, we have the fol—lowing
"
Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor and Dromore," p.
"
Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor and Dromore," p.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
15 At present, it is denominated Kilmacrenan, a well-known parish, 16
whichgivesnametoabarony, inthecountyofDonegal. Inthedaysof our national greatness, few places attained greater celebrity, than this district.
Ruins at Kilmacrenan, County Donegal.
In it had been built, and there flourished, also, the once famous monastery of Kilmacrenan. ClosebystandsthehistoricRockofDoon,whichlookson Gartan, the birth-place of our saint. On Doon, likewise, the princes of
18 Tyrconnell were inaugurated, ? by the O'Firghils. '
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xxvi. , P- 393-
12
See ibid. , cap. xxvii. , p. 393.
13 See ibid. , cap. xxviii. , p. 393.
14 This was originally known, as the ter-
ritory of Cineb tugxieAc mic Secna, or the Tribe of Lugaidh, son of Setna, brother to Fedhlimidh, the father of St. Columba. The inhabitants were known as the Siob Seena, or the Race of Setna. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," n. (c), p. 192.
nain erat," &c. See ibid. , cap. lix. , p. 399-
16
See ibid. , cap. xxix. , p, 393.
•» There gallant Red Hugh, the last of that
illustrious O'Donnell line, swore fealty to the
cause of his country and religion. How
chivalrously he maintained that cause, the
victory of many a gloriously contested field bears ample testimony. See a "Lecture on the Life and Times of Hugh Roe O'Don- nell," &c, by Rev. C. P. Meehan, Dublin,
1869, cr. 8vo.
18 Now the Freels, a of the Cinel- family
Conaill, who were the hereditary wardens of
"
* 5 O Donnell states in
patriamque aulam, quae tunc in Killmacne-
Colgan's
version
286 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
hermit,
companion.
piety
learning.
Near the village of Kilmacrenan, and a little to the north-east, are the 1
ruins of an old church, ? surrounded by a very picturesque country, and
and
2
cius, the son of Deagaidh, + invited that holy priest and his pupil to Rath-
enaigh,25 inTirennia, to celebrate the Festival of our Lord's Nativity. While
enjoying the Bishop's hospitality, Cruthnechan asked him to join in reciting alternately the Divine office. To this he assented; but, when they had pro- ceeded so far as the Psalm " Misericordias Domini," the senior either felt his
sight weak, or his tongue faltering, and through agitation of mind he could proceed no further. On seeing this, the foster-son took up his Master's
Psaltery, and although he had only learned merely the rudiments, Colum was able to read through the long and involved Psalm. 20 More wonderful still was that miracle which took place, while Cruthnechan and Columkille returned home, after assisting at the obsequies of a certain person. Suddenly, the former fell on the ground ; but, thinking he wished to sleep there, Columba threw his cloak over him. He then commenced reading, in a very loud tone, to employ well the time he deemed it necessary to wait, during his
horror,theydiscoveredthattheirfatherwasdead; yet,havingaknowledgeof the youth's great sanctity, they entreated him to raise his master from this pro-
found sleep. Columba joyfully did so, and the happy company gave thanks to God for such a wonderful favour. 2 ? Filled with gratitude to the Almighty,
the restored priest applied with still greater zeal to his task of instruction. Soon had he the pleasure of finding his disciple excel all equals in years, and even
many of his superiors, both in virtue and in learning. His genius sought the true object; fixed on Heaven were his thoughts; piety and honesty shone in his actions ; his spirit loved to seek for truth and beauty, where they are only to be found ; and, his mind was filled with the most noble and
28 While under Cruthnechan's anxious care, the
near it are the remains of a small Franciscan viewofnorthernsceneryisobtainedfromthemountainofKilmacrenan. 21 St. Columba lived for some time, under the charge of his baptizer, and of a pious
foster-father's
22 This hermit was revered for
his
As a curious illustration of teaching at that time, we are informed, that Columba learned the elements of writing, by tracing on tablets or on pugil- lares? '* Soon after the occurrence of Cruithnechan's vision, Bishop Bruga-
Near the — was a
repose. place nunnery,
and here were the daughters of Cruthnechan living as he had been married, before he em- braced a religious life. Hearing Columba's voice, and knowing their father was in his company, the virgins proceeded to meet them. Soon, to their great
sublime
of God appeared to him one night. Clothed in a white and shining garment,
imaginings.
Angel
he said to the " The Lord be with thee, act boy :
and
your soul in the Lord. Behold, lam present, and appointed as your guardian
Kilmacrenan church.
