The Lives of St Columba of Iona and the Saints of Iona

8/11/2019 The Lives of St Columba of Iona and the Saints of Iona

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THE LIVES OF ST COLUMBA OF IONA AND THESAINTS OF IONA

Written by Vladimir Moss

THE LIVES OF SAINT COLUMBA OF IONAAND THE SAINTS OF IONA

Ireland, the island of the saints, is full of holy and wonderful men.

Marianus Scotus, Chronicle for the year 589.

Columba was a perfect sage, believing in Christ, learned and chaste and charitable;

He was noble, he was gentle, the physician of the heart of every sage, a shelter to the naked, a consolation to the poor: there went not from the

world one who was more constant in the remembrance of the Cross.

Dallan Forghaill, mhra Columcille!"th#$th century%.


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Foreword

St. domnan&s Life of t. Columba!best 'no(n in )ee*es& translation of +8$, to be found in full

at htt-//(((.ucc.ie/celt/-ublished/012+22/inde3.html % has long been recogni4ed as one of the great glories of Western

rthodo3 literature, and its sub6ect as -erha-s the greatest saint of 7orthern ritain, the real founder both of the Scottish State and of the Scottish

Church. ndeed, the e3tinguishing of the last traditions of ritish rthodo3y may be ascribed to the year +12, (hen the last :nglish rthodo3

(arriors -erished fighting the (estern crusaders on the (alls of Constantino-le, and the last Scottish Columban mon's (ere remo*ed from the

sacred ground of Columba&s most famous monastic foundation, the sacred island of ona. t is fitting, therefore, for the -resent generation of ritish

rthodo3, (ho are stri*ing to resurrect the traditions of rthodo3y in our nati*e land, to dra( ins-iration from the Life of this brightest light of the

7orth, (ho -ro-hesied the return of rthodo3y to ona before the end of the (orld.

0he -resent (or' aims to integrate domnan&s Life !(hich shall refer to by the letter ;


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Early Years

ur holy Father Columba (as born on 0hursday, December $, 51+ near Bartan Aough, county Donegal, reland. n the side of his father,

helim MacFergus, a chieftain of the 7orthern Gi 7eill clan, he (as descended from >ing 7iall ;of the nine hostagesing of reland in the later fourth century !the nine hostages (ere the 'ings& sons he com-elled the other -o(erful clans to gi*e him as hostages%.

n the side of his mother, :thna !:ithne%, he (as descended from Cathair Mor, >ing of Aeinster. ?is grandmother, :rca, daughter of >ing :rc, (as

a sister of Fergus Mor, (ho led a colony of rishmen from Dalriada in reland to rgyll in Scotland at the end of the fifth century, thus laying the

foundations of the rish colony in Scotland (hich became 'no(n as Dalriada. Columba, therefore, could ha*e become a 'ing if he had not become

a mon'. s an angel once re*ealed to his friend, St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise ;What you ha*e surrendered for the lo*e of Bod is nothing but the

tools of your father&s tradeH (hat Columba has foregone is the sce-ter of reland, his by ancestral right.< !D%

Columba&s birth (as -ro-hesied by se*eral holy men and (omen. 0hus St. atric' -ro-hesied the birth of a famous man to the 7iall clan

$ man child shall be born of his family,

He will be a sage, a prophet, a poet,

$ loveable lamp, pure, clear,

ho will not utter falsehoods.

He will be a sage, he will be pious,

He will be the *ing of the royal graces,

He will be lasting and will ever be good,

He will be in the eternal *ingdom for his consolation.

St. rigid also -ro-hesied his birth, as did St. atric'&s disci-le, St. Mochta !Maucta%, isho- of Aouth ;n the last ages a son shall be born (hose

name Columba shall be announced in e*ery -ro*ince of the isles and shall brilliantly enlighten the last ages of the earth. 0he little fields of our t(o

monasteries shall be se-arated by the s-ace of one little hedgeH a man *ery dear to Bod and of great merit in ?is sight.< !%

s :ithne (as slee-ing on a stone beside Bartan Aough before her son (as born, an angel a--eared to her, ;and, standing beside her, brought

her a certain mantle of mar*elous beauty, in (hich lo*ely colours of all the flo(ers seemed to be de-icted. fter a (hile he as'ed for it bac', and

too' it from her hands, and raising and s-reading it out, sent it forth into the em-ty air. She (as saddened by its remo*al and said to the

*enerable#loo'ing man IWhy are you ta'ing this lo*ely mantle a(ay from meJ& ?e immediately re-lied Iecause this mantle belongs to someone

of such greatness and honour that you cannot 'ee- it (ith you.& fter these (ords, the (oman sa( the mantle gradually receding from her in its

flight, and increasing in si4e until it (as (ider than the -lains and higher than the mountains and forests, reaching from the nishmore island off the

(est coast of reland to the north#east coast of Scotland. 0hen she heard the *oice ;Do not sorro(, (oman, for you (ill bring forth to the man to

(hom you are 6oined in marriage a son so illustrious that he (ill be rec'oned as one of the -ro-hets of Bod and (ill lead innumerable souls to the

?ea*enly Country. s she (as listening to this *oice, the (oman a(o'e.< !, C%

0he child (as ba-ti4ed (ith the name Columba, (hich means ;do*e< in Aatin, but there is a tradition that he (as gi*en another name,

Crimthann !or Crimthainn%, meaning ;(olf


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;from his tenderest years cherished the most ardent lo*e of Christ


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-oorest (ould either be gi*en free lodging by local lando(ners or (ould (or' for the richer students in return for board and lodging. 0he students

too' it in turn to grind the corn for the ne3t day&s bread. Columba&s corn (as ground so uic'ly that his fello(#students sus-ected that he (as

being hel-ed by his guardian angel. Studying under St. Finnian, ;Master of the Saints of reland


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I love my beautiful +erry

-or its 0uietness and its purity,

-or heaven/s angels that come and go,

%nder every leaf of the oaks,

I love my beautiful +erry.

ther monasteries he founded in this -eriod (ere Durro( !c. 55"% in central realnd, )a-hoe, Drumcliffe in Sligo, S(ords near Dublin, Blen

Columcille in Donegal !(hose ruins can still be seen%, 0ory island, Moone in >ildare and >ells in Meath. t )a-hoe he ;brought to life a (right (ho

had been dro(ned in a mill#-ondells (as ;gi*en, (ithout dis-ute, to Columcille the musical< in other (ords, to the mon's of

ona (ho had been dri*en out of their monastery by the Vi'ings.

Columba is called ;the musical< here because he (as famed for his singing *oice, (hich (as so strong that it could be heard on ona by a man

on the neighbouring island of Mull

'he sound of the voice of Columcille,

(reat its sweetness above all clerics.

'o the end of fifteen hundred paces,

'hough great the distance, it was clearly heard. !%

0he monasteries built by Columba and other monastic founders at this time (ere not constructed of stone, but of (ood. 0he name gi*en to this

ancient rish (ooden church (asDuirthech, from dairthech, a house of oa', or Deirthech, from dear, a tear that is, a house in (hich tears are

shed.

0he saint (ent all o*er reland *isiting and strengthening his monastic communities. ?e e*en founded a church on the ran islands off the (est

coast of reland. t is said that he disco*ered there the gra*e of an abbot of =erusalem, (ho had come to ran to *isit St. :nda, and died there. !M%

t (as on a *isit to the ran islands that he (rote his Fare(ell to ran

-arewell1 $ long farewell to thee,

2h $ran my sun1

&y heart is in the west with thee.

It is the same to lie beneath thy pure soil

$s to be buried in the land of "eter and "aul.

"aradise is with thee,

'he (arden of (od within the sound of thy bells.

'he angels love $ran,

!ach day an angel comes there

'o 3oin in its services.

2h $ran my sun1

&y love is in the west with thee1

t (as at about this time that St. Columba com-osed the follo(ing -oem in ld rish


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2 on of my (od, what a pride, what a pleasure,

'o plough the blue sea1

'he waves of the fountain of deluge to measure,

+ear !ire, to 'hee.

e are rounding &oy4n42lurg, we sweep by its head, and

e plunge through Loch -oyle,

hose swans could enchant with their music the dead, and

&ake pleasure of toil.

'he host of the gulls come with 3oyous commotion

$nd screaming and sport,

I welcome my own 5+ewy4red6 7Columba/s boat8 from the ocean

$rriving in port.

2 !ire, were wealth my desire, what a wealth were

'o gain far from thee,

In the land of the stranger, but there even health were

$ sickness to me1

$las for the voyage1 2 high *ing of heaven,

!n3oined upon me,

-or that I on the red plain of bloody Cooldrevin

as present to see.

How happy is the son of +ima 7t. Cormac of +urrow8, no sorrow

-or him is designed.

He is having, this hour, round is own hill in +urrow,

'he wish of his mind.

'he sounds of the winds in the elms, like the strings of

$ harp being played,

'he note of the blackbird that claps with the wings of

+elight in the glade.

ith him in )oss4(rench 7+urrow8 the cattle are lowing

$t earliest dawn.

2n the brink of the summer the pigeons are cooing

$nd doves on the lawn.

'hree things things am I leaving behind me, the very

&ost dear that I know,

'ir4leedach 7his people8 I/m leaving, and +urrow and +erry,

$las, I must go1

9et my visit and feasting with Comgall have eased me

$t Cainneach/s right hand,


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0his (as not the only time that Diarmait *iolated the right of sanctuary. nce he *iolated the sanctuary of )uadhan of Aothra, and carried off a

-erson under )uadhan&s -rotection to 0ara. n refusing to gi*e him u-, he (as cursed by )uadhan. For )uadhan and a bisho- that (as (ith him

too' the bells they had and cursed the 'ing and 0ara, and -rayed Bod that no 'ing or ueen should li*e in 0ara e*er again, and that it should be

(aste for e*er, (ithout court or -alace. nd this is (hat ha--ened in fact

Columba immediately set off for his homeland in the north. Sending his follo(ers by another route, he set off alone o*er the mountains,

com-osing the famous -oem 'no(n as0he Song of 0rust, (hich contained the line&y +ruid is Christ, the on of (od. Why the reference to the

Druids, the -riests of the -agan religion of relandJ ecause >ing Diarmait, though nominally a Christian, (ould use Druid s-ells in his struggle

against Columba

$lone am I on the mountain,

2 royal un1 prosper my path

$nd then I shall have nothing to fear.

ere I guarded by si thousand,

'hough they might defend my skin,

hen the hour of death is fied,

ere I guarded by si thousand,

In no fortress could I be safe.

