6. (4) From this time onwards the Levite[205] of the Lord publicly girded himself to every work of piety, but more especially to those things in which there seemed some indignity. In fact it was his greatest care to attend to the burial of the dead poor,[206] because that savoured not less of humility than of humanity. Nor did temptation fail to test our modern Tobit,[207] and, as in the old story, it came from a woman,[208] or rather from the serpent through a woman.[209] His sister,[210] abhorring the indignity (as it seemed to her) of his office, said: "What are you doing, madman? Let the dead bury their dead."[211] And she attacked him daily with this reproach.[212] But he answered the foolish woman according to her folly,[213] "Wretched woman, you preserve the sound of the pure word,[214] but you are ignorant of its force." So he maintained with devotion, and exercised unweariedly the ministry which he had undertaken under compulsion. 1119(?)For that reason also they[215] deemed that the office of the priesthood should be conferred upon him. And this was done. But when he was ordained priest he was about twenty-five years old.[216] And if in both his ordinations the rule of the Canons seems to have been somewhat disregarded—as indeed does seem to have been the case, for he received the Levitical ministry before his twenty-fifth, and the dignity of the priesthood before his thirtieth year[217]—it may well be ascribed to the zeal of the ordainer and the merits of him who was ordained.[218] But for my part, I consider that such irregularity should neither be condemned in the case of a saint, nor deliberately claimed by him who is not a saint. 1120.Not content with this the bishop also committed to him his own authority[219] to sow the holy seed[220] in a nation which was not holy,[221] and to give to a people rude and living without law,[222] the law of life and of discipline. He received the command with all alacrity, even as he was fervent in spirit,[223] not hoarding up his talents, but eager for profit from them.[224] And behold he began to root out with the hoe of the tongue, to destroy, to scatter,[225] day by day making the crooked straight and the rough places plain.[226] He rejoiced as a giant to run everywhere.[227] You might call him a consuming fire burning the briers of crimes.[228] You might call him an axe or a mattock casting down[229] evil plantings.[230] He extirpated barbaric rites, he planted those of the Church. All out-worn superstitions (for not a few of them were discovered) he abolished, and, wheresoever he found it, every sort of malign influence sent by evil angels.[231]
7. In fine whatsoever came to his notice which was irregular or unbecoming or perverse his eye did not spare;[232] but as the hail scatters the untimely figs from the fig-trees,[233] and as the wind the dust from the face of the earth,[234] so did he strive with all his might to drive out before his face and destroy entirely such things from his people. And in place of all these the most excellent legislator delivered the heavenly laws. He made regulations full of righteousness, full of moderation and integrity. Moreover in all churches he ordained the apostolic sanctions and the decrees of the holy fathers, and especially the customs of the holy Roman Church.[235] Hence it is that to this day there is chanting and psalmody in them at the canonical hours after the fashion of the whole world. For there was no such thing before, not even in the city.[236] He, however, had learnt singing in his youth, and soon he introduced song into his monastery,[237] while as yet none in the city, nor in the whole bishopric, could or would sing. Then Malachy instituted anew[238] the most wholesome usage of Confession,[239] the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Marriage contract—of all of which they were either ignorant or negligent.[240] And let these serve as an example of the rest, for [here] and through the whole course of the history we omit much for the sake of brevity.
8. (5). Since he had a desire and a very great zeal for the honouring of the divine offices and the veneration of the sacraments, lest by chance he might ordain or teach anything concerning these matters otherwise than that which was in accordance with the rite of the universal Church, it came into his mind to visit Bishop Malchus,[241] that he might give him fuller information on all points. He was an old man, full of days[242] and virtues, and the wisdom of God was in him.[243] He was of Irish nationality, but had lived in England in the habit and rule of a monk in the monastery of Winchester, from which he was promoted to be bishop in Lismore,[244] a city of Munster, and one of the noblest of the cities of that kingdom. There so great grace was bestowed upon him from above that he was illustrious, not only for life and doctrine, but also for signs. Of these I set down two as examples, that it may be known to all what sort of preceptor Malachy had in the knowledge of holy things. He healed a boy, who was troubled with a mental disorder, one of those who are called lunatics, in the act of confirming him with the holy unction. This was so well known and certain that he soon made him porter of his house, and the boy lived in good health in that office till he reached manhood. He restored hearing to one who was deaf; in which miracle the deaf person acknowledged a wonderful fact, that when the saint put his fingers into his ears on either side he perceived that two things like little pigs came out of them. For these and other such deeds, his fame increased and he won a great name; so that Scots[245] and Irish flowed together to him and he was reverenced by all as the one father of all.
