St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Part 24

[796] Heb. viii. 5.

[797] Jocelin, writing towards the end of the twelfth century, declares that St. Patrick founded a monastery at Saul (_Vita S.

Patricii_, cap. 32). But, apparently, neither in the Annals nor in any other authority earlier than Jocelin, is mention made of a monastery there before St. Malachy's time. The text seems to imply that there were no monastic buildings on the site when he founded (or re-founded) it. Malachy placed in his new monastery a convent of regular canons of St. Augustine (_A.U._ 1170); but it never became an important establishment, though it was still in existence in the sixteenth century. See Reeves, pp. 40, 220 ff.

[798] This and the next story (- 65) ill.u.s.trate Malachy's power of reading the hearts of men.

[799] Luke xix. 1-4.

[800] Luke i. 17.

[801] 2 Cor. x. 18.

[802] See p. 4, n. 7.

[803] _Suriensis monasterii._ The monastery of Inislounaght, close to the River Suir, a mile or two to the west of Clonmel, co. Tipperary, is commonly known as _De Surio_. The present pa.s.sage seems to show that it was founded before 1148. For information about it see an article by the late Dr. Bagwell, in _J.R.S.A.I._ x.x.xix. 267 f. and Janauschek, _Orig. Cist._ p. 131. This incident must have been considerably later than the foundation of Mellifont (see p. 75, n. 4).

It may therefore be dated between 1143 and 1147.

[804] Rev. xix. 10.

[805] This word is constantly used in the plural of the Eucharist, each of the elements being regarded as a "sacrament."

[806] John i. 20.

[807] Gen. x.x.xix. 17.

[808] This story is suggested by the last because the incident occurred during the celebration of Ma.s.s.

[809] Evidently the cemetery in which, according to local tradition, St. Patrick was buried (see - 19). It was probably the _Ferta Martair_, the site of St. Patrick's earlier settlement at Armagh (Reeves, _Churches_, p. 5; _R.I.A._ xviii. 660). It seems to be hinted that St. Malachy received a revelation of the position of his grave.

[810] Ps. lxxiv. 9.

[811] Secret of Ma.s.s for Kings, etc.

[812] A fresh cla.s.sification of Malachy's miracles. For prophecy see -- 36, 48, 52, 57, 62, 64 f.

[813] -- 11, 63, 64, 65.

[814] -- 22 f., 48, 57, 60, 62.

[815] 1 Cor. xii. 9 (vg.).---- 14, 15, 40, 45-47, 49-52, 60, 62.

[816] -- 26, 54, 57, 61.

[817] - 53.

[818] Ps. cxix. 46.---- 10, 40, 60.

[819] 1 Pet. v. 4.

[820] Rom. vi. 21, combined with Ps. cxvi. 15.

CHAPTER VIII

_Departure from Ireland. Death and Burial at Clairvaux._

[Sidenote: 1148, May (?)]

67. (30). Being asked once, in what place, if a choice were given him, he would prefer to spend his last day--for on this subject the brothers used to ask one another what place each would select for himself--he hesitated, and made no reply. But when they insisted, he said, "If I take my departure hence[821] I shall do so nowhere more gladly than whence I may rise together with our Apostle"[822]--he referred to St.

Patrick; "but if it behoves me to make a pilgrimage, and if G.o.d so permits, I have selected Clairvaux." When asked also about the time, [he named in reply] the festival of all the dead.[823] If it is regarded as a mere wish, it was fulfilled, if as a prophecy, not _a jot pa.s.sed_ from it.[824] _As we have heard so have we seen_[825] alike concerning place and day. Let us relate briefly in what order and by what occasion it came to pa.s.s. Malachy took it amiss that Ireland was still without a pall; for he was zealous for the sacraments, and would not that his nation should be wholly deprived of any one of them.[826] And remembering that it had been promised to him by Pope Innocent,[827] he was the more sad that while he was still alive it had not been sent for.