!ven in a church the wicked are slain,

!ven in an isle amidst a lake;

#ut (od/s elect are safe

!ven in the front of battle.

o man can kill me before my day,

!ven had we closed in combat;

$nd no man can save my life

hen the hour of death has come.

&y life1

$s (od pleases let it be;

ought can be taken from it,

ought can be added to it,

'he lot which (od has given

!re man dies must be lived out.

He who seeks more, were he a prince,

hall not a mite obtain.

$ guard1

$ guard may guide him on his way;

#ut can they guard

$gainst the touch of death that can tell our fate,

o bird upon the branch

or trunk of gnarled oaking of reland. n the e*e of the battle, Columba s-ent the night in -rayer and fasting, and (hile he -rayed the holy

rchangel Michael a--eared to him and said that in ans(er to his -rayers he and his men (ould (in the battle, but since he had as'ed for such a

(orldly fa*our, the blessing of Bod (ould not be u-on him until he had e3iled himself beyond the sea, ne*er to return to reland, ne*er to -arta'e

of her food and drin', ne*er more to behold her men and (omen !D%

efore the battle, (hich too' -lace at Culdreimhne !Cooldre*in%, >ing Diarmait -re-ared himself (ith Druidic rituals, marching his men around

a cairn in the direction of the sun, and dra(ing an airbhe, a 'ind of in*isible fence, bet(een the t(o armies so that the enemy could not -ass. St.

Finnian had been -raying for Diarmait&s army, but (hen he sa( ho( the battle (as -rogressing he ceased -raying so that the *ictory could be

more s-eedily (on and bloodshed sto--ed. n the morning of the battle the rchangel Michael (as seen, armed as a (arrior (ith a shield and a

s(ord, leading Columba&s men, (ho (ere surrounded (ith fog. Diarmait (as routed, lea*ing @222 dead on the battlefield, (ith only one of

Columba&s men 'illed. Columba no( made -eace (ith >ing Diarmait and 'e-t the boo'. !D%

58 -ages of a mutilated "thcentury manuscri-t 'no(n as the Cathach, or ;attle )eliuary


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t(el*e days, by the grace of our Aord.< Follo(ing this inscri-tion is an addition, -robably by an bbot of Durro(, to the effect that he had

transcribed it from the original (ritten by the hand of Saint Columba. t is -ossible that this boo' (as co-ied from theCathach.

0he battle disturbed many churchmen in reland, and at a Synod in 0ellto(n in Meath St. Columba (as formally accused of ha*ing caused the

deaths of @222 soldiers and (as e3communicated e*en before he had arri*ed to -resent his case.

?o(e*er, Bod inter*ened to change the sentence. For as the Saint (as coming to the assembly, he (as seen from a distance by St. rendan

of irr. ;?e rose uic'ly, and (ith face bent do(n re*erently 'issed him. nd (hen some elders of that assembly, a-art from the rest, rebu'ed him,

saying IWhy did you not refrain from rising u- to a -erson (ho is e3communicated and 'issing himJ& ?e said If you had seen those things

(hich the Aord has not disdained to sho( me today regarding this, ?is chosen one, you (ould ne*er ha*e e3communicated one (hom not only

does Bod in no (ay e3communicate, according to your un6ust sentence, but continues to e3alt more and more.& ut they said IWe (ould li'e to

'no( ho(, as you say, Bod glorifies him (hom (e ha*e e3communicated, and not (ithout reason.& I ha*e seen,& said rendan, Ia *ery bright,

comet#li'e -illar going before this same man of Bod, (hom you des-ise, and also holy angels accom-anying him as he (al's across the -lain. So

do not dare to offend this man (hom see has been fore#ordained by Bod to be the leader of nations to life.& When he had said these (ords, not

only did they sto-, not daring to e3communicate him further, but e*en honoured him (ith great *eneration.< !%

?a*ing re*o'ed the sentence of e3communication on Columba, the Synod im-osed the follo(ing -enance on him to (in as many souls for

Christ as had fallen on the battle#field. Still not recogni4ing his guilt, Columba (ent to S t. Molaise !Aaserian%, his soul#friend or confessor, (ho li*ed

on the isle of nnishmurray. St. Molaise ad*ised him to acce-t the sentence of the rchangel and e3ile himself from reland. Still not satisfied,

Columba (ent to another friend, (ho -rayed for the souls of those 'illed in the battle and assured Columba that they ;no( en6oyed eternal

re-ose


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How swift is the speed of my coracle;

Its stern turned to +erry;

I grieve at my errand o/er the noble sea,

'ravelling to $lba 7#ritain8 of the ravens.

&y foot in my good little oracle,

&y sad heart still bleeding:

eak is the man who cannot lead;

'otally blind are all the ignorant.

$ grey eye looks back to !rin,

$ grey eye full of tears;

It shall never see again

'he men of !rin nor their wives.

hile I stand on the deck of my bar0ue

I stretch my vision o/er the briny sea,

estwards to !rin.

-art from the fulfillment of his -enance, there (as another reason (hy Di*ine ro*idence had brought Columba to Scotland. n 5"2, three

years before his *oyage, rude !or ridei% mac Maelchon !or Maclochon%, >ing of the 7orthern icts, ;a most -o(erful -rince< !%, had defeated

the rish Scots, 'illing >ing Babhran. Columba must ha*e ho-ed that he could bring -eace to his countrymen in their dangerous situation by

hel-ing to con*ert the icts. nd so the tra*elers sto--ed first on the sland of >intyre, (here Columba *isited his cousin Connall, (ho had

succeeded Babhran as 'ing of the rish colony in Scotland.

From >intyre, they (ent on to the island of Colonsay and landed at ransay, a little islet se-arated from Colonsay only at high tide. ut (hen

he climbed to its highest -oint, he could still see the hills of reland. So he set off once more. 0hat hill is still called Cairn#cul#ri#:rin, ;Cairn#of#the#

bac'#turned#to#relandna-dale and landed at :llary. ?ere, he found shelter in a large, airy ca*e,

(here there is an altar built of flat stones and a cross car*ed into the roc' (all abo*e, dating from early times. 0here is a stream (ith a (aterfall

nearby, and from the ca*e Columba could ha*e (atched seals -laying around the islet at the head of the loch. 0here are remains of a medie*al

cha-el beside the ca*e. y the eighth century there (as a monastery a mile a(ay, -robably founded from ona, at a -lace named Cladh a hile, or

Iburial ground of the holy tree&. We can glim-se the mon's ba'ing bread and conducting funerals, for many early gra*estones and uerns for

grinding corn (ere found here.

;Columba is said to ha*e continued north(ard to Dunadd, (hose roc'y outcro- had been fortified only si3ty years earlier. )ising from flat,

boggy land beside the )i*er dd, it made an e3cellent fortress. sur-rise attac' (as im-ossible its main entrance is a natural gully (ith a timber

su-erstructure. Dunadd (as at the centre of DalriadaH the 'ing and his retinue stayed here on royal -rogress bet(een his other forts.

; small -ea' (as used as an inner citadel, and car*ed into the bedroc' in f ront of it are a ceremonial basin and the im-ression of a foot, dating

from the se*enth or eighth century. 0hese may ha*e been used for royal inaugurations, in a ceremony in (hich the 'ing (as anointed and

symbolically ste--ed into the shoes of his -redecessor, or -erha-s claimed the land on (hich he stood, since Dalriada can be sur*eyed in all

directions from this s-ot. eside the ceremonial foot-rint is an rish ogham inscri-tion and a ictish car*ing of a boar, -ossibly relating to a

marriage alliance bet(een Baels and icts. Dunadd&s chieftains li*ed in style a read garnet set in gold filigree from nglo#Sa3on :ngland (as

found there, and -ottery from Baul. Dunadd&s craftsmen made 6e(elry, iron tools and (ea-ons. lum- of yello( -igment used to illuminate

manuscri-ts (as also disco*ered there. 0he fortress (as occu-ied until +222.< !)%

n the e*e of entecost, May +1th, St. Columba and his disci-les sto--ed at the tiny island of ona, three#and#a#half miles long by one#and#a#

half miles broad, (hich is 6ust off the much larger island of Mull. Columba (ent to the to- of the hill !22 feet%, but could not see reland. So they


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dragged their boat to the to- of the bay, dug a dee- gra*e, and buried the boat there. 0o this day the bay is called ort#na#Churaich, ;ort#of#the#

Coracleing Conall ga*e ona to ColumbaH but the island (as on the frontier bet(een Dalriada and the

territory of the icts, and >ing rude considered ona to be his 'ingdom.< !)%

0hen ;Columcille said to his -eo-le It (ould be good for us if our roots should -ass into the earth here. ne of you is -ermitted to go under the

earth of this island in order to consecrate it.& 0hen dhran Ka ritonL rose uic'ly and said If you acce-t me, am ready for that.& I dhran,& said

Columcille, Iyou shall recei*e a re(ard for this no reuest shall be granted to anyone at my tomb unless he first as' it of you.&& !% 0hen dhran

;(as sei4ed by a bodily illness and brought to the edge of death. nd (hen the *enerable man *isited him in the hour of his de-arture, he stood for

a short time at his bedside blessing him, and then (ent uic'ly out of the house, not (ishing to see him die. nd at the same moment that the holy

man left the house, he ended his life. 0hen the illustrious man, (al'ing in the little court of his monastery, his eyes lifted u- to hea*en, (as for a

long time lost in (onder and admiration. ut a certain brother name idan, son of Aibir, a man of a religious and good dis-osition, (ho alone of the

brothers (as -resent at the time, began on bended 'nees to as' the saint to tell him (hy he (as so greatly ama4ed. 0he saint said to him I ha*e

6ust seen holy angels in the air (arring against the enemy -o(er, and gi*e than's to Christ the =udge that the angels ha*e -re*ailed, and ha*e

borne u- to the 6oys of the ?ea*enly Country the soul of this e3ile, the first (ho has died among us on this island. ut beseech you not to re*eal

this holy secret to anyone in my lifetime.< !%

dhran&s burial -lace is still called )elig ran, and a little cha-el built by Nueen Margaret of Scotland at the end of the ++thcentury stands on

the s-ot.

