No More Learning

Thenceforward, Carthage spent a part of his time in the chieftain's
did. 39
castle ;
being engaged in JMainne •'° woods, at this latter service; the elder Bishop Carthagepassedthatway,withabandofcompanions. Thesewereengaged singing psalms. 4' When the younger Carthage heard them, he abandoned the care of his herd. He followed the Bishop and his companions, to the monasteryofGlain,orThuain. ^^ WhentheBishopandhisbandenteredthe house, the younger Carthage remained outside, without the knowledge of its monastic inmates. Finding his favourite did not visit him on this night, and ignorant regarding the cause of his absence, Moeltul sent messengers to- enquire about him. One of these found him sitting without the monastery. Having reproved the child, he was brought before the chieftain, who asked why he had not come to him, on the preceding night. The boy answered,' " I did not come to you, sir, because I was charmed with the heavenly songs' I heard from the holy choir, and because I never heard anything like to this Psalmody, which they did not discontinue on their journey, nor afterwards, until the hour of rest. The Bishop sang afterwards, even during the whole night. I wish, therefore, O chieftain, that I were with them to learn the melody. " Thereupon,thechiefsentamessagetotheBishop,thathewould come and visited him. '»3 Meantime, the father of Mochudda, prepared a ban- quet for Moeltul ; and, in the midst of this entertainment, the latter called the boy to him. Moeltul showed him a sword, a buckler, a spear, and a hnia^*
while the remainder was occupied in tending his swine. One day,
of gold and silver, with various regal garments and instruments of war. Moel- tul said to him : " My son, take those gifts, and be mine, instead of thy father's companion. " But, the boy having rejected this offer, that chieftain asked what he should wish to receive. Carthage said : " I want none of your perishable presents, but, I wish indeed to learn that song I have heard, as sung by God's servants. " Then, knowing that the grace of God was working in bin), the chief promised to grant Avhat he required. Afterwards, Carthage the Bishop coming to the chief, this latter dynast commended to him the boy Mochudda, that he might become a student under his care. The saintly man received him joyfully, for he knew God's grace abounded within the mind of his adopted child. Afterwards, Mochudda remained under charge of the holy Bishop, until he was promoted to the Priesthood. ^^
The youth, being exceedingly comely, had certain declarations conveyed from young maidens, and those offers were intended to estrange him from a celibate's life ; but, our saint prayed for them, that their worldly might be changed into spiritual love. His prayer was heard, for all these females subsequently became religious. These even built cells and houses, which weretobeseen,atthetimetheauthorofoursaint'sIrishLifewrote. These establishmentslay,likewise,withintheparishofSt. Mochuda. Thosevirgins also dedicated themselves and their houses to God and to St. Mochuda. ''^
On the day of our saint's ordination, a man named Fintan, with his son, came to the Elder Carthage, that he might baptize the infant, whom he
*° These were probably on the banks of in her earliest or latest quarter, or like the the River Maine or Mang. letter C. Many ornaments similarly bhaped *^ The Rev. S. Baring-Gould adds, are preserved in our Irish antiquarian " which tliey probably accompanied on museums, and especially in the Museum of
harps. "—"Lives of the baiiits," vol. v. , p. 197.
*^ " Glain alibi Thuaim, forte Tuaim- grene in Mummonia. "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xiv. , p. 380, n. (i).
*J See Vita ex antique MS. Hibemico, cap. i. , num. 4.
** Some ornament shaped liked the moon
the Royal Irish Academy.
•5 See Vita ex duplici MS. Lcgendario,
n. 2. See also, Colgan's '' Acta Sanctorum Ilibcrnix," v. Martii, Vita S. Carlhagii, cap. viii. , p. 475.
<^ See Vita ex antique MS. Hibernico, cap. 1, num. 6.
•" See Vita ex antique MS. Hibemix, cap.
