Soul Friends At Death

Saul and Jonathan – in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 2 Samuel 1: 23

Ciaran was young, handsome, and had been much used of God to establish many churches in Ireland, when he became a sudden victim of plague. Knowing that he was soon to die, Ciaran asked to be carried to a small mound where he looked at the vast open sky. His monks then carried him to the little church where he blessed them; he then asked that he should be shut in and left there alone until his soul friend, Kevin, arrived from Glendalough.

Ciaran, however, died before Kevin arrived, though the brothers kept his corpse in the church until Kevin arrived.

As soon as Kevin entered the church Ciaran’s spirit re-entered his body, so that he could have fellowship with Kevin.

After a day together Ciaran blessed Kevin, and Kevin blessed water and gave Holy Communion to Ciaran. Ciaran gave his bell to Kevin as a sign of their lasting unity, and then he finally went to heaven.

When the soul separates
From the perverse body
And goes in bursts of light
Up from out its human frame
O holy God of eternity
Come to seek me and to find me.
May God and Jesus aid me
May God and Jesus protect me
May God and Jesus eternally
Seek and find me.
Carmina Gadelica