Columba built his monastery on the eastern side of the island facing Mull. 0he cells of the mon's (ere built of (ood and earth, (ith the abbot&s

cell, or 0uguriolum, on slightly ele*ated ground in the centre.

0he t(el*e rish mon's (ere 6oined by ritons and Sa3ons, and soon ;the Family


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0he meals at the monastery consisted of cereals, -orridge, bread, mil', eggs and fish. Sometimes a seal (as ca-tured !seal s'ins (ere also

used for clothing, and the oil for burning%, and sometimes a salmon. nce (hen Columba and fi*e of his com-anions (ere fishing in the ri*er Seil

and had caught nothing. ;0ry again,< said Columba. n obedience to his command they hauled in their nets a salmon of astounding si4e.

Wednesdays and Fridays (ere fastdays throughout the years e3ce-t bet(een ascha and entecost. n Aent the fast (as 'e-t until e*ening of

e*ery day e3ce-t Sunday, (hen mil', bread and eggs (ere allo(ed during the day. nce a shee- (as 'illed for a -oor man.

Wheat (as gro(n on the island, near 0em-le Blen. 0he mon's, including Columba himself, (ould carry the (heat in from the fields and grind it

in a hand#uern. Aater a (ater#mill (as constructed, (hose (heel (as turned by the (ater that flo(ed -ast the barn and the smithy. Aoa*es (ere

ba'ed on a flat stone o*er a fire. Aater, as the number of mon's increased, there (as not enough grain on the island to su--ort the mon's, so it

(as gro(n on 0iree island, the ;:thica nsula< or ;Aand of Corn


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death of that holy man has come to us from reland.P 0hen the saint said PBoH you should obey my order. For last night sa( hea*en suddenly

o-ened and choirs of angels descend to meet the soul of the holy rendan. nd by their luminous and incom-arable brightness the (hole (orld

(as illumined in that hour.&O !, C%

T!e Con%ersion o" t!e &icts

For t(o years Columba (as engaged in establishing his monastery. 0hen, in 5"5, he set out (ith some com-anions along the Breat Blen

leading to n*erness, to the ca-ital of the 7orthern ictish 'ingdom (here the ictish >ing rude li*ed. ;t so ha--ened that that 'ing, elated by

royal -ride in his fortress, haughtily refused to o-en the gates (hen the blessed man first arri*ed. nd (hen the man of Bod 'ne( this, he came

(ith his com-anions to the (ic'er gate, and first traced on it the Sign of the Aord&s Cross and then laid his hand against the doors and 'noc'ed.

mmediately the bolts *iolently shot bac' and the doors o-ened in all haste of their o(n accord, (hereu-on the saint entered (ith his com-anions.

When the 'ing and his council heard of this, they (ere *ery frightened, and came out from his house to meet the blessed man (ith all re*erence,

and addressed him gently (ith conciliatory (ords. From that day and for the rest of his life this ruler greatly honoured the holy and *enerable man,

as (as -ro-er.< !%

ccording to other sources, the saint (as accom-anied by St. Comgall of angor and St. >enneth of ghaboe !>il'enny%, (ho (ere called to

hel- the mission since they (ere of the ictish race. When they entered the gate, > ing rude tried to dra( his s(ord and 'ill them. ?o(e*er, St.

>enneth made the sign of the cross and the 'ing&s hand suddenly (ithered. t remained so until he (as ba-ti4ed by St. Columba.

nce, ;(hen the blessed man (as staying for some days in the -ro*ince of the icts, he (as obliged to cross the ri*er 7essH and (hen he had

come to the ban', he sa( some of the inhabitants burying an unfortunate man (hom, as those (ho (ere burying him related, some auatic

monster had sei4ed and sa*agely bitten a little earlier (hile he (as s(imming. Some men belatedly came u- in a boat and rescued his

unfortunate body by thro(ing out hoo's. ?o(e*er, (hen the blessed man heard these things, he ordered one of his com-anions to s(im out and

bring him from o*er the (ater a coble (hich (as beached on the other side. ?earing the command of the holy and illustrious man, Augne

Mocumin immediately obeyed, too' off all his clothes e3ce-t his tunic, and cast himself into the (ater. ut the monster, (hich (as lying on the

ri*er bed, and (hose a--etite (as rather (hetted for more -rey than sated (ith (hat it already had, -ercei*ing the surface of the (ater disturbed

by the s(immer, suddenly came u- and mo*ed to(ards the man as he (as s(imming in mid#stream, and (ith a great roar rushed on him (ith

o-en mouth, (hile all (ho (ere there, barbarians as (ell as brothers, (ere struc' (ith great fear. Seeing it, the blessed man made the sa*ing

Sign of the Cross in the em-ty air (ith his holy hand u-raised, in*o'ed the name of Bod, and commanded the ferocious monster, saying IBo no

further, nor touch the manH go bac' at once.& n hearing this (ord of the saint, the monster (as terrified, and fled a(ay again more uic'ly than if

it had been dragged off by ro-es, though he had a--roached Augne as he (as s(imming so closely that bet(een man and monster there (as no

more than the length of one -unt -ole. 0hen the brothers mar*eled greatly, seeing that the monster had gone bac', and that their comrade Augne

had returned to them in the boat, untouched and unharmedH and they glorified Bod in the blessed man. nd e*en the barbarous -agans (ho (ere

there (ere constrained by the greatness of the miracle (hich they themsel*es had seen to magnify the Bod of the Christians.< !%

gain, ;a certain -easant, on hearing the (ord of life through an inter-reter as the holy man -reached, belie*ed and (as ba-ti4ed, he and his

(ife and children and ser*ants. fe( days later, one of the sons of the family (as assailed by a se*ere illness, and (as brought e*en to the

boundary bet(een life and death. nd (hen the Druids sa( him dying, they began to rail at the -arents (ith great abuse, and to e3alt their o(n

gods as the stronger, dis-araging the Bod of the Christians as (ea'er. nd (hen all these things (ere re-orted to the blessed man, he (as stirred

u- (ith 4eal for Bod and (ent (ith his com-anions to the house of his friend the -easant, (here the -arents (ere celebrating the sad funeral of

their child, (ho (as by this time dead. nd the saint, seeing their great sadness, consoled them, urging them by no means to distrust the Di*ine

omni-otence. nd then he as'ed In (hat room does the body of the dead boy lieJ& 0he berea*ed father then led the saint under his roof of

mourning, and he, lea*ing the (hole cro(d outside, immediately entered the house of (oe aloneH (here forth(ith, on bended 'nees, his face

bathed (ith co-ious tears, he -rayed to Christ the Aord. 0hen, rising from his 'nees, he turned his eyes to the dead one and said In the name of

the Aord =esus Christ, arise and stand u-on your feet.& t this glorious (ord of the saint, his soul returned to his body, and the dead boy came bac'

to life and o-ened his eyes, and the a-ostolic man, holding his hand, raised him u-, and, steadying him on his feet, led him out of the house and


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restored him ali*e to his -arents. 0hen the shouting of the -eo-le rose on highH (ee-ing (as turned into re6oicingH the Bod of the Christians (as

glorified< !%

;0he *enerable man as'ed of the magician roichan that a certain sla*e, an rish (oman, should be released as an act of human 'indness.

nd (hen roichan, (ith unyielding and obstinate heart, retained her, the saint addressing him s-o'e in this manner I>no( this, roichan, that if

you (ill not release for me this -ilgrim ca-ti*e before de-art from this -ro*ince, you (ill soon die.& 0his he said in front of >ing rudeH and he left

the 'ing&s house and came to the ri*er 7ess. From that ri*er he too' a (hite stone, and said to his com-anions IMar' this (hite stone. 0hrough it

the Aord (ill (or' many cures of the sic' among this heathen -eo-le.& fter -ronouncing these (ords he continued I7o( roichan has recei*ed a

hard blo(. For an angel sent from hea*en has struc' him hea*ily, and bro'en into many -iece in his hand the glass *essel from (hich he (as

drin'ing, and has left him breathing (ith difficulty, and near to death. Aet us (ait a little in this -lace for t(o messengers of the 'ing, sent to us in

haste, to obtain our immediate hel- for the dying roichan. 7o( roichan, terribly stric'en, is ready to release the sla*e#girl.& While the saint (as

s-ea'ing these (ords, behold, as he had -redicted, t(o men on horsebac', sent by the 'ing, arri*ed, and told all that had ha--ened concerning

roichan, in the 'ing&s fortress, in accordance (ith the -ro-hecy of the saint the brea'ing of the cu-, the magician&s sei4ure, the intended release

of the sla*e#girl. nd they added this I0he 'ing and the -ersons of his household ha*e sent us to you, to obtain your hel- for his foster#father

roichan, (ho is near death.& When he heard these (ords of the en*oys, the saint sent t(o of his com-anions to the 'ing (ith the stone that he

had blessed, and said If roichan first -romises that he (ill release the sla*e#girl, then let this stone be di--ed in (ater, and let him drin' of it, and

he (ill at once reco*er his health. ut if he refuses, and o--oses the sla*e#girl&s release, he (ill immediately die.& 0he t(o emissaries (ent to the

'ing&s castle, in obedience to the saint&s instructions, and re-eated to the 'ing the (ords of the *enerable man. When these things had been made