19 The accompanying illustration of Kil-
macrenan Abbey taken from the north west
side was drawn Alexander
by McHenry,
Esq. , C. E. , from sketches of Mrs. G. H Kinehan. It was transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
20 Only fragments remain, and chiefly ot the south wall.
325. In n. 9, ibid. , p. 331, Colgan supplies the name of St. Cruthnecan, venerated on the 7th of March.
23 known as or Classically writing noting
tables, probably covered with wax, on which the stylus or metallic pen might run.
"* His feast occurs, on the 3rd of Novem- ber.
2S Or Rath-maighe-enaigh, now Ray-
mochy, in the Barony of Raphoe. See Rev.
21 " "
See Rev. Caesar Otway's Sketches in Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St.
Donegal," Letter i. , pp. 6 to 20.
22
This is stated, without mentioning the
name of that Priest, in the Second Life of
our saint, attributed to Cummian. See p. 394, and n. 38, p. 449.
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," cap. ii. , p.
2?
See Hid. , cap. xxxiii. , p. 394.
monastery.
Columba," n. (c), p. 192.
20
20 A most beautiful
manfully
strengthen
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columba? , lib. i. , cap. xxxii. ,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
and defender, so that I may guide you in all your ways, lest your foot dash against a stone. " In amazement, Columba asked who he was, and the Angel
replied :
my office,
Auxil,
my
" From the nature of
I am called
2 9 since it is duty to afford you assistance against the snares of your enemy, against the falsehood of this world, and against the deceits of the flesh. " Then, the boy enquired, if all God's Angels presented so youthful and so fair an appearance, and. clothed. 3° " said the
or if were all so they
splendidly adorned,
Angel, "much as you admire my vesture and appearance, yet the stole of glory
with which I am clothed in Heaven, is far more brilliant, neither could your mortal eyes bear this vision of brightness, were it not accorded by Divine permission. And, if you ambition such a stole of immortality, the sole reward of great merit, desire earnestly, seek, and pursue virtue ; consecrate your virginity to God, and preserve it unstained to the end. Should you do this, you shall obtain the most splendid vesture among the Angels, whose glory and majesty no language could exaggerate. " Then said the boy, "I shall happily follow what you advise me to do, and I ask you to sign my heart and whole body with a sign of the cross. " This request was complied with, by the Angel, who immediately departed heavenwards. Columba was com- forted, and a new spirit seemed diffused within him, so that his whole future life was devoted to the contemplation of heavenly things, while he despised those ofthe world. 31
Another time, his tutelary Angel appeared in glorious sheen to the boy,
and told him, that Christ had permitted him to select his choice of virtues
and graces, while he was admonished to reflect well and to discern rightly.
Then Columba answered, that of all others, he desired the graces of virginity
andofwisdom. " hastthou orratherthe Ghostwithin
Rightly answered,
thee, in making such a choice," replied the Angel,
"
Holy
wherefore, as you have
so discreetly and meritoriously wished, God shall further bestow on you the giftofprophecy,inwhichyoushallprovetobesuper-eminent. "32 Ithasbeen well observed,33 that in the most strange of phantasies, the Irish legends maintain a morality high and pure. 3 * No sooner had the Angel disappeared from his view, than he had a vision of three beautiful virgins, having a most unusual mien, and they advanced, as if to salute him ; but, with instinctive modesty, he felt reluctant to return their proffered courtesy, until he first en-
" arethe doubtless, you
who
and the spouses offered to thee by cur father. " " And who is your father? " askedSt. Columb. TheysaidhewasJesusChrist,theLordandSaviourof
quired
all. " addedSt. Then,"
then
Columb, greatly relieved,
sisters,
they
virgins
replied :
were. These
daughters of a great parent, and now oblige me by declaring your respective names. " They then declared, that one was named Virginity, the second was
called Wisdom, while the third was named Prophecy. 33 They intimated to
him, likewise, that thenceforth, they should become his inseparable com- panions, and that they should cherish him with an inviolable fidelity. This vision of the three mystical and heavenly graces then vanished ; and, the holy youth gave thanks to God, who had deemed him to be the worthy associate of such noble and beautiful spouses. 36 The Angel Auxil again appeared to him,
28
See ibid. , cap. xxxiv. , p. 394.
29 Latinized Auxilius or Auxiliator.
30 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
33 By the Comte de Montalembert, who
Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. xi. , iii. , liv. xi. , chap, i. , pp. 109, no.
chap, i. , p. 109. 35 This is somewhat differently stated, in 31 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," the Life of our saint, attributed to Cum-
Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 394, and n. 39, p. 449.