. May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
245
jntendedtooffertotheBishop. ' Thislatterholyprelatesaidtohim "Offer :
. thy son to the pious young man, who has been ordained, on this day, that he may be the baptizer. " This was accordingly done, and when the Bishop asked Fintan, what name his boy must receive, the father said, he wished this child to be called Fuendran. When his son was baptized, holding him by the hand, Mochudda thus prophesied regarding him ; " This hand sliall be cruel, and shall obtain hostages from the posterity of Forna, a race living in the terri- tory of Kearraighe, between the mountain Kuastra and the sea. His chil- dren shall reign after him, for ever, if they do not deny me ; but, if they dis- respectmeandmysuccessors,theirprincipalityshallfailthem. " Thispro- phecy was afterwards fulfilled--^^ Our saint having been promoted to the priesthood, sometime subsequently, the Bishop Carthage brought him to tlie above7mentioned chief Moeltul. He was found at a place, named Fcoiann, nearLeamhashore; and,this,itappears,wasachiefseatoftheKerryprinces. Carthage said to Moeltul : " Here, O chieftain, is the excellent boy I received from thee : he is well read and instructed in sacred literature. He hath received the priestly grade from me, and God's grace shines in him, as mani- fested by miracles. " The chieftain asked, what reward he should bestow for such a service. The Bishop thereupon replied, that he ought to dedicate him- self and his future descendants for ever, to the youthful servant of Christ. The
,chieftain, however, objected to this, on account of Mochudda's youth; when the Bishop went on his knees before our saint, saying to him, " Belioid my son, I offer myself, my church, and my diocese, to the Lord and to thee, for ever. " Onhearingthesewords,thechiefalsothrewhimselfattheyoungpriest's feet,pronouncingalikeengagement. Then,Mochudaissaidtohaveplaced his foot on the chieftain's neck, and to have measured his length with his feet. For this, he was called to account, by some of Moeltul's servants, as offering an indignity to their master. Our saint stopped suddenly, and said : " The neck which I have trodden shall not be taken from its head, and the body I have measured shall not be butchered. Had you not interrupted me, a chief- tain of his posterity should not fail to the end of time. " Then said he to the servant : " You and your -posterity shall always be low among servants. " Havingblessed the chief, Mochudda promised Heavenly and earthly gifts to him,
'saying : " If any of thy posterity cause offence to my successors, and do not give me what is due, he shall not possess the kingdom of Kerry. " These re- sults eventuated, according to his prophecy, as the author of his Life remarks. '*^
After this, by persuasions of his master, St. Carthage, and of the chieftain, Moeltul, Mochudda built a cell at a place,, called Kelltulach,''9 in a southern part of Kerry. It was situated between the mountain Myss, and the River Mainne. 5° Here, he wrought many miracles, and he was greatly honoured. But, he experienced molestation from two Bishops, Avho are namedDublinandDomangen. Theseappeartohavelookeduponhispro- ceedings, with some degree of distrust and suspicion. Whereupon, our saint went to the chieftain Moeltul, who lived in his castle, near Suningh strait, and complained regarding this persecution. The chieftain went with our saint, to his cell, and abode for a night, on the top of that mountain Myss, called alsoMainne. Regardingthepossessionsofhisfriend,Moeltulsaidtohim: '" My son, leave this small tract of land to the envious Bishops, and again
I, num. 7.
"* See Vita ex antique MS. Hibernico,
cap. I, num. 7.
_'" Now Kiltallagh, a parish in the barony
50 jt is stated, in the Second Chapter of St. Carthage's Life, that this cell was be- tween the mountain Mysis and the Mang. " Huw that mountain is now called, I do not know. "—Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesi-
of Trughanacmy, and shown, on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. County of Kerry," sheets 38, 47. . xiv. , sect, xiv. , n. 184, p. 353.
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
shall it be thine, with its inhabitants for ever. " St. Mochuda acquiesced in this counsel,andMoeltulreturned,afterhavingreceivedhisbenediction. Imme- diately, St. Carthage abandoned his cell, in favour of those Bishops. He then undertook a pilgrimage alone, towards the northern part of Ireland. s' In the meantime, an Angel had appeared to his cotemporary, St. Comgall of Bangor, and told him, that a young and holy Priest should come to him, wishing to cross the sea, for Christ's sake ; that this was the person, regardingwhom Comgallhad formerly prophesied, before his birth ; and that, according to God's mandate, he sliould detain the pilgrim witli him, for the remainder of the year. St. Comgallwishedtoknow,howCarthagemiglitbeidentitied. ThentheAngel said : " He shall be that person, who retires to the hospice, from the church, and with his face towards it. " Now, it was a custom of Moccuda, as it appears, never to turn his back towards any church, if he could possibly avoid it. That vision, and the token whereby our saint might be recognised, were communi- cated by the Abbot Comgall to his disciples. Afterwards, St. Carthage came to Bangor, and the Abbot discovered him, by practising the usual habit, while lionouiing the church as the house of God. Comgall was greatly rejoiced at our saint's arrival, and communicated to him the Angel's words, as also the Lord's mandate. In obedience thereto, Carthage remained in Bangor, to the end of that year. s^ On its expiration, by advice of St. Comgall, Car- thage returned to his native province. There, he erected many buildings, to thehonour of God. There, likewise, he wrought many miracles, and many disciples flocked to him, from all parts. A large extent of country was subject to his spiritual jurisdiction. We are informed, that he became bishop over the region of Kerry ;53 but, this must be inaccurate, for it is directly contrary, to what is expressly stated,5+ of his having been consecrated a bishop at Rathen, where he was not settled until some time later. According to the care, which he is said to have taken of Kerry, or a great part of that region, if true, it must be understood of his exertions, not as a bishop, but as a mis- sionary priest. 55
CHAPTER II .