'no(n to the 'ing and to roichan his foster#father, they (ere *ery much afraid. nd in the same hour the sla*e#girl (as set free and handed o*er

to the en*oys of the holy man. 0he stone (as di--ed in (ater, and, in a mar*elous manner, contrary to nature floated on the (ater as though it

had been an a--le or a nut. nd the blessing of the holy man could not be submerged. fter he had drun' of the floating stone, roichan

immediately returned from the brin' of death, and reco*ered full bodily health. 0his stone (as later 'e-t among the 'ing&s treasures. When it (as

di--ed in this (ay in (ater, and floated, it effected many cures among the -eo-le through the mercy of the Aord. Strange to say, (hen it (as

sought by -eo-le (hose time had come, the stone could not by any means be found. t (as also sought on the day of >ing rude&s death, but (as

not found in the -lace (here it had formerly been 'e-t.< !%

;ne day, after the abo*e#mentioned e*ents, roichan said to the holy man I0ell me, Columba, (hen do you -ro-ose to sail a(ay from usJ&

In the third day,& said the saint, ;Bod (illing and life remaining, (e -ro-ose to begin our *oyage.& IQou (ill not be able to do so,& re-lied roichan,

Ifor can ma'e the (ind go against you, and bring dar' clouds u-on you.& 0he saint said I0he omni-otence of Bod rules o*er all things. n ?is

name, and through ?is dominion, all our ste-s are directed.& What more needs to be saidJ n the same day that he had -lanned in his heart, the

saint came to the long la'e of the ri*er 7ess (ith a great cro(d follo(ing him. ut (hen the Druids sa( a great dar'ness coming o*er, and

contrary (ind (ith a storm, they began to re6oice. 0hat these things can be done by demons, if Bod -ermits it, so that e*en (inds and (aters are

stirred u- into a rage, should not be (ondered at. For it (as in this (ay that legions of demons met the holy bisho- Bermanus Kof u3erreL as he

(as sailing from the :nglish Channel to ritain for the sa'e of the sal*ation of men. 0hey stirred u- dangerous storms and s-read dar'ness o*er

the s'y and obscured the daylight. ?o(e*er, all these storms (ere stilled, and sto--ed (ith the s-eed of a (ord, by the -rayer of S t. BermanusH

and the dar'ness (as s(e-t a(ay. ur Columba, therefore, seeing the raging elements stirred u- against him, called u-on Christ the Aord, and,

entering the boat (hile the sailors (ere hesitating, (ith still greater confidence ordered the sail to be rigged against the (ind. When this (as done,

as the (hole cro(d (as (atching, the boat (as borne along (ith ama4ing s-eed. nd soon the contrary (inds *eered round to the ad*antage of

the *oyage to the astonishment of all. nd so, throughout the day, the blessed man&s boat (as dri*en along by gentle fa*ouring bree4es, and

reached the desired ha*en. Aet the reader therefore consider ho( great and saintly (as that *enerable man through (hom lmighty Bod

manifested ?is glorious name by such miraculous -o(ers as ha*e 6ust been described in the -resence of the -agans.< !%

Columba is said to ha*e built t(o churches at rude&s ca-ital in n*erness. 0he oo' of Deer tells

us that St. Columba and St. Drostan came, as Bod had sho(n them, to berdur in uchan, and that

ede, a ict, (ho (as high ste(ard of uchan, ga*e them the to(n in freedom fore*er. 0he -reaching

of the saint (as confirmed by many miracles, and he -ro*ided for the instruction of his con*erts by the

erection of numerous churches and monasteries. !:%


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nother saint on the mainland (ith (hom St. Columba (as friendly (as St. >entigern, isho- of

Blasgo(. Columba ;desired earnestly, not once and a(ay, but continually to come into his

K>entigern&sL close intimacy, and to consult the sanctuary of his holy breast regarding the things that

lay near his o(n heart. nd (hen the -ro-er time came the holy father S. Columba (ent forth, and a

great com-any of his disci-les and of others (ho desired to behold and loo' u-on the face of so great

a man, accom-anied him. When he a--roached the -lace called Mellindenor, (here the saint abode

at the time, he di*ided all his -eo-le into three bands, and sent for(ard a message to announce to the

holy -relate his o(n arri*al, and that of those (ho accom-anied him.

;0he holy -ontiff (as glad (hen they said unto him these things concerning them, and calling

together his clergy and -eo-le similarly in three bands, he (ent forth (ith s-iritual songs to meet them.

n the forefront of the -rocession (ere -laced the 6uniors in order of timeH in the second those more

ad*anced in yearsH in the third, (ith himself, (al'ed the aged in length of days, (hite and hoary,

*enerable in countenance, gesture, and bearing, yea, e*en in grey hairs. nd all sang, In the (ays of

the Aord ho( great is the glory of the Aord&H and again they ans(ered, I0he (ay of the 6ust if made

straight, and the -ath of the saints -re-ared&. n S. Columba&s side they sang (ith tuneful *oices, I0hesaints shall go from strength to strength, until unto the Bod of gods a--eareth e*ery one in Sion&, (ith

the alleluia. Mean(hile, some (ho had come (ith S. Columba as'ed him, saying, I?ath S. >entigern

come in the first chorus of singersJ& 0he saint ans(ered, I7either in the first nor in the second cometh

the gentle saint.& nd (hen they loudly as'ed ho( he 'ne( this, he said, I see a fiery -illar in fashion

as of a golden cro(n, set (ith s-ar'ling gems, descending from hea*en u-on his head, and a light of

hea*enly brightness surrounding him li'e a certain *eil, and co*ering him, and again returning to the

s'ies. Wherefore it is gi*en me to 'no( by this sign that, li'e aron, he is the elect of Bod, and

sanctifiedH (ho, clothed (ith light as (ith a garment, and (ith a golden cro(n re-resented on his

head, a--eareth to me (ith the sign of sanctity.& When these t(o godli'e men met, they mutually

embraced and 'issed each other, and, ha*ing first satiated themsel*es (ith the s-iritual banuet of

Di*ine (ords, they after that refreshed themsel*es (ith bodily food.< !>%

;nce (hen the holy man (as ma'ing a 6ourney on the other side of the S-ine of ritain beside the la'e of the ri*er 7ess, he (as suddenly

ins-ired by the ?oly S-irit, and said to the brothers (ho (ere tra*eling (ith him IAet us hasten to(ards the holy angels that ha*e been sent from

the highest regions of hea*en to conduct the soul of a -agan, and (ho a(ait our coming there so that (e may gi*e timely ba-tism, before he dies,

to that man, (ho has -reser*ed natural goodness throughout his life into e3treme old age. Saying this, the aged saint (ent as fast as he could,

ahead of his com-anions, until he came to the farmland that is called irchartdan KBlen GruhartL. nd a certain old man (hom he found there,

:mchath by name, on hearing and belie*ing the (ord of Bod (ith trust, (as ba-ti4edH (hereu-on he gladly and confidently de-arted to the Aord

(ith the angels that had come to meet him. nd his son Virolec also belie*ed and (as ba-ti4ed, together (ith his (hole house.< !%

;t another time, (hen the blessed man (as staying for some days in the island of S'ye, he (ent on his o(n far a(ay from the brothers,

see'ing a -lace for -rayer. n entering a thic' (ood, he met a boar of e3traordinary si4e (hom a hound ha--ened to be chasing. 0he saint sa(

him from a distance and stood still (atching him. 0hen, in*o'ing the name of Bod and raising his holy hand, he -rayed earnestly and said to the

boar ICome no further in this directionH on the -lace to (hich you ha*e no( come, dieE& s the sound of the saint&s (ords rang in the (oods, not

only (as the terrible beast unable to come closer he immediately fell do(n before his *ery face, 'illed by the -o(er of his (ord.< !, C%.

;nother time, (hen the saint (as li*ing on the )echrena island, a certain man of humble birth came to him and com-lained of his (ife, (ho,

as he said, so hated him, that she (ould on no account allo( him to come near her for marriage rights. 0he saint on hearing this, sent for the (ife,

and, so far as he could, began to re-ro*e her on that account, saying IWhy, (oman, dost thou endea*our to (ithdra( thy flesh from thyself,

(hile the Aord says, I0hey shall be t(o in one flesh&J Wherefore the flesh of thy husband is thy flesh.& She ans(ered and said, IWhate*er thou

shalt reuire of me am ready to do, ho(e*er hard it may be, (ith this single e3ce-tion, that thou dost not urge me in any (ay to slee- in one bed

(ith Augne. do not refuse to -erform e*ery duty at home, or, if thou dost command me, e*en to -ass o*er the seas, or to li*e in some monastery


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for (omen.& 0he saint then said, IWhat thou dost -ro-ose cannot la(fully be done, for thou art bound by the la( of the husband as long as thy

husband li*eth, for it (ould be im-ious to se-arate those (hom Bod has la(fully 6oined together.& mmediately after these (ords he added I0his

day let us three, namely, the husband and his (ife and myself, 6oin in -rayer to the Aord and in fasting.& ut the (oman re-lied I 'no( it is not

im-ossible for thee to obtain from Bod, (hen thou as'est them, those things that seem to us either difficult, or e*en im-ossible.& t is unnecessary

to say more. 0he husband and (ife agreed to fast (ith the saint that day, and the follo(ing night the saint s-ent slee-less in -rayer for them. 7e3t

day he thus addressed the (ife in -resence of her husband, and said to her I (oman, art thou still ready today, as thou saidst yesterday, to go

a(ay to a con*ent of (omenJ& I 'no( no(,& she ans(ered, Ithat thy -rayer to Bod for me hath been heardH for that man (hom hated yesterday,

lo*e todayH for my heart hath been changed last night in some un'no(n (ay from hatred to lo*e.& Why need (e linger o*er itJ From that day to

the hour of death, the soul of the (ife (as firmly cemented in affection to her husband, so that she no longer refused those mutual matrimonial

rights (hich she (as formerly un(illing to allo(.< !%

T!e Synod o" Dr#ceatt

n 5$, Connall, 'ing of the rish colony in Scotland, died. :ogan, son of Babrham (as the direct heir. ?o(e*er, through a Di*ine re*elation to

St. Columba it (as not :ogan, but his brother idan (ho became 'ing through the saint&s ordination. 0his suggests that the saint may in fact ha*e

been a bisho-, (hich is not as unli'ely as it sounds if (e remember that the abbots of the rish Church a--ear to ha*e been more im-ortant than

the bisho-s and may also ha*e had e-isco-al ran', (hich may e3-lain both (hy there is hardly a mention of an rish bisho- after the death of St.

atric' !an e3ce-tion to this rule is isho- Conleth, (ho li*ed in St. rigid&s monastery in >ildare% and (hy the (riters of the li*es of the holy

abbots did not thin' it necessary to mention their e-isco-ate.

