By Lilly Lewin
Yesterday, June 9th, is the day we remember St. Columba of Iona, also known as Colm Cille/Colmcille which means the Dove of the Church. St Columba was an Irish monk born into the Irish royal family who instead of ruling from a throne, traveled to the island of Iona to establish a monastic center of learning and Christian mission. Columba took with him twelve followers and he set sail from Ireland landing on Iona in 563 AD. There are two fun videos at the end of this post you can watch and learn more about St. Columba and the history of Iona and the founding of Scotland itself.
st columba’s bay
St Columba’s Bay
The Celtic Christians knew that God could be seen best in places of beauty and Columba felt God spoke not only through Scripture, but also through the wind and rain, the sea and the sky and even the rocks and stones of Iona and highlands of Scotland.
Iona Stones
Columba’s Bay iona
The monastic community that grew on Iona gained fame and impacted all of Scotland and Northern England. Kings sent their children to learn there and chose to be buried there. Along with learning, craftsmanship in stone and silver and iron were thriving on Iona. The first High Cross was created on Iona and I learned this trip that possibly the first Celtic Cross, the circle with the cross on top of it, was also first seen on Iona. Before my recent trip, I believed it was in Ireland first because of St. Patrick.) The High Cross in front of the Abbey today has stood in that spot for 1200 years! It has the oldest image of the Madonna and Child in all of Europe along with Daniel in the lion’s den.
St. Martin’s Cross
High Celtic Cross ..St Martin’s Cross
One legend has it that St Columba had to leave Ireland because of a war over an illuminated manuscript. Columba had hand-copied the book of Psalms without permission. The Abbot Finian found out and knew it would be wonderful so he wanted to keep it at his church not share it with Columba. This became a clan war and many people died over this Psalter. As a penance for the losses, Columba left Ireland to save as many souls as were lost in battle. And he did that and much more!
And speaking of illuminated manuscripts, one of the most famous is The Book of Kells and was most likely created on Iona or at least begun by the monks on Iona and perhaps later finished in Kells. You can see it today at Trinity College, in Dublin.
book of kells
St. Columba is famous for many prayers. He had a special hut built in front of the abbey where he wrote and prayed and read the bible daily. He is also famous for giving his community (and all of us ) a blessing on his deathbed.
“I give to you, my children, these final words: ‘Be at peace with one another, bound together by mutual and unfeigned love. If you do this, according to the example of the ancient fathers, God, who gives strength to the righteous, will bless you: and I, abiding with Him, shall intercede for you. Not only will God provide all things needed for this present life, but He shall prepare for you the blessings of eternity.”
St Columba’s last reported words of blessing in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 767.
What would it be like if we truly lived into being at peace with one another? What if we all chose to be bound together in mutual love?
How would you need to think differently or act differently?
With whom would you need to reconcile?
Take time to today to pray for peace for any conflict in your life.
Like Columba, pray for your community to have more peace and less conflict. Pray against the spirit of fear and disunity…in your own life, in the lives of your friends and family and in your country.
It is said that the last thing St. Columba wrote down, was Psalm 34 ( this is just the first 10 verses)
Take time this week to sit with this psalm . Pray with it.
What do you notice? What does the Holy Spirit high light for you?
I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. PSALM 34
YOUR RESPONSE:
Take time to journal in response to this psalm. If you like art, create an illuminated manuscript by rewriting it in colorful pencils or markers, or just by printing it out and decorating the page. Or you might create your own original art in response to or inspired by the psalm.
Take a walk outside, like the monks of Iona did often. Let the wind, the rain, the trees and even the stones speak to you of God.
PRAY one of St. Columba’s Prayers with me:
Let me bless Almighty God,
whose power extends over sea and land,
whose angels watch over all.
Let me study sacred books to calm my soul:
I pray for peace,
kneeling at heaven’s gates.
Let me do my daily work,
gathering seaweed, catching fish,
giving food to the poor.
Let me say my daily prayers,
sometimes chanting, sometimes quiet,
always thanking God.
Delightful it is to live
on a peaceful isle, in a quiet cell,
serving the King of kings.
And Receive again the saint’s blessing:
“I give to you, my children, these final words: ‘Be at peace with one another, bound together by mutual and unfeigned love. If you do this, according to the example of the ancient fathers, God, who gives strength to the righteous, will bless you: and I, abiding with Him, shall intercede for you. Not only will God provide all things needed for this present life, but He shall prepare for you the blessings of eternity.”
St Columba’s last reported words of blessing in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 767.
WATCH AND LEARN MORE:
Christine Sine is giving away two copies of her latest book Digging Deeper: The Art of Contemplative Gardening. For more information click here!