No More Learning

the guilty. In the case of Columba, such an error has occurred; and, you have certainly been mistaken, when you visit on one, never known to commit a mortal sin, such a public and most severe chastisement. Wherefore, I have
affectionately received and venerated him, who, on his approach to me, seemed 8
and before whom a pillar of light moved. " ? Wherefore, not only was Columba spared the sentence of excommunication.
circled around with
angelic spirits,
In the foreground is the small and rapid 50 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," river, with a temporary wooden Catholic
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xlii. , chapel on its banks. The Botanical Gardens
PP- 395- 39°-
extendintherereofthehouses; whileinthe
294 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
but these words moved the bishops and clergy to receive him with singular
loveandadmiration; sothat,inhisregard,thecauseoftruthhadasignal
00
triumph. — —
At this time, St. Mobi Claireineach 0I otherwise known as Berchan
lived at Gleann-Naidhen, now Glasnevin, a village near the city of Dublin. There he had selected a site for his church, and for a monastic institute, at an early period. It seems probable, that his church was originally built within the present cemetery, where a Protestant church now stands, while the monas- ticcellsweregroupedoneithersideoftheRiverTolka. 02 Throughthisplace flows that small but romantic stream, under a bridge pleasantly shaded by trees, while giving an air of antiquity and repose to some old-fashioned buildings 93 in the suburban village straggling about it. Here, St. Mobi had a celebrated school, comprising fifty pupils, and among these were Saints Canice,04 Com- gall,ssand Kieran, 06 men of approved virtue, and advanced in learning, while still anxious to improve themselves, in sacred and secular science. Attracted
by the fame of such a master, and with the permission of St. Finnian, Columba attached himself to the establishment of Mobi. The river there ran between some separated and small cells, which lay on the western bank, and the church, which rose on the eastern side. The monastic farm was thus divided by that stream, which frequently after floods attained a very high level. One night, when it was necessary for the community to visit the church, they foundtheriververymuchswollen. ThisdidnotpreventColumbafromfording
it, and his master greatly admired his fervour, in the accomplishment of that effort. Having passed the river, Columba raised his soul to God, and thus addressed his companions : "Our Saviour, for the future, can deliver us from the inconveniences of this ford. " According to the legend, the cells, with their occupants, were then transported to the east side of the river; while the monks attributed this wonderful miracle, to the prayers and merits of St. Columba. 97 St. Mobi had lately built a church, and in a friendly conference with his disciples, Saints Cannech, Kieran, Comgall, and Columba, he asked what each might wish it filled with. St. Cannech said, with pious books, which might direct and instruct many in the knowledge of God ; St. Kieran said, with holy men, who should constantly sing the Divine praises ; St. Com- gall said, with all the diseases and physical evils of men, which might be borne by himself for Christ's sake ; but, Columba said, he wished it filled with
gold and silver, to build many churches and monasteries, to provide vest- ments for them, and to relieve the necessities of the poor. Having con-
" The
Columba most material riches, and his successors shall be richer than yours. "98
There is a subsequent account 99 of a slight contention, between St. Kieran
of Clonmacnoise and St. which was decided an 100 Dur- Columba, by Angel.
ing the time St. Columba was at this school, a great pestilence and mortality broke out at Glasnevin. It seems to have been of an epidemic nature, and
sidered their several then Mobi wishes,
replied :
Almighty
will
give
background appears in the extensive and beautiful Catholic cemetery of Glasnevin, the lofty Round Tower, which rises over the Monumental V ault, where repose the remains of Ireland's illustrious Liberator, Daniel O'Connell. The engraving is by Mrs. Mil- lard.
93 One of these, known as Delville, cele- brated in connexion with its former owner, Rev. Dr. Patrick DeLmy, the friend of Dean Swift, is well described in acommunication, which appeared in 'All the Year Round,"
vol. xiv. , August, 1875, ^°- 349> PP- 445 to 449, and No. 350, pp. 467 to 472.
** His feast occurs, on the Ilth of Oc- tober.
95 His festival is on the loth of May.
s6 His feast is held, on the 9th of Sep- tember.
97 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xliii. , p. 396.
98 . See ibid. , can. xlv. , p. 396.
conducted Charles by
Dickens,
New Series,
,qo See ibid. ,
cap.
xliv. ,
p. 396
"By'O'Donnell.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 295 accompanied with contagion. Most probably, it was the celebrated Buidhe
nevin,
1 onaccountofthecause
already assigned.
Heresolvedon
returning
in the IQI and which carried off so year 548,
which
of the saints of Ireland.
the plague was marked by ravages of excessive virulence. St. Mobi was
obliged to close his school, and to send his scholars to their respective places.
Wherefore, Columba proceeded to Tyrconnell, with a mandate from St.
