The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

432
The Highland Monthly.
Chuir e cnaimh ri cnaimh,
Feoil ri feoil,
Feithean ri feithean,
Seich ri seiche,
Smuais ri smuais ;
A' Chriosd mar leighis Thu sid,
Gu 'n leighis Thu so.
It is unnecessary to translate this Incantation. It is in
effect the same as the two preceding ones, with this differ-
ence, that St Columba takes the place in the latter taken
by Christ in the two former. It is noteworthy that the
healing of broken bones by St Columba is mentioned by
Adamnan in his Life of the Saint. The holy virgin
Maugina, daughter of Daimen, who lived in Clochur,
we are there told, when returning from Mass,
stumbled and broke her thigh quite through. Columba
ordered a disciple named Lugaid to visit her. As Lugaid
was setting out on his journey, the Saint gave him a little
box, made of pine, saying— " Let the blessed gift which is
contained in this box be dipped in a vessel of water when
thou comest to visit Maugina, and let the water thus blessed
be poured on her thigh ;
then at once, by the invocation of
God's name, her thigh-bone shall be joined together and
made strong, and the holy virgin shall recover perfect
health." Lugaid carried out his master's directions, and we
are told that in an instant Maugina was completely healed
by the closing up of the bone.— (See Vita Sancti Columbce,
Lib. II., cap. V.)
In connection with St Columba's directions to Lugaid,
John Roy Stuart's " Prayer" may be mentioned. Stuart
sprained his ankle after the battle of Culloden, and while
hiding from the Red-coats he composed the verses known
as"Urnaigh Iain Ruaidh" ("John Roy's Prayer"). According
to this prayer, his ankle was to be cured by the charm
which St Peter made for St Paul. Seven paters, in the
name of Priest and Pope, were to be applied as a plaster
;