Death of Saint Malachy
Saint Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh and revered reformer of the Irish Church, lies on his deathbed in Clairvaux Abbey. His final moments are attended by Prior Bernard, the infirmarian, and a young nov
Setting
Clairvaux Abbey's infirmary, a quiet, austere room with stone walls and a vaulted ceiling, dimly lit by a few candles. The room is small, with a narrow window allowing a sliver of gray autumn light to filter in. A simple wooden cross hangs on the wall above the bed.
Characters
Saint Malachy
primary
An elderly man with a gaunt, weathered face, deep-set eyes that still hold a sharp intellect despite his weakened state. His thin, white hair is neatly trimmed, and his hands, resting on the rough woolen blanket, are marked by years of labor and prayer. His frame is slight, the result of prolonged illness and ascetic living.
Prior Bernard
secondary
A middle-aged man with a lean, ascetic build, his gaunt face framed by a neatly trimmed tonsure. His deep-set eyes, shadowed by long hours of prayer and fasting, bear witness to his spiritual devotion. His hands, clasped in prayer, are rough from both labor and the chill of the abbey.
Brother Infirmarian
secondary
A middle-aged monk of sturdy build with weathered hands, a gaunt face marked by years of service, and deep-set eyes that reflect both fatigue and compassion. His tonsured head is ringed by thin, graying hair.
Novice Monk
background
A young man in his late teens, slender and pale from years spent indoors in prayer and study. His shorn hair is covered by a simple woolen cowl, and his hands are delicate, unused to hard labor. His face is smooth, untouched by age, but his eyes are red-rimmed from weeping.
Dialog
Saint Malachy
Bernard... my dear friend... the Lord calls me home. Do not grieve, for I go to Him with joy.
Prior Bernard
Malachy... thy faith hath been a beacon to us all. May the angels lead thee into paradise.
Brother Infirmarian
The humors... they are beyond balancing now. God's will be done.
Saint Malachy
Brother... thy care hath been... a kindness. Remember... the poor... when I am gone.
Prior Bernard
We shall keep thy works alive, Malachy. Thy prophecies shall guide Christendom.
Saint Malachy
Bernard... pray with me... Psalm 23...
Prior Bernard
(beginning to chant) Dominus regit me... et nihil mihi deerit...