Bachal Isu

The Bachal Isu (or "Staff of Jesus") was a Christian relic. According to legend, St. Patrick brought his celebrated golden Crozier, which was consistently identified with the Staff Of Jesus, along with his Book Of The Gospels, to the Armagh Cathedral in Northern Ireland which he had recently founded.

According to tradition, the staff was given to St. Patrick by a hermit on an island located in the Etruscan Sea, who had received it from Jesus Christ. Jesus informed the hermit to give it to St. Patrick when he inevitably arrived.

Legend of St. Malachy

In 1134, a time when the role of the Archbishop of Armagh had usually been handed down to family members of the previous archbishop, Archbishop Celsus wanted to end that tradition and name an Archbishop not related to him. His choice: Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair, the eventual St. Malachy.

This angered Celsus's family; they sidestepped Celsus's wishes, and claimed his cousin would be the next Archbishop, who died shortly after, but not before choosing a successor: Celsus's brother Niall. In an effort to solidify his position as Archbishop, Niall took the staff, or at least the “golden Crozier Of St. Patrick,” and the Book of the Gospels from the Armagh Cathedral. The common people believed the true, legitimate Archbishop would have possession of these two holy relics.

Both Niall and Malachy had military support, and after a series of battles, St. Malachy was officially titled Archbishop. Celsus agreed to hand over the Book...
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