Synopsis
COLUMBA, St., or Columbkille; b. at
Gartan, County Donegal, 7th December, 521: d. at Iona, Whitsunday, 9th June,
597. Like many of the Celtic saints, he was of princely descent and this, no
doubt, contributed to his influence, and perhaps to the blemishes, as well as
to the virtues, of his character. He was educated in part under St. Finnian of
Moville, and in part under St. Finnian of Clonard, from whose school sc mauy
noble missionaries sprang, lie early gave himself to mission - work in his
native country, and, previous to his departure from it, had founded many
religious houses - monasteries in form, Christian colonies in reality - in the
midst of a still barbarous people. The chief of these were Derry, founded in
545, and Durrow. erected in 553. The cause usually assigned for his
expatriation from Ireland is the part he took in a great contest in vindication
of the right of sanctuary in his monasteries, and stirring up war against the
king who had violated it. For this he is said to have been excommunicated, and
to have been enjoined as a penance, or to have voluntarily consented, to go
into exile, that he might gain for Christ as many from among the Pagans as he
had occasioned the loss of among the Christians of Ireland. But he was
thoroughly actuated by the missionary spirit, then so characteristic of his
countrymen; and his expatriation is more likely to have been prompted by this,
and desire to sustain and pro-mote the cause of Christianity in Alban, which
seemed to be threatened by the misfortunes of the Dalriad Scots under his
relative, King Conal. With twelve like-minded companions, he sailed from Derry
in 563, in a currach, or skiff, of wicker-work covered with hides; and touching
first at Colonsay, and then, according to some, at the chief fort of his
relative on the mainland, he passed on to the little island since made famous
by his residence and labors, - the Island of Hy, lona, or, as Dr. Reeves says
it should be written, Iova... Bede says that this island was presented to him
by the Picts; but the Irish annalists claim the credit of the gift for his
relative, the king of the Dalriad Scots. Probably the concurrence of both was
sought for the greater security of the infant establishment as a home for
himself and his companions, a centre of missionary work among surrounding
Pagans, and a shelter for such converts as might desire to lead a more thorough
Christian life than they could among their Pagan relatives. After erecting a
humble monastery, according to the custom of his country, he set himself to
gain for Christ the nearer Pictish tribes. Having met with some success among
these, he next essayed to visit Brude, the king of the whole nation, in his
fort by the Ness, to make known the truth to him. We may dismiss as legendary
the details of his biographer as to the miracles he wrought to secure access to
the reluctant king, believing, with Bede, that it was
his teaching and holy life that ultimately gained for him the hearts of the
king and the nation; and holding that the real miracle needed was his steadfast
faith in the Master he served, and unwearying devotion to that Master’s
work. In his first visits he may have addressed the Picts through an
interpreter; and he had among his companions at least two of Iro-Pictish
descent, Comghall and Cainnech, who would be able as well as acceptable
interpreters to the chiefs of this nation. But the Pictish dialect was so
nearly allied to his own, that he could have no difficulty in acquiring it.
With the aid of his companions he strengthened and confirmed the Christian
Scots, and ultimately won over to the Christian faith the Picts of the North,
as well as the tribes on the banks of the Tay, and even the inhabitants of
Fife, once partially evangelized by St. Ninian. He founded among them, and in
the islands of the West and North, religious houses, - little Christian
colonies, - all in subordination to the mother-house of lona, and under his own
direction. His religious establishments in Ireland also continued under his
guidance, and were occasionally visited by him. One visit he paid to Ireland in
the year 575 was especially noteworthy, as he took with him Aidan, whom he had
inaugurated as successor to Conal in the kingdom of the Argyllshire Scots, and
secured his more entire independence of Ireland. The evening of his days was
passed in his island home, and the closing scene was particularly touching. The
day before he died, ascending the hill which overlooked the monastery and its
little farm, he stood surveying it for some time, and, lifting up both his
hands, bestowed on it his parting blessing. Returning to his hut, he resumed
his daily task in transcribing the Psalter, and proceeded to the place where it
is written, "They that seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." "here," he
said at the close of the page, "I must stop: what follows let Baithene write;"
indicating him apparently as his successor. After some time he lay down to
rest; but, when the bell for matins rang, he hastened to the church, and, ere
the brethren could join him, he had fainted before the altar. Unable to speak,
he made a feeble effort once more to raise his right hand to bless them, and,
with joy beaming in his face, passed to his rest and reward.