Mobi to receive neither land nor site for founding a monastery, or for any
other purpose, without first informing him and obtaining his permission. In his journey homewards, Columba came to the River Biora, where he prayed
God, that any future pestilence might be stayed. His prayers were heard, and it was remarked, that every subsequent pestilence ceased, at the banks of
102
CHAPTER III.
ST. COLUMBA RETURNS TO HIS NATIVE PLACE—HIS ORDINATION AS PRIEST—HE FOUNDS THE MONASTERY OF DERRY—HIS MANNER OF LIFE THERE AND GREAT VIRTUES—VARIOUS MIRACLES—HE BUILDS A MONASTERY AT DURROW—HE BLESSES THE SWORD OF COLMAN MOR—THE BOOK OF DURROW—COLUMBA AND HIS UNCLES IN TYRCONNELL.
When the site embraced by the present city of Dublin was almost a solitude,
or probably occupied only by a few fishermen or agriculturists, and while yet a very young man, Columba was obliged to leave the monastery of Glas-
Chonaill,
prevailed
many This is the first recorded visitation of the kind, and
that river.
to the north ; and, we can have little doubt, this visit to the haunts of his
boyhood was most agreeable to himself, to his family, to his kindred, and to
his clansmen. According to some accounts, he remained only for a short
time, in his native territory of Tyrconnell, where he was distinguished for his
great merits and accomplishments.
There is no good warrant for the statement, that St. Columba spent some
time under St. Ciaran, the father and founder of the celebrated monastery of Cluain, upon the River Shannon. 2 This supposition may have been based
upon a hymn composed in praise of Ciaran, and attributed to our saint. He was deemed eligible—as we are told—for advancement to the rank of Bishop, and his friends had desired him to receive episcopal consecration. As yet, he was only a Deacon, and Priesthood was the next grade to be sought. It is stated,3 that he left the north for this purpose, and travelled towards thewestofMeath. St. Etchen,*bishopofCiuain-bileorClonfad,issaidto
101
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the very interesting work "Autobiography and Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 184 to 189, and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs.
accompanying notes.
102
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vila S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xlvi. .
Delany," &c, edi:eJ by the Right Hon. Lady Llanover, London. 1861, 8vo.
2
Such is the account left us by Rev. Dr. John Smith, who is furthermore incorrect in
p. 396- — Chapter hi.
«
St. Ciaran's death at a. d. but 594—
This
last century, was often resorted to by the
celebrated Dean of St. Patrick, to visit his friend Rev. Dr. Patrick Delany, as often set forth, in Roscoe's edition of "The Works of Jonathan Swift, D. D. " The residence of
Dr. Delany at Delville, near Glasnevin, and his manner of life there, are given in that
3 By Prince O'Donnell.
4 His festival is held, on the nthofFeb- ruary, where his Acts may be found in vol. ii. of this work, Art. ii.
5 See her Life in the Second Volume of
place, during
the
placing
this is probably a misprint for A. D. 549. See "Life of St. Columba," p. 8, and n. 5.
.
,0 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xlviii. ,
p. 397.
" bee "The Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
vol. ii. A Day at Iona. Recollections of
St Columba, p. 120.
12 "
The Annals of the Four Masters"
296 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J une 9.
have been sought for the purpose. His place of residence was in the district
of Fera-bile, which was in the southern part of Meath. St. Etchen belonged
to an illustrious family of Leinster. It is related, that he was obtained by
his parents from the Almighty, through the blessing and prayers of St. Brigid. 5 Nor is there any authentic account of Etchen's proceedings, until we meet
with him as bishop in that place. He is chiefly remarkable as the ordainer of Columba. Being arrived near Etchen's church, our saint inquired for the bishop. He was then told, that he should find him ploughing in a field, accordingtoausualcustom. St. Columbathenwentuptohim. Theholy deacon—for such he then was—received the greatest kindness and wel- come from the prelate. On being apprized of the reason for this visit, Etchen
We may dismiss
8
bably not long after the foundation of Dairmagh, in Dr. Lanigan's opinion, and while Columba was still in South Meath, that he was raised to the priest- hood ; and, it is thought, that his ordination could not have been later, than the latter end of a. d. 551, when he had just completed his thirtieth year.
The very day after his ordination, the holy man is said to have turned his
steps homewards, and to have sought his own native place at Deny. 10 About
St. Columba's twenty-fifth year must have opened his future great missionary
career. 11 He had desired to erect a establishment for a fer- greatly religious
vent community of monks, in the northern parts of Ireland. He selected a spot, which he deemed most suitable for his purpose. The site for building, and the granting of some adjoining land, were presents to him from his rela-
did not hesitate to ordain him soon afterwards, as a priest.
a
6 about
as absurd and very
in all its
St. Etchen's intending to consecrate him as a bishop instead. 7 It was pro-
site called
Deny,
for the foundation of his first
monastery.
