Colman had in the beginning—­some time previous to Mochuda’s advent—­contemplated establishing himself at Rahen and he had left there two or three [bundles] of rods remarking to his disciples that another should come after him for whom and not for himself God had destined this place.  It was with this material that Mochuda commenced to build his cell as Colman had foretold in the first instance.  He erected later a great monastery in which he lived forty years and had eight hundred and eighty seven religious under his guidance and rule.

Subsequent to Mochuda’s foundation of Rahen his miracles and the marvels he wrought spread his fame far and wide through Ireland and through Britain, and multitudes came to him from various parts of those countries to give themselves to the service of God under his guidance.  In the beginning he refused worldly gifts from others although his church was honoured and patronised by neighbouring kings and chieftains who offered him lands and cattle and money and many other things.  Mochuda kept his monks employed in hard labour and in ploughing the ground for he wanted them to be always humble.  Others, however, of the Saints of Erin did not force their monks to servile labour in this fashion.

Mochuda was consecrated bishop by many saints and from time to time he visited his parish in Kerry, but as a rule he remained at Rahen with his monks, for it is monks he had with him not clerics.

On a certain day in the (early) springtime there came to tempt him a druid who said to him:—­“In the name of your God cause this apple-tree branch to produce foliage.”  Mochuda knew that it was in contempt for divine power the druid proposed this, and the branch put forth leaves on the instant.  The druid demanded “In the name of your God, put blossom on it.”  Mochuda made the sign of the cross [over the twig] and it blossomed presently.  The druid persisted:—­“What profits blossom without fruit?” [said the druid].  Mochuda, for the third time, blessed the branch and it produced a quantity of fruit.  The druid said:—­“Follower of Christ, cause the fruit to ripen.”  Mochuda blessed the tree and the fruit, fully ripe, fell to the earth.  The druid picked up an apple off the ground and examining it he saw it was quite sour, whereupon he objected:—­“Such miracles as these are worthless since it leaves the fruit uneatable.”  Mochuda blessed the apples and they all became sweet as honey, and in punishment of his opposition the magician was deprived for a year of his eyesight.  At the end of a year he came to Mochuda and did penance, whereupon he received his sight back again and he returned home rejoicing.

On another occasion there came to Mochuda a secular who brought with him his deaf and dumb son whom he besought the saint to heal.  Mochuda prayed to God for him and said, “My son, hear and speak.”  The boy answered immediately and said, “Man of God, I give myself and my inheritance to you for ever,” and thenceforth he possessed the use of all his senses and members.