St. Molaise of Devenish, the patron saint of Devenish and of the Cassidys, was also known as Laisir or Laisrean. Mo means “my” in Irish, so “Mo Laise” is an affectionate diminutive meaning “My Flame” or “My Light.” Molaise of Devenish should not be confused with his namesake, Molaisse of Leighlin, who also spent time on an island, not Devenish but Holy Isle in the Firth of Clyde off the west coast of Scotland.
The saint of Devenish was the son of Nadfraech and Monua and was born in the barony of Carbury near Sligo in the early sixth century. He was one of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland” who studied at Clonard Abbey in County Meath under St. Finian (d. 549/551), the father of Irish monasticism. These twelve men spread the Christian faith across Ireland in the generation after St. Patrick’s ministry. Three of Molaise‘s sisters were also saints: Muadhnat, Virgin, who lived in Carbury; Tallula, Abbess of Killdara; and Osnat, Virgin.
The main sources of information about Molaise’s life are the Irish Lives of the Saints and O’Grady’s Silva Gadelica (I-XXXI) both of which relate a number of miraculous, even fantastical, incidents. Like the druids, early Irish saints were sometimes credited with magical powers. In one tale, Molaise and the other apostles of Ireland were camped outside Tara, each in his own tent, while they fasted and prayed against the King of Ireland. It snowed heavily that night, but when the King of Ireland looked out from Tara the next morning, all the apostles’ tents were covered in thick snow except one, that of Molaise, which was clear of snow in a circle seven feet around it because of the living flame of Molaise’s devotions.
In another episode, Molaise ran into conflict with a local pagan king, Conall Derg, King of the Síl nDaiméni. Calling on Christ for help, Molaise used his miraculous powers to overcome the king. Impressed, Conall Derg gave the island of Devenish (Ox Island) to Molaise, who founded his monastery there about the year 563.
Although it may seem like a remote location today, Devenish was actually conveniently placed on the route to Lough Derg, the famous pilgrimage location in what is now County Donegal. In the early days of Christianity in Ireland, when there were no actual towns in existence, monasteries served not only as places of prayer and worship, but provided many of the functions of towns, including education of children and hospitality to travelers.
One of the last significant events of Molaise’s life narrated in the Lives was the pilgrimage he made to Rome. During this trip Molaise wished to say Mass, but he was missing three items he needed: a cruet, a missal, and a bell. He then prayed to God and these three things miraculously appeared. After the Mass, when the Pope gave him a choice of which of the three items to keep, Molaisse chose the little Gospel book, which became known as soscéla beg Molaise, i.e. “Molaise’s little Gospel.” A little cumdach, or book shrine, was made to hold it, and although the Gospel book itself was lost sometime after the late 18th century, the little book shrine survived and is housed today in the National Museum in Dublin.
When Molaise returned from his pilgrimage to Rome, he brought with him several relics of saints, including those of Paul, Peter, Laurence the martyr, Mary, and of other saints of Rome, as well as some soil from Rome, so that “it should not be imperative on the Gael to repair to Rome” to venerate relics of the saints. There is some confusion in the Annals of Ulster as to exactly when Molaise died, for both 563 and 570 are given for his death. His feast day is celebrated on September 12.
The Soiscél Molaisse ( ‘Gospel of St. Molaisse’) is an Irish cumdach, a type of metal reliquary box or carrying case for a gospel book. It was originally made of wood in the 8the century and then ornamented win the 11th and 15th centuries with metal plates decorated in the Insular style. Until the late 18th century, the box held a now-lost illuminated gospel book associated with Saint Molaisse or “Mo Laisse.”