St. Columba of Iona

One of Ireland's earliest "foreign" missionaries was born on December 7, 521 AD in County Donegal. His Irish name was Colum, meaning dove, and was later Latinized Columba, as most people know him. In Ireland and Scotland, he is known to many as Colum Cille.

As with any saint, fantastic stories grew up around Colum, but he was a man with human weaknesses who worked hard to overcome them and serve his God. He is best known as the Abbot of Iona, a small island off the coast of Scotland, where he established a monastery. The story is cloudy about why Colum left his beloved Ireland and headed for Scotland. Earlier accounts simply say God called him to leave and evangelize the Picts of Caledonia. Another, by far more controversial story is that he was banished from Ireland for causing the deaths of 3000 men. This story, according to the Catholic encyclopedia, is possibly an invention by bards of later times since the older accounts say nothing of it.

In ancient times, books were rare and valuable. Because of the humidity in Ireland, animal skins were used rather than papyrus, thus making the books even more valuable in a society where the number of cattle one owned established one's status. While at Clonard, under the leadership of St. Finnian, Colum secretly went into his master's room each night and copied a valuable book of Psalms. He was discovered and taken before King Diarmit, a rival of Colum's home clan. The king humiliated the saint, and later violated the law of sanctuary in arresting and killing Prince Curnan, one of Colum's clansmen. Filled with rage at Prince Curnan's death, Colum roused his clan and led them into battle against King Diarmit. Colum's men won, but a total of 3000 men lost their lives in the battle. Filled with remorse for causing their deaths, Colum confessed his sin. His penance was to go north, to Scotland, and never look again on Ireland, and to win as many souls for God as he had caused the deaths of.

Whatever his reason, Colum set out with twelve of his disciples, and arrived at Iona in May of 563. Once they were established there, Colum along with two other missionaries, went to visit King Brude of the pagan northern Picts. They were told the king did not wish to see them, and the castle gate was closed and bolted. Colum made the sign of the cross, and miraculously, the chains and bolts undid themselves, and the gates opened on their own. The three priests walked unimpeded into the castle. In awe of men who could perform such a miracle, the king agreed to hear them out, and converted. His subjects eventually did the same.

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