32 See ibid. , cap. xxxvi. , p. 394.
mian, cap. iii. , p. 325, in Colgan. How- ever, there is a manifest clerical inaccuracy in the text.
Truly,"
" We are three
relates this
34 See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome
story.
36 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xxxvii. , P- 394-
37 See ibid. , cap. xxxvm. , p. 395.
38 In "The Life of St. Columkille," by an eminent Divine of the Roman Catholic
Church, chap, i.
, we have the fol—lowing
"
Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor and Dromore," p. 151. Besides Movilla, he was the founder of Druim-fionn, now Dromin, in the county of Louth. This is called Ecclesia S. Fintani de Droming, in the Registry of Fleming, fol. 44a.
42 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
lines translated from an Irish Poem
:
penance, on the
Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , P- 395-
cap. xxxix. ,
" As a
religious ground
43
Finnian of Movilla, it renders very impro-
Lay youthful Columb-kille, through his clothes
while
— between him and St.
His meagre bones humble cell
appeared ; his
to be related
Was always open to the inclement
wind,
Which blew with violence through
the unplastered walls. "
39 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. I, n. (e),
p. 105.
40 His festival occurs, on the 10th of Sep-
tember. The Irish Vmnen, pnoen, and "
reign.
44 See Rev. Dr.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
and declared, that Christ had given him the selection of the place, the period, and the sort of death, he might chose. * Then," said the holy youth, " I desire to die a natural death, which abstinence and a voluntary restraint of the flesh may procure ; I wish it may come after youth has long passed, and yet before I attain the decrepitude of years ; for, I do not chose to de- cline in the dangerous time, when passion is strong, neither do I chose to be- come senile and morose, when indulgence is required and a relaxation from toil. Lastly, with regard to the place, I do not wish to die in my own country, but, as an exile and a stranger in a distant land, in penitence and in
tears; for,theexileismorepronetolament,andtoweanhisthoughtsatthe
same time, from vain and transitory things. "** This holy saint constantly spent
hnVearly days, in acts of devotion, austerity, self-denial, abstinence, and mor-
8
3
tification.
been
sent—when about twenty years of age to the school of St. Finnian,* son
Having
fully qualified
for the— St. Columba was higher studies,
3?
to 1 of 2 This wasinthe of Cairbre,* Maghbile. * place present county
Down, at the head of Strangford Lough. It was then very celebrated, and much resorted to, as a religious house, At this school, Columkille applied himself sedulously, not alone to the acquirement of learnings but he desired also to imitate the virtues of his holy teacher. ** Here Columba especially addicted himself to a study of ecclesiastical science. *5 There was another celebrated Abbot of Clonard,*6 who bore the same name, and who at a later period seems to have been St. Columkille's preceptor ;*7 this has caused some con-
sans doute aussi celtique (car on le retrouve ITittniA, are diminutives of prm, albus," chez les Gallois) que les enfants fussent
equivalent to Albinus, and they appear in the Latin forms Finnianus, Findianus, Fin- nio, Vinnio, and Vinnianus ; to which the Italians add Fridanus and Frigidianus. Findbar r is a compound name, formed from
eleves dans une autre famille ou par des
" " 47
However, he desired on this occasion— learn wisdom, from the illustrious bishop namely, Finghin of Magh-bile. See Dermod
"
O'Conor's Keating's
saint of the Ultonians. See Rev. William Ketenn, as quoted by Colgan, in his Lifeot
—vertex," pulcher
propter can-
to
£inn barvr*
dorem capillorum. " Colgan's
torum Hiberniae," Martii xviii. , Vita S. Fri- diani, cap. i. , p. 638.
"
Acta
Sanc-
General History of 41 He was one of the Dal-Fiatach, the Ireland," part ii. , p. 384, Duffy's edition. royal family of Ulster, and he became patron With this agree the Lives of SS. Ere, Callin,
If this anecdote refer to the teaching of
bable that legend of the quarrel
hereafter Colum- For the legend, see O'Donnell, or Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. i. , in "Trias Thau- maturga," p. 408, also in Keating's "History of Ireland," part ii. , at Aodh's
viii. , p. 117.
