Columba, a pagan temple had been erected by some Magus,8 who set up in it glass images,
representing
the Sun and Moon and Stars.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
His feast occurs on the 27th of October.
s^ 104.
St.
Ossin, or Ossain, the son of Kellach, abbot of Cluain-mor. There were several
saints of this name. A poetical dialogue between Ossian and St. Patrick is still
repeated. Colgan
32°
this could not have been the son composed by
observes,
of Fingal, who lived long before the Irish Apostle's time. The feast of Ossain
occurs on the 1st of 21 St. or January. 3 105. Rus, Russen,
" de insulis
styled by Maguir Pictorum,"
son of Rodan, and
was a
he first sailed to Britain. His festival day is said to be on the 9th we be-
—
said to have been abbot of Kill-chobhrain, had a festival on the 3rd of May. 3*3
107. St. Segin, son of Fiachri, abbot of Hi. His feast has been assigned to
lieve a mistake for the 7th 323
of April. 106. St. Scandal, son of Bresal,
the 12th of 2* August. 3
beenabbotof
to ha—ve 25 a—ndwhois veneratedonthe10thofDecember
26 or
brosgaidh, now Derrybrusk. He is said to have been venerated on nth of
May. 329 110. St. Senan,amonkofDarmagh. InColgan'sopinion,heisoneof
thetwoSenans,viz. ,oneveneratedonthenthofApril 33°oraSenan,whohas ;
of Bangor, as Colgan thinks, and venerated on the 12th of June^s or> per- haps, St. Torianus, also called Mothorianus and Torannanus, Abbot of Drum-
anerrorfor
Bangor,3 September ;3
108. St.
Segen,
son of
Ronan, conjectured
of whohadafeastonthe24thofMay,3*7andwhodiedintheyear687. 328 109. St. Senach, said to have been half-brother of St. Columba, and abbot of Doire-
perhaps,
St.
Segineus, Archbishop
Armagh,
afeastonthe 1 an(j26th333 ftiiesamemonth. m,St. ist^s 9th,33*
Sillean, orSylvan,sonofNeman,334amonkofHi. 112. St. Suibhne,sonofCurtre, andabbotofHy. HisfeastisonthenthofJanuary. 335 Hedieda. d. 657. 336 113. St. Temoc, said to have been of Ari-molt, near Loch Erne, in Ulster. His festival has been assigned to the 28th of February. 337 114. St. Toran- nan, the companion of St. Columba's voyage to Britain, and afterwards abbot
318 See an account of him, at that date, in the present work.
3 '9 See a notice of him, at that date, in the present work.
3S9 See an account of him, in the Fifth
Volum::, at that date, Art. vi
33° See the Fourth Volume of this work,
at that date, Art. x. and Art. xi.
Art. iii.
332 See ibid. , at 9th of April, Art. iv.
333 See ibid. , at the 26th of April, Art.
vii.
334 Colgan, in a note referring to him, enumerates several saints of the same name, but he cannot determine if the present holy disciple be one of them. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columboe, lib. ii. , cap. iv. , p. 351, and n. 3, p. 381.
335 See the First Volume of this work, and at that date for an account of him, Art ii.
33* See the Rev. Dr. William Reeves Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba,'' Ad- ditional Notes O, p. 375.
337 See a notice of St. Temoc, or Tear- nog, in the Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
338 According to the " Annales Ultonien-
ses," p. 64. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's the present volume, Art. i.
320 See "Trias
33' a error in Probably typographical
Thaumaturga," Quarta
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars ii. , num. Colgan for 7th. See ibid. , at 7th of April,
24, p. 215.
321 See the First Volume of this work, at
that date, Art. iii.
332 See an account of St. Ruisen of Inis-
Picht, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
323 See an account of him, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
334 At this day, a notice of him may be found, in the present work.
335 The son of Ronan must have been a
different person, however, for Segan Mac h Ui Chuinn died abbot of Bangor, A. D. 662. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 272, 273.
326 See notices of him, at that date, in this work.
3a? See an account of him, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that day, Art. i.
