medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>From: Phyllis Jestice <[log in to unmask]>
>Columcille (Columba) of Iona) (d. 597) There are at least 32 Irish saints
>named Columcille,
Excuse me--there are many saints named Colum or Colm (pronounced the same
way), but there is only one Colum cille, defender of poets, offender of
copyright (at least as interpreted by one Irish judge), grandson of kings
(and therefore kingship material himself) of the Cenel Conaill (modern
Tiroconnell--east Donegal and west Derry), victor over the lake monster
popularly known as Nessie (if you believe Adomna/n), and founder of Derry
and Iona. He may not have contended for the kingship of the Cenel Conaill,
but he established Iona where his successors for generations also came from
his kin, mirroring the practices of the lay leadership.
>which means "dove of the Church." The most important is Columcille of Iona
>(c. 521-97), the patron saint of Scottish Christianity.
>Along with Patrick and Brigid, Columcille is regarded as one of the three
>greatest saints of Ireland.
But when he got into trouble on the ocean, he called out to Brigid.
>He left Ireland in 563, going with followers to the island of Iona, which
>became the mother house for a series of further monasteries in Scotland and
>northern England, and for extensive missionary work.
Not everyone agrees that missionizing was his goal in going to what became
Scotland (it was called Alba then and most of it belonged to the
Picts--Colum cille settled in the part that was being colonized by the Dal
Riata, a group of Ulaid subject to the Cenel Conaill). There are several
editions of the life written of Colum cille by his collateral descendant as
well as successor in the abbacy, Adomna/n. I usually recommend Richard
Sharpe's because of the notes and introduction.
In his honor, I offer the poem he is said to have composed as he left
Ireland. I don't believe the attribution, but it's a great poem. Here it is
with my rough translation:
Fil súil nglais
fégbas Éirinn dar a hais;
nocho n-aicceba íarmo-thá
firu Érenn nách a mná.
A sea-colored eye there is
That looks back a while at Ireland;
Never will it see again
the men of Ireland nor her women.
There is a story told of Colum cille taking pity on a fellow traveler. One
day he went to another monk at Iona and told him that a weary traveler would
be coming from his own part of Ireland, a heron, worn out from flying over
the ocean. He asked the monk to care for the bird when it arrived. And so
the monk went down to the water's edge and watched the skies until he saw
the speck getting larger and larger as it neared the shore, skimming the
waves. The poor weary bird in a final effort just made it to shore. For
three days the monk cared for the bird, feeding and guarding it. On the
third day, Colum cille blessed the heron and it turned back towards Ireland,
returning.
Francine Nicholson
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