Saint Columba (Columcille) |
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| Columba was born a child of Irish royalty at Garten in Donegal, Ireland in 521. He was put into the care of a priest and, because of his daily reading of the Psalms in the Bible, he was given the nickname Columcille (colum of the church). | |
| After completing his studies he established his first monastery in 548 and in time came to found a community of monasteries in Ireland. In 563 Columba sailed with twelve followers to found a monastery on the Scottish island of Iona which was part of the Scottish Kingdom of Da Iviada ruled by his cousin, Conaill. Although the Iona community was a place for study and reflection, it was also conveniently placed for travel to the Irish monasteries and as a base to spread the Christian faith in Scotland and Northern England. Brude, king of the Picts, became a Christian early in Columba's Scottish missionary work. |
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Iona Photograph © Iona Community |
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Over time many legendary stories have come to be told about Columba - that a murderer died and water was turned into communion wine as a result of his prayers. He is even said to have warded off the Loch Ness monster with the sign of the cross!
Columba died at Iona on 9th June 597 and he is remembered on this date each year. "He made fervent prayer at the altar. Then an angelic radiance filled the church and the venerable old man sent forth his spirit into heaven, into the delight and into the joyance of heaven's household." |
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Loch Ness Photograph by Sam Gratrix, used by kind permission, Gratrix.net |
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Go to the St. Colomba section of the Catholic Encyclopedia |
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Go back to 'Do What - Saints' |