"
iv. Torannan, or Mothoria, of Druim-chliab
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus 339 See an account of St. Mothorian,
companion
of — when Columba,
338 see an account of him, at that date, in
June 9. ] LIVES^OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
515
cliffe, who had a festival on the 9th of June. 339 115. St. Trenan Mocu- Rintir,—a monk of Hi, and said by Colgan to have had a festival at the 23rd of March ratherthe22nd,asthereappearstohavebeenaSt. TrenaorTrien, or Trienan venerated on the latter day. 34° But, it seems doubtful, if the disci- ple of St. Columba here mentioned had any distinctive festival. 116. The Blessed Tulchan,34i father of St. Munna, who followed his son to Hi, is also classed among the disciples of Columba, although it seems likely this did not happen, during the lifetime of the great coenobiarch. The foregoing list of his pious disciples only includes those who are casually named in his Acts, or whose names are on record ; but, besides these, there were many holy monks,
wholivedunderhisrule, andmanyholypenitents, whoprofitedbyhisteach- ing and example, and yet who lived unknown and unnoticed save by the Almighty, who has written their names in the Book of Life.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DEPARTURE OF ST. COLUMBA FOR SCOTLAND—ST. MOCHONNA BECOMES HIS DIS- CIPLE—ST. COLUMBA ARRIVES AT IONA—PILGRIMS VISIT HIM FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS—APOCRYPHAL ACTS OF OUR SAINT—HIS LIFE IS PROLONGED FOUR YEARS OWING TO THE PRAYERS OFFERED UP IN MANY CHURCHES—HIS PROPHECY IN REFERENCE TO KING AIDAN's SONS—HIS INTUITION OF THE BATTLE OF THE MIATHE.
After the definite business of the great assembly at Drumcheat had terminated, and when St. Columba had visited various places in Ireland, he resolved on proceeding to Scotland, having accomplished, as well as he was
he had in view. 1 From his first monasteries in Columba drew the necessary number of labourers, until that over which he himself presided in Iona was in a condition to furnish as many as he needed, for his cloisteral and missionary requirements. Before his departure for Scot- land, it is stated, that the holy Abbot was greatly attracted and edified by the piety of a certain youth named Mochonna,2 who is also called Macharius and Mauritius. 3 His parents are thus named, as Fiachna, a king/* who was his father, while his mother was named Finchoemia. Before the birth of their son, the holy Eugene, Bishop of Ardstraw,s had a foreknowledge of his future sanctity. This he related, in the spirit of prophecy. The foster-father
able,
those
objects
Ireland,
at this date, in the present work.
340 He is said to have been Abbot of Kill-
elga. See Third Volume of this work, at that date, for some notices of him, Art. iii.
341 We do not find his name or festival re- corded in any of our Calendars, although he is reputed to have been among the beati- fied. —
are none to be found bearing this name ; but among the Kings of Ulster there are two : the first was Fiachna, son of Boetan, whose various victories are recorded in the " An- nals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 571, 590, 592, and 597. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 206, 207, 214 to 217, 222, 223. He was slain, in the battle of Lethed-
Chapterxvi.
'
ofDe-
2
Several saints of this name are enume- corainn. See ibid. , pp. 248, 249. Colgan is
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
Midinn, at Drung, by Fiachna, son man,in622. Seeibid. ,pp. 246,247. This second Fiachna was slain, A. D. 624, at Ard-
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xii. , sect, xiv. , p. 244.
rated by Colgan : but, he thinks, the present is one venerated at the 19th of May. See a notice of him, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vi.
3 At a future period of his life.
Among the monarchs of Ireland there
of opinion, that he was the father of St. Mochonna.
s His festival occurs, at the 23rd of Au- gust, where some notices of him may be
found, in the present work.