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When therefore Malachy, having received the blessing of Father Imar, and having been sent by the bishop,[246] came to him, after a prosperous journey, he was kindly received by the old man; and he remained with him for some years,[247] in order that by staying so long he might draw fuller draughts from his aged breast, knowing that which is written, With the ancient is wisdom.[248] But I suppose that another cause of his long sojourn was that the great Foreseer of all things would have His servant Malachy become known to all in a place to which so many resorted, since he was to be useful to all. For he could not but be dear to those who knew him. In fact one thing happened in that period, by which in some measure he made manifest to men what had been known to God as being in him.
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9. A conflict having taken place between the king of South Munster[249]—which is the southern part of Ireland—and his brother,[250] and the brother being victorious, the king, driven from his kingdom, sought refuge with Bishop Malchus.[251] It was not, however, in order that with his help he should recover the kingdom; but rather the devout prince gave place unto wrath[252] and made a virtue of necessity,[253] choosing to lead a private life. And when the bishop was preparing to receive the king with due honour, he declined it, saying that he preferred to be as one of those poor brothers who consorted with him, to lay aside his royal state, and to be content with the common poverty, rather to await the will of God than to get back his kingdom by force; and that he would not for his earthly honour shed man's blood,[254] since it would cry unto God against him from the ground.[255] When he heard this the bishop rejoiced greatly, and with admiration for his devotion satisfied his desire. Why more? The king is given a poor house for his dwelling, Malachy for his teacher, bread with salt and water for his food. Moreover for dainties, the presence of Malachy, his life and doctrine, were sufficient for the king; so that he might say to him, How sweet are thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.[256] Besides, every night he watered his couch with his tears,[257] and also with a daily bath of cold water he quenched the burning lust for evil in his flesh. And the king prayed in the words of another king, Look upon my affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.[258] And God did not turn away his prayer nor His mercy from him.[259] And his supplication was heard,[260] although otherwise than he had desired. For he was troubled about his soul; but God, the avenger of innocence, willing to show men that there is a remainder for the man of peace,[261] was preparing meanwhile to execute a judgement for the oppressed,[262] which was utterly beyond his hope. And God stirred up the spirit of a neighbouring king:[263] for Ireland is not one kingdom, but is divided into many. This king therefore seeing what had been done, was filled with wrath; and indignant, on the one hand, at the freedom of the raiders and the insolence of the proud, and on the other, pitying the desolation of the kingdom and the downfall of the king, he went down to the cell of the poor man; urged him to return, but did not succeed in persuading him. He was instant, nevertheless, pledged himself to help him, assured him that he need not doubt the result, promised that God would be with him, whom all his adversaries would not be able to resist.[264] He laid before him also the oppression of the poor and the devastation of his country; yet he prevailed not.
10. But when to these arguments were added the command of the bishop[265] and the advice of Malachy—the two men on whom he wholly depended—at length, with difficulty, he consented. A king followed a king, and according to the word of the king,[266] as was the will in heaven,[267] the marauders were driven out with absolute ease, and the man was led back to his own, with great rejoicing of his people, and was restored to his kingdom. From that time the king loved and always reverenced Malachy; so much the more because he had learned more fully in the holy man the things that were worthy of reverence and affection. For he could not be ignorant of the holiness of him with whom he had enjoyed so much intimacy in his adversity. Therefore he honoured him the more in his prosperity with constant acts of friendship, and faithful services, and he heard him gladly, and when he heard him did many things.[268] But enough of this. Nevertheless I suppose it was not without purpose that the Lord so magnified him then before kings,[269] but he was a chosen vessel unto Him, about to bear His name before kings and princes.[270]
[134] Malachy was born in 1095, before November. See below, p. 130. n. 2.
[135] Urbanum, citizen-like.