BIRTH
With a name meaning dove (SDI),, the bird of peace, it is fitting that the inauspicious birth occurring in Gartan on December 7, 521 produce a man dedicated to leading the Celts to eternal peace, Columcille (Anniversary). Colum Cille, who later was known by his Latinized name, Columba, was born to one of the most powerful clans at the time, the Ui Niall clan. Being born of such an esteemed clan had advantages for Columba, but before these advantages could be realized, Columba needed to be educated. Those chosen to teach Columba influenced him strongly and built his desire to serve the church, but his family continued to remain a strong influence. The church and his family were powerful and opposing forces in Columba's life often resulting in a man replete with contradictions who can only be fully understood by looking at his education, lifestyle and myth.
EARLY YEARS
To cultivate the advantages of his clan, Columba's youth was spent in the care of a foster father, common practice at the time, who provided Columba with this education. This foster home was just a few miles from Gartan in Kilmacrennan. The local priest, Cruithneachan was Columba's primary source of instruction and it was during this period of tutorage that Jesus Christ was introduced to him. Columba became fascinated with Jesus and the disciples and despite the prospect of becoming High King of Ireland, he began to acquire the necessary tools an
knowledge to be ordained a priest (Saint Columba). Cruithneachan's tutelage funneled young Columba's enthusiasm into a system of daily devotions, including praying. Focusing the teaching into actual duties of monks provided Columba with an appreciation of the stringent life of a monk. Columba began studying the Bible earnestly and he changed instructors from Cruithneachan to the bard, Gemman (Saint Columba).
GEMMAN: THE BARD
Gemman's influence on Columba lasted the course of Columba s lifetime, even encouraging Columba to break his exile from Iona in defense of the bardic population. The traditional role of the bard had been to tell myths and legends about Celtic heroes and the pagan gods, but Gemman was a Christian bard whose songs were about Jesus, the great prophets, Christian hero-saints, and martyrs. Gemman acquainted Columba with Jesus through the beauty of song and poetry. This enhanced Columba's artistic talents teaching him the skills of a scribe and appreciation of the psalms (Saint Columba).
FINAL SCHOOLING AND ORDINATION
From Gemman's schooling, Columba moved to Movill in County Down to continue his instruction with the monk, Finnian. Where Gemman taught Columba the lore and poetry of the Bibles words, Finnian taught Columba to love the stories of the Bible and to make beautiful copies of the holy book (Saint Columba). Columba then changed teachers from Finnian of Movill to Finnian of Clonard in County Meath where Columba learned the strict life of a monk, such as praying, fasting, hard work, and being obedient to the abbot or leader of the monastery. Finnian not only taught his pupils but provided them with enough guidance to set up individual monasteries to spread the word of the Gospel even further. By his mid-twenties, Columba had finished his training from Finnian and was ordained. Following his ordination, Columba made his way north to his clan's territory to begin establishing monasteries in Derry and the surrounding communities (Saint Columba). Although the education Columba received cemented his fundatmental Christian values, it is how he used his knowledge that endeared Columba to Ireland and produced the myth.
Columba was immortalized in Irish legend primarily for two reasons, instigating the Battle of Cooldrevne and writing the Book of Kells. Some say that Columba was "the archetype of a Celtic saint"(Columcille), because it is for his contradictions that he is best known. His immortalization, itself, identifies the contradictions surrounding Columba, one being that he is reknowned for disobeying the Rules of Monastic, the other the fullfillment of a monk's, being an excellent scribe.
THE BATTLE
It was Columba's pride and arrogance which caused the battle of Cooldrevne (and deaths totaling in the thousands). As devout as Columba was, his involvement in the politics of Ireland demonstrated his inability to let his personal desires overcome those of the church he was serving. This focus on personal desires formed the basis of his exile from Ireland for disobeying the monastic orders. Yet, his exile also caused Columba's monastery on the island of Iona to become a center of Christian thought, education and mission by bringing the reconciling Gospel to the Irish of the Dalriada colony and Pictland. The yin and yang of Columba let his pride exile him and his gentleness to the weak and hospitality to the stranger immortalize him (Columcille).
While Columba was studying under Finnian of Clonard, his greed and pride overcame his observance of his monastic orders. Finnian had a psalter, the Book of Psalms, which Columba admired. Out of pride and arrogance, Columba started to sneak into Finnian's study each night to make a copy of Finnian's most prized possession1 for himself. One night Columba was caught and brought before the local high king, King Diarmit, who was a rival to the Niall clan. King Diarmit pronounced a humiliating judgement, " To every cow its calf, to every book its copy," an insult to Columba ridiculing his childlike pride and arrogance to steal from Finnian (Columcille).