0he story of idan&s ordination is as follo(s. When the saint (as staying ;in the island of ?ymba K:ileann#na#7aoimhL, he (as in an ecstasy of

mind one night and sa( an ngel of the Aord (ho had been sent to him, and (ho held in his hand a glass boo' of the rdination of >ings. 0he

*enerable man recei*ed it from the ngel&s hand, and at his command began to read it. nd (hen he refused to ordain idan as 'ing according to

the direction gi*en to him in the boo', because he lo*ed his brother :ogan more, the ngel, suddenly stretching out his hand, struc' the saint (ith

a scourge, of (hich the li*id mar' remained on his side all the days of his life, and he added these (ords, saying I>no( for certain that am sent

to you by Bod (ith this glass boo', that in accordance (ith the (ords (hich you ha*e hast read in it, you may ordain idan to the 'ingshi- and if

you art not (illing to obey this command, shall stri'e you again.& When, then, this ngel of the Aord had a--eared on three successi*e nights,

ha*ing in his hand that same glass boo', and had -ressed the same commands of the Aord concerning the ordination of that 'ing, the saint

obeyed the Word of the Aord, and sailed across to the isle of ona (here, as he had been commanded, he ordained idan as 'ing Kby tradition, on

the Stone of SconeL, idan ha*ing arri*ed there at the same time.< !C, %

0he ne3t year, St. Columba (ent (ith >ing idan to the Synod of Drumceatt in reland, (hich had been con*ened by >ing edh. n the (ay, as

they came to the (hirl-ool of Corry*rec'an, a great storm struc' them. Water (as -ouring o*er the sides of the boat, and Columba (ith his fello(s

(as baling it out. ut then the mon's sto--ed him. ;What you are doing no( is of little use to us in our -resent danger,< they said. ;Qou should

rather -ray for us, as (e are -erishing.< Columba the ;ceased to thro( out the bitter (aters of the green (a*e and began to -our out a fer*ent and

s(eet -rayer to the Aord. Wonderful to relateE t the *ery moment that the saint stood u- in the -ro( (ith his hands outstretched to ?ea*en and

-rayed to the lmighty, the (hole storm of (ind and the fury of the sea ceased more uic'ly than can be told, and a -erfect calm instantly ensued.

ut those (ho (ere in the boat (ere ama4ed, and gi*ing than's (ith great admiration, glorified the Aord in the holy and illustrious man.< !%

When the tra*elers arri*ed in reland, they (ere 6oined by many of Columba&s friends and disci-les. ccording to the 2ld Irish Life, Columba

;came from the :ast (ith a cloth o*er his eyes and his dalmatic abo*e that, and the ca-e of the co(l o*er it all, so that he might not see the men of

reland, nor her (omen.< nd &Donnell says that he -ut ;a sod of lba under his feet< so that he might not tread on the soil of reland. e that as it

may, he certainly unco*ered his eyes later in his tri-H and (e must assume that his -enance (as no( fulfilled.

When Columba entered the assembly, e*eryone stood u-. Columba argued for the inde-endence of Dalriada !that -art of Western Scotland

colonised by the rish, of (hich ona (as the s-iritual ca-ital%. 0his (as agreed u-on in e3change for a -ledge of assistance to the mother country

in the e*ent of in*asion from abroad.


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ccording to the 2ld Irish Life, ho(e*er, it (as another matter that brought Columba bac' to his nati*e land. Scannlan Mor, son of >ing

Cennfaedladh of ssory, (as a hostage in the hands of >ing edh, and Columba (as surety for him that he (ould be released at the end of the

year. ut the end of the year came, and ;he (as not released, and no hostage (as acce-ted in his stead. nd a (ic'er hut (as constructed

around him, (ithout any -assage out of it e3ce-t an o-ening through (hich a little salted food and a small allo(ance of ale used to be gi*en to

him. nd fifty (arriors used to be outside the hut guarding him. nd there (ere nine chains u-on him in the hut. nd (hen sa( anyone going -ast,

he (ould say I drin'&. nd this (as re-orted to Columcille in ona, and he (e-t greatly at (hat he heardH and it (as this that brought him uic'ly

from the :ast.< !%

When Columba demanded his release at the Synod, the 'ing said ; shall not release him until he dies in the hut in (hich he is.< 0he saint

re-lied ;We shall not -ursue the matter furtherH but if it be -leasing to Bod, may it come about that he ta'es off my shoes tonight at Mattins,

(here*er may be.< 0hen he (ent to the lac' bbey church at Derry, (here Scanlann, (ho had been released by an angel, met him in front of

the screen during Mattins, and hel-ed him ta'e off his shoes. fter feeding him, the saint sent him to ssory (ith hisbachall, or cro4ier. Scanlann

arri*ed on the day that his father died of grief for him, (hereu-on he assumed the 'ingshi-, and thereafter ga*e a tribute to Columcille e*ery

se*enth year.

t the same Synod, the saint inter*ened successfully to -re*ent the e3tinction of the institution of the rish bards, of (hom he (as one. 0heir

leader, Dallan Forgaill, then com-osed the mhra Columcille in his honour, (hich t(el*e hundred of them sang to music. t this it is said that the

saint (as o*ercome by *aingloryH and aithene, (ho (as accom-anying him, -ointed out to him a grou- of demons (ho (ere scoffing in the s'y

abo*e. shamed, the saint co*ered his head (ith his mantle, and the demons fled. ut he forbade his -raises to be sung any more, saying that

one should not -raise someone (hose life might end badly, and that those (ho ran (ell and ended the race successfully should be -raised only

after their death.

t the same Synod Columba healed many -eo-le. ;For many sic' -eo-le, belie*ing, reco*ered -erfect health, either through the stretching out

his holy hand, or through being s-rin'led (ith (ater blessed by him, or e*en by the touch of the border of his cloa' or of anything salt, for

e3am-le, or bread that had been blessed by him and di--ed in (ater.< !%

0hese materials acuired s-ecial -ro-erties. 0hus a -iece of roc' salt that had been blessed by him ;for the benefit of his sister and nurse, (ho

(as suffering from a *ery se*ere attac' of o-htalmia


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side of the Sound of our island, e*idently being an3ious to come near me and deli*er me from the body. ut they are not allo(ed to come nearer,

because, that thing (hich Bod granted me after -raying (ith my (hole strength#namely, that might -ass from the (orld to ?im on this day,#?e

hath changed in a moment in ?is listening to the -rayers of so many churches for me. 0hese churches ha*e no doubt -rayed as the Aord hath

granted, so that, though it is against my ardent (ish, four years from this day are added for me to abide in the flesh. Such a sad delay as this (as

fitly the cause of the grief today. t the end of these four years, then, (hich by BodPs fa*our my life is yet to see, shall -ass a(ay suddenly,

(ithout any -re*ious bodily sic'ness, and de-art (ith 6oy to the Aord, accom-anied by ?is holy angels, (ho shall come to meet me at that hour.&

ccording to these (ords, (hich the *enerable man uttered, it is said, (ith much sorro( and grief, and e*en many tears, he after(ards abode in

the flesh for four years.

;Four years later, in May, 59$, the saint (ent in a cart to *isit some of the brethren (ho (ere at (or'. nd ha*ing found

them at (or' on the (estern side of ona, he began to s-ea' to them that day, saying, IDuring the -aschal solemnities in the month of -ril no(

-ast, (ith desire ha*e desired to de-art to Christ the Aord, as ?e had allo(ed me, if -referred it. ut lest a 6oyous festi*al should be turned for

you into mourning, thought it better to -ut off for a little longer the time of my de-arture from the (orld.& 0he belo*ed mon's all the (hile they

(ere hearing this sad ne(s (ere greatly addicted, and he endea*oured as (ell as he could to cheer them (ith (ords of consolation. 0hen, ha*ing

done this, he turned his face to the east, still seated as he (as in his chariot, and blessed the island (ith its inhabitantsH and from that day to the

-resent, as (e ha*e stated in the oo' abo*e mentioned, the *enomous re-tiles (ith the three for'ed tongues could do no manner of harm to

man or beast.

;fter uttering these (ords of blessing, the saint (as carried bac' to his monastery. 0hen, again, a fe( days after(ards, (hile he (as

celebrating the solemn offices of the Aiturgy as usual on the AordPs day, the face of the *enerable man, as his eyes (ere raised to hea*en,

suddenly a--eared as if suffused (ith a ruddy glo(, for, as it is (ritten, P glad heart ma'eth a cheerful countenance.P For at that same hour he

alone sa( an angel of the Aord ho*ering abo*e (ithin the (alls of his oratoryH and as the lo*ely and tranuil as-ect of the holy angels infuses 6oy

and e3ultation into the hearts of the elect, this (as the cause of that sudden 6oy infused into the blessed man. When those (ho (ere -resent on

the occasion inuired as to the cause of that 6oy (ith (hich he (as e*idently ins-ired, the saint loo'ing u-(ards ga*e them this re-ly, IWonderful

and uns-ea'able is the subtility of the angelic natureE For lo, an angel of the Aord, (ho (as sent to demand a certain de-osit dear to Bod, hath,

after loo'ing do(n u-on us (ithin the church, and blessing us, returned again through the roof of the church, (ithout lea*ing any trace of his

-assage out.& 0hus s-o'e the saint. ut none of the bystanders could understand (hat 'ind of a de-osit the angel (as sent to demand. ur

-atron, ho(e*er, ga*e the name of a holy de-osit to his o(n soul that had been intrusted to him by BodH and after an inter*al of si3 days from that

time, as shall be related further on, he de-arted to the Aord on the night of the AordPs day.