6 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga
"
516 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
of Mochonna was a Connaught prince, and the boy's early years were marked by the exercises of piety and by Christian perfection. He was carefully educated, moreover, and having been well-grounded in the rudiments of learning, he heard of Columba's great fame for doctrine and sanctity, while he was then in Ireland. Moved by a holy instinct, Mochonna presented himself to the renowned Abbot, and he entreated most earnestly, to be admitted as one of his subjects, so that he might be instructed and formed according to the sub- lime rules of Evangelical perfection. The Abbot, while in his country and among his kindred, proved the admirable disposition, reserved manners and ardent piety of the youth, whom he willingly received as a novice. After a training of three months, Mochonna was thoroughly instructed in all those religious practices, which even adults could not learn after a long time. Such was the attention bestowed on his novice, by the great Master, that the boy's
capacity and diligence were entirely directed to imitate and to emulate in all
things the holy Father, so far as his age and condition permitted. Although Mochonna earnestly desired to leave for Albion, yet Columba advised him
: nottodeserthisparentsandnatalsoil. Buttheyouthansweredhim "You
are my father, the Church is my mother, and that is my country, wherever I shall find the most abundant harvest of merit, and the greatest opportunity for serving Christ. Therefore, I shall follow wherever you go, until you bring me to Christ, to whom you have always consecrated me. " Saying these words, and to prevent all further obstruction, he pronounced a vow to leave his native country. The holy Abbot could no further refuse his request, to emigratewithhimselfandtosailforScotland. Therethenovicemanifested still more decidedly his gifts of wisdom and of piety. Whether at study in the monastery or engaged abroad in spreading the seeds of the Gospel, the Almighty adorned his career with signs and miracles, redounding to his own merits and to those of his illustrious master. 6
According to a legend, 7 in the time of St.
Columba, a pagan temple had been erected by some Magus,8 who set up in it glass images, representing the Sun and Moon and Stars. 9 Shortly afterwards, a great swoon came on that Magus, and a demon bore him off through the air. But while both passed over the head of Columkille, this saint made a sign of the cross in the air. Instantly the magician fell to the earth at his feet. In remembrance of this rescue from the demon's power, and in gratitude to Columba, the Gentile priest is said to have dedicated his temple to the saint. Afterwards, this Magus became a monk, and thenceforth he lived a very holy and pious life. 10
Before leaving Ireland, it seems most probable, that some of Columba's part-
ing days were spent as a guest with his monks of Derry, as it lay directly on his course homewards. To that locality, his name ever afterwar—ds lent great cele- brity, and from being the site of his favourite monastery" so renowned in
QuintaVita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , xxiv. , p. 435, and nn. 14, 15, pp. 452, 453.
i This is related, in John O'Mahony's edition of Keating's "History of Ire-
sis, chap, xxiii. , p. 187.
" Although the Annals of the Four Mas-
ters state, that Columba erected his first
monastery here so early as a. d. 535; yet
— thinks—from calculations he makes Colgan
that it was built rather about the year 540. However, he does not advance this opinion as wholly reliable, but it is certain, it had been founded some years before St. Columba
and his companions parted for Scotland, a. d. "
land," 463.
book
ii. , part i. , chap, i. , pp. 46s,
b
In his time, idolatrous worship appears
not to have been entirely extripated from this land.
s For this account of the Dinidic chief ob-
jects of worship the reader is referred to 563. See "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta the Introduction to M. M'Dermott's " New Appendix ad Acta S. Columbia, cap. iii. ,
and Impartial History of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. xxx. to xl.
10 "
See Irish Folk Lore," by Lagenien-
sect. 1, pp. 502, 503.
"
list of Prelates, illustrious men and events
Colgan has set forth a long annalistic
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
5i7
after years for the Abbots, Mo—nks,12 and Saints,^ as also other distinguished
14 personages connected with it Derry became an Episcopal See, and many
of its prelates figure conspicuously in our Annals. Its history,'* from the days of Columba to the present, is also highly eventful. Without its walls have been laid the foundations of a spacious and magnificent Catholic
——
cathedral l6 most appropriately dedicated to our saint and for the last
thirty years, it has been substantially completed and used for Divine worship.
New Catholic Cathedral of St. Columba, Londonderry.
From Loch-Feabhuil or Lough Foyle, where the vessel which conveyed him from Scotland seems to have been at anchor, after he had landed in the
having reference to this place. See ibid.
24. St. Gelasius, Abbot of Derry and Arch- bishop of Armagh. 25. St. Grellan. 26. St. Rinsed. 27. St. Mochliegus. 28. St.
sect. 2, pp. 503 to 506.
13 Over forty are named in the following
: I. St. alphabetical and numerical order —
Blessed Maelionius.
St. Mochonna. 31. St. Mocuthemne. 32. Abbot of Derry. 3. St. ^Engus, Anchorite. St. Mocufir. 33. St. Moelcolumbus or Co- 4. St. Baitan. 5. St. Baithen, Abbot of Hy. lumbanus. 34. Blessed Moelfinnian. 35. 6. St. Branius. 7. St. Caincomrach, Blessed Muircheartach. 36. St. Muredach. 37. St. Muredach O'Dubthaicb. 38. St.
