St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

The early life of Malachy. Having been admitted to Holy Orders he associates with Malchus

1. Our Malachy, born in Ireland, of a barbarous people, was brought up there, and there received his education. But from the barbarism of his birth he contracted no taint, any more than the fishes of the sea from their native salt. But how delightful to reflect, that uncultured barbarism should have produced for us so worthy a fellow-citizen with the saints and member of the household of God. He who brings honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock Himself did this. His parents, however, were great both by descent and in power, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover his mother, more noble in mind than in blood, took pains, in the very beginning of his ways, to show to her child the ways of life, esteeming this knowledge of more value to him than the empty knowledge of the learning of this world. For both, however, he had aptitude in proportion to his age. In the schools he was taught learning, at home the fear of the Lord, and by daily progress he duly responded to both teacher and mother. For indeed he was endowed from the first with a good spirit, in virtue of which he was a docile boy and very lovable, wonderfully gracious to all in all things. But he was [now] drinking, instead of milk from the breast of a mother, the waters of saving wisdom, and day by day he was increasing in discretion. In discretion, shall I say, or in holiness? If I say both, I shall not regret it, for I should say the truth. He behaved as an old man, a boy in years without a boy’s playfulness. And when because of this he was regarded with reverence and astonishment by all, he was not found on that account, as commonly happens, more arrogant, but rather quiet and subdued in all meekness. Not impatient of rule, not shunning discipline, not averse from reading, not, therefore, eager for games—so especially dear to the heart of boys of that age. And he advanced beyond all of his own age in that learning, at least, which suited his years. For in discipline of morals and advance in virtues in a short time he even outshone all his instructors. His unction, however, rather than his mother, was his teacher. Urged by it he exercised himself not slothfully also in divine things, to seek solitude, to anticipate vigils, to meditate in the law, to eat sparingly, to pray frequently, and (because on account of his studies he had not leisure to frequent the church, and from modesty would not) to lift up holy hands everywhere to heaven; but only where it could be done secretly—for already he was careful to avoid vainglory, that poison of virtues.