;n the end, then, of this same (ee', that is on the day of the Sabbath, the *enerable man, and his -ious attendant Diormit, (ent to bless the

barn (hich (as near at hand. When the saint had entered in and blessed it, and t(o hea-s of (inno(ed corn that (ere in it, he ga*e e3-ression to

his than's in these (ords, saying, I heartily congratulate my belo*ed mon's, that this year also, if am obliged to de-art from you, you (ill ha*e a

sufficient su--ly for the year.& n hearing this, Diormit his attendant began to feel sad, and said, I0his year, at this time, father, thou *ery often

*e3est us, by so freuently ma'ing mention of thy lea*ing us.& ut the saint re-lied to him, I ha*e a little secret address to ma'e to thee, and if

thou (ilt -romise me faithfully not to re*eal it to any one before my death, shall be able to s-ea' to thee (ith more freedom about my de-arture.&

When his attendant had on bended 'nees made the -romise as the saint desired, the *enerable man thus resumed his address I0his day in the

?oly Scri-tures is called the Sabbath, (hich means rest. nd this day is indeed a Sabbath to me, for it is the last day of my -resent laborious life,

and on it rest after the fatigues of my laboursH and this night at midnight, (hich commenceth the solemn AordPs Day, shall, according to the

sayings of Scri-ture, go the (ay of our fathers. For already my Aord =esus Christ deigneth to in*ite meH and to ?im, say, in the middle of this night

shall de-art, at ?is in*itation. For so it hath been re*ealed to me by the Aord himself.& 0he attendant hearing these sad (ords began to (ee-

bitterly, and the saint endea*oured to console him as (ell as he could.

;fter this the saint left the barn, and in going bac' to the monastery, rested half (ay at a -lace (here a cross, (hich (as after(ards erected,

and is standing to this day, fi3ed into a millstone, may be obser*ed on the roadside. While the saint, as ha*e said, bo(ed do(n (ith old age, sat

there to rest a little, behold, there came u- to him a (hite -ac'#horse, the same that used, as a (illing ser*ant, to carry the mil'#*essels from the

co(#shed to the monastery. t came u- to the saint and, strange to say, laid its head on his bosomRins-ired, belie*e, by Bod to do so, as each

animal is gifted (ith the 'no(ledge of things according to the (ill of the CreatorH and 'no(ing that its master (as soon about to lea*e it, and that it

(ould see him no moreRbegan to utter -lainti*e cries, and li'e a human being, to shed co-ious tears on the saintPs bosom, foaming and greatly

(ailing. 0he attendant seeing this, began to dri*e the (ee-ing mourner a(ay, but the saint forbade him, saying IAet it alone, as it is so fond of me,

let it -our out its bitter grief into my bosom. AoE thou, as thou art a man, and hast a rational soul, canst 'no( nothing of my de-arture hence,


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e3ce-t (hat myself ha*e 6ust told you, but to this brute beast de*oid of reason, the Creator ?imself hath e*idently in some (ay made it 'no(n

that its master is going to lea*e it.& nd saying this, the saint blessed the (or'#horse, (hich turned a(ay from him in sadness.

;0hen lea*ing this s-ot, he ascended the hill that o*erloo'eth the monastery, and stood for some little time on its summitH and as he stood there

(ith both hands u-lifted, he blessed his monastery, saying ISmall and mean though this -lace is, yet it shall be held in great and unusual honour,

not only by Scotic 'ings and -eo-le, but also by the rulers of foreign and barbarous nations, and by their sub6ectsH the saints also e*en of other

churches shall regard it (ith no common re*erence.&

;fter these (ords he descended the hill, and ha*ing returned to the monastery sat in his hut transcribing the salter, and coming to that *erse

of the @@rd salm, (here it is (ritten, I0hey that see' the Aord shall (ant no manner of thing that is good,& I?ere,& said he, Iat the end of the -age,

must sto-H and (hat follo(s let aithene (rite.& 0he last *erse he had (ritten (as *ery a--licable to the saint, (ho (as about to de-art, and to

(hom eternal goods shall ne*er be (antingH (hile the one that follo(eth is eually a--licable to the father (ho succeeded him, the instructor of

his s-iritual children ICome, ye children, and hear'en unto me (ill teach you the fear of the AordH& and indeed he succeeded him, as

recommended by him, not only in teaching, but also in (riting.

;?a*ing (ritten the aforementioned *erse at the end of the -age, the saint (ent to the church to the nocturnal *igils of the AordPs DayH and so

soon as this (as o*er, he returned to his chamber, and s-ent the remainder of the night on his bed, (here he had a bare flag for his couch, and for

his -illo( a stone, (hich stands to this day as a 'ind of monument beside his gra*e. While then he (as reclining there, he ga*e his last

instructions to the brethren, in the hearing of his attendant alone, saying I0hese, my children, are the last (ords address to youthat ye be at

-eace, and ha*e unfeigned charity among yoursel*esH and if you thus follo( the e3am-le of the holy fathers, Bod, the Comforter of the good, (ill

be your ?el-er and , abiding (ith ?im, (ill intercede for youH and ?e (ill not only gi*e you sufficient to su--ly the (ants of this -resent life, but (ill

also besto( on you the good and eternal re(ards (hich are laid u- for those that 'ee- ?is commandments.& 0hus far ha*e the last (ords of our

*enerable -atron, as he (as about to lea*e this (eary -ilgrimage for his hea*enly country, been -reser*ed for recital in our brief narrati*e.

;fter these (ords, as the ha--y hour of his de-arture gradually a--roached, the saint became silent. 0hen as soon as the bell tolled at

midnight, he rose hastily, and (ent to the churchH and running more uic'ly than the rest, he entered it alone, and 'nelt do(n in -rayer beside the

altar. t the same moment his attendant Diormit, (ho more slo(ly follo(ed him, sa( from a distance that the (hole interior of the church (as filled

(ith a hea*enly light in the direction of the saint. nd as he dre( near to the door, the same light he had seen, and (hich (as also seen by a fe(

more of the brethren standing at a distance, uic'ly disa--eared. Diormit therefore entering the church, cried out in a mournful *oice, IWhere art

thou, fatherJ& nd feeling his (ay in the dar'ness, as the brethren had not yet brought in the lights, he found the saint lying before the altarH and

raising him u- a little, he sat do(n beside him, and laid his holy head on his bosom. Mean(hile the rest of the mon's ran in hastily in a body (ith

their lights, and beholding their dying father, burst into lamentations. nd the saint, as (e ha*e been told by some (ho (ere -resent, e*en before

his soul de-arted, o-ened (ide his eyes and loo'ed round him from side to side, (ith a countenance full of (onderful 6oy and gladness, no doubt

seeing the holy angels coming to meet him. Diormit then raised the holy right hand of the saint, that he might bless his assembled mon's. nd the

*enerable father himself mo*ed his hand at the same time, as (ell as he (as ablethat as he could not in (ords, (hile his soul (as de-arting, he

might at least, by the motion of his hand, be seen to bless his brethren. nd ha*ing gi*en them his holy benediction in this (ay, he immediately

breathed his last. fter his soul had left the tabernacle of the body, his face still continued ruddy, and brightened in a (onderful (ay by his *ision of

the angels, and that to such a degree that he had the a--earance, not so much of one dead, as of one ali*e and slee-ing. Mean(hile the (hole

church resounded (ith loud lamentations of grief.

; must not omit to mention the re*elation made to a certain saint of reland, at the *ery time the blessed soul de-arted. For in that monastery

(hich in the Scotic language is called Clonifinchoil =now )osnarea, in parish of *nockcommon, &eath>, there (as a holy man named Augud, son

of 0ailchan, one (ho had gro(n old in the ser*ice of Christ, and (as noted for his sanctity and (isdom. 7o( this man had a *ision (hich at early

da(n he told in great affliction to one called Fergnous, (ho (as li'e himself a ser*ant of Christ. In the middle of this last night,& said he, IColumba,

the -illar of many churches, -assed to the AordH and at the moment of his blessed de-arture, sa( in the s-irit the (hole island of ona, (here

ne*er (as in the body, res-lendent (ith the brightness of angelsH and the (hole hea*ens abo*e it, u- to the *ery 4enith, (ere illumined (ith the

brilliant light of the same hea*enly messengers, (ho descended in countless numbers to bear a(ay his holy soul. t the same moment, also,

heard the loud hymns and entrancingly s(eet canticles of the angelic host, as his holy soul (as borne aloft amidst the ascending choirs of angels.&

Virgnous, (ho about this time came o*er from Scotia =Ireland>, and s-ent the rest of his life in the ?inba island =!ilean4na4aoimh>, *ery often

related to the mon's of St. Columba this *ision of angels, (hich, as has been said, he undoubtedly heard from the li-s of the old man himself, to

(hom it had been granted. 0his same Virgnous, ha*ing for many years li*ed (ithout re-roach in obedience amongst the brethren, led the life of an

anchorite, as a *ictorious soldier of Christ, for t(el*e years more, in the hermitage of Muirbulcmar. 0his *ision abo*e mentioned (e ha*e not only

found in (riting, but ha*e heard related (ith the utmost freedom by se*eral (ell#informed old men to (hom Virgnous himself had told it.


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;nother *ision also gi*en at the same hour under a different form (as related to me domnan (ho (as a young man at the time, by one of

those (ho had seen itH and (ho solemnly assured me of its truth. ?e (as a *ery old man, a ser*ant of Christ, (hose name may be called Ferreol,

but in the Scotic tongue :rnene, of the race of Mocufirroide, (ho, as being himself a holy mon', is buried in the )idge of 0omma =now +rumhome,

county +onegal>, amidst the remains of other mon's of St. Columba, and a(aits the resurrection (ith the saintsH he said In that night (hen St.