Maelbrigid. 29.
Bishop and Abbot. 8. St. Caiman. 9. St.
Ceata. 10. St. Cobran. II. St. Cobthach.
12. St. Columba Crag. 13. St. Coech
Sculius. 14. St. Diermit, disciple of St.
Columba. 15. St. Diermit, Abbot of
Derry. 16. St. Dubdaleth, Archbishop of
Armagh and Abbot of Derry. 17. St.
Edvina, a widow lady of Munster. 18. St.
Echod, colleague of St. Columba in the con-
version of the Picts. 19. St. Ernan. 20.
Blessed Eugene O'Kearnach, Abbot of
Derry. 21. St. Fetchuo. 22. St. Finnachta,
Abbot of Derry. 23. St. Flathbertus 1837, 4to.
30.
Adamnan, Abbot of Hy. 2. St. Adland,
O'Brolchain,
Odhran. 39. St. Russeus or Russen. 40.
St. Scandalius. 41. St. Torannan. See
undertake to define, but it is certain, it
was before A. D. 927. See ibid. , sect, i. ,
P- 5°3-
»S The fullest account of this locality is
Liberties of Londonderry," published in
Abbot and of 16 The accompanyin illustration, from a Bishop Derry.
ibid. , sect, iii. , p. 5°6.
** At what period, Colgan would not
that contained in the Ordnance Survey " Memoir of the City and North-Western
5i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
River Roe to attend the great Convention of Druimceat, St. Columba's vessel
steered northwards. Before leaving Ireland for Iona, however, he touched at
1
Coleraine, ? and there Bishop Conall had resolved on paying him a marked
public demonstration. He collected an almost innumerable quantity of pre-
sents from the people of that vicinity, and he prepared a great entertainment, in compliment to their illustrious visitor, who was destined never again to return. After these parting festivities were over, the holy Abbot embarked at Coleraine, where his vessel was then waiting. He cleared the mouth of the River Bann with favouring winds, and then his ship was wafted towards the terrible whirl-
pool
clerical habit. 21 He sailed over from tery on the Island. "
"
Gazetteer of the World," vol. ii. , p.
Ossin, or Ossain, the son of Kellach, abbot of Cluain-mor. There were several
saints of this name. A poetical dialogue between Ossian and St. Patrick is still
repeated. Colgan
32°
this could not have been the son composed by
observes,
of Fingal, who lived long before the Irish Apostle's time. The feast of Ossain
occurs on the 1st of 21 St. or January. 3 105. Rus, Russen,
" de insulis
styled by Maguir Pictorum,"
son of Rodan, and
was a
he first sailed to Britain. His festival day is said to be on the 9th we be-
—
said to have been abbot of Kill-chobhrain, had a festival on the 3rd of May. 3*3
107. St. Segin, son of Fiachri, abbot of Hi. His feast has been assigned to
lieve a mistake for the 7th 323
of April. 106. St. Scandal, son of Bresal,
the 12th of 2* August. 3
beenabbotof
to ha—ve 25 a—ndwhois veneratedonthe10thofDecember
26 or
brosgaidh, now Derrybrusk. He is said to have been venerated on nth of
May. 329 110. St. Senan,amonkofDarmagh. InColgan'sopinion,heisoneof
thetwoSenans,viz. ,oneveneratedonthenthofApril 33°oraSenan,whohas ;
of Bangor, as Colgan thinks, and venerated on the 12th of June^s or> per- haps, St. Torianus, also called Mothorianus and Torannanus, Abbot of Drum-
anerrorfor
Bangor,3 September ;3
108. St.
Segen,
son of
Ronan, conjectured
of whohadafeastonthe24thofMay,3*7andwhodiedintheyear687. 328 109. St. Senach, said to have been half-brother of St. Columba, and abbot of Doire-
perhaps,
St.
Segineus, Archbishop
Armagh,
afeastonthe 1 an(j26th333 ftiiesamemonth. m,St. ist^s 9th,33*
Sillean, orSylvan,sonofNeman,334amonkofHi. 112. St. Suibhne,sonofCurtre, andabbotofHy. HisfeastisonthenthofJanuary. 335 Hedieda. d. 657. 336 113. St. Temoc, said to have been of Ari-molt, near Loch Erne, in Ulster. His festival has been assigned to the 28th of February. 337 114. St. Toran- nan, the companion of St. Columba's voyage to Britain, and afterwards abbot
318 See an account of him, at that date, in the present work.
3 '9 See a notice of him, at that date, in the present work.
