Chapter LIII: A Panegyric on Ciaran

41. Here then is Ciaran with the eight men whom I have mentioned, and many thousands of saints besides. Here are the relics of Paul and Peter, which Benen and Cumlach left in the hollow tree here. Here are the relics of the blind boy, the disciple of Peca. Here is the shrine of the guest Peca, whom a certain devout man saw borne by angels to the burial of Ciaran. There were three wonders here that night: the guest-house being without fire, without guest, without prayer, for Peca was sufficient of fire, and guest, and prayer.

There is not one to relate completely what God wrought of signs and wonders for this holy Ciaran; for they are more than can be told or mentioned. For after the coming of Christ in the flesh there was not one born greater in almsgiving and mercy, greater in labour and fasting and prayer, greater in humility and fervour of good-will, greater in courtesy and mildness, greater in care for the Church of God, greater in daily labour and in nightly vigil.

He it is who never put tasty food or heady drink into his body, from the time when he embraced the religious life. He it is who never drank milk or ale, till a third of it was water. He it is who never ate bread, till a third part of sand was mixed with it. He it is who never slept save with his side on the bare ground. Beneath his head was never aught save a stone for a pillow. Next his skin never came flaxen or woollen stuff.

A man with choice voluntary full offerings to the Lord, like Abel son of Adam. A man with zealous entreaties to God, like Enoch son of Jared. A steersman full-sufficient for the ark of the Church among the waves of the world, like Noah son of Lamech. A true pilgrim with strength of faith and belief, like Abraham son of Terah. A man loving, gentle, forgiving of heart, like Moses son of Amram. A man patient and steadfast in enduring suffering and trouble, like suffering Job. A psalmist full-tuneful, full-delightful to God, like David son of Jesse. A dwelling of true wisdom and knowledge like Solomon son of David. A rock immovable whereon is founded the Church, like Peter the apostle. A chief universal teacher and a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth, like Paul the apostle. A man full of the grace of the Holy Spirit and of chastity, like John the breast-fosterling.

A man full of likeness in many ways to Jesus Christ the Head of all things. For this man made wine of water for his folk and his guests in this city, as Jesus made choice wine of water at the feast of Cana of Galilee. This man is called "son of the wright," as Christ is called "Son of the wright" in the Gospel (_hic est Filius fabri_, that is, of Joseph). Thirty-three years in the age of this man, as there are thirty-three years in the age of Christ. This man arose after three days in his bed in Cluain to converse with and to comfort Coemgen, as Christ arose after three days from the grave in Jerusalem, to comfort and strengthen His mother and His disciples.

So for these good things, and for many others, is his soul among the folk of heaven. His remains and relics are here with honour and renown, with daily wonders and miracles. And though great is his honour just now in this manner, greater shall be his honour in the holy incorruptible union of his body and his soul in the great assembly of Judgment, when Saint Ciaran shall be judge of the fruit of his labour along with Christ Whom he served. So shall he be in the great assembly, in the unity of holy fathers and prophets, in the unity of apostles and disciples of the Saviour Jesus Christ, in the unity of the nine grades of angels that have transgressed not, in the unity of the Godhead and Manhood of the Son of God, in the unity nobler than every other unity, the Unity of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I beseech the mercy of the Lofty Omnipotent God, by the intercession of Saint Ciaran, that we may reach that unity. May we dwell there, _in saecula saeculorum!_

[Footnote 1: Following the reading _córdus_ in the _Leabhar Breac_ text of the Homily from which this section is an extract, instead of the unintelligible _comhlud_ of the MSS. of the _Life_.]

[Footnote 2: This Latin extract in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 3: In this paragraph the less corrupt Brussels text is followed. In the original the Latin passages, here printed consecutively, are interspersed sentence by sentence with the Irish translation here rendered into English.]

[Footnote 4: This is the apparent sense of the passage: the MSS. are here corrupt.]

[Footnote 5: Only the first two words of this extract in the Lismore MS. The Brussels MS. erroneously repeats _reg[i]mina_ after _Diuulgata_.]

[Footnote 6: The last two words in the Brussels MS. only, which also adds "of the Elements" after "Lord," two lines further down.]

[Footnote 7: Following the Brussels MS.: the Lismore text is here again corrupt.]

[Footnote 8: The bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 9: The bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 10: The bracketed words represent the sense of a passage that has evidently dropped out of the MSS.]

[Footnote 11: _Sic_ MSS.: we should read "Iustus."]

[Footnote 12: The Lismore text is slightly imperfect in this paragraph: it is completed with the aid of the Brussels MS.]

[Footnote 13: This represents the sense of a passage that must have dropped out.]

[Footnote 14: _Ut dixit_ and the stanza following in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 15: Bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 16: In Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 17: Emending the _dia fhoglaim_ of the text ("as he was learning") to _dia fhognam_.]

[Footnote 18: These words in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 19: "Apostle" in the Brussels MS.]

[Footnote 20: From "as is verified" to the end of the stanza in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 21: The Lismore MS. is here illegible: the rendering follows the Brussels MS.]

[Footnote 22: The Lismore MS. is here illegible: the translation follows the Brussels MS.]

[Footnote 23: The Brussels MS. adds "and may it be on thy cheek as thou goest to thy house."]

[Footnote 24: Bracketed words represent the sense of a passage evidently lost from the MSS.]

[Footnote 25: Literally "intoxication."]

[Footnote 26: In Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 27: The bracketed words in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 28: The MSS. read "Findian."]

[Footnote 29: These words in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 30: In this incident again it is necessary to follow the Brussels MS. in places, as the Lismore MS. is corrupt and unintelligible.]

[Footnote 31: Literally "'tis a drowning that shall drown this kiln."]

[Footnote 32: These words in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 33: In Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 34: This name in the Brussels MS. only.]

[Footnote 35: Here the Brussels MS. is corrupt.]

[Footnote 36: _Sic_ MSS. We should read "came from heaven,"]

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ANNOTATIONS TO THE FOREGOING LIVES