riches for ever.” The elder Ciarán replied to him: “In your place also, my son, an abundance of wisdom and religion will always remain.” And this prophecy of the saints is truly fulfilled. When they then came to the place called Áth Sailchair, they found there on the bank of the river seven cows, bald, red in body and white in their heads. “Behold,” said the elder Ciarán, “God has given us the cows that must be returned to the king.” Then the servants of Christ, giving praise to God, parted in blessing and in the kiss of peace: the holy elder Ciarán returned to his Saighir, while the holy abbot, the younger Ciarán, went to the king and returned the cows to him. The king and those who were with him greatly marvelled at how the saint had been able to find such animals. But when Saint Ciarán departed free from the king, those animals never appeared there again. Then the king realised that he had acted unjustly, and he remained there for some days with the holy elder bishop Ciarán.

³⁹ The holy elder Ciarán decreed that in his monastery the consecrated Paschal fire should not be extinguished throughout the year. But at the instigation of the devil, that fire in the monastery was deliberately extinguished by a boy named Críchid. Then the holy elder Ciarán said to the brothers: “Behold, our consecrated fire has been deliberately extinguished by the accursed boy Críchid, as he is always wont to do harm. There will be no fire in this place until Easter, unless it is sent by God. And that boy Críchid who extinguished the fire will be killed tomorrow.” And on the next day he was killed by wolves in a field and lay dead.

⁴⁰ When the holy abbot, the younger Ciarán, to whom that boy belonged, heard this, he came to the monastery of the holy elder Ciarán at Saighir, and there he was honourably received. At that time there was no fire in the monastery, because fire had daily been kindled throughout the place from the consecrated fire, and the saint had promised that there would be no fire there until God should send it. And the guests were cold on that snowy day. Seeing this, the holy elder Ciarán rose and stretched out his hands in prayer to the Lord, and immediately a globe of fire fell from above into his bosom. The holy bishop first carried it in his chasuble to the guests; and when the guests had been warmed, supper was set on the tables. And when they sat down at table, Saint Ciarán the abbot said before all: “I will not eat in this place until my boy, who was killed here, comes to me alive.” The elder Ciarán said to him: “We know that this is why you have come, and God will give him life for our sake. You eat; for behold, your boy is hastening here.” Then the boy quickly came and ate with the brothers. At that point the cry of all was raised in praise of God, magnifying his saints. Afterwards the younger Saint Ciarán, with his boy, having received the blessing of the holy elder Ciarán, returned to his own place.

⁴¹ At another time one of the brothers, named Báithíne, carelessly put out the fire in the morning, and was greatly distressed by it, and asked for forgiveness. On that same day Saint Ruadán, abbot of Lothra, came to visit Saint Ciarán; but in the monastery of Saighir there was no fire by which the guests might be warmed and a meal prepared for them. When Saint Ciarán learned this, he blessed a certain stone that was present, and immediately the stone burned with fiery flames. And the man of God took the burning stone in his hands and carried it thus to Saint Ruadán. When Ruadán and those with him saw this, they rejoiced greatly, being strengthened in God.

⁴² The aforesaid Báithíne also once again carelessly spilled a vessel full of milk upon the ground. But the holy elder Ciarán blessed that vessel with the holy sign, and there before all it was filled with excellent milk of an unknown kind. Then the brother who had spilled it, and the other brothers, fearing the most holy master, were strengthened in the love of God.

⁴³ Now when the most holy elder and aged bishop Ciarán was praying one day, a few days before his death, an angel of the Lord appeared to him. Then the holy man asked three petitions of God, with the angel present. With God’s permission, the angel promised these to him: namely, that all who are buried near his seat in his cemetery, over them hell shall not close after the day of judgment; and that whoever honours the feast day of his birth shall be prosperous here and shall have rest in the life to come; and that his people, the Osraige, who have accepted him as their patron, if they do not ravage another people by leaving their own land and invading it, calling it into battle, but if another people should unjustly enter the land of the Osraige wishing to ravage it, they shall never be so defeated by their enemies in battle in their own land. These three petitions were promised by God to Saint Ciarán before his death.

⁴⁴ This saint, namely Ciarán, was very humble in all things, and he greatly loved to hear and to learn the divine Scriptures, even to a very advanced age. For it is related of him that, together with the other saints of Ireland of his time, he went in his old age to the most holy and wise man Finnian, abbot of the monastery of Clonard, and there read the divine Scriptures in his holy school. Hence the most blessed Ciarán is said to have been a pupil of Saint Finnian, like the other saints of Ireland. For although he himself was an old man, wise and blessed, and a supreme bishop, he nevertheless deigned to learn at the knee of another, out of humility and love of wisdom.

⁴⁵ The most blessed Ciarán, from his youth until his death, abstained in an extraordinary way from soft clothing, from meat and intoxicating drinks, from sleep, and from all other bodily pleasures. He converted his own people, that is, the Osraige, and very many others, from the error of paganism to the faith of Christ. He was now frequently visited by angels in remarkable signs. He ordained an innumerable multitude of bishops, priests, and others of the various ecclesiastical orders.

⁴⁶ This holy man, our patron Ciarán, in a certain place asked for a spring. An angel of the Lord revealed it to him; and even now many illnesses are healed through the water of that spring by the grace of the man of God. It is called the Spring of Ciarán.

⁴⁷ The most holy Ciarán lived, that is, for three hundred years in the flesh, in devoted service to Christ, both before baptism and afterwards. When he had already been weakened by old age and suffering, knowing the day of his death, he called his people to himself; and blessing them, he entrusted to them the divine commandments. And having received the divine sacrifice among the choir of the saints, on the third day before the Nones of March, in the peace of Christ he sent forth his happy spirit. And thirty holy bishops, whom the most holy Ciarán himself had ordained, by the providence of God departed with him in a single night, according to his will, to the kingdom of Christ. To him be honour and glory with God the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.