SEVERAL HOLY MEN ARE VISITED BY ST. MOCHUDA—AT LAST HE IS INDUCED TO SELECT RATHAIN FOR HIS RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION—ANTIQUITIES THERE—HIS MANNER OF LIFE AND RULE—LEGENDS RELATED ABOUT ST, CARTHAGE—VIRTUES OF HIS MONKS—MIRACLES.
Leaving his religious establishments, in Kerry, to the care of faithful guardians and religious men, St. Carthage afterwards went with a few companions, to the southern part of Munster. He visited the son of Fintan, St. Hyeran,' a Bishop,
S" See Vita ex anliquo MS. Ilibernico, cap. I, num. 9.
mon. " " It is not amiss that he has met you," said the devil, "because I should not have allowed him to remain two nights in any one place, for the partiality he has shown to his own shoes above those of his congrega- tion. " Thus was St. Mochuda reproved for this slight indication of vanity,
s^ The following account is taken from
still unpubli-hed MSS. ^Vhen St. Mochuda
was in the habit of touching anything greasy
with his hands, he usually rubbed them on
his shoes. Having resolved on abandoning
his monasteiy in Rathan, tlie saint wi>hed
to go on a foreign pilgrimage, lest he might cap. i. , num. lo.
become vain of that great character he had acquired at home. But fust he went to St. Comgall of Bangor, and told him regarding this design. After St. Mochuda sat down and his shoes had been removed, St. Com- gall said. " Coma out of that shoe, thou de-
54 See the Second Chapter of his Life,
55 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ircland,"vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, I4, n. 185. p, 353,
Chapter II. — " The Bollandists were unable to assigii a day for his festival.
53 See Vita ex antiquo MS. Hibernico,
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
247
who had founded a monastery at Roffigillain. From this saint, the pilgrim enquired, where his largest church should be built, in these parts ; as the Angel of the Lord had declared to St. Comgall, that it must be founded in the southernpartofIreland. Accordingly,St. Hyaran,whowasgiftedwiththespirit of prophecy, answered : " My dear fellow-servant in Christ, you shall first go to Niall's posterity, and there shall you build a renowned house to our Lord. There shalt thou remain for forty years, and afterwards thou shalt be expelled therefrom, and return to Munster. Then only shalt thou build thy larger church. " St. Carthage said to him : " Holy father, I shall always regard thee as my patron. " But Hyaran said : " My brother, it must not be so, but I offer myself and my monks to you for ever. " He declared, likewise, that Furudran,= his disciple, should succeed him in his episcopal seat. Accordingly, such was the case, Furudran occupying the See for tv/enty years.
Not having as yet determined on his permanent settlement, St. Carthage went to Ruathan's sons, into the country of the Nan-Desi. These pre- sented themselves with their house to him. Olman, son to Cobihaigh, a chieftain living in that same part of the country, bestowed some lands upon St. Mochudda.
