Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
A History of the Franciscan Order in Ireland (Author: Donagh Mooney)

Subsection 10

Kilcrea

The convent of Kilcrea is built on the bank of the Bride, in the territory of Muskerry, and diocese of Cork, from which city it is distant seven Irish miles. It was founded by the Lords of Muskerry. I am not certain of the date, but it does not appear to be of great antiquity.45 The structure, though small, is admirably adapted for a monastic establishment. The buildings have been preserved in complete repair to the present day, and lack nothing but the presence of the friars who are prevented from occupying the place, not alone by

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the general persecution of the heretics, but more especially because Cormac M'Dermott, Lord of Muskerry, bound himself under legal penalties in 1614 not to suffer them to dwell in their ancient abode. They have not, however, deserted the district, and four Franciscans live in the vicinity of the convent, and impart what spiritual graces they find possible to the people of the surrounding country. The majority of the nobility of Muskerry have their burial places in Kilcrea, and are most careful in preserving the church and convent from injury. They are, indeed, worthy and generous benefactors of our Order, and have been so since we came among them.

Of the records of this convent I have been able to recover but these few. In the year 1584 a company of English soldiers passing through the district entered the church and commenced to pull down and hack to pieces the statues and paintings. Two of them climbed up to the place where an image of the crucifixion stood. It was a beautiful work of art, having on each arm of the cross an exquisite medallion wrought in gold and silver, representing one of the evangelists, and was of great value on account of the precious metal it contained, as well as of the skill of the artist. Each struggled to reach and seize upon the coveted spoil before the other. They finally came to blows, and both fell mortally wounded. One died that night, the other on the following day. Their fate was considered by all present a just retribution of Divine Providence.

The English soldiers made another attack on the convent in 1599. Their arrival was unexpected, and Father Matthew O'Leyne, a venerable priest, about 67 years of age, was on the premises. He fled from the Monastery to escape their violence, but was overtaken while crossing the Bride, and fell pierced by their lances. He died, without doubt, a martyr's death for he was slain in hatred of the Faith.

Here also lived in the odour of sanctity a priest named Felim M'Carthy. Before entering religion he had been a member of the Third Order, and was remarkable for his hospitality, his charity to the poor, and his attention to the sick and wounded during the war. He quarrelled one day with

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his step-brother, and in a moment of passion, hurled at him a large knife which he held in his hand. It struck the unfortunate man and killed him on the spot. Anxious to do penance for his crime, he determined to leave the world, and having obtained a dispensation from the irregularity which he had incurred by the murder, he besought our, brethren at Kilcrea to admit him into their community. He urged his petition with such perseverance and earnestness that he, at last, obtained his request. From the day he entered the monastery his life was spent in penance and tears, serving God in all humility, and weeping day and night for his sins. The Lord vouchsafed to declare his complete reconciliation with him by two wonderful signs. In his extreme old age the joints of his fingers, except the index, became so stiff and contracted that he could not extend or make any use of them. This and the thumb of both hands, with which he offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and touched the Adorable Sacrament, retained their full strength and flexibility. All who observed this strange fact came to the conclusion that the hand which had shed human blood had lost its strength by a just judgment, and that the first fingers retained their power by virtue of the Unbloody Sacrifice which they had so often assisted in offering. The other sign of God's mercy was this. While the holy man lay dying in the infirmary, the people of the surrounding country beheld the convent light up as if it were in flames. A crowd gathered from all sides. There was no sign of fire, but the man of God had died at the very time in which they had seen the flames rise up towards heaven. They returned to their homes glorifying the Lord, who had deigned to show forth by this marvellous sign how pleasing to Him had been the life of His servant.

Inside the cloister, at the entrance of the chapter room, rests the body of the venerable Father Teige O'Sullivan, who died on the 17th of December, 1597. He was a distinguished preacher, and had been most successful in his missionary labours throughout a great part of Ireland, especially in those districts which were more difficult of access on account of the forests, and therefore more lawless, and frequented by robbers and abandoned women. Many of these outcasts were brought

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back to the paths of virtue by his admonitions and exhortations so that the light of his good example shone through all the kingdom. He was the faithful adviser of Dr. Mac Creagh, Bishop of Cork, who undertook nothing of importance without his counsel.

Many were the plots hatched against his life and liberty by the Protestants. They were offered a reward for his capture. On this account a number of evil-minded men were constantly on the watch to seize him and hand him over to the English authorities. One day, while travelling through the County Cork, he was suddenly surrounded by a number of these ruffians. Now that they had met him, they changed colour, as if they feared to execute their wicked design. ‘Friends,’ he said ‘consider well what you have come here to do. Carry out your purpose if you so determine, I am ready, if such be the will of God.’ They were astounded at his words, believing that he had come to the knowledge of their project by divine revelation and not daring to lay hands on the holy man, suffered him to proceed unmolested.

On another occasion he was pursued, in the same county, by a company of English troopers. Approaching a cross on the wayside he besought God that through the virtue of His Holy Cross those enemies might not be permitted to pass that sacred sign. Wonderful to relate, when the horsemen reached the cross they could not advance a step beyond it. They saw object of their pursuit a short distance in front, but try as they would they found it impossible to proceed. Thus the servant of God escaped their hands.

Fr. O'Sullivan died at a distance from the convent of Kilcrea, in a place where he had been labouring for the edifices of the people. The whole country was then so devastated by war, that the public roads could scarcely be traced by daylight. The Catholics, among whom he had died, determined to bury him with his brethren. They dared not attempt this in an open manner, so, when night fell, the body was placed upon a horse, and accompanied by the best guides in the locality, the funeral party set out on their journey. The darkness was intense, and after a short time the way was lost. They knew not what direction to turn or what course to take.

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After a long and painful delay one of them said, ‘Let the horse go on and choose his own path. He bears the body of a saint, and by his guidance will doubtlessly lead us alright.’ The horse walked on, and turning neither to the right nor left, made straight for Kilcrea, where they arrived about midnight. While the sacred remains were being consigned to the grave, a number of persons at a distance, who perhaps, were acting as sentinels in the different castles, beheld a strange and wonderful light radiating from the convent and adjoining grounds. Having afterwards heard of the death of this holy man, and that he was being buried just then, they were convinced that the signs in the heavens which they had seen, proceeded from no natural cause, but were the work of the Most High, declaring the sanctity of His servant.