he towering figure of Celtic Christianity is the great Saint Columba (also known as Colm and Columcille - "Dove of the Church"). He was the inspiration for many other saints and lesser known servants of the Lord. Although he is associated with Scotland, he was born in Ireland of noble lineage on both sides of his family - his father was the great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages and his mother was descended from a king of Leinster and was related to the royalty of the Scottish Dalriada. He was born Colum MacFhelin MacFergus about 521 in Donegal and there were legends of miraculous signs at his birth.

He decided at age 19 to enter the famous school of Saint Finnian at Moville where he was ordained into the diaconate. From there he went to Leinster, then to another famous monastic school - Clonard, founded by another Saint Finnian and which housed 3,000 students. He learned holiness, poetry and scholarship under famous holy men of the time and was later known as one of the group of disciples called the "Twelve Apostles of Erin". His companions included Saint Comgall, Saint Kieran, Saint Canice and Saint Mobhi.

Saint Columba was noted for his great stature, regal bearing, passionate nature and melodious voice - he was a commanding figure, even before at age 25 he began founding monasteries in Derry, Durrow, Kells and elsewhere. He shared the Celtic restlessness with so many holy people of the time and was said to have founded as many as 300 establishments. Though noted for his asceticism (he slept on a stone pillow which later became his headstone), he was known for his joyous love of life.

It was his learning and love of books which proved pivotal in determining his future. His former teacher, Saint Finnian, had obtained a treasured first copy of Saint Jerome's Psalter. Saint Columba borrowed it and made a copy secretly. Saint Finnian learned of it, claimed the copy, and a dispute arose so serious it came before King Diarmaid. The king ruled against Saint Columba, a decision he rejected. Later, when the king's men dragged away a relative who had sought sanctuary with Saint Columba (a serious breach of custom) and murdered him, war broke out between the king's faction and Saint Columba's clan. The immediate cause of the war is disputed but it is thought to have been initiated by the saint, unfortunately. At the ensuing battle of Cuil Dremne, 3000 were killed. Saint Columba would have been given a harsh punishment except for the intervention of Saint Brendan of Birr. At the advice of Saint Molaise, Saint Columba took upon himself voluntary exile from his country and a vow to win over as many souls to Christ as had perished in the battle.

In 563, he sailed away with 12 members of his clan, in a wicker coracle covered with leather, landing on Iona, a tiny island of the Inner Hebrides. The island was given to him by King Conall of Dalriada, his relative, and he immediately began the foundations for his monastery, which was to become not only the center of Celtic Christianizing but also the burial place of all the Scottish kings until the 11th century and of Irish and Norse kings, and an example of monastic devotion. From there he evangelized both the Scots and during much of his later life, the Northern Picts.

One of his more dramatic conversions was of the pagan King Brude in northern Scotland at Inverness. The king had the gates locked against Saint Columba but when the saint arrived at his castle and made the sign of the cross, the gates opened of their own accord. King Brude was so impressed he opened his castle - and his soul - to Saint Columba and became a devoted follower thereafter.

Saint Columba travelled across northern Scotland, building up the faith in the highlands and outer islands and building churches and monasteries, but he did not lose touch with Ireland. Several times he returned on diplomatic errands.

300 books have been attributed to him and 2 survive to this day - "The Book of Durrow" and the psalter called "The Cathach"; he also was a notable poet, a skilled advisor to the Kings of Dalraida and a famous miracle worker.

When Saint Columba was young, he tended to be demanding of a rigid standard of asceticism from himself but also from his followers. In his later years, he found the gift of gentleness, showing affection to others and even to animals. He suffered a long illness before dying at the foot of the altar in his beloved monastery, surrounded by his followers. His relics remained at Iona until the Norse incursions, when they were taken to the mainland. For many years after his death, his influence was felt in Celtic lands and even abroad, where his monastic rule was followed until the Rule of Saint Benedict became the norm.

Saint Columba's feast day is celebrated June 9th.


THE RULE OF SAINT COLUMBA

Be alone in a separate place near a chief city, if thy conscience is not prepared to be in common with the crowd.

Be always naked in imitation of Christ and the Evangelists.

Whatsoever little or much thou possessest of anything, whether clothing, or food, or drink, let it be at the command of the senior and at his disposal, for it is not befitting a religious to have any distinction of property with his own free brother.

Let a fast place, with one door, enclose thee.

A few religious men to converse with thee of God and his Testament; to visit thee on days of solemnity; to strengthen thee in the Testaments of God, and the narratives of the Scriptures.

A person too who would talk with thee in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at what he cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress thee more should he be a tattler between friends and foes, thou shalt not admit him to thee, but at once give him thy benediction should he deserve it.

Let thy servant be a discreet, religious, not tale-telling man, who is to attend continually on thee, with moderate labour of course, but always ready.

Yield submission to every rule that is of devotion.

A mind prepared for red martyrdom.

A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom.

Forgiveness from the heart of every one.

Constant prayers for those who trouble thee.

Fervour in singing the office for the dead, as if every faithful dead was a particular friend of thine.

Hymns for souls to be sung standing.

Let thy vigils be constant from eve to eve, under the direction of another person.

Three labours in the day, viz., prayers, work, and reading.

The work to be divided into three parts, viz., thine own work, and the work of thy place, as regards its real wants; secondly, thy share of the brethen's [work]; lastly, to help the neighbours, viz., by instruction or writing, or sewing garments, or whatever labour they may be in want of, ut Dominus ait, "Non apparebis ante Me vacuus [as the Lord says, "You shall not appear before me empty."].

Everything in its proper order; Nemo enim coronabitur nisi qui legitime certaverit. [For no one is crowned except he who has striven lawfully.]

Follow alms-giving before all things.

Take not of food till thou art hungry.

Sleep not till thou feelest desire.

Speak not except on business.

Every increase which comes to thee in lawful meals, or in wearing apparel, give it for pity to the brethren that want it, or to the poor in like manner.

The love of God with all thy heart and all thy strength; The love of thy neighbour as thyself Abide in the Testament of God throughout all times.

Thy measure of prayer shall be until thy tears come;

Or thy measure of work of labour till thy tears come;

Or thy measure of thy work of labour, or of thy genuflexions, until thy perspiration often comes, if thy tears are not free.

- from the "Internet Medieval Source Book"

Pronunciation:

Many thanks to Sean Gallagher and Colin Mark for help with pronunciations.

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