and by habit, by speech
and by life, he showed himself as an example to them. For he was as
an eagle inciting its young to fly, in respect to sublimity of
contemplation; but he lived as the least of them in brotherly
humility. For he was in spiritual meditations attached to the highest
things; yet so much did he stoop to feeble weakness that he seemed as
though he tended towards the lowliest things. He was also perfect
in faith, fervent in charity, rejoicing in hope, gentle of heart,
courteous of speech, patient and long-suffering, kindly in
hospitality, ever diligent in works of piety, benign, gentle,
peaceful, sober, and quiet. To summarise many things in one short
sentence, he was garnished with the ornament of all the virtues.
Expending a care zealous for these and the like matters--the care of
Mary for contemplation, and of Martha for the dispensing of things
temporal--he fulfilled his duty in ordered succession. Nor could the
light of such and so great a lantern be hidden under a bushel: but
it glittered with light, all around, wheresoever it abundantly
illuminated the world with the outpoured glory of its grace.

XXXIX. THE COMING OF OENNA

16. He was nevertheless inspired with a spirit of prophecy, which
appears from the preceding and the following examples. For on a
certain day the voice of one asking for ferrying had struck on his
ears. Then he said to the brethren, "I hear," said he, "the voice of
him whom God will set over you as abbot. Go, therefore, and fetch
him." So they hastened; and coming to the harbour, they found an
unlettered youth. Not caring to lead him to the holy man, they
returned and declared that they had found no one, save an unlettered
youth who was wandering as a vagabond in the woods. But Saint Queranus
said, "Lead him hither," said he, "and despise not your future
pastor." Who being led in, by the inspiration of God and by the
instruction of the holy man, took on him the habit of religion, and
duly learned his letters. For he is Saint Oenius, a man of venerable
life; and, as the saint prophesied beforehand, he was duly set over
the brethren.

XLI. HOW CIARAN WENT FROM INIS AINGHIN TO CLONMACNOIS

17. At length, when some time had passed, a holy man by name
Dompnanus, of Mumonia by race, came to visit the man of God. When
Saint Keranus enquired of him the cause of his coming, he replied
that he wished to have a place in which he could serve the Lord in
security. But Saint Keran