Having made provision for the due care of these possessions, our saint went to the top of a mountain, called Guad, in the Nan-Desi terri- tory. Lookingdownfromit, hesaw,neartheriverbeneath,Angelsascending fromtheearthtowardsHeaven. Also,theyelevatedachurchofsilver,with a golden image in it, as they arose towards the skies. This was the spot, where the greater church of St. Carthage was afterwards founded. It furnishedthepresentsiteforLismore. 3 Then,theholypilgrimwenttoSt. Molua,4livingatClonfertMolua. s ItwasonthebordersofLeinsterandofMun- ster,andthere,hefoundthesaintengagedwithhisharvesters. Now,St. Carthage had dismissed all his disciples, except one, who said he wished to remain in that place. St. Molua declared his willingness to receive this person, if Car- thage would give his consent ; but, this not being accorded, the disciple was also sent away. Then, going forth alone, Carthage bore two wallets, filled with books, on his shoulders. Unacquainted with the name and character of the holy man, St. Molua's monks remarked, in a reproachful manner, how- ever, that at his age, he should remain in a monastery, and that it was discre- ditable for him, to set out as a lone wanderer. But, Molua replied : " My brethren, say not so ; for, behold the day shall come, when our city and our congregation shall be small, as compared with those of him, who now wanders alone. For this is Carthage, the saint of God, and who is called by many Mochuda. Severalsaintsaresubjecttohimthisday,andmorewillbe,ata future time. " The monks were sorry for their remarks, when they had heard thosewords. ^ WhileCarthagewasonhisjourney,twomonksmethimonthe way, and asked him whither he was going. He replied, to St. Colman-Elo. ? These brethren besought him to receive them as disciples, for they declared, that God's grace appeared to shine in his countenance. He complied with theirrequest, and, on coming to St. Colman, then declared his desire of remain-
" It must not be so; but, you shall go
* Father Godefrid Henschenn was unable
to identify this Furudran, unless he might
have been the Furachran, son of Monan, name is appended the words " filium and said to have been venerated, on the 1 8th Cordce. " His feast occurs, at the 4th of of July, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum August.
ing with him. ^ However, Colman said :
Hibernias," xxi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S. Endei, cap. 4, num. 14, p. 713.
3 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xiv. De S. Carthaco seu Mochudda, &c. Vita ex antiquo MS. Hiber- nico, cap. ii. , num. 11, p. 380, and nn. (a, b),
:> See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vpl. v. , May 14.
^ See Vita ex vetere MS. Hibernico, cap. ii. , num. 12.
^ Patron of Lynnally, in the King's County. His feast occurs, at the 26th of
p. 382, ibid.
''In the Second Life of our saint to his
248
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14,
to a certain place, near to me, and called Rathen,9 which has been promised you by the Lord. There shalt thou remain, and many monks shall serve the Lord under thee ; while the place itself, from thee, shall assume for its name, Carthach Raithin. '° It is said, St. Columkille " had formerly proposed the building of a cell, in this place. " But, finding that the Almighty had destined such work for our saint, he left three bundles of twigs for Carthage, who con- structed his home with these materials.
Protestant Church, at Rathan, King's County.
The site of Rahen, or Rathan,'3 was within the territory of Meath, and among the people of Fearceall,^ in the midland parts of Ireland. 's This latter name was long preserved in Fircal, a barony of the present King's County, now known as Eglish. '^ At the present time, in Rahan,
September.
*. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. v. , May 14.
" Deceived, apparently by the statement of Ussher, ArchduU has transferred the site of St. Carthage's establishment to Rathyne,
« Aichdall and Dr. Lanigan erioneously ill the barony of Fertull. agh, and about six
state, that this ph-ice is now called Ralhyne, and that it is situated, in the barony of Fcr- tullagh, and county of Westmeath. See Archdall's " Monasticon llibernicum," p. 727, and " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xiv. , n. 186, P- 353-
miles south-east of MuUingar. See "Monas- ticon Hibernicum," p. 727.
'^ Rahen, or Rathain, is Latinized Filice- tuvi, or " Ferny Land," in the Earl of Dan- raven's "Notes on Irish Architecture," edited by Miss Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , p. 66.
'••Or Feara-Ceall, i. e. , Viri-cellatttm seu potius (cclcsiartitn, according to Dr. John O'Donovan.
'5 " Civitas Rathen posita est in medio Ilibernia:, in regione Midi, in plcbc de Fear- ccall. "—Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia- rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 472.
'* However, there is ample evidence to prove, that Feara-ceall comprised not only
'" Ussher says : " Rathenim locum hunc hodie nominaut, in Occidentali Midia ad viii. milliarium a Dearmachano Columbae monastcrio s. tum ; non procul a Land-elo cfcnnbio, quod in Feicallia construxcrat Colmanus Abbas, cognomentum Elo inde
adeptus. "—" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 472.
" See his Life, at the 9th of June.