And taking advantage of the fact that Pope Eugenius[828] held the chief rule and was reported to have gone at that time to France,[829] he rejoiced that he had found opportunity for claiming it. He took for granted that, the Pope being such a man as he was, and having been promoted from such a religious profession--and the more because he had been a special son of his own Clairvaux--he need not fear that he should have any difficulty with him. Therefore the bishops were summoned; a council a.s.sembled.[830] Matters which were of immediate importance at the time were discussed for three days, and on the fourth the scheme of obtaining the pall was broached. a.s.sent was given, but on condition that it should be obtained by another. However, since the journey was a comparatively short one, and on that account the pilgrimage seemed more easy to be endured, none presumed to oppose his counsel and will. And when the council was dissolved Malachy started on his way.[831] Such brothers as had come together followed him to the sh.o.r.e; but not many, for he doubtless restrained them. One of them, Catholicus by name, with tearful voice and face, said to him, "Alas! you are going away; and in how great, almost daily, trouble you leave me you are not ignorant, and yet you do not, of your pity, give me help. If I deserve to suffer, what sin have the brothers committed that they are scarcely allowed to have any day or night free from the labour of caring for and guarding me?" By these words and tears of his son (for he wept) the father's _heart was_ troubled,[832] and he embraced him with caresses, and making the sign of the cross on his breast said, "Be a.s.sured that you will have no such suffering till I return." Now he was an epileptic, and fell often; insomuch that at times he suffered not once but many times a day. He had been a victim to this horrible disease for six years; but at the word of Malachy he made a perfect recovery. From that hour he has suffered no such thing; no such thing, as we believe, will he suffer henceforth, for henceforth Malachy will not return.

68. When he was just about to embark there _came unto him_ two of those who _clave unto him_[833] more closely, boldly _desiring a certain thing of him_. And he said to them, _"What would ye?"_[834] And they answered, "We will not say, except you promise that you will give it." He pledged himself. And they said, "We would have you certainly promise of your condescension, that you will return in good health to Ireland." All the others also insisted upon it. Then he deliberated for a while, repenting at first that he had bound himself, and not finding any way of escape.

He was _straitened on every side_,[835] while no way of safety presented itself from both dangers--of forfeiting his wish and of breaking his promise. It seemed at length that he should rather choose that which influenced him more strongly at the moment, and leave the rest to higher guidance. He a.s.sented, sadly it is true; but he was more unwilling that they should be made sad; and pledging himself as they wished, he went on board the s.h.i.+p. And when they had completed nearly half the voyage suddenly a contrary wind drove the s.h.i.+p back and brought it to the land of Ireland again. Leaving the s.h.i.+p he pa.s.sed the night in the port itself in one of his churches. And he joyfully gave thanks for the resourcefulness of the divine providence, by which it came about that he had now satisfied his promise. But in the morning, he went on board, and the same day, after a prosperous crossing, came into Scotland. On the third day[836] he reached a place which is called Viride Stagnum;[837]

which he had caused to be prepared that he might found an abbey there.

And leaving there some of his sons, our brothers, as a convent of monks and abbot[838] (for he had brought them with him for that purpose) he bade them farewell and set out.

69. And as he pa.s.sed on, King David met him, by whom he was received with joy and was detained as his guest for some days.[839] And having done many things pleasing to G.o.d he resumed the journey that he had begun. And pa.s.sing through Scotland, at the very border of England he went aside to the Church of Gisburn, where there dwell religious men leading a canonical life,[840] familiar to him of old for their religious conversation and honourable character. At that place a woman was brought to him, suffering from a disease horrible to see, which is commonly called cancer; and he healed her. For when water which he blessed was sprinkled on the sores she ceased to feel pain. On the next day scarcely a sore was to be seen.

Departing thence he came to the sea, but was refused pa.s.sage. The reason, if I am not mistaken, was that some difference had arisen between the chief pontiff and the king of England: for the king suspected in that good man I know not what evil, if he should cross the sea;[841] for neither did he allow other bishops to cross.[842] That obstacle, though contrary to the will of Malachy, was not contrary to the object of his wish. He grieved that the attainment of his desire should be postponed, not knowing that by this it would be the rather fulfilled. For if he had immediately pa.s.sed over the sea he would have been obliged to pa.s.s by Clairvaux in order to follow the chief Pontiff.

For by that time he had left it and was at or near Rome.[843] But now through this delay it was brought about that he crossed later, and so, as was fitting, he came to the place of his most holy death, and at the hour of its approach.

