[194] There is a characteristic story of Cummian, Guaire, and Caimin, told by the scholiast on the Felire of Ængus. The three half brothers were at one time in Caimin’s Church of Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg. “What would you wish to have this Church filled with?” said Caimin to Guaire. “With silver and gold,” he replied, “that I might give it for my soul’s sake to saints and to churches, and to the poor.” “And you, Cummian, what would you have it filled with?” “I would have it full of books to instruct studious men, to enable them to preach the Gospel, and save souls,” said Cummian. Then they said, “But thou, Caimin, what would you wish to have in it?” “I would wish to have the full of it of diseases and sicknesses to afflict my body,” replied Caimin. And all three got their wish, “the earth to Guaire, wisdom to Cummian, and sickness and disease to Caimin;” and they all went to heaven in the way they wished.
[195] Primo loco de observatione Paschae Domini, et uno die et uno tempore per omnem orbem a nobis observetur et juxta consuetudinem litteras ad omnes tu dirigas.
[196] See Hefele. Councils, vol i., page 314. French Edition, 1869.
[197] Was this Breacan of Dairinis, near Waterford, half-brother to Cummian? He might have been then at Hy.
[198] Perhaps to Disert Chuimin, where he wrote: “Ut me ut nycticoracem in domicilio latitantem defenderem.” Epistola.
[199] Skene says this “is the oldest authentic notice of St. Patrick.”—Celtic Scot., vol. ii., p. 17.
[200] This is the synodical decree quoted in the Book of Armagh, and already referred to in this work at page 60. Its citation by Cummian so early as A.D. 640 is a clear proof that the Synod’s decrees are authentic.
[201] Tome 87. Patr. Latina.
[202] In some ancient MSS. Fada is written Fota, but it is the same word, meaning ‘Tall.’
[203] Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland, page 44.