XXXV.  CIARAN IN ISEL

24.  Now when blessed Kiaranus came from Saint Senanus, he went out to his brethren Luchennus and Odranus, who were living in a cella which is called Yseal, that is “the lowest place”; and he lived with them for a time.  And his brethren made Saint Kiaranus their almoner and guest-master:  but Luchennus, who was the eldest, was the abbot of that place, and Odranus was the prior.  Once, when Saint Kiaranus was reading out of doors in a field facing the sun, he suddenly espied weary guests entering the guest-house; and rising quickly, he forgot his book, and left it out of doors open till the following day.  As he himself was settling the guests in the house, washing their feet and diligently ministering to them, the night fell.  In that very night there was a great rain, but by the favour of God the open book was found perfectly dry; for not a drop of rain had touched it, although the whole ground was wet around it.  For this did Saint Kiaranus with his brethren render praises to Christ.

XXXVI.  THE REMOVAL OF THE LAKE

25.  Near that place of Saint Kiaranus there was an island in a lake, on which a certain lord was dwelling in his fortress with his followers; and the noise of their uproar was hindering the prayers of the holy men in their cella.  When Saint Kyeranus saw this, he went out to the shore of the lake, and prayed there to the Lord, that He would give them somewhat of relief from that island.  On the following night that island, with its lake, was removed by the divine power, far away to another place, where the noise of the mob of that island could not reach the saints of God.  And unto this day there is to be seen the place of the lake, where it had been before, some of it sandy, some of it marshy, as a sign of the act of power.

XXXVII.  CIARAN DEPARTS FROM ISEL

26.  On a certain day when Ciaran was busied out of doors in a field, a poor man came to him, asking that an alms should be given him.  In that hour a chariot with two horses was gifted to Saint Kiaranus by a certain lord, namely the son of Crimthannus; which horses with the chariot Saint Kiaranus gave to that poor man.

Then, since the brethren of Saint Kiaranus could not endure the greatness of his charity, for every day he was dividing their substance among the poor, they said unto him, “Brother, depart from us; we cannot now be along with thee in one place, and preserve and nourish our brethren for God, for thine excess of charity.”  To whom holy Kiaranus answered:  “If therefore I had remained in this place, it would not have been ‘Ysseal,’ that is, ‘lowest,’ that is, not small; but high, that is, great and honourable."[5] With these words, holy Kiaranus gave a blessing to his brethren, and taking his book-satchels with his books on his shoulders, he went thence on his way.