1 * The name is
12 whowere
On Feab- Lough
improbable,
circumstances,
story told,
ofthat
huil rose an insulated hill or promontory, beside a broad and navigable river,
known at present as the Foyle. It commanded on every side views of a
tives,
princes
or
proprietors
country. ^
country, rich in natural and cultivated beauty.
He obtained this delightful
derived from an Irish word, Doire,15 in a " of meaning English place oaks,"
but often it is used to express a " thick wood f however, this generic deno- mination is generally found in composition with some other word, 10 as in this instance, the original pagan appellation of this place being Doire Calgach,17
or the " oak-wood of
18
By some,
it seems to be that supposed,
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xlvii. , pp. 396,397.
? For further particulars in reference to
this matter, the reader is referred to what has
been already stated, in the Life of St.
Etchen, at the nth of February, Art. ii.
8"
See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , pp. 178, 179, Dr. O'Donovan's edi- tion.
'3 From the Kinel-Connell descend the
distinguished families of the O'Donnells,
O'Cannanans, O'Muldorrys, O'Dohertys,
O'Boyles and O'Gallaghers. These always regarded St.
Columba as their relative and
See ibid. , n. (t).
"Trias
Colgan's Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xlviii. , p. 397.
»s Written TJoi^e.
l? IntheIrishcharactersDoijveCAL5AIC-I1. Adamnan styles it " Roboretum Calgagi," in conformity with his habitual substitution of Latin equivalents for Irish topographical names.
vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, ix. , p. 125.
patron.
Calgach. "
this work, Art. i. , at February 1st.
6 This is related, in Colgan's "Trias tribe, i. e. , the race of Conall Gulban. See
—which I '*
9 If this — be correct See
opinion
greatly doubt the occurrence in the text
should be postponed to a period, later not alone to his foundation of Deny, but also to his foundation of Durrow.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
state, that the place was granted by his own
l6 See
nice," viii. Martii. De S. Mochonn, qui et Dachonna, nn. 3, 4, p. 566.
Colgan's
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 297 paganism was prevalent there, in St. Columb's time ;'9 but, such an idea is
not
warranted, by
the facts of our saint's — was then a history. Derry royal
It is —that Aedh 2° who was
Fort, Acropolis. said, very young,
and who was residing there, at the time offered him that place, as a site for a religious house. 21 However, this does not seem probable, as Aedh 22 was hardly born, atthisperiodofColumba'slife. Normustitbeadmitted,thatDerrymonas- tery and church could have been established, so early as the years 53S. 23
Columba founded there his first a. d. 2-» or 2s
community, 545, 546. According
of his 26 A age.
tury/the etymon was changed to Derry-Columkille no other appearing in the Irish Annals after
'
Liberties of Londonderry," parish of Tem-
or
to another he was then in the account,
twenty-eighth year
few years afterwards, that house must have been in a flourishing condition. 2? This monastery he erected on a pleasant eminence,23 covered with oak, and then^called Doire-Calgaich, near Lough-Foyle, to the west. 29 The original name continued to be applicable, long after the sixth century, as we find it thus referred to by Irish writers ; but, towards the lat—ter end of the tenth cen-
Londonderry, City Ramparts.
with the zone and his message. This embassy determined Columba on ac- cepting the gift of Derry. 33 After he had been ordained, the holy man resolved to set about establishing churches and monastic institutes, in various parts of the Island. Few were ever better adapted for such an arduous and noble enterprise. Exalted parentage, brilliant parts, an unabating zeal in the
18Thisnameweare told "
fierce warrior,' being the proper name of a
man in pagan times, and rendered illustrio—us as Galgacus in the pages of Tacitus. "
plemore, part ii. , p. 17.
signifies
a "
Memoir of the City and North Western
19
Thus,
the Rev. Edward
Smedley apos-
viw. A/vvw- "
that period, until the place hadrisen in im-
portance over every other Derry, when the former distinctive epi- thet of Columkille was
dropped as no longer necessary. 3° At pre- sent, a handsome city
1
occupies this site. 3
In a miraculous man- ner, it is said he ascer- tained, that his selec- tion should be most agreeable to Mobi;for, in obedience to his di- rections, Columba was not disposed to accept the offers of his kins- men. Now, previous to this time, his former
master had 2 died;3 but,
before departing from this life, he had be-
queathed his girdle to Columba, and he had revoked his former in- junction. TwoofMobi's disciples now arrived
298 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9
service of religion, a fine personal appearance, as also an uncommon stature that commanded marked attention, a great master of language, with a power
of eloquently expressing it ; these were the requisites, both mental and bodily, natural and acquired, which humbled the pride of princes, while they gained him
sovereign sway over the people at large. 34 He was cast in an athletic mould, of robust constitution, as also he was majestic in person and appearance, while he grew strong with the advance of years. It is also a tradition, that he had a powerful resonant voice, which was often exercised in sacred psalmody. 35 He lived according to a strict rule, and as a true ascetic. The day he spent, partly in singing the Canonical Hours with his brethren in the choir, and
partly in celebrating the Divine Mysteries ; then he was resolved, that no moment should be unoccupied, for he applied, sometimes to reading the Word of God, and sometimes to the composing or transcription of books ; frequently would he exhort the monks to the practice of virtue, and also en- gage in pious works, tending to his own and to the sanctification of others.
