St. Mochoemoc

Born in the vicinity of Limerick, Ireland, Mochoemoc was trained as a boy in the spiritual life by his aunt, Saint Ita. At the age of twenty, he entered the Irish monastery of Bangor, where Saint Comgall was abbot. Following Mochoemoc’s ordination to the priesthood, Comgall told him, “My son, it is necessary that you should become the spiritual father of others, and that you should erect a house for God’s service wherever he may decree.” At the bidding of Comgall, Mochoemoc set out to found a new monastery, journeying first to the Slieve Bloom Mountains, but afterwards continuing onward to a secluded forest in County Tipperary that a local chieftain had offered to him. Here Mochoemoc began his monastery of Liath-mor. It is said that Mochoemoc carried with him a soundless bell that his aunt had given him, explaining, “It will not sound till you have reached the place of your resurrection.” At Liath-mor, the bell at last rang, moving Mochoemoc to thank God that he had reached the place of his future resurrection. He lived to an advanced age as abbot of Liath-mor and the founder of other monasteries.