3S9 See an account of him, in the Fifth
Volum::, at that date, Art. vi
33° See the Fourth Volume of this work,
at that date, Art. x. and Art. xi.
Art. iii.
332 See ibid. , at 9th of April, Art. iv.
333 See ibid. , at the 26th of April, Art.
vii.
334 Colgan, in a note referring to him, enumerates several saints of the same name, but he cannot determine if the present holy disciple be one of them. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columboe, lib. ii. , cap. iv. , p. 351, and n. 3, p. 381.
335 See the First Volume of this work, and at that date for an account of him, Art ii.
33* See the Rev. Dr. William Reeves Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba,'' Ad- ditional Notes O, p. 375.
337 See a notice of St. Temoc, or Tear- nog, in the Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
338 According to the " Annales Ultonien-
ses," p. 64. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's the present volume, Art. i.
320 See "Trias
33' a error in Probably typographical
Thaumaturga," Quarta
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars ii. , num. Colgan for 7th. See ibid. , at 7th of April,
24, p. 215.
321 See the First Volume of this work, at
that date, Art. iii.
332 See an account of St. Ruisen of Inis-
Picht, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
323 See an account of him, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
334 At this day, a notice of him may be found, in the present work.
335 The son of Ronan must have been a
different person, however, for Segan Mac h Ui Chuinn died abbot of Bangor, A. D. 662. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 272, 273.
326 See notices of him, at that date, in this work.
3a? See an account of him, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that day, Art. i.
"
iv. Torannan, or Mothoria, of Druim-chliab
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus 339 See an account of St. Mothorian,
companion
of — when Columba,
338 see an account of him, at that date, in
June 9. ] LIVES^OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
515
cliffe, who had a festival on the 9th of June. 339 115. St. Trenan Mocu- Rintir,—a monk of Hi, and said by Colgan to have had a festival at the 23rd of March ratherthe22nd,asthereappearstohavebeenaSt. TrenaorTrien, or Trienan venerated on the latter day. 34° But, it seems doubtful, if the disci- ple of St. Columba here mentioned had any distinctive festival. 116. The Blessed Tulchan,34i father of St. Munna, who followed his son to Hi, is also classed among the disciples of Columba, although it seems likely this did not happen, during the lifetime of the great coenobiarch. The foregoing list of his pious disciples only includes those who are casually named in his Acts, or whose names are on record ; but, besides these, there were many holy monks,
wholivedunderhisrule, andmanyholypenitents, whoprofitedbyhisteach- ing and example, and yet who lived unknown and unnoticed save by the Almighty, who has written their names in the Book of Life.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DEPARTURE OF ST. COLUMBA FOR SCOTLAND—ST. MOCHONNA BECOMES HIS DIS- CIPLE—ST. COLUMBA ARRIVES AT IONA—PILGRIMS VISIT HIM FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS—APOCRYPHAL ACTS OF OUR SAINT—HIS LIFE IS PROLONGED FOUR YEARS OWING TO THE PRAYERS OFFERED UP IN MANY CHURCHES—HIS PROPHECY IN REFERENCE TO KING AIDAN's SONS—HIS INTUITION OF THE BATTLE OF THE MIATHE.
After the definite business of the great assembly at Drumcheat had terminated, and when St. Columba had visited various places in Ireland, he resolved on proceeding to Scotland, having accomplished, as well as he was
he had in view. 1 From his first monasteries in Columba drew the necessary number of labourers, until that over which he himself presided in Iona was in a condition to furnish as many as he needed, for his cloisteral and missionary requirements. Before his departure for Scot- land, it is stated, that the holy Abbot was greatly attracted and edified by the piety of a certain youth named Mochonna,2 who is also called Macharius and Mauritius. 3 His parents are thus named, as Fiachna, a king/* who was his father, while his mother was named Finchoemia. Before the birth of their son, the holy Eugene, Bishop of Ardstraw,s had a foreknowledge of his future sanctity. This he related, in the spirit of prophecy. The foster-father
able,
those
objects
Ireland,
at this date, in the present work.