45 " C'etait un ancien usage irlandais et
—
ba, both as to cause and effect.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect,
Strangers. " Alphabetiques. "
Lanigan's
—H. Gaidoz, "Les Gateaux
46 His feast was held, on the 23rd of Feb- ruary, and on the 1 2th of December.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
fusion of narrative, in the details of our saint's life. *
been the Bishop St. Finian of Maghbile,49 that saw a guardian Angel with St. Columba, while he was young, and on the occasion of approaching his master. s° The latter called out to his monks who were near him
the saintly Columba coming, and he deserves to have the companionship of a heavenly spirit with him. "5I At this period of his life, the holy youth was en- gaged in studying the Sacred Scriptures,52 and this was always a favourite occupation of our early Irish ecclesiastics, as—their old writings left to us clearly demons—trate. Among his acquired arts and we may suppose at his early schools St. Columba became an accomplished and afterwards a
laborious scribe. ^ He remained for several years, as a student at Moville.
He became a deacon,54 likewise, according to some accounts, before he left. It has been thought, he was still very young, when that order was obtained. 55 While he was officiating as such, on the occasion of some great festival, it chanced, tiat wine for the Holy Sacrifice could not be found. Whereupon, Columba went to the fountain, to procure water for Divine service. 56 His officeofdeaconfortheMassobligedhimtoprepareitforthepriest. " Hav- ing put seme into a vessel, he blessed it, and invoked the name of Jesus Christ, who had changed water into wine, at the marriage feast of Cana in Galilee. His prayer was heard, and a similar miracle took place. Returning
St. Fridian, Bishop of Lucca, at the i8thof Columba," Additional Notes N, p, 365,
March.
48 At the Acts of St. Finian of Clonard,
Colgan
him, at the 23rd of February, Appendix, cap. ii. , p. 403. Elsewhere, at the 18th of March, these are ascribed to St. Finian of Moville. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Vita. S. Fridiani, Appendix, cap. iii. , p. 644.
49 In his annotations to this anecdote, Colgan seems to be undecided, as to whether it refers to the present holy Bishop, or to his namesake, St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard.
50 This anecdote is told of our saint, in the First Life which the Bollandists conjecture may have been by Cummian ; while it is substantially repeated by Adamnan, as in the text. See "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Columbae, cap. iii. , and n. 2, pp. 321, 324, and Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. and n.
note (p).
54 Ttiis, however, is not stated in O'Don-
nell's Life. See " Trias Thauma- Colgan's
turga," Vita Quinta S. Columba? , lib. i. , cap. xxxix. , p. 395.
55 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that although the discipline of most ancient churches required twenty-five years, when it should follow, that Columba was under Finian's direction, a. d. 547; still it seems probable enough, that he was nearer to twenty-two years at this time, as the func- tions of Deacon included the duties of Aco- lyte. He cites from Tillemont, tome xvi. , p. 481, the instance of St. Ephihanius of Pavia having been ordained Deacon, about A. D. 458, at the age of twenty years. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, viii. , n. 87, pp. 118, 119.
s° The custom of water with the mingling
wine in the Eucharist was a very ancient one. See Martene, " De Antiquis Ecclesise Riti- bus," tomusi. , lib. i. , cap. 3, 7, p. 118.
57 " The duty here performed by the
notes occurrences in connexion witii
iii. , cap. iv. ,
51 See, also, Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 4, pp. 195, 196, and nn. (a, b, c, d), ibid.
53 According to Adamnan, " Findbarrum
adhuc — sacra? episcopum, juvenis, sapientiam
deacon "
which
says
Rev. Dr. Reeves, " was that
Scripturse addiscens. " Ibid. , lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 103. The same is stated in the Second Life. See " Trias
in
the Western Church was usually as-
Colgan's Thaumaturga," cap. iv. , pp. 135, 326.
signed to the acolyte. " He adds, that the
fourth Council of when Carthage prescribed,
an acolyte was ordained he should receive
53 His
memorated in his Irish Life
urceolum vacuum ad — vinum suggerendum
have their respective functions prescribed in the Ritual, regarding the cruet and the water it contains. —
s8 The short Life of St. Columba pub-
celebrity
as a scrib—e is thus com- :
1n crvicet) bu<voAch cpeuon Lebor\ roL&r- fAerx r»o repib.
'. ' Andthreehundredgifted,lasting, Illuminated, noble books, he wrote. "
"
—Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St.
lished by the Bollandists,
and
which they T
5, pp. 364, 385.
"
8
It is thought to have
:
" You now behold
in eucharistiam
"Concilia," tomus ii. , p. 1200. It should be explained, however, that in the Western Church, both the Deacon and the Acolyte
sanguinis
Christi. "
Labbe's
290
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
bishop.
church,
clergy :
you,
at lib. hi. , cap.
whichgivesnametoabarony, inthecountyofDonegal. Inthedaysof our national greatness, few places attained greater celebrity, than this district.
