Life of St. Declan of Ardmore and Life of St. Mochuda of Lismore by Anonymous
page 75 of 110 (68%)
page 75 of 110 (68%)
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Luimnech and stayed not till they reached the summit of Sliabh Mis, when
he addressed Mochuda: "Leave this confined region for the present to the envy and jealousy of the bishops and hereafter it will become yours and your coarbs' to the end of time." The advice commended itself to Mochuda and he thanked the king for it. Thereupon he abandoned his cell to the aforesaid bishops and determined to set out alone as a pilgrim to the northern part of Ireland. In the meantime an angel visited Comghall and repeated to him what had been foretold him already--that there should come to him a young priest desirous for Christ's sake of pilgrimage beyond the seas--that Comghall should dissuade him and, instead, retain the stranger with him for a year at Bangor. "And how am I to recognise him?" asked Comghall. The angel answered:--"Whom you shall see going from the church to the guest-house" (for it was Mochuda's custom to visit the church first). [See note 1.] Comghall announced to his household that there was coming to them a distinguished stranger, well-beloved of God, of whose advent an angel had twice foretold him. Some time later Mochuda arrived at Comghall's establishment, and he went first to the monastery and Comghall recognised him and bade him welcome. In that place Mochuda remained a whole year, as the angel had said, and at the end of the year he returned to his own country where he built many cells and churches and worked many wonders, winning many souls to religion and to good works. Many persons moreover placed themselves, their children, and their kindred under his jurisdiction, and the great parishes of their own territory were assigned to him, and finally the episcopate of Kerry became his. Subsequent to this Mochuda, having committed the care of his cell and parish to certain pious and suitable persons, set out himself, |
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