Saint Columba
Saint Columba (born Colmcille, December 7, 521 AD in Gartan, County Donegal, Ireland; died June 9, 597 AD on Iona, Inner Hebrides, Scotland) was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity in what is now Scotland. He founded the monastery of Iona on a tiny island off the coast of Scotland, which became one of the most important centers of Christian culture in the early medieval West. A prince of the Uí Néill dynasty, he was also an accomplished poet. With Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid, he is one of the three patron saints of Ireland. His feast day is June 9.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Columba
| Saint Columba | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 09 |
| Profession | Abbot; missionary; founder of Iona; poet; copyist; patron of Ireland and Scotland |
| Rel. Affiliation | Celtic Church; Columban monasticism |
| Patronage | Ireland; Scotland; bookbinders; poets; Derry; Iona; exiles; flooded rivers |
| Attributes | Dove (Colmcille = "Dove of the Church"); book; abbot's staff; Iona; Irish harp |
| Birthplace | Gartan, County Donegal, Ulster, Ireland |
| Death Place | Iona, Argyll and Bute, Inner Hebrides, Scotland |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died after completing his final transcription |
| Primary Shrine | Iona Abbey, Iona, Scotland — the rebuilt medieval abbey stands on the site of his original monastery; his burial place |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | June 9 |
Biography
Columba (Colmcille, "Dove of the Church") was born in 521 AD at Gartan in Donegal, of royal blood — a great-great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the legendary king of Ireland. He was educated by Saint Finnian of Moville and Saint Finnian of Clonard, and later by the poet-monk Gemman. He was ordained a priest around 551 AD and began founding monasteries throughout Ireland, including at Derry (546), Durrow (556), and Kells.
Around 563 AD, Columba sailed with twelve companions to the small island of Iona off the coast of Scotland (then the kingdom of Dál Riata, spanning northeastern Ireland and western Scotland). He founded a monastery there that would become the most important center of Christianity in northern Britain. From Iona, he evangelized the Picts of Scotland and organized the Celtic church.
A dramatic episode preceded his departure from Ireland. He had secretly copied a psalter belonging to his teacher Saint Finnian at Clonard. Finnian demanded the copy; a dispute arose; the High King Diarmait ruled against Columba (to every cow its calf, to every book its copy). The dispute contributed to the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne (561), in which Columba's kinsmen defeated the High King. Overcome with remorse for the deaths caused (at least partially) by his dispute, Columba voluntarily exiled himself from Ireland forever — this is the traditional explanation for his leaving for Iona.
From Iona he exercised immense influence over the Irish church, was consulted by kings and bishops, and supervised a network of monasteries. His biographer Adomnán of Iona (the ninth abbot of Iona, writing a century after Columba's death) portrays him as a prophet, miracle worker, and beloved father. The Life of Columba is one of the most vivid biographies from early medieval Europe.
Columba died on Iona on June 9, 597 — the same year Saint Augustine arrived in England on his mission from Rome. He died while copying Psalm 34 and told his successor Baithín to complete it. He was found dead before the altar at Matins, his face shining with light. He was buried at Iona; his relics were later divided and taken to Ireland (Downpatrick) and Scotland (Dunkeld) to preserve them from Viking raids.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Gartan, County Donegal, Ulster, Ireland
Death location: Iona, Argyll and Bute, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
Notable location: The island monastery he founded in 563 AD; became the most important Christian center in northern Britain; still a living pilgrimage destination; the Iona Community is based here (Iona, Argyll and Bute, Scotland)
Notable location: The city where he founded one of his first monasteries (Doire = "oak grove"); now the city of Derry/Londonderry; he loved Derry deeply (Derry (Londonderry), Northern Ireland)
Notable location: Where he founded the famous monastery of Durrow; home of the Book of Durrow (now in Trinity College Dublin) (Durrow, County Offaly, Ireland)
Notable location: His birthplace; a pilgrimage site; there is a modern heritage center here (Gartan, County Donegal, Ireland)
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
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| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| Saint Columba (Diocese of Harrisburg) | Diocese of Harrisburg | Bloomsburg, PA | Pennsylvania | United States | https://saintcolumbachurch.org/ |
| St. Columba (Diocese of Harrisburg) | Diocese of Harrisburg | Bloomsburg, PA | Pennsylvania | United States | http://www.saintcolumbachurch.org/ |
| St. Columba (Diocese of Norwich) | Diocese of Norwich | Loddon, Norfolk | Norfolk | England | https://www.stcolumbaloddon.org.uk/ |
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint of the Day: June 9th - Saint Columba | 5–15 minutes | Butler's Lives of the Saints |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Iona Abbey, Iona — the reconstructed medieval abbey on the site of his original monastery; maintained by the ecumenical Iona Community; a major pilgrimage destination.
- Gartan Heritage Centre, Gartan, Donegal — at his birthplace.
- Cathedral of Saint Eunan and Columba, Letterkenny, Donegal — possesses a relic of Columba; the diocesan cathedral of Raphoe.
Feast day
June 9
Veneration
Saint Columba is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on June 9 (Optional Memorial). He is one of the three patron saints of Ireland (with Patrick and Brigid) and patron of Scotland alongside Saint Andrew.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.