trophises him : —
" Hail Columb ! saint rever'd, whose
holy toil
Proclaimed salvation on the banks of
ses,"at A. D. 545. See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv.
25 Such is the calculation of Rev. Dr. Lanigan. See "Ecclesiastical Histoiy of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, viii. , n. 95, pp. 122, 123.
26 See Rev. Dr. John Smith's "Life of St.
Columba. " This writer, however, con-
founds Derry with Darmagh or Durrough, at p. 10, and n. 9.
27 Derry was afterwards a convenient point of communication with his future monastery
Foyle, Instructed
savages
to quit
their
groves,
Their rites barbaric, and unhallow'd
loves ;
Taught them one God with holy
dread to fear,
To pity others' woes, their own to
bear
Left them his volume, his baptismal
well,
His pastoral staff, and consecrated
cell. "
—" Erin," A Poem descriptive of Ireland,
part i. , p. 23. London : Second edition, been the site of St. Columba's celebrated
;
8vo, no date.
20 Son ofAinmire, who ascended the throne
monastery. See Sampson's "Statistical Survey of the County Londonderry," chap. v. , sect. 27, p. 472.
of Ireland, A. D. 56S, and who reigned only "''
three years. See OTlahertys Ogygia," pars hi. , cap. xciii. , p. 43 1.
"9 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, viii. , p. 118.
21
See an account of this place, in Mr. and
" 30
Mrs. Hall's Ireland
: its
Sceneiy,
Charac-
See "Memoir of the
City
and North-
ter," &c, vol. hi. , pp. 210 to 230.
22 He ascended the throne of Ireland, A. D.
reigned twenty-seven years, to The"
western Liberties of Londonderry," Parish
of Templemore, part ii. , p. 17.
31 The — illustration of accompanying
and he
572,
according O'Flaherty. Tigernachi Annales,'' however, state that he was killed, in the nineteenth yen of his reign, and
Londonderry
so called when a L—on-
sixty-third of his age. A. D. 598. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
don company became the proprietors is taken from an approved view drawn on the
wood by William F. YYakenian, and en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
32 At A. n. 544, St. Mobhi Claraineach or Berchain of Glasnevin died. See Dr. O Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 182, 183.
Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 160, 161.
23 Yet, such is the O'Clery's statement, contained in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Master's" vol. i. , pp. 178, 179. that Columb could
admits,
not have been sixteen years old, at that date ;
yet, he supposes, the place might have been
then granted to him, by the noblesse of Kinill-Connill, although the foundation can-
33 See " Trias Colgnn's
While Archdall
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. xlviii. ,
compiled from original documents, by an not be placed before a. d. 546. See eminent Divine of the Roman Catholic
"
24 According to the " Annales Ulton'en- 35 This we collect, bom lines which are
Monasticon Hibermcum," p. 84. Church, chap, ii. , pp. 13. 14.
" Trias
Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. ii. , and
lib. ii. , cap. xxxix. , pp. 339, 359 to 361. Also, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , p. 434.
at See Hy.
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
28 The former Catholic chapel, and thence
to the Bishop's garden is supposed to have
P- 397-
3* See "The Life of St. Colum-kille,'
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 299
Every ordinary day—Sundays and solemn Festivals excepted—Columba offered up two hundred ejaculatory prayers, and he made as many genuflexions. Hedesiredtoattainthesummitofperfection; and,therefore,fromthebegin- ning of his course, he cast away all love for the world and its concerns. He
knew, however, that a true penitential spirit was to be united with great morti fication of the body ; so that his whole life might be regarded as one con- tinual fast, while he only took a little food and drink of the most common kind to sustain nature. He abstained always from wine and generous food, satisfied with bread baked from meal, and with pure spring water. 36 It is stated, Columba divided the night-time remaining to him, after he had sung the Divine praises with the monks in choir, and had snatched a short portion of it for sleep, into three parts ; one of these was for heavenly contemplation and mental prayer; one was devoted to the recital of hymns and spiritual canticles, with frequent genuflexions and corporal flagellations ; while the remainder he spent immersed in cold water to the neck, while he recited the PsalmsofDavid.