s, and see if our sentiments are conformable to these principles of
the holy religion which we profess. Are our lives a constant exercise of
patience under all trials, and a continual renunciation of our senses
and corrupt inclinations, by the practice of self-denial and penance?
Are we not impatient under pain or sickness, fretful under
disappointments, disturbed and uneasy at the least accidents which are
disagreeable to our nature, harsh and peevish in reproving the faults of
others, and slothful and unmortified in endeavoring to correct our own?
What a monstrous contradiction is it to call ourselves followers of
Christ, yet to live irreconcilable enemies to his cross! We can never
separate Christ from his cross, on which he sacrificed himself for us,
that he might unite us on it eternally to himself. Let us courageously
embrace it, and he will be our comfort and support, as he was of his
martyrs.

Footnotes:
1. Matt. xvi. 24. Luke xxiv. 26.

{511}

ST. KIARAN, OR KENERIN, B.C.

CALLED BY THE BRITONS, PIRAN.

AMONG the Irish saints who were somewhat older than St. Patrick, the
first and most celebrated is St. Kiaran, whom the Irish style the
first-born of their saints. According to some he was a native of the
country of Ossory, according to others, of Cork. Usher places his birth
about the year 352. Having received some imperfect information about the
Christian faith, at thirty years of age he took a journey to Rome, that
he might be instructed in its heavenly doctrine, and learn faithfully to
practise its precepts. He was accompanied home by four holy clerks, who
were all afterwards bishops; their names are, Lugacius, Columban, Lugad,
and Cassan. The Irish writers suppose him to have been ordained bishop
at Rome; but what John of Tinmouth affirms, seems far more probable,
that he was one of the twelve whom St. Patrick consecrated bishops in
Ireland to assist him in planting the gospel in that island. For his
residence, he built himself a cell in a place encompassed with woods,
near the water of Fuaran, which soon grew into a numerous monastery. A
town was afterwards built there called Saigar, now from the saint
Sier-keran. Here he converted to the faith his family, and whole clan,
which was that of the Osraigs, with many others. Having given the
religious veil to his mother, whose name was Liadan, he appointed her a
cell or monastery near his own, called by the Irish Ceall Lidain. In his
old age, being desir