Columba was "of lofty stature and noble
bearing. He could express himself with ease and gracefulness, and had a clear,
commanding voice." "He was a man of quick perception anti great force of
character, - one of those masterful minds which mould and sway others by mere
force of contact." His faith in its essence was that of the church of his day,
though by his isolation he have been preserved from some of the errors which
were already creeping in elsewhere. He had an intense love for the word of God,
and spent much time in reading, studying, amid copying it. He gave much time
also to prayer, and to the guiding of the communities which put themselves
under his care, endeavoring to train them in useful arts as well as in
Christian knowledge. At times he failed to curb an imperious temper, and
inspired with awe, not only his enemies, but his votaries, as if his motto were
that afterwards appropriated by his adopted country, - "Nemo me impune
lacessit." But all in all his character was a singularly noble one, and he
deserves to be held in lasting remembrance as the Apostle of Caledonia.
Twenty-four churches or other religious foundations are said by Dr. Reeves to
have been dedicated to him in Pictland, and thirty-two in other parts of
Scotland, and thirty-seven in Ireland. Three Latin hymns of considerable beauty
are attributed to him; and in the ancient Irish Liber Hymnorum, in which
they are preserved, there is also a preface to each, describing the occasion on
which it was composed. Some Irish poems have also been ascribed to him, but
apparently without so satisfactory evidence, though they are undoubtedly
ancient.
Alex F. Mitchell, "Columba, St." Philip
Schaff, ed., A Religious Encyclopaedia or Dictionary of Biblical,
Historical, Doctrinal, and Practical Theology, 3rd edn, Vol. 1. Toronto,
New York & London: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1894. pp. 515-516.
 |
John
Bannerman, Studies in the History of Dalraida. Scottish Academic Press,
1974. Hbk. ISBN: 0707301815. pp.79-85. |
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![William Beveridge [1864-1937], Makers of the Scottish Church. Handbooks for Bible Classes and Private Students.](https://missiology.org.uk/images/books04/makers-of-the-scottish-church_beveridge-tb.jpg) William Beveridge [1864-1937], Makers of the Scottish Church. Handbooks for Bible Classes and Private Students. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1908. Hbk. pp.212.  pdf [This material is in the Public Domain] |
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D.A.
Bullough, "Columba, Adomnan and the Achievement of Iona," Scottish
Historical Review 43 (1964): 111-30 & 44 (1965): 17-33. |
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 James Calder MacPhail [1821-1908], Columba, Founder of Iona, The Evangelical Succession. A Course of Lectures Delivered in St. George's Free Church Edinburgh, 1881-1882. Edinbugh: MacNiven & Wallace, 1882. Hbk. pp..85-138. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain] |
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John
Gregory, The Life of St Columba, abridged edn. Merlin Press, 1999. Pbk.
ISBN: 0863277349. |
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Frederick John Foakes Jackson [1855-1941], A History of Church History. Studies of Some Historians of the Christian Church. Cambridge: Heffer & Sons Ltd., 1939. Hbk. pp.194. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain] |
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![Joseph Barber Lightfoot [1828-1889], Leaders in the Northern Church](images/books3/leaders-of-the-northern-church_lightfoot-tb.jpg) Joseph Barber Lightfoot [1828-1889], Leaders in the Northern Church. Sermons Preached in the Diocese of Durham, 2nd edn.. London: MacMillan & Co., 1899. Hbk. pp.221. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain] |
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 Iain MacDonald, ed. St Columba. Floris Books,
1992. Pbk. ISBN: 0863151434. pp.64. |
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George Frederick Maclear [1833-1902], A History of Christian Missions During the Middle Ages. Cambridge & London: MacMillan & Co, 1863. Hbk. pp.466. [This material is in the Public Domain] |
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Martin
McNamera, "Some Affiliations of the St Columba Series of Psalm Headings: A
Preliminary Study (Part I)," Proceedings of the Irish Biblical
Association 21 (1998): 87-111. |
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Martin
McNamara, "Some Applications of the St Columbia Series of Psalm Headings: A
Preliminary Study (Part II)," Proceedings of the Irish Biblical
Association 22 (1999): 91-123. |
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 John Marsden, The
Illustrated Life of St Columba, 2nd edn., John Gregory, translator. Floris
Books, 1995. Pbk. ISBN: 0863152112. pp.239. |
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Thomas Smith, Medieval Missions. Duff Missionary Lectures - First Series. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1880. Hbk. pp.279. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain] |
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 Alfred P. Smyth, Warlords and Holy Men:
Scotland AD 80-1000. The New History of Scotland, 1. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press, 1989. Pbk. ISBN: 0748601007. pp.84-115. |
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George T. Stokes [1843-1898], Ireland and the Celtic Church. A History of Ireland From St. Patrick to the English Conquest in 1172, 6th revised edn. London: SPCK, 1907. Hbk. pp.382. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain] |
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 Ruth A. Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions, 2nd edn. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004. Hbk. ISBN-13: 978-0310239376. pp.40-42.. |
Related Subjects
St Adomnan of Iona, Life of St Columba, new edn.
Richard Sharpe, translator. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1995. Pbk. ISBN:
0140444629. pp.432.
