Communio Sanctorum

Mochutu saw Satan over Constantine's head

In the week before Constantine's death, as they were at mass in their church, Mochutu saw Satan over Constantine's head. " What brought thee there?" says Mochutu. "This is a monk of mine," quoth Satan, " for the world is on his conscience." " Probably this is little," says Mochutu. " It is equal (?) in him, though it be little." " Well, O cleric," says Mochutu, "deliver thy confession." " I declare, my lord," says Constantine, "that on my conscience there is nothing of the world, save only that I think I should like the flagstone on which thou repeatest thy paternoster to be over my face (when I am buried)." " It shall be so indeed," says Mochutu. " And get thee, O Satan, into the pillar-stone to the south of the cell, and thou shouldst cause no hurt there save to one who shall resist the Church."

Feast: 2 Marchthe week before Constantine's death

Martyrological notice

In the week before Constantine's death, as they were at mass in their church, Mochutu saw Satan over Constantine's head. " What brought thee there?" says Mochutu. "This is a monk of mine," quoth Satan, " for the world is on his conscience." " Probably this is little," says Mochutu. " It is equal (?) in him, though it be little." " Well, O cleric," says Mochutu, "deliver thy confession." " I declare, my lord," says Constantine, "that on my conscience there is nothing of the world, save only that I think I should like the flagstone on which thou repeatest thy paternoster to be over my face (when I am buried)." " It shall be so indeed," says Mochutu. " And get thee, O Satan, into the pillar-stone to the south of the cell, and thou shouldst cause no hurt there save to one who shall resist the Church."

Historical martyrology witness · The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee (1905)

In the week before Constantine's death, as they were at mass in their church, Mochutu saw Satan over Constantine's head. " What brought thee there?" says Mochutu. "This is a monk of mine," quoth Satan, " for the world is on his conscience." " Probably this is little," says Mochutu. " It is equal (?) in him, though it be little." " Well, O cleric," says Mochutu, "deliver thy confession." " I declare, my lord," says Constantine, "that on my conscience there is nothing of the world, save only that I think I should like the flagstone on which thou repeatest thy paternoster to be over my face (when I am buried)." " It shall be so indeed," says Mochutu. " And get thee, O Satan, into the pillar-stone to the south of the cell, and thou shouldst cause no hurt there save to one who shall resist the Church."