340 He is said to have been Abbot of Kill-
elga. See Third Volume of this work, at that date, for some notices of him, Art. iii.
341 We do not find his name or festival re- corded in any of our Calendars, although he is reputed to have been among the beati- fied. —
are none to be found bearing this name ; but among the Kings of Ulster there are two : the first was Fiachna, son of Boetan, whose various victories are recorded in the " An- nals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 571, 590, 592, and 597. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 206, 207, 214 to 217, 222, 223. He was slain, in the battle of Lethed-
Chapterxvi.
'
ofDe-
2
Several saints of this name are enume- corainn. See ibid. , pp. 248, 249. Colgan is
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
Midinn, at Drung, by Fiachna, son man,in622. Seeibid. ,pp. 246,247. This second Fiachna was slain, A. D. 624, at Ard-
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xii. , sect, xiv. , p. 244.
rated by Colgan : but, he thinks, the present is one venerated at the 19th of May. See a notice of him, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vi.
3 At a future period of his life.
Among the monarchs of Ireland there
of opinion, that he was the father of St. Mochonna.
s His festival occurs, at the 23rd of Au- gust, where some notices of him may be
found, in the present work.
6 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga
"
516 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
of Mochonna was a Connaught prince, and the boy's early years were marked by the exercises of piety and by Christian perfection. He was carefully educated, moreover, and having been well-grounded in the rudiments of learning, he heard of Columba's great fame for doctrine and sanctity, while he was then in Ireland. Moved by a holy instinct, Mochonna presented himself to the renowned Abbot, and he entreated most earnestly, to be admitted as one of his subjects, so that he might be instructed and formed according to the sub- lime rules of Evangelical perfection. The Abbot, while in his country and among his kindred, proved the admirable disposition, reserved manners and ardent piety of the youth, whom he willingly received as a novice. After a training of three months, Mochonna was thoroughly instructed in all those religious practices, which even adults could not learn after a long time. Such was the attention bestowed on his novice, by the great Master, that the boy's
capacity and diligence were entirely directed to imitate and to emulate in all
things the holy Father, so far as his age and condition permitted. Although Mochonna earnestly desired to leave for Albion, yet Columba advised him
: nottodeserthisparentsandnatalsoil. Buttheyouthansweredhim "You
are my father, the Church is my mother, and that is my country, wherever I shall find the most abundant harvest of merit, and the greatest opportunity for serving Christ. Therefore, I shall follow wherever you go, until you bring me to Christ, to whom you have always consecrated me. " Saying these words, and to prevent all further obstruction, he pronounced a vow to leave his native country. The holy Abbot could no further refuse his request, to emigratewithhimselfandtosailforScotland. Therethenovicemanifested still more decidedly his gifts of wisdom and of piety. Whether at study in the monastery or engaged abroad in spreading the seeds of the Gospel, the Almighty adorned his career with signs and miracles, redounding to his own merits and to those of his illustrious master. 6
According to a legend, 7 in the time of St.
Columba, a pagan temple had been erected by some Magus,8 who set up in it glass images, representing the Sun and Moon and Stars. 9 Shortly afterwards, a great swoon came on that Magus, and a demon bore him off through the air. But while both passed over the head of Columkille, this saint made a sign of the cross in the air. Instantly the magician fell to the earth at his feet. In remembrance of this rescue from the demon's power, and in gratitude to Columba, the Gentile priest is said to have dedicated his temple to the saint. Afterwards, this Magus became a monk, and thenceforth he lived a very holy and pious life. 10
Before leaving Ireland, it seems most probable, that some of Columba's part-
ing days were spent as a guest with his monks of Derry, as it lay directly on his course homewards. To that locality, his name ever afterwar—ds lent great cele- brity, and from being the site of his favourite monastery" so renowned in
QuintaVita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , xxiv. , p. 435, and nn. 14, 15, pp. 452, 453.
i This is related, in John O'Mahony's edition of Keating's "History of Ire-
sis, chap, xxiii. , p. 187.
