The Life of St. Mochuda of Lismore | Page 8

excerpt on the duties of an abbot ('I. E. Record'
translation) will illustrate the style and spirit of the Rule:
"Of the Abbot of a Church. 1.--If you be the head man of a Church
noble is the power, better for you that you be just who take the heirship
of the king. 2.--If you are the head man of a Church noble is the
obligation, preservation of the rights of the Church from the small to
the great. 3.--What Holy Church commands preach then with diligence;
what you order to each one do it yourself. 4.--As you love your own
soul love the souls of all. Yours the magnification of every good [and]
banishment of every evil. 5.--Be not a candle under a bushel [Luke
11:33]. Your learning without a cloud over it. Yours the healing of
every host both strong and weak. 6.--Yours to judge each one according
to grade and according to deed; he will advise you at judgment before
the king. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.--Yours to rebuke the foolish, to punish the
hosts, turning disorder into order [restraint] of the stubborn, obstinate,
wretched."
Reservation of the Coarbship of Mochuda at Lismore in favour of
Kerrymen is an extremely curious if not unique provision. How long it
continued in force we do not know. Probably it endured to the twelfth
century and possibly the rule was not of strict interpretation. Christian
O'Connarchy, who was bishop of Lismore in the twelfth century, is
regarded as a native of Decies, though the contrary is slightly suggested
by his final retirement to Kerry. The alleged prophecy concerning
Kerry men and the coarbship points to some rule, regulation or law of
Mochuda.

LIFE OF ST. MOCHUDA or "BEATA MOCUDA"
The renowned bishop, Carthach, commonly called Mochuda, was of
the territory of Ciarraighe Luachra [North Kerry] and of the race of
Fergus Mac Roigh.
The illustrious bishop, who is generally known as Mochuda, was of the
Ciarraighe Luachra; to be exact--he was of the line of Fergus Mac
Roigh, who held the kingship of Ulster, till the time that he gave the
kingship to a woman for a year and did not get it back when the year
was over. His descendants are now to be found throughout various
provinces of Ireland. He fell himself, through the treachery of Oilioll,

king of Connaght, and the latter's jealousy of his wife, Meadbh,
daughter of Eochaid Feidhleach. Finghen Mac Gnaoi of Ciarraighe
Luachra was father of Mochuda, and his mother was Mead, daughter of
Finghin, of Corca Duibhne, in the vicinity of the stream called Laune in
the western part of Ireland. The forthcoming birth of Mochuda was
revealed to St. Comhghall by an angel, announcing--"There will be
conceived a child in the western part of Erin, and Carthach will be his
baptismal name and he will be beloved of God and men--in heaven and
on earth. He will come to you seeking direction as to a proposed
pilgrimage to Rome--but you must not permit the journey for the Lord
has assigned him to you; but let him remain with you a whole year."
All this came to pass, as foretold. In similar manner the future
Mochuda was foretold to St. Brendan by an angel who declared: "There
will come to you a wonder-working brother who will be the patron of
you and your kindred for ever; the region of Ciarraighe will be divided
between you and him, and Carthach will be his name; to multitudes his
advent will be cause for joy and he will gain multitudes for heaven. His
first city will be Raithen [Rahen or Rahan] in the region of Fircheall,
territory of Meath and central plain of Ireland; this will become a place
revered of men, and revered and famous will be his second city and
church, scil.:--Lismore, which shall possess lordship and great
pre-eminence."
One day when there was a large meeting of people at a certain place in
Kerry, the men and women who were present saw descending a fiery
globe, which rested on the head of Mochuda's mother, at that time
pregnant of the future saint. The ball of fire did no one any injury but
disappeared before it did injury to anyone. All those who beheld this
marvel wondered thereat and speculated what it could portend. This is
what it did mean:--that the graces of the Holy Spirit had visited this
woman and her holy child unborn.
Mochuda's father was a rich and powerful chieftain owning two strong
lioses--one, on the south side of Slieve Mish, and the other, in which
Mochuda first saw the light, beside the River Maing [Maine]. Both
places were blessed for sake of the Saint, who was conceived in one of