[Sidenote: 1148, Oct. 13 or 14]

[Sidenote: 1148, Oct. 18]

70. (37). And he was received by us, though he came from the west, as the true _day-spring[844] from on high visiting us_.[845] O, how greatly did that radiant sun fill our Clairvaux with added glory! How pleasant was the festal day that dawned upon us at his coming! _This was the day which the Lord had made, we rejoiced and were glad in it._[846] As for me, with what rapid and bounding step, though trembling and weak,[847]

did I soon _run_ to meet him! With what joy I _kissed him_! With what joyful arms I _embraced_[848] this grace sent to me from heaven! With what eager face and mind, my father, _I brought thee into my mother's house and into the chamber of her that conceived me_![849] What festive days I spent with thee then, though few! But how did he in his turn greet us? In truth our pilgrim showed himself cheerful and kindly to all, to all incredibly gracious. _How good and how pleasant_[850] a part he played among us as our guest, whom, forsooth, _he had come from the uttermost parts of the earth_ to see, not that he should _hear_, but that he should show us, a _Solomon_! In fact we _heard_ his _wisdom_,[851] we had his presence, and we have it still. Already four or five days of this our festival had pa.s.sed, when lo, on the feast day of Blessed Luke the Evangelist,[852] when he had celebrated Ma.s.s in the convent[853] with that holy devotion of his, he was taken with a fever and lay down in his bed: and all of us were [sick] with him. _The end of our mirth is sorrow_,[854] but moderate sorrow, because for a time the fever seemed to be slight. You should see the brothers running about, eager to give, or to receive. To whom was it not sweet to see him? To whom was it not sweeter to minister to him? Both were pleasant and both salutary. It was an act of kindness to do him service, and it was repaid also to each one of them, by the gift of grace. All a.s.sisted, all were busied _with much serving_,[855] searching for medicines, applying poultices, urging him often to eat. But he said to them, "These things are without avail, yet for love of you I do whatever you bid me." For he knew that _the time_ of his departure was at hand.[856]

71. And when the brothers who had come with him[857] urged him more boldly, saying that it behoved him not to despair of life, for that no signs of death appeared in him,[858] he said, "It behoves Malachy to leave the body this year."[859] And he added, "See, the day is drawing near which, as you very well know, I have always desired to be the day of _my dissolution_.[860] _I know whom I have believed and am persuaded_;[861] I shall _not be disappointed of_ the rest of _my desire_,[862] since I already have part of it. He who by his mercy has led me to the place which I sought, will not deny me the time for which I wished no less. As regards this mean body, _here is my rest_;[863] as regards my soul, the Lord will provide, _who saveth them that put their trust in Him_.[864] And _there is_ no small hope _laid up for me at that day_[865] in which so great benefits are bestowed by the living on the dead."[866] Not far away was that day when he spoke thus. Meanwhile he ordered that he should be anointed with the sacred oil. When the convent of brothers was going out that it might be done solemnly,[867] he would not permit them to come up to him; he went down to them. For he was lying in the balcony[868] of the upper house. He was anointed; and when he had received the viatic.u.m, he commended himself to the prayers of the brothers, and the brothers to G.o.d,[869] and went back to bed. He went down from the high balcony[870] on his feet, and again, as if that were not enough, he went up on his feet; yet he said that death _was at the doors_.[871] Who should believe that this man was dying? Himself alone and G.o.d could know it. His face did not seem to have become pallid or wasted. His brow was not wrinkled, his eyes were not sunken, his nostrils were not thin, his lips were not contracted, his teeth were not brown, his neck was not gaunt and lean, his shoulders were not bowed, the flesh on the rest of his body had not failed. Such was the grace of his body, and such the _glory of his countenance which was_ not _to be done away_,[872] even in death. As he appeared in life so was he also in death, more like to one alive.

72. (38). Hitherto our story has run a rapid course; but now it stays because Malachy _has finished his course_.[873] He is still, and with him we are still. Moreover, who would willingly hasten to [tell of]

death? Especially thy death, holy father, who could describe it? Who would wish to hear the story? Yet we loved _in life, in death we shall not be divided_.[874] Brothers, let us not forsake in death him with whom we companied in life. From further Scotland[875] he ran hither to death; _let us also go and die with him_.[876] I must, I must tell that which of necessity I saw. The celebration, everywhere renowned, of All Saints[877] comes, and according to the ancient saying, _Music in mourning is an unseasonable discourse_.[878] We come, we sing, even against our will. We weep while we sing and we sing while we weep.