Columba, by a ha--y and blessed death, -assed from earth to hea*en, (hile and others (ith me (ere engaged in fishing in the *alley of the ri*er

Fend =the -inn, in +onegal> (hich abounds in fish (e sa( the (hole *ault of hea*en become suddenly illuminated. Struc' by the suddenness

of the miracle, (e raised our eyes and loo'ed to(ards the east, (hen, loE there a--eared something li'e an immense -illar of fire, (hich seemed

to us, as it ascended u-(ards at that midnight, to illuminate the (hole earth li'e the summer sun at noonH and after that column -enetrated the

hea*ens dar'ness follo(ed, as if the sun had 6ust set. nd not only did (e, (ho (ere together in the same -lace, obser*e (ith intense sur-rise the

brightness of this remar'able luminous -illar, but many other fishermen also, (ho (ere engaged in fishing here and there in different dee- -ools

along the same ri*er, (ere greatly terrified, as they after(ards related to us, by an a--earance of the same 'ind.& 0hese three miraculous *isions,

then, (hich (ere seen at the *ery hour of our *enerable -atronPs de-arture, sho( clearly that the Aord hath conferred on him eternal honours. ut

let us no( return to our narrati*e.

;fter his holy soul had de-arted, and the Mattins hymns (ere finished, his sacred body (as carried by the brethren, chanting -salms, from the

church bac' to his chamber, from (hich a little before he had come ali*eH and his obseuies (ere celebrated (ith all due honour and re*erence for

three days and as many nights. nd (hen these s(eet -raises of Bod (ere ended, the *enerable body of our holy and blessed -atron (as

(ra--ed in a clean shroud of fine linen, and, being -laced in the coffin -re-ared for it, (as buried (ith all due *eneration, to rise again (ith

lustrous and eternal brightness.

;nd no(, near the close of this boo', (e shall relate (hat hath been told us by -ersons cognisant of the facts, regarding the abo*e#mentioned

three days during (hich his obseuies (ere celebrated in due ecclesiastical form. t ha--ened on one occasion that a certain brother s-ea'ing

(ith great sim-licity in the -resence of the holy and *enerable man, said to him, Ifter thy death all the -eo-le of these -ro*inces (ill ro( across to

ona, to celebrate thine obseuies, and (ill entirely fill it.& ?earing this said, the saint immediately re-lied I7o, my child, the e*ent (ill not turn out

as thou sayestH for a -romiscuous throng of -eo-le shall not by any means be able to come to my obseuies none but the mon's of my

monastery (ill -erform my funeral rites, and grace the last offices besto(ed u-on me.& nd the fulfillment of this -ro-hecy (as brought about

immediately after his death by BodPs almighty -o(erH for there arose a storm of (ind (ithout rain, (hich ble( so *iolently during those three days

and nights of his obseuies, that it entirely -re*ented e*ery one from crossing the Sound in his little boat. nd immediately after the interment of

the blessed man, the storm (as uelled at once, the (ind ceased, and the (hole sea became calm.< !%

0he relics of St. Columba (erefirst buried at ona. ut t(o hundred years later, after the destruction of the

monastery by the Vi'ings, -arts (ere translated to Dun'eld in 89, (hile -arts (ere ta'en to reland,

to Do(n-atric', County Do(n, (ith St. atric' and St. rigid, or at Saul Church in neighbouring

Do(n-atric'.

St) Bait!ene+ A**ot o" Iona

OWe 'no( for certain,< (rites the Venerable ede !$@5% ;that Columba left successors

distinguished for their -urity of life, their lo*e of Bod, and their loyalty to the rules of the monastic

life.< t least ten out of the first thirteen abbots of ona belonged to St. Columba&s clan. t (as the custom in the rish Church for these coarbs, or

successors of the first abbot, to be of the same clan.

St. aithene, (ho (as Columba&s cousin and foster#son, (as the first coarb. ?e (as a gentle man, (ho (ould often intercede for sinners (ith

(hom Columba (as angry. ll the mon's lo*ed him, and Columba com-ared him to St. =ohn the -ostle. ?e (as also admired for his great

learning, (hich (as second only to Columba&s. ?e (as full of the s-irit of -rayer (hile (al'ing his hands (ould al(ays be clas-ed round his

cassoc'H (hile carrying oats from the fields he (ould -rayH and at meals bet(een e*ery t(o morsels of food he (ould say Deus in auditorium

meum, ; Aord, hear me


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nce aithene had a *ision. ?e sa( three thrones in ?ea*en, one of gold, one of sil*er and one of glass.< ;0his is clear,< said Columba.

;Ciaran son of the (right KSt. Ciaran of ClonmacnoiseL has the throne of gold on account of his honour and because of his hos-itality. Qou yourself,

aithene, ha*e the throne of sil*er, because of your -urity and the luster of your de*otion. 0he throne of glass is mine, for though my de*otion is

fair, am often frail, and am carnal.ing

of reland, they became soul#friends.

n imitation of his relati*e, the great St. Columba, domnan left reland and in "52 became a mon' under bbot Seghine in the Scottish island

monastery of ona. n "$9, Seghine died, and domnan succeeded him as abbot. ?e (as also -resident#general of all the

Columban houses in reland. n this -osition the saint dis-layed great *irtue and (or'ed many miracles, and (as counted (orthy of

seeing *isions of the Aord =esus Christ, of hea*en and of hell.

n "8", in res-onse to a reuest from the rish, domnan (ent on a mission to >ing ldfrid of 7orthumbria, (ho had studied under him in

reland. ?is aim (as to secure the release of si3ty#si3 rish ca-ti*es (hom ldfrid&s -redecessor :grid had sei4ed in the -re*ious year. 7o( he -ut

in at a -art of the :nglish coast (here the tide (as *ery fast and landing dangerousH so the :nglish tried to -ersuade him to land there. ut

domnan told his mon's ;ush your boats onto the shoreH for both land and sea are obedient to Bod, and nothing can be done (ithout ?is

-ermission.< 0he mon's did as they (ere told. 0hen the Saint dre( a circle (ith his cro4ier around the boats. mmediately the sea formed a high

(all around them so that the land they (ere on became an island, and the sea (ent -art them (ithout harming them.

St. domnan (as the author of a Life of t. Columba, and also of 2n the Holy "laces, based on the

account of the French isho- rculf (ho had been shi-(rec'ed in Scotland. ?e -resented the

autogra-h co-y to >ing ldfrid.


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n "88 domnan *isited St. Ceolfrith of Wearmouth, (ho con*erted him from the Celtic to the

)oman#y4antine method of calculating the date of ascha. n "91 he too' -art in the synods of the

rish Church as the ruler of all the onan monasteries in 7orthern reland. 0hen and in "9$, at the

Synod of 0ara, he met (ith considerable success in -ersuading the rish to acce-t the )oman#

y4antine calendar. nly his o(n monasteries stood out against him !ona finally acce-ted the )oman

-aschalion in $+"%. t the same synod, the Cain damnain, or Canon of domnan (as ado-ted, (hich

ruled that (omen, children and clergy should be e3em-ted from -artici-ation in (ar and should be

treated by all as non#combatants. 0he Cain damnain established legal rights for (omen for the first

time in ritish history.

0he cult of St. domnan flourished in both reland and Scotland (ith dedications to him in Donegal,

Derry, and Sligo as (ell as berdeenshire, anff, Forfar and the Western sles. n $1$ the relics of

domnan (ere brought from ona to reland to hel- ma'e -eace bet(een the tribes of damnanPs

father and mother. 0hey (ere carried round forty churches (hich had been under onaPs rule the

-eo-le s(ore to obey the Aa( of domnan. ?is shrines (ere desecrated by 7orthmen in 8@2 and

+2@2. Feast 1@ Se-tember.

St) Blait!#aic o" Iona

0he ne3t abbots (ere Conamail !$2#$+2% and Dunchad !$2$#$+$%, (ho died on 15 May, $+$. 0hese t(o abbots (ere in schism from each

other. 0he schism continued, on and off, until $$1. 0hen came Dorbbene !$+@#$+@%, (ho died on Saturday, 18 ctober, $+@, ha*ing been abbot for

fi*e monthsH Faelchu !$+"#$1%, (ho recei*ed the abbacy at the age of se*enth#three on Saturday, 19 ugust, before (hose death Fedlimid, about

(hom nothing is 'no(n, became abbotH Cillene Fota !$1#$1"%H Slebine !$51#$"$%, (ho (as in reland in $5H Suibne !$"$#$$1%H resal !$$1#82+%,

(ho *isited reland in $$8H Connachtach !82+#821%, (ho (as 'no(n as ;a most e3cellent scribeells, returned to ona and died there se*en years later.

St. laithmaic !or lathmacc% (as, li'e St. Columba, of royal blood of the clan of the Gi#7eill. ne day he secretly abandoned his e3alted

-osition in the (orld and became a mon'. When his father heard this, he (as o*ercome (ith grief and sent a multitude of -eo-le, including a

bisho-, a general, abbots, soldiers and 'insmen, to try and -ersuade him to return. ut the saint, ha*ing set his hand to the -lough, did not turn

bac'. n this (ay he -ractised the angelic life for se*eral years.

ut then he concei*ed the desire to suffer ;the scars of Christ


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0he saint es-ecially sought to go to ona, (here he 'ne( that the Vi'ings freuently came. :*entually he became abbot of ona, and there

a(aited the arri*al of the Vi'ings. ;Friends,< he said to his mon's, ;cast (ithin yoursel*es (hether you ha*e the courage to suffer for the name of

Christ (ith me. Whoe*er of you can (ait, beseech you, steel yoursel*es (ith manly courage. ut let those (hose hearts ua'e (ithin them flee

and thereby esca-e the danger, -re-aring themsel*es for better offerings in the future. 0he trial of certain death a--roaches. Aet firm faith stand

-oised and ready, (hile cautious flight ser*e the less bra*e.< t these (ords, the mon's di*ided. Some re6oiced at the -ros-ect of martyrdom and

remained, (hile others too' to flight by a trac' through the mountains.

n the morning of =uly 1 !or =anuary +9%, +815, a golden sun scattered the rain#drenched dar'ness. 0he holy abbot celebrated the Di*ine

Aiturgy, and then stood as a sacrificial lamb in front of the ?oly 0able. 0he rest of the mon's stood -raying (ith tears.