Ruins at Kilmacrenan, County Donegal.
In it had been built, and there flourished, also, the once famous monastery of Kilmacrenan. ClosebystandsthehistoricRockofDoon,whichlookson Gartan, the birth-place of our saint. On Doon, likewise, the princes of
18 Tyrconnell were inaugurated, ? by the O'Firghils. '
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xxvi. , P- 393-
12
See ibid. , cap. xxvii. , p. 393.
13 See ibid. , cap. xxviii. , p. 393.
14 This was originally known, as the ter-
ritory of Cineb tugxieAc mic Secna, or the Tribe of Lugaidh, son of Setna, brother to Fedhlimidh, the father of St. Columba. The inhabitants were known as the Siob Seena, or the Race of Setna. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," n. (c), p. 192.
nain erat," &c. See ibid. , cap. lix. , p. 399-
16
See ibid. , cap. xxix. , p, 393.
•» There gallant Red Hugh, the last of that
illustrious O'Donnell line, swore fealty to the
cause of his country and religion. How
chivalrously he maintained that cause, the
victory of many a gloriously contested field bears ample testimony. See a "Lecture on the Life and Times of Hugh Roe O'Don- nell," &c, by Rev. C. P. Meehan, Dublin,
1869, cr. 8vo.
18 Now the Freels, a of the Cinel- family
Conaill, who were the hereditary wardens of
"
* 5 O Donnell states in
patriamque aulam, quae tunc in Killmacne-
Colgan's
version
286 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
hermit,
companion.
piety
learning.
Near the village of Kilmacrenan, and a little to the north-east, are the 1
ruins of an old church, ? surrounded by a very picturesque country, and
and
2
cius, the son of Deagaidh, + invited that holy priest and his pupil to Rath-
enaigh,25 inTirennia, to celebrate the Festival of our Lord's Nativity. While
enjoying the Bishop's hospitality, Cruthnechan asked him to join in reciting alternately the Divine office. To this he assented; but, when they had pro- ceeded so far as the Psalm " Misericordias Domini," the senior either felt his
sight weak, or his tongue faltering, and through agitation of mind he could proceed no further. On seeing this, the foster-son took up his Master's
Psaltery, and although he had only learned merely the rudiments, Colum was able to read through the long and involved Psalm. 20 More wonderful still was that miracle which took place, while Cruthnechan and Columkille returned home, after assisting at the obsequies of a certain person. Suddenly, the former fell on the ground ; but, thinking he wished to sleep there, Columba threw his cloak over him. He then commenced reading, in a very loud tone, to employ well the time he deemed it necessary to wait, during his
horror,theydiscoveredthattheirfatherwasdead; yet,havingaknowledgeof the youth's great sanctity, they entreated him to raise his master from this pro-
found sleep. Columba joyfully did so, and the happy company gave thanks to God for such a wonderful favour. 2 ? Filled with gratitude to the Almighty,
the restored priest applied with still greater zeal to his task of instruction. Soon had he the pleasure of finding his disciple excel all equals in years, and even
many of his superiors, both in virtue and in learning. His genius sought the true object; fixed on Heaven were his thoughts; piety and honesty shone in his actions ; his spirit loved to seek for truth and beauty, where they are only to be found ; and, his mind was filled with the most noble and
28 While under Cruthnechan's anxious care, the
near it are the remains of a small Franciscan viewofnorthernsceneryisobtainedfromthemountainofKilmacrenan. 21 St. Columba lived for some time, under the charge of his baptizer, and of a pious
foster-father's
22 This hermit was revered for
his
As a curious illustration of teaching at that time, we are informed, that Columba learned the elements of writing, by tracing on tablets or on pugil- lares? '* Soon after the occurrence of Cruithnechan's vision, Bishop Bruga-
Near the — was a
repose. place nunnery,
and here were the daughters of Cruthnechan living as he had been married, before he em- braced a religious life. Hearing Columba's voice, and knowing their father was in his company, the virgins proceeded to meet them. Soon, to their great
sublime
of God appeared to him one night. Clothed in a white and shining garment,
imaginings.
Angel
he said to the " The Lord be with thee, act boy :
and
your soul in the Lord. Behold, lam present, and appointed as your guardian
Kilmacrenan church.