" Although the Annals of the Four Mas-
ters state, that Columba erected his first
monastery here so early as a. d. 535; yet
— thinks—from calculations he makes Colgan
that it was built rather about the year 540. However, he does not advance this opinion as wholly reliable, but it is certain, it had been founded some years before St. Columba
and his companions parted for Scotland, a. d. "
land," 463.
book
ii. , part i. , chap, i. , pp. 46s,
b
In his time, idolatrous worship appears
not to have been entirely extripated from this land.
s For this account of the Dinidic chief ob-
jects of worship the reader is referred to 563. See "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta the Introduction to M. M'Dermott's " New Appendix ad Acta S. Columbia, cap. iii. ,
and Impartial History of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. xxx. to xl.
10 "
See Irish Folk Lore," by Lagenien-
sect. 1, pp. 502, 503.
"
list of Prelates, illustrious men and events
Colgan has set forth a long annalistic
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
5i7
after years for the Abbots, Mo—nks,12 and Saints,^ as also other distinguished
14 personages connected with it Derry became an Episcopal See, and many
of its prelates figure conspicuously in our Annals. Its history,'* from the days of Columba to the present, is also highly eventful. Without its walls have been laid the foundations of a spacious and magnificent Catholic
——
cathedral l6 most appropriately dedicated to our saint and for the last
thirty years, it has been substantially completed and used for Divine worship.
New Catholic Cathedral of St. Columba, Londonderry.
From Loch-Feabhuil or Lough Foyle, where the vessel which conveyed him from Scotland seems to have been at anchor, after he had landed in the
having reference to this place. See ibid.
24. St. Gelasius, Abbot of Derry and Arch- bishop of Armagh. 25. St. Grellan. 26. St. Rinsed. 27. St. Mochliegus. 28. St.
sect. 2, pp. 503 to 506.
13 Over forty are named in the following
: I. St. alphabetical and numerical order —
Blessed Maelionius.
St. Mochonna. 31. St. Mocuthemne. 32. Abbot of Derry. 3. St. ^Engus, Anchorite. St. Mocufir. 33. St. Moelcolumbus or Co- 4. St. Baitan. 5. St. Baithen, Abbot of Hy. lumbanus. 34. Blessed Moelfinnian. 35. 6. St. Branius. 7. St. Caincomrach, Blessed Muircheartach. 36. St. Muredach. 37. St. Muredach O'Dubthaicb. 38. St.
Maelbrigid. 29.
Bishop and Abbot. 8. St. Caiman. 9. St.
Ceata. 10. St. Cobran. II. St. Cobthach.
12. St. Columba Crag. 13. St. Coech
Sculius. 14. St. Diermit, disciple of St.
Columba. 15. St. Diermit, Abbot of
Derry. 16. St. Dubdaleth, Archbishop of
Armagh and Abbot of Derry. 17. St.
Edvina, a widow lady of Munster. 18. St.
Echod, colleague of St. Columba in the con-
version of the Picts. 19. St. Ernan. 20.
Blessed Eugene O'Kearnach, Abbot of
Derry. 21. St. Fetchuo. 22. St. Finnachta,
Abbot of Derry. 23. St. Flathbertus 1837, 4to.
30.
Adamnan, Abbot of Hy. 2. St. Adland,
O'Brolchain,
Odhran. 39. St. Russeus or Russen. 40.
St. Scandalius. 41. St. Torannan. See
undertake to define, but it is certain, it
was before A. D. 927. See ibid. , sect, i. ,
P- 5°3-
»S The fullest account of this locality is
Liberties of Londonderry," published in
Abbot and of 16 The accompanyin illustration, from a Bishop Derry.
ibid. , sect, iii. , p. 5°6.
** At what period, Colgan would not
that contained in the Ordnance Survey " Memoir of the City and North-Western
5i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
River Roe to attend the great Convention of Druimceat, St. Columba's vessel
steered northwards. Before leaving Ireland for Iona, however, he touched at
1
Coleraine, ? and there Bishop Conall had resolved on paying him a marked
public demonstration. He collected an almost innumerable quantity of pre-
sents from the people of that vicinity, and he prepared a great entertainment, in compliment to their illustrious visitor, who was destined never again to return. After these parting festivities were over, the holy Abbot embarked at Coleraine, where his vessel was then waiting. He cleared the mouth of the River Bann with favouring winds, and then his ship was wafted towards the terrible whirl-
pool
clerical habit. 21 He sailed over from tery on the Island. "
"
Gazetteer of the World," vol. ii. , p.
