Читать книгу 366 Celt: A Year and A Day of Celtic Wisdom and Lore - Carl McColman - Страница 78

If Ireland had produced Saint Francis, he probably would have been named Kevin. The reclusive founder of Glendalough has numerous legends and stories associated with him that underscore his reputation as a friend of nature and a lover of animals.

One tale recounts how the saint was praying by one of the lakes near his hermitage, but his prayer book slipped and fell into the water. Even today such a turn of events would be an annoyance, but consider how valuable books were in ancient times; this would have been quite a problem. But before Kevin could even jump in after the book, an otter, sensing the sanctity and compassion of the man, grasped the book and returned it to its owner. Other stories tell of bears seeking refuge from hunters in the cave Kevin used as his hermitage, and of birds coming to perch on his shoulders or his head while the saint stood quietly at prayer. One day while praying, Kevin discovered that a blackbird had begun to build a nest on his outstretched hand. Filled with compassion, he could not bear to disturb her motherly work, and so stood still as she completed her nest, laid her eggs, and eventually hatched and raised her young. Finally, when the babies were old enough to fly, Kevin at long last allowed his arms to rest.