19 The accompanying illustration of Kil-
macrenan Abbey taken from the north west
side was drawn Alexander
by McHenry,
Esq. , C. E. , from sketches of Mrs. G. H Kinehan. It was transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
20 Only fragments remain, and chiefly ot the south wall.
325. In n. 9, ibid. , p. 331, Colgan supplies the name of St. Cruthnecan, venerated on the 7th of March.
23 known as or Classically writing noting
tables, probably covered with wax, on which the stylus or metallic pen might run.
"* His feast occurs, on the 3rd of Novem- ber.
2S Or Rath-maighe-enaigh, now Ray-
mochy, in the Barony of Raphoe. See Rev.
21 " "
See Rev. Caesar Otway's Sketches in Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St.
Donegal," Letter i. , pp. 6 to 20.
22
This is stated, without mentioning the
name of that Priest, in the Second Life of
our saint, attributed to Cummian. See p. 394, and n. 38, p. 449.
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," cap. ii. , p.
2?
See Hid. , cap. xxxiii. , p. 394.
monastery.
Columba," n. (c), p. 192.
20
20 A most beautiful
manfully
strengthen
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columba? , lib. i. , cap. xxxii. ,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
and defender, so that I may guide you in all your ways, lest your foot dash against a stone. " In amazement, Columba asked who he was, and the Angel
replied :
my office,
Auxil,
my
" From the nature of
I am called
2 9 since it is duty to afford you assistance against the snares of your enemy, against the falsehood of this world, and against the deceits of the flesh. " Then, the boy enquired, if all God's Angels presented so youthful and so fair an appearance, and. clothed. 3° " said the
or if were all so they
splendidly adorned,
Angel, "much as you admire my vesture and appearance, yet the stole of glory
with which I am clothed in Heaven, is far more brilliant, neither could your mortal eyes bear this vision of brightness, were it not accorded by Divine permission. And, if you ambition such a stole of immortality, the sole reward of great merit, desire earnestly, seek, and pursue virtue ; consecrate your virginity to God, and preserve it unstained to the end. Should you do this, you shall obtain the most splendid vesture among the Angels, whose glory and majesty no language could exaggerate. " Then said the boy, "I shall happily follow what you advise me to do, and I ask you to sign my heart and whole body with a sign of the cross. " This request was complied with, by the Angel, who immediately departed heavenwards. Columba was com- forted, and a new spirit seemed diffused within him, so that his whole future life was devoted to the contemplation of heavenly things, while he despised those ofthe world. 31
Another time, his tutelary Angel appeared in glorious sheen to the boy,
and told him, that Christ had permitted him to select his choice of virtues
and graces, while he was admonished to reflect well and to discern rightly.
Then Columba answered, that of all others, he desired the graces of virginity
andofwisdom. " hastthou orratherthe Ghostwithin
Rightly answered,
thee, in making such a choice," replied the Angel,
"
Holy
wherefore, as you have
so discreetly and meritoriously wished, God shall further bestow on you the giftofprophecy,inwhichyoushallprovetobesuper-eminent. "32 Ithasbeen well observed,33 that in the most strange of phantasies, the Irish legends maintain a morality high and pure. 3 * No sooner had the Angel disappeared from his view, than he had a vision of three beautiful virgins, having a most unusual mien, and they advanced, as if to salute him ; but, with instinctive modesty, he felt reluctant to return their proffered courtesy, until he first en-
" arethe doubtless, you
who
and the spouses offered to thee by cur father. " " And who is your father? " askedSt. Columb. TheysaidhewasJesusChrist,theLordandSaviourof
quired
all. " addedSt. Then,"
then
Columb, greatly relieved,
sisters,
they
virgins
replied :
were. These
daughters of a great parent, and now oblige me by declaring your respective names. " They then declared, that one was named Virginity, the second was
called Wisdom, while the third was named Prophecy. 33 They intimated to
him, likewise, that thenceforth, they should become his inseparable com- panions, and that they should cherish him with an inviolable fidelity. This vision of the three mystical and heavenly graces then vanished ; and, the holy youth gave thanks to God, who had deemed him to be the worthy associate of such noble and beautiful spouses. 36 The Angel Auxil again appeared to him,
28
See ibid. , cap. xxxiv. , p. 394.
29 Latinized Auxilius or Auxiliator.
30 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
33 By the Comte de Montalembert, who
Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. xi. , iii. , liv. xi. , chap, i. , pp. 109, no.
chap, i. , p. 109. 35 This is somewhat differently stated, in 31 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," the Life of our saint, attributed to Cum-
Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 394, and n. 39, p. 449.