0hen suddenly the Vi'ings -oured in a raging torrent into the church. First they slaughtered the mon's. 0hen they came to the holy father and

demanded that he gi*e them the -recious reliuary of St. Columba. ut the mon's had ta'en the shrine from its -lace and buried it in a gra*e,

co*ering it (ith sods. When the -agans demanded this booty, the saint resisted them, saying ; do not 'no( (hat gold (ithin you see', nor (here

in the ground it may be stored, nor by (hat it is hidden. nd if, Christ (illing, (ere -ermitted to 'no(, not to your ears (ould tell it. 0a'e your

s(ords, (ield them barbarously, and 'ill me. Aife#gi*ing Bod, commend my humble soul to 0hy -rotection.< t this, the -agans cut the holy

man to -ieces

St. laithmaic is commemorated on =anuary +9.

St) Indrac!t o" Iona

St. ndracht KndrechtactL, grandson of Finechta, became abbot in 8@1. n 89 he came to reland (ith some of the relics of St. Columba. n the

same year >ing >enneth of Scotland also transferred some of the relics to the church he had built in Dun'eld. n March +1, 85, ndrecht (as

martyred at Blastonbury on his 6ourney to )ome. ne Diarmaid (as 'illed (ith him.

;Some years later,< (rites William of Malmesbury, ;the bodies of the martyr ndract and his comrades (ere translated from their -lace of

martyrdom and buried in that church by ne, >ing of the West Sa3ons, (ho had recei*ed a di*ine *ision. ndract&s body (as -ut in a stone -yramid

to the left of the altar, the others (ere -ut under the floor in -laces either carefully chosen or dictated by chance.< ?o(e*er, William must ha*e

made a mista'e here, for > ing ne li*ed o*er a hundred years before St. ndract.

0he saint is commemorated on May 8.

Last Martyrs

n 8$8 ;the shrine of Columcille and all his mionna !non#cor-oreal relics% (erebrought to reland< !nnals of Glster% by bbot Cellach. n 92 the cro4ier of

Columcille led the Scottish army that defeated the Danish >ing of Dublin laf at

Strathearn. From that time the cro4ier ;(as called Ibattle#*ictory&. t (as a 6ust name

because they often (on the *ictory in battle through it, e*en as they did on that

occasion, (hen they -laced their faith in Columcille.< !Fragmentary nnals%.

n about 882 a ?ebridean bisho- called atric' blessed a Vi'ing called rlygr to

emigrate to celandH he told him to build a church there in honour of St. Columba and

-ro*ided him (ith timber, a bell, a missal and consecrated earth to lay beneath the

corner -illars of the building. rlygr did as he (as told, and founded a churchdedicated to St. Columba at his farmstead near )ey'6a*i'.


26/31

y the 9"2s there (as a bisho-ric at ona, (ith a bisho- called Fothad.

0he succession of abbots of ona continued as follo(s Feradach McCormac

!8$9%H Flaun McMaleduin !892%H Maelbrigid, abbot of rmagh !91$%H ongas

McMuricert !9@5%H Dubtach !9@8%, Caon conichrae !95%H )obhartach !95%HFinghin, bisho- !9""%H Fiachra !9$$%H

n 982 the Scandina*ian ruler of Dublin, laf Cuaran, abdicated and became a

mon' in ona. gra*e#stone of that date at ona bears a runic inscri-tion saying

I>ing l*irsson laid this stone o*er his brother Fugl.&

bbot Mugron (ith +5 mon's (as 'illed by the Danes on Christmas :*e, 985.

n Christmas :*e, 98", according to the nnals of Glster, Danes from Dublin descended u-on the monastery of ona in Scotland, and 'illed

bbot Maelciarin and fifteen of his mon's at the -lace called ;the White Strand of the Mon's


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$nd mystic rank of "ower and &ight:

'hat Love and &ystery +ivine

ot aimlessly alone might dwell,

#ut vessels have wherein to pour

-ull wealth of gifts ineffable.

Cast from the highest heights of heaven,

-ar from the angels/ shining state,

-adeth from glory Lucifer,

-alling in scorn infatuate.

$ngels apostate share his fall,

teeled with his hate and fired with pride,

#anished from their fellows bright,

ho in the heavenly seats abide.

Direful and foul, the +ragon great,

hose deadly rage was known of old,

'he slippery serpent, wilier

'han living thing that earth doth hold:

$ third part of the stars entice,

In hell/s abyss to 0uench their light,

In headlong fall from "aradise.

From every glad $ngelic tongue,

oon as the stars sprang into light,

#urst forth the wondering shout that praised

'he Heavenly Creator/s might.

$nd, as His handiwork they viewed,

$rose from loving hearts and free

'he tribute due of wondrous song,

welling in sweetest harmony.

Gainst atan/s wiles and hell/s assault

2ur primal parents could not stand:

$nd into new abysses fell

'he leader and his horrid band:

-ierce forms, with noise of beating wings,

'oo dread for sight of mortal eye,

ho, fettered, far from human ken,

ithin their prison houses lie.

Him, banished from his first estate,

'he Lord cast out for evermore;

$nd now his wild and rebel crew

In upper air together soar.

Invisible lest men should ga@e

2n wickedness without a name,

$nd, breaking every barrier down,


28/31

+efile themselves in open shame.

In the three 0uarters of the sea

'hree mighty fountains hidden lie,

hence rise through whirling water4spouts

)ich4laden clouds that clothe the sky:

2n winds from out his treasure4house

'hey speed to swell bud, vine and grain,

hile the sea4shallows emptied wait

%ntil the tides return again.

Kings/ earthly glory fleeteth fast,

$nd for a moment is its stay.

(od hath all might; and at a nod

'he giants fall beneath His sway.

Aeath waters deep, with mighty pangs,

In fires and torments dread they rave,

Choked in the whirlpool/s angry surge,

+ashed on the rocks by every wave.

Like one that through a sparing sieve

'he precious grain doth slowly pour,

(od sendeth down upon the earth

'he cloud4bound waters evermore:

$nd from the fruitful breasts of heaven,

hile changing season wa and wane,

'he welcome streams that never fail

"our forth in rich supplies of rain.

Mark how the power of (od supreme

Hath hung aloft earth/s giant ball,

$nd fied the great encircling deep,

His mighty hand supporting all

%pon the pillars which He made,

'he solid rocks and cliffs that soar,

$nd on the sure foundations rest

'hat stand unmoved for evermore.

None doubteth that within the earth

(low the devouring flames of hell,

herein is prisoned darkest night

here noisome beasts and serpents dwell,

$nd hades/ old and awful moan,

$nd cries of men in anguish dire,

$nd falling tears and gnashing teeth,

$nd thirst, and hunger/s burning fire.

Of realms we read beneath the world


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here the departed spirits wait,

ho never cease to bend the knee

'o Christ, the only "otentate.

'hey could not ope the written #ook,

hose seven seals none but He might break,

-ulfilling thus the prophet/s word,

'hat He should come, and victory make.

Paradise and its pleasant glades

-rom the beginning (od did make;

2ut of whose fountain4head there flow

-our rivers sweet, earth/s thirst to slake;

$nd midmost stands the tree of life,

ith leaves that neither fade nor fail,

ith healing to the nations fraught,

hose 3oys abundant never pall.

Questions the inger, 4 5ho hath climbed

inai the mountain of the Lord

'he echoing thunders who hath heard,

$nd ringing trumpet4blast outpoured

ho saw the lightning/s da@@le whirl,

$nd heaving rocks that crashed and fell,

A&id meteors/ glare and darts of flame,

ave &oses, ?udge of Israel6

Riseth the dawn: 4 the day is near,

+ay of the Lord, the *ing of kings;

$ day of wrath and vengeance 3ust,

2f darkness, clouds and thunderings;

$ day of anguished cries and tears,

hen glow of woman/s love shall pale;

hen man shall cease to strive with man,

$nd all the world/s desire shall fail.

Soon shall all mortals trembling stand

#efore the ?udge/s awful throne,

$nd rendering the great account,

hudder each hateful sin to own.

Horror of night1 hen none can work,

ailing of men, and flooding tears,

2pening the books by conscience write,

)iving of hearts with guilty fears.

The trumpet of the archangel first

hall blare afar its summons dread;

$nd then shall burst earth/s prison bars,

$nd sepulchers give up their dead.


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'he ice of death shall melt away,

hilst dust grows flesh, and bone meets bone,

$nd every spirit finds again

'he frame that was before her own.

Wanders 2rion from heaven/s height,

'o thread his hidden eastern way

4 !re set the gleaming "leiades B

'hrough bounds of ocean, day by day;

$nd esper, though his orbit/s whirl

#e set twice twelve moons to endure,

2ne even by ancient paths returns,

4 'ypes both of Him ho cometh sure.[1]

Xrist the &ost High from heaven descends,

'he Cross His sign and banner bright.

'he sun in darkness shrouds His face,

'he moon no more pours forth her light:

'he stars upon the earth shall fall

$s figs drop from the parent tree,

hen earth/s broad space is bathed in fire,

$nd men to dens and mountains flee.

Yonder in heaven the angel host

'heir every4ringing anthem raise,

$nd flash in ma@e of holy dance,

'he 'rinity +ivine to praise:

'he four4and4twenty elders cast

'heir crowns before the Lamb on high,

$nd the four #easts all full of eyes

'heir ceaseless triple praises cry.

Zeal of the Lord, consuming fire,

hall Awhelm the foes, ama@ed and dumb,

hose stony hearts will not receive

'hat Christ hath from the -ather come:

#ut we shall soar our Lord to meet,

$nd so with Him shall ever be,

'o reap the due rewards amidst

'he glories of !ternity.

[1]Mr. 0renholme in a note on this *erse says, ;n the daily motion of the stars, rion sets a little

before the leiades. 0he thought is that he only disa--ears to rea--ear from his hidden course belo(

the ocean hori4on and is thus a ty-e of the Second d*ent. So is the -lanet Venus (hose mo*ements


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bring it bac' to the same -osition in the hea*ens in 585 days 0hese things (ere 'no(n in

Columba&s time, and he himself is said to ha*e been *ersed in astronomical 'no(ledge.

Documents

The Lives of St Columba of Iona and the Saints of Iona