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St. Columba

About Saint Columba


Saint Columba, the Abbot of Iona, was born December 7, 521, at Gartan, Ireland, and was baptized Colum. [Another source says Crimthann]. He came from a noble family, the Clan O'Donnell, and was the son of a tribal chieftain named Fedhlimdh. On his father side he was the great-great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a fourth century Irish king.

Legend claims that, as a boy, Columba was found praying so often that he was nicknamed Colm Cille [Dove of the Church]. Consistent with the customs of the sixth century, he was fostered to Cruithnechan, who baptized him into the church and saw to his education. In his twenties, Columba became strongly influenced by his teacher Finian of Colonard, and chose to study for the priesthood. He was ordained at twenty-five.

When given a piece of land by a Prince cousin, Columba founded a monastery, but defied the tradition of building the church facing east because he loved nature and wanted to save as many of the oak trees as possible. For ten years, Colum travel around northern Ireland and, in that time, founded 30 missions.

HOW COLUMBA ENDED UP IN SCOTLAND?
Columba had a forceful personality and often aroused antagonism. In 563 [561?], he was blamed for an argument that sparked the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne in which 3,000 men were killed. The high king exiled him from Ireland. With twelve companions, Columba left Ireland and settled on the island of Iona off the shore of Scotland. Columba and his friends often preached on the mainland of Scotland, and soon they had a community of 150.

Repentant, Saint Columba devoted himself to convert as many Picts as those killed in the battle of Cúl Dreimhne.


Columba was forty-four [42?] when he left Ireland. He and his friends crossed the sea in a currach (canoe) of wickerwork covered with hides and arrived on the island of Iona on the eve of Pentecost, May 12, 563. From Iona, Columba embarked on his life's work of converting the northern Picts to Christianity. Needless to say, he was opposed by the Druids.

In 563, he founded a monastery at Iona which eventually became one of the most important centers of learning in Europe.


Along with Saint Comgall and Saint Canice, Saint Columba went to visit King Brude near Inverness. The king refused admittance, and the gates were closed and locked. When the missionaries made the sign of the cross, the bolts flew back, and the doors opened. They entered into the presence of the king, who was awe-struck by the miracle. He listened to the men, was converted and baptized. People followed his example. St. Columba was off and running.

The Saint lived an austere but colorful and productive life. He wrote 300 books by hand, of which two have been preserved to the present time. He died on Iona [after prophesying his own death] on June 9, 597.

ST. COLUMBA, A SAINT OF MIRACLES AND PROPHESIES
Saint Adamnan's biography of Saint Columba is considered the most complete bio and was written about a century after Columba's death. The document describes some of the saint's prophetic and miraculous powers. Personally, I found that many of his prophecies were logical conclusions resulting from being well informed and politically astute...but not all.
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  • Saint Columba and the Loch Ness Monster?
    One day, during his time with the Picts of Scotland, Columba was crossing a river when he came some local inhabitants burying a man. He asked what happened and was told that while the man was swimming, he was attacked and bitten by a monster that lived in the water. Men had gone out in a boat to help him, too late, and they retrieved his body with a hook and brought it ashore.


    Columba ordered one of his companions to swim to the fishing boat (coble) moored at the farther bank. Lugne Mocumin obeyed and leaped into the water. The monster, which wasn't sated by the first part of his meal, leaped out of the water and, giving an awful roar, went after Lugne. Columba raised his hand and, invoking the name of God, told the monster, saying, "Thou shalt go no further, nor touch the man; go back with all speed."

    The monster, who was within a spear length from Lugne, reacted with terror and fled. It's written that even the heathens blessed God for the miracle.
 
​        Saint Columba Raises the Dead
  • Another time, among the Picts, Columba converted an entire family and they, with their domestics, were baptized. Not long after, one of the sons came down with a deadly illness. The Druids saw the son in his dying state and upbraided the parents for converting to Christianity.

  • Hearing about this, Columba went, with some companions, to the family. He found the son dead and the family celebrating the funeral rites. Seeing the family's bitter grief, Columba asked to see the dead son. There, falling on his knees and crying copious tears, he prayed to Christ.

  • Then, standing, Columba said, "In the name if the Lord Jesus Christ, arise, and stand upon thy feet." The dead person opened his eyes and revived.
 
  • Water to Wine
    One time, when Columba was young deacon in Hibernia, residing with the Bishop Findbarr, the wine required for the sacred mysteries failed. Through prayer, he changed the water into true wine.
 
  • Floating Stones
    This miracle was performed in the presence of King Brude and his court. St. Columba took a white stone from the river and showed all that it sank when placed in water. Then he blessed it and prayed to God that it would perform certain cures.


    After that, the stone floated on the water "like an apple". I presume it performed the cures as well, but that wasn't mentioned specifically by St. Adamnan.
 
  • The Sea Monster
    One of the most convincing prophesies was when Columba warned the captain of a ship to take a more circuitous route than he usually traveled because, according to Columba, the usual route would put them in the way of a huge sea monster.


    Since he didn't believe in sea monsters, the captain ignored the Saint's advice and, lo and behold, the ship came upon a whale that caused them to capsize. At least some of the crew made it back to Scotland to affirm the Saint's prophesy.
June 9 is celebrated as
​Saint Columba's Feast Day
Patron of:
Derry, floods, bookbinders, poets, Ireland, Scotland
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521 - 597 AD
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O Lord, grant us that love which can never die, which will enkindle our lamps but not extinguish them, so that they may shine in us and bring light to others. Most dear Savior, enkindle our lamps that they may shine forever in your temple. May we receive unquenchable light from you so that our darkness will be illuminated and the darkness of the world will be made less. Amen.

-- Saint Columba
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