32 See ibid. , cap. xxxvi. , p. 394.
mian, cap. iii. , p. 325, in Colgan. How- ever, there is a manifest clerical inaccuracy in the text.
Truly,"
" We are three
relates this
34 See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome
story.
36 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xxxvii. , P- 394-
37 See ibid. , cap. xxxvm. , p. 395.
38 In "The Life of St. Columkille," by an eminent Divine of the Roman Catholic
Church, chap, i.
, we have the fol—lowing
"
Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor and Dromore," p. 151. Besides Movilla, he was the founder of Druim-fionn, now Dromin, in the county of Louth. This is called Ecclesia S. Fintani de Droming, in the Registry of Fleming, fol. 44a.
42 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
lines translated from an Irish Poem
:
penance, on the
Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , P- 395-
cap. xxxix. ,
" As a
religious ground
43
Finnian of Movilla, it renders very impro-
Lay youthful Columb-kille, through his clothes
while
— between him and St.
His meagre bones humble cell
appeared ; his
to be related
Was always open to the inclement
wind,
Which blew with violence through
the unplastered walls. "
39 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. I, n. (e),
p. 105.
40 His festival occurs, on the 10th of Sep-
tember. The Irish Vmnen, pnoen, and "
reign.
44 See Rev. Dr.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
and declared, that Christ had given him the selection of the place, the period, and the sort of death, he might chose. * Then," said the holy youth, " I desire to die a natural death, which abstinence and a voluntary restraint of the flesh may procure ; I wish it may come after youth has long passed, and yet before I attain the decrepitude of years ; for, I do not chose to de- cline in the dangerous time, when passion is strong, neither do I chose to be- come senile and morose, when indulgence is required and a relaxation from toil. Lastly, with regard to the place, I do not wish to die in my own country, but, as an exile and a stranger in a distant land, in penitence and in
tears; for,theexileismorepronetolament,andtoweanhisthoughtsatthe
same time, from vain and transitory things. "** This holy saint constantly spent
hnVearly days, in acts of devotion, austerity, self-denial, abstinence, and mor-
8
3
tification.
been
sent—when about twenty years of age to the school of St. Finnian,* son
Having
fully qualified
for the— St. Columba was higher studies,
3?
to 1 of 2 This wasinthe of Cairbre,* Maghbile. * place present county
Down, at the head of Strangford Lough. It was then very celebrated, and much resorted to, as a religious house, At this school, Columkille applied himself sedulously, not alone to the acquirement of learnings but he desired also to imitate the virtues of his holy teacher. ** Here Columba especially addicted himself to a study of ecclesiastical science. *5 There was another celebrated Abbot of Clonard,*6 who bore the same name, and who at a later period seems to have been St. Columkille's preceptor ;*7 this has caused some con-
sans doute aussi celtique (car on le retrouve ITittniA, are diminutives of prm, albus," chez les Gallois) que les enfants fussent
equivalent to Albinus, and they appear in the Latin forms Finnianus, Findianus, Fin- nio, Vinnio, and Vinnianus ; to which the Italians add Fridanus and Frigidianus. Findbar r is a compound name, formed from
eleves dans une autre famille ou par des
" " 47
However, he desired on this occasion— learn wisdom, from the illustrious bishop namely, Finghin of Magh-bile. See Dermod
"
O'Conor's Keating's
saint of the Ultonians. See Rev. William Ketenn, as quoted by Colgan, in his Lifeot
—vertex," pulcher
propter can-
to
£inn barvr*
dorem capillorum. " Colgan's
torum Hiberniae," Martii xviii. , Vita S. Fri- diani, cap. i. , p. 638.
"
Acta
Sanc-
General History of 41 He was one of the Dal-Fiatach, the Ireland," part ii. , p. 384, Duffy's edition. royal family of Ulster, and he became patron With this agree the Lives of SS. Ere, Callin,
If this anecdote refer to the teaching of
bable that legend of the quarrel
hereafter Colum- For the legend, see O'Donnell, or Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. i. , in "Trias Thau- maturga," p. 408, also in Keating's "History of Ireland," part ii. , at Aodh's
viii. , p. 117.
