Reflection - Only an ‘n’ between them

"He was a great man, your Patron," the man on the bus said when the Sister told him she was a Columban missionary. "Yes, he was," she smiled, delighted that he would know about the sixth century saint whose missionary heart had led him through Europe of which he is now one of the Patrons. "Yes," the man continued, "I was very taken with Iona when I visited there years ago. A wonderful spirit in the place. What a holy man he was and what a tough life he and his monks must have had on that little island. And to think that his spirit still flourishes today! You must feel very proud to be one of his followers," he said with admiration.

The rest of the journey was spent discussing the difference the letter 'n' makes. Columba. Columban. Drop it and we have the saint of Iona. Add it and we have the saint who travelled from Bangor to Bobbio. Sometimes, as with the traveller, people get confused. Both were Irish monks of the sixth century, both of noble families, both founded churches and built monasteries. Exiles from their beloved native land, they were full of love for God and His Word, and missionaries to their core. It is unlikely that they ever met. Columban travelled across Europe where he is widely venerated today; he died in 613 in Bobbio, Italy. Columba, or Colmcille as he is more frequently called, stayed most of his life in Scotland and is one of the Patrons of Ireland with Patrick and Brigid. He died in 597 in Iona.

Columba of Iona was a man who loved books. Legend has it that when he was visiting St Finnian of Clonard, under whom he had studied, he discovered a manuscript of the psalms and secretly began to copy it. When Finnian heard of this he argued that the transcript belonged to him as he had not given permission for it to be copied. Columba would have none of it; the case went before the High King of Ireland who found in favour of Finnian in the famous judgement, (possibly one of the oldest references to the idea of copyright in history): "To every cow its calf, to every book its copy."

Incensed, Columba vowed to revenge what to him seemed a grave injustice. His anger against the King increased when the latter, contrary to all precedent, later overruled him in the matter of sanctuary in his Abbey. War broke out and hundreds were killed in the battle of Cul Dreimne. The story suggests that it was guilt for his alleged role in the bloodshed that decided Columba on his voluntary exile to Iona in 563. On this tiny and beautiful island off the west coast of Scotland he established a monastery where he spent the rest of his life in prayer, study and fasting. He and his monks played a vital role in the evangelization of Scotland and northern England.

A poet and a miracle-worker, Columba was loved by all, including the animals. His biographer, Adomnan who later on was an Abbot in Iona, tells of the monastery's white horse who came to the saint shortly before his death and laid his head on his lap, his tears falling freely. He was mourning Columba's imminent death which the saint had foretold. After blessing the island and his brethren, this holy man died in the Church in Iona early on June 9th, 597. His feast-day is celebrated on this day.

Sr Redempta Twomey is Assistant Editor of the Far East at St Columban’s, Navan, Ireland.

Read other Reflections written by Sr Redempta Twomey