The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-10-13
THE LAND OF SCHOLARS.
st. Patrick Was the Leader in Estab
fishing Schools and Monas-
teries in Ireland.
THE IRISH SCHOOL OF CL0NARD.
Oolumba's Sacrifice and tie Grsat Work
He Accomplished fer
Christianity.

We all know ireland as the Isle of
Saints, but how many readers speak Of
her as the Land of Scholars. Yet she
we'll deserves the title.
This lovely island was through, God s
mercy, spared the blovdy prosecutions
which attended the introduction of
Christianity into noighboring countries;
she had no long list Of martyrs who
gave their lives for the faith, but she
| had many who, says one, sought in
stead the slower mar5yrdom Of psnancs
and Of lovs.''
! st, Patrick, of blessed memory, was
leader in the work OF covering her fer-
tile domains with schools and monas-
teries. and he had many helpers and
many sncces sors; fer after him there
| was no lack Of earnest soals te carry OH
the work he had begun. Many holy
hermits were learned men as we'll, !iv
ing Oh roots and herbs, but studying
and imparting the principles Of science
and ali known knowledge. Other meu
chose to erect great institutions, where.
thousands 1lockea to be Instructed.
In these places there WAS usually strict
monastic discipline, and some sort Of
manual labor was expected of each
student.
A scholar in the Irish school Of Glen
ard has left hls record upon the page OF
the worlds history, and his name upon
heavens list of saints. We know him
as Columbia, which means dove. He
was of royal birth, a prince III his own
right, and endowed with the graces
and virtues which princes should a.
ways have, but which, alas, they often
lack. He was a merry boy. too. full Of
iife and fun, and doubtless played many
innocent jokes upon his ow-students
IN the quiet eloisters Of Clonard. eHe
took his turn at the labor Of the house
as if he had ,osen peasant, and the
first task given him was the sitting OF
the corn for the following days pro-
visions.
Columbia was only boy, although in
after years so great a saint; and, not
witbstanding the fact that he could
willingly sift corn, he found it hard to
sit by the side of q peasant, and forego
all those privileges Of rank to which he
mad been born. He showed Jhis feeling
in an unpleasant way, and the others
resented it. One in particular, kiernan
by name, the son of g. carpenter, felt
with bitterness that Columbia considered
himself better than the rest because he
was by birth a prince, and he made
many scornful speeches to him and
about him. One night, the story runs,
an angel appeared to Kiernan. holding
in his hands the tools OF a carpenter.
''See,' he said, these only have you re-
uounced in giving up the world, while
COLUMBIA has thrown away throne and
sceptre." After that Kiernan grew to
love Columbia, aud they became the
closest of friends. The carpenters SOD
we now call ST. Herman, and the record
of his life would be long story of it
self.
After COLUMBIA had founded many
convent schools in Ireland his heart
turned towards his sister countries,
then overrun by baroarians, and it be-
came his darling wish to go to them
with the lighted torch of learning and
religion. One Of those happy events
which mortals sometimes call mis-
fortunes came to his aid. He incurred
the displeasure of q ruling King of Ire.
land and was forced to become an exile
from his own dear green island. He
crossed to Scotland in frail wicker
boat, taking with him twelve faithful
followers; and on a low island OF barren
rock off the west coast of the land of the
Scots he made his home.
The island had formerly been a place
of Druidical worship, but Columbia
soon drew about him large number of
Jealous religious, who sent Christian
hymns and prayers to wake the echoes.
instead Of the wild, uncouth chants Of
the heather hordes that had been heard
so long.
The monastery which arose on the
sea- washed island we know as Iona,
and poets never have tired of singing of
it's beauty and of its glory. From here
went missionaries to every part of the,
land, upwards of three hundred religi 4
GUS houses being founded by the monks
of Iona under Columba's supervisibn..
Aud he himself was always where there
was most fatigue to be endured and
work to be done. Every waking
moment he, born 9 Prince, totled with
his: humble brethren. 7 TheYz Travelled