45 " C'etait un ancien usage irlandais et
—
ba, both as to cause and effect.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect,
Strangers. " Alphabetiques. "
Lanigan's
—H. Gaidoz, "Les Gateaux
46 His feast was held, on the 23rd of Feb- ruary, and on the 1 2th of December.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
fusion of narrative, in the details of our saint's life. *
been the Bishop St. Finian of Maghbile,49 that saw a guardian Angel with St. Columba, while he was young, and on the occasion of approaching his master. s° The latter called out to his monks who were near him
the saintly Columba coming, and he deserves to have the companionship of a heavenly spirit with him. "5I At this period of his life, the holy youth was en- gaged in studying the Sacred Scriptures,52 and this was always a favourite occupation of our early Irish ecclesiastics, as—their old writings left to us clearly demons—trate. Among his acquired arts and we may suppose at his early schools St. Columba became an accomplished and afterwards a
laborious scribe. ^ He remained for several years, as a student at Moville.
He became a deacon,54 likewise, according to some accounts, before he left. It has been thought, he was still very young, when that order was obtained. 55 While he was officiating as such, on the occasion of some great festival, it chanced, tiat wine for the Holy Sacrifice could not be found. Whereupon, Columba went to the fountain, to procure water for Divine service. 56 His officeofdeaconfortheMassobligedhimtoprepareitforthepriest. " Hav- ing put seme into a vessel, he blessed it, and invoked the name of Jesus Christ, who had changed water into wine, at the marriage feast of Cana in Galilee. His prayer was heard, and a similar miracle took place. Returning
St. Fridian, Bishop of Lucca, at the i8thof Columba," Additional Notes N, p, 365,
March.
48 At the Acts of St. Finian of Clonard,
Colgan
him, at the 23rd of February, Appendix, cap. ii. , p. 403. Elsewhere, at the 18th of March, these are ascribed to St. Finian of Moville. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Vita. S. Fridiani, Appendix, cap. iii. , p. 644.
49 In his annotations to this anecdote, Colgan seems to be undecided, as to whether it refers to the present holy Bishop, or to his namesake, St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard.
50 This anecdote is told of our saint, in the First Life which the Bollandists conjecture may have been by Cummian ; while it is substantially repeated by Adamnan, as in the text. See "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Columbae, cap. iii. , and n. 2, pp. 321, 324, and Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. and n.
note (p).
54 Ttiis, however, is not stated in O'Don-
nell's Life. See " Trias Thauma- Colgan's
turga," Vita Quinta S. Columba? , lib. i. , cap. xxxix. , p. 395.
55 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that although the discipline of most ancient churches required twenty-five years, when it should follow, that Columba was under Finian's direction, a. d. 547; still it seems probable enough, that he was nearer to twenty-two years at this time, as the func- tions of Deacon included the duties of Aco- lyte. He cites from Tillemont, tome xvi. , p. 481, the instance of St. Ephihanius of Pavia having been ordained Deacon, about A. D. 458, at the age of twenty years. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, viii. , n. 87, pp. 118, 119.
s° The custom of water with the mingling
wine in the Eucharist was a very ancient one. See Martene, " De Antiquis Ecclesise Riti- bus," tomusi. , lib. i. , cap. 3, 7, p. 118.
57 " The duty here performed by the
notes occurrences in connexion witii
iii. , cap. iv. ,
51 See, also, Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 4, pp. 195, 196, and nn. (a, b, c, d), ibid.
53 According to Adamnan, " Findbarrum
adhuc — sacra? episcopum, juvenis, sapientiam
deacon "
which
says
Rev. Dr. Reeves, " was that
Scripturse addiscens. " Ibid. , lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 103. The same is stated in the Second Life. See " Trias
in
the Western Church was usually as-
Colgan's Thaumaturga," cap. iv. , pp. 135, 326.
signed to the acolyte. " He adds, that the
fourth Council of when Carthage prescribed,
an acolyte was ordained he should receive
53 His
memorated in his Irish Life
urceolum vacuum ad — vinum suggerendum
have their respective functions prescribed in the Ritual, regarding the cruet and the water it contains. —
s8 The short Life of St. Columba pub-
celebrity
as a scrib—e is thus com- :
1n crvicet) bu<voAch cpeuon Lebor\ roL&r- fAerx r»o repib.
'. ' Andthreehundredgifted,lasting, Illuminated, noble books, he wrote. "
"
—Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St.
lished by the Bollandists,
and
which they T
5, pp. 364, 385.
"
8
It is thought to have
:
" You now behold
in eucharistiam
"Concilia," tomus ii. , p. 1200. It should be explained, however, that in the Western Church, both the Deacon and the Acolyte
sanguinis
Christi. "
Labbe's
290
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
bishop.
church,
clergy :
you,
at lib. hi. , cap.