PRIDE'S RESULT
The plagiarism did not end with the humiliating pronouncement because shortly after Columba was discoverd, King Diarmit monastic sanctuary and arrested and execute a kinsman of Columba's. Using this violation as an excuse to retaliate against his humiliation, Columba "rous[ed] his own clan...to battle" for the psalter and his kinsmen. Although Columba rallied his family's forces and successfully defeated King Diarmit, it cost 3000 lives. Following his battlefield win, Columba was condemned by Synod in 561(Celtic Saints). His condemnation included excommunication (for a time) from the church, which was the typical punishment for such behavior, and exile from Ireland forever which forced Columba to establish a monastery outside of Ireland in Iona (Columcille).
TO IONA
Vital to Columba's personality is the island of his exile. Iona possessed a magical power and unique alluring personality. This captivating spirit of Iona shaped the lonely exile into a legendary monk known for his kindness and generosity as well as a spirited artist lost in a tumbling sea of emotion and bereavement. Iona is a rugged storm swept island off the Northern Coast of Ireland, three miles in length and one in breadth (School of Iona). Iona is both an ancient family name of Colum Cille and the name of the Moon Goddess who left her presence there in Tobar na hoige, Fount of Youth, found on the isolated hill, Slibh Meanach. When Columba was granted the small island from his relative, Conall, King of Dalriada, in exchange for crowning him king, the magic of the island played an integral role. In addition to the Fount of Youth, the island also possessed the Black Stone of Iona which was sworn by as an "indisputable warrant of truth" (Isle). By inaugurating Aidan on the Black Stone of Iona as the first king of Dalriada, Columba provided Aidan with a tremendous source of power for his position. Who could dispute the Black Stone of Iona?(Isle). In return for this patronage, Aidan granted Iona to Columba(SDI)). This gift provided Columba with a lifetime opportunity, to establish a monastery which could be a center of Christian learning.
THE EXILE
On Whitsun Eve (12 May) 563, Columba sailed from Lough Foyle to land on the southern extremity of Iona called Port Churraich, Bay of the Island, with his 12 companions. He came as an act of penance hoping to convert as many men as he had died in the Battle of Cuildreinhne two years previously, but also to preach the Gospel to the men of Alba, the Britons, and to the Saxons (School of Iona). Mournfully, Columba had left Ireland forever1 (Columcille). Legend holds that Columba's passion for his homeland of Ireland and his anguish at this moment of leaving were so strong "even the gulls cried as his curragh battled the waves of Lough Foyle in departure and the oak trees whispered softly their lament" (Monastic Life). Upon reaching the shores of Iona, Columba remarked, "We will stop here, I can no longer see Ireland" (Monastic Life). His exile was his heartache, but that heartache was reflected through the artist in poetry lik the one below (Skye).
On some island I long to be
a rocky promontory, looking on
the coiling surface of the sea
To see without sadness the strand
lined with bright shells and birds
lamenting overhead, a lovely sound
To hear the whisper of small waves
against the rocks, that endless sea-
sound, like keening over graves
To watch the sea birds sailing
in flocks, and most marvellous of
monsters, the turning whale
MONASTIC LIFE
As important to understanding Columba's relationship with the island of Iona is the devotion required from monastic life. The hardwork which is fundamental to a monk's lifestyle became Columba's as he performed his penance starting from his arrival. Immediately he began work to build the monastery, more Scottorum, of earth, timber and wicker-work (School of Iona). Because monasteries were the center of the town as well as the focus of Gospel teaching in the monastery it was built first. Other buildings surrounded the monastery forming a fort and a wall of protection, similar to ring-forts of other settlements (Monasticism). As Columba and his pilgrims established their monastery with protection for the current life, these pilgrims began to provide the knowledge to Pictland and continental Europe about protection in the hereafter. Monks saw their role in the world as pilgrims who introduce Jesus to others by accepting the challenge which Jesus had given his followers before ascension, "Go make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". In order that a disciplined community was established to carry out this plan The Rule of the monastery was established by the founder of the monastery, typically the abbot (Monasticism).
THE RULE
The Rule, is a set of guidelines to direct the community and by which all members agreed to strictly adhere. Some of the obligations included in The Rule were making a vow of obedience to the abbot, giving up independence which allowed the abbot to control their lives, and taking a vow of poverty such that nothing could ever be personally owned. The Rule not only included who monks obeyed and what they owned, but what to eat and sleep and how to socialize. Specifically, monks were expected to survive on a minimum of food while wearing simple closing and live in the most basic shelter which often barely kept out the elements. Monks vowed chastity. They had to give up the right to have a romantic relationship with a woman or to marry. It was seen that by taking such difficult steps monks would be more capable of completely devoting their lives to God without other commitments or responsibilities to distract them from their primary goal (Monasticism). Through the violation of his vows, Columba was exiled to Iona, and his establishment of The Rule on Iona founded a center of Christianity. This is yet another example of the contradictions which are prevalent in Columba's life. Only by violating his vows so extremely was Columba capable of realizing his wrong and strive to correct it.
