The main purpose of this Introduction is to give an account of a movement which changed the whole face of the Irish Church, and to the advancement of which St. Malachy devoted his life. In default of a better word we may call the movement a Reformation, though it might perhaps be more accurately described as an ecclesiastical revolution. Without some knowledge of its aims and progress it is impossible to assign to Malachy his true place in the history of his native country. Aeterna Press

As part of the historicizing corpus of seventh-century Irish writing, the Lives framed the narrative of the early saints as an effective weapon in contemporary political and ecclesiastical conflicts. Cogitosus’s Life of Brigit, Muirchú’s and Tírechán’s accounts of Saint Patrick, and Adomnán’s Life of Columba created the understanding of the history of early Ireland that has endured to this day. How did the writers accomplish this through their literary choices? The authors of Irish saints’ Lives used the literary form of hagiography (Christian biography), miracle stories, and an elaborate rhetorical style to present the words and actions of their subjects. These Lives created a narrative of early Irish history that supported the political/ecclesiastical elites by showing that their power derived from the actions of their patron saints.

Robert Alexander Stewart Macalister's book, 'The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran,' delves into the hagiography of one of Ireland's most revered saints, St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. Through the comparison of Latin and Irish sources, Macalister offers a comprehensive analysis of the life and miracles of St. Ciaran, shedding light on the cultural and religious significance of this early Irish saint. The book is meticulously researched and presented in a scholarly yet accessible manner, making it a valuable resource for students and scholars of early Irish history and hagiography. Macalister's blend of linguistic expertise and historical insight brings new depth to the study of St. Ciaran's life and legacy. Robert Alexander Stewart Macalister, a prominent Celtic scholar and archaeologist, dedicated much of his career to studying ancient Irish texts and monuments. His passion for the preservation and interpretation of early Irish history is evident in 'The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran,' where he skillfully combines his knowledge of language, history, and archaeology to paint a vivid portrait of St. Ciaran and the world in which he lived. I highly recommend 'The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran' to anyone interested in early Irish history, hagiography, or the intersection of language and culture. Macalister's thorough research and insightful analysis make this book a must-read for those looking to deepen their understanding of Ireland's rich religious heritage.

"The Legend of St Brendan" is a study of two accounts of a voyage undertaken by Brendan, a sixth-century Irish saint. The immense popularity of the Latin version encouraged many vernacular translations, including a twelfth-century Anglo-Norman reworking of the narrative which excises much of the devotional material seen in the ninth-century "Navigatio Sancti Brendani abbatis" and changes the emphasis, leaving a recognisably secular narrative. The vernacular version focuses on marvellous imagery and the trials and tribulations of a long sea-voyage. Together the two versions demonstrate a movement away from hagiography towards adventure. Studies of the two versions rarely discuss the elements of the fantastic. Following a summary of authorship, audiences and sources, this comparative study adopts a structural approach to the two versions of the Brendan narrative. It considers what the fantastic imagery achieves and addresses issues raised with respect to theological parallels.

Are you a thinker, a doer, or a lover? In Three Irish Saints: A Guide to Finding Your Spiritual Style, Dr. Kevin Vost mines ancient and modern sources to reveal what Saints Kevin of Glendalough, Patrick of Ireland, and Brigid of Kildare can teach us about the joys of contemplation, evangelization, and charitable living. Thinking, doing, and loving! Included is a a simple self-test to find out which spiritual master you are most like. Would you rather: plop down in your easy chair and enjoy a good book? Celebrate life and the company of others? Engage in long conversations with your close friends? Vost examines the lives of these three great saints, unearthing the gifts and virtues that made one a thinker, one a doer, and one a lover. So which one are you? Read the book. Take the test. And find out.