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS,
249
there are two distinctive objects of antiquity and of special ecclesiastical inte- rest. One is the Protestant church, built on the lines of the former Catholic one, which seems to have stood there, in the earlier centuries of our Chris- tianity. '7 That structure consists of a nave and chancel. Ofthese, the chancel only seems to be ancient ; but, it has lost the original east window. The nave is a comparatively modern addition, and the whole character of this church has been disfigured by repairs, showingan architecture, exceedingly plain and faulty. ^^ The cliancel is fourteen feet, eight inches, long, by ten feet, six inches, in width. It has a very high and steep stone roof, with a croft above the barrel-vaulted roof, and it is thought such had been the case with the nave, in former times. The croft was lighted by a circular window,'? measuring seven feet, six inches, in the external diameter of the circle. ^" The east window of the chancel is very large ; it is about eight feet high, and four feet, ten inches, wide, at the base. The jambs are vertical, and it has double round moulding ; while there is no trace of a mullion. The masonry of this building is of a very superior character while the stones,^' of a polygonal shape, are jointed with the greatest neatness and art. ^^ The chancel arch is eighteen feet, four inches, wide. This archway consists of three rectangular piers, at each side, and rounded at their angles,intosemi-columns. =3 Thesesupportthreesemicirculararches,entirely unornamented,exceptbyaplainarchitraveontheeasternside. ^^ Itisprobable, that somewhere on or near it had been chosen the site for erection of the cele-
brated establishment, which arose in the sixth or seventh century.
Having received St. Colman's benediction, Carthage went to the place indicated, with his two disciples, and he built there a great monastery, ^5 which soon became celebrated. ^^ As near neighbours, Carthage and Colman were thenceforward mutual and frequent visitors. ^7
the modern barony of Eglish ; but, also, the baronies of Ballycowan and Ballyboy, in the same county. See "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , n. 24, p. vi.
'7 However, it does not appear to reach back to the lifetime of St. Carthage.
in that district.
^'^ SeeDr. GeorgePetrie's"Ecclesiastical
Architecture of Ireland, anterior to the Anglo-Norman Invasion," &c. , part ii. , sect, iii. , sub-sect, i. , p. 242.
^3 In Dr. George Petrie's work, beautiful woodcut illustrations of the chancel-arch, its
^ The view of this church here given was
taken on the spot, by Mr. J. A. Mitchell,
I)rawing Master to the adjoining celebrated
Jesuit College of St. Stanislaus, at Tulla- century. See ibid. , pp. 242, 243. beg. It has been transferred to the wood,
by William F. Wakeman, and it was en- graved by Mrs Millard.
^t In the Earl of Dunraven's "Notes on Irish Architecture," edited by Miss Mar- garet Stokes, it is added : " The capitals on
'9 An engraving of this, taken from a the innermost of these piers have an archaic
drawing by Mr. George V. Du Noyer, has been published by Dr. Petrie, in his work, on the "Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ire- land, anterior to the Anglo-Norman Inva- sion," &c. , part ii. , sect, iii. , sub-sect, i. , p. 244.
^° In the Earl of Dunraven's " Notes on Irish Architecture," edited by Miss ]\Iar- garet Stokes, we have the following descrip-
tion : " The actual aperture for light and air consists of four circular orifices, about 9 inches in diameter each, set in the angles of a square. The mouldings on this beautiful window are shown in Figs, a and b Plate facing page 64. Several of the pellets in the mouldings are carved into human faces. "
—Vol. ii. , p. 65.
" " These are of the celebrated limestone.
character ; but, nevertheless, I think they are twelfth century work. The bases are bulbous. On each side of the chancel there is a doorway, round-arched, and of good ashlar masonry ; they are about 5 feet high, and 2 feet wide at the base, and i foot 10 inches at the top. It is said that these doors led into cells which are now destroyed. I do not remember having seen anything simi- lar elsewhere. "
^5 " In ipso loco maximum monasterium ffidificatum est a S. Carthago. "—Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 472.
""^ See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , May 14.
'7 See Vita ex antique MS. Hibernico, cap. ii. , num. 13.
capitals, and mouldings, are exhibited theseare classed with the style of ornamented doorways, in the Round Towers of Kildare and Timahoe, supposed to be of the eighth
;
and,
;
250
"^ According to Archbishop Ussher, "in quo ipse per xi. . annos vixit," &c. —" Bri- tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p.