LEGENDS OF COLUMBA
An interesting aspect of Columba's contradictions is the Celtic mysticism which surrounds so much of his legend. The contradiction of Celtic and Christianity run as the framework of Columba's legend. The myths of Columba discuss Christian works and deeds, such as the story of a hermit, but interwoven with the Christian hermit are Celtic mythical animals, a fly who reads, a mouse who tells time, and a cock who announces midnight rather than dawn. During the time of Columba, a contemporary of Columba decided to become a hermit and left to dwell in a hermitage in the wilderness. This hermit took with him nothing, save his companions a cock, a mouse, and a fly. His companions helped this hermit to stay devout and complete his daily obligation to the Lord. The cock would wake the hermit for Matins at midnight every night while the mouse would nibble his ear to ensure that he slept no longer than five hours, and the fly walked along the psalter marking the hermit s place until he returned the next time. The hermit wrote to Columba to tell him of his helpful companions. Unfortunately, sometime after writing to Columba, his companions died, leaving him all alone. Again the hermit wrote to Columba mourning his loss. Columba replied with these words, "Don't think so much about thedeath of your flock, as misfortune only comes where there are riches " (Celtic Saints)).
STONE AT GARTAN
Another story tells of the Stone at Gartan. Although Columba is a representative of the modern beliefs which veer from the ancient superstition and mysticism, the stone at Gartan hangs on to that old world. The stone, which is located on the spot where Columba was born, is believed to be a cure for for loneliness or homesickness (Anniversary). Not only is the ancient world contrasted with the new Christian world in this myth, but Columba himself needed this cure and it is located in the place from which he had exiled himself.
COLUMBA AND NESSIE
Finally is another myth which is interesting for the result it produced, a nation of believers in the
Loch Ness Monster. Adamnan in 565 wrote of Columba's meeting with the mysterious monster
of Loch Ness. Legend tells that Saint Columba "heard about the monster's murder of a man and
how he rowed out to the centre of the loch to order the beast to desist from such attacks in the
future" (Nessie). Since Columba's action, no more accounts of Nessie repeating this
misdemeanor have been reported (Nessie), but the legend shows Columba as the victorious
fighter except this fight is one with words rather than the death of 3000 men. Columba's legend
detail a man whom myths are written and stories offer a unique bridge between the myths of
heroes like Finn to the Roman Catholic devotion of today. Columba's transition from a proud and
arrogant clansman to a devout monk resulted in an acceptable blend of the old and new ways
whom followers could relate.
BOOK OF KELLS
The establishment of the second greatest center of Gaelic Christianity by an exiled monkindicates the actions of a great man who inspired legends of amazing proportions and the leadership to draw hundreds of followers to the faith (School of Iona). Not only did he establish the monastery of Iona as a center for teaching, and a focal point for pilgrimages to teach the faith, but he also established monasteries at Derry and Durrow and had close ties with ones in Kells, Drumcliffe, and Moone amongst others to teach the artwork in being a scribe (Monastic Life). Columba was renowned for his work as a scribe and writing the Book of the Kells. His artwork and care for the scripture was known both during his lifetime and following. The Book of Kells is a lasting manuscript which details Celtic Christianity in beautiful artistic detail. His love of form and lettering produced, as a result of his penance, the foundation of monasteries specializing in scibes. Even at his death Columba was relentless in his penance, painstakingly copying a psalm until he was so overwhelmed with his illness that he had to ask his nephew, Baithen, to write the rest of the psalm (School of Iona). On June 9, 597, Columba passed on leaving a legacy which remains to this day (Celtic Saints).
THE LEGACY
Following the invasion of the Danes in the later part of the first millennium, Iona began to erode away, until it was eventually reestablished as a Benedictine monastery in 1204. Although, Iona remained sacred and Columba was highly regarded throughout Ireland, it was not until recently that the vibrant Christian community which Columba created began to reemerge. It is theorized that "the institutional breakdown of the current era has created a climate where passion and relationships speak more powerfully to the contemporary soul than order and structure," much like Columba's contradictions (Columcille). Columba's ability to both remain exiled, yet establish monasteries in Ireland, to maintain a strict abbacy, yet show kindness and convert many to faith demonstrate his passion is a contradiction appeals to modern Christians and the reason the dove is still esteemed today.
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