Malachy, though he sings not, yet does not lament. For why should he lament, who is drawing near to joy? For _us who remain_,[879] mourning remains. Malachy alone keeps festival. For what he cannot do with his body he does with his mind, as it is written, _The thought of man shall confess to thee, and the residue of thought shall keep the day of festival to thee._[880] When the instrument of the body fails him, and the organ of the mouth is silent, and the office of the voice ceases, it remains that with songs in his heart he keeps festival. Why should not the saint keep festival, who is being brought to the festival of the saints?[881] He presents to them what will soon be due to himself. _Yet a little while_[882] and he will be one of them.

73. Towards the dusk of night, when now somehow the celebration of the day had been finished by us, Malachy had drawn near, not to dusk but to dawn. Was it not dawn to him[883] for whom _the night is far spent and the day is at hand_?[884] So, the fever increasing, a burning sweat from within him began to break out over his whole body, that, as it were _going through fire and through water, he might be brought into a wealthy place_.[885] Now his life was despaired of, now each one condemned his own judgement, now none doubted that Malachy's word[886]

was prevailing. We were called; we came. And lifting up his eyes on those who stood round him, he said, "_With desire I have desired to eat this pa.s.sover_ with _you_;[887] I give thanks to the divine compa.s.sion, I have _not been disappointed of my desire_."[888] Do you see the man free from care in death, and, not yet dead, already certain of life? No wonder. Seeing that the night was come to which he had looked forward, and that in it the day was dawning for him, so to speak triumphing over the night, he seemed to scoff at the darkness and as it were to cry, "_I shall_ not _say, surely the darkness shall cover me_, because this _night shall be light about me in my pleasure_."[889] And tenderly consoling us he said, "Take care of me; if it be allowed me I shall not forget you. And it shall be allowed. _I have believed in G.o.d_,[890] and _all things are possible to him that believeth_.[891] I have loved G.o.d; I have loved you, and _charity never faileth_."[892] _And looking up to heaven_[893] he said, "O G.o.d, _keep them in Thy name_;[894] _and not these_ only _but_ all them _also who through_ my _word_[895] and ministry have given themselves to thy service." Then, laying his hands on each one severally and blessing all,[896] he bade them go to rest, _because his hour was not yet come_.[897]

[Sidenote: 1148, November 2]

74. We went. We returned about midnight, for at that hour it was announced that _the light s.h.i.+neth in darkness_.[898] The house filled, the whole community was present, many abbots also who had a.s.sembled.

_With psalms and hymns and spiritual songs_[899] we followed our friend as he returned to his own country.[900] In the fifty-fourth year of his age,[901] at the place and time which he had chosen beforehand and predicted, Malachy, the bishop and legate of the holy Apostolic See, taken up _by the angels_,[902] as it were from our hands, happily _fell asleep in the Lord_.[903] And indeed he slept.

His placid face was the sign of a placid departure. And verily _the eyes of all were_ fixed _upon him_;[904] but none could perceive when he departed. When dead he was thought to be alive, when alive, dead; so true was it that there was no difference which might distinguish death from life. The same vivacity of face, the same serenity, as commonly appears in one who sleeps. You might say that death robbed him of none of these things, but rather very greatly increased them.

He was not changed; but he changed us all. In wondrous fas.h.i.+on the sorrow and groaning of all suddenly sank to rest, _sadness_ was changed _into joy_,[905] singing banished lamentation.[906] He is borne forth, voices are borne to heaven, he is borne into the oratory on the shoulders of the abbots. _Faith has conquered_,[907] affection triumphs, things a.s.sume their normal course. All things are carried out in order, all proceed in the way of reason.

75. And in truth what reason is there to lament Malachy immoderately, as though his _death_ was not _precious_,[908] as though it was not rather sleep than death, as though it was not the port of death and the portal of life?[909] _Our friend_ Malachy _sleepeth_;[910] and I, must I mourn?