The Irish standard., 1909-05-08

tinued long the burying place of the
kings of the country, with the bodies
of innulilerable saints, which rested in
that place. Out of this nursery ST.
COLUMBIA founded several other mon
asteries in Scotland. III the same
school were educated the holy Bishops
Aidan, Finnian and Colrnan, who con-
verted to the faith the English North
umberlanders.
In 574, when Aadh was monarch of
Ireland, a special Parliament was held
in Tara, for the purpose of enacting
some regulations as to colleges. Among
others who came upon this memor-
able occasion was COLUMBIA, attended
by twenty bishops, forty priests and
fifty deacons. He was received with
great ceremony and respect in Ireland,
and the grand assembly, in which min
gled his voice and wisdom, abolished
many abuses that existed in schools
and in other departments of state.
st. Columbia composed several
works in prose and verse, among 9TH
ers rule for monks, which still ex-
umbkill, the life of st. Patrick, and
hymn to st. Giernan. st. COLUMBIA
died in his abbey of Hy, June 9, 57s,
where his remains were inferred, but
In the beginning Of the ninth century
his remains were removed to the mon
astery of Down and laid in one vault
Brigid.
The eminent Columbanus, g. native
of the province Of Leinster, applied
himself in his youth to the study of
grammar and the liberal arts, in which
he made considerable progress; he af-
terward attached himself to Senell, a
venerable man, and ably conversant in
the Scriptures.
Columbanus made such rapid prog
ress under this master that, although
very young, he wrote an elegant ex-
PLANTATION on the Book Of Psalms, and
many other instructive works; he af-
terward placed himself under the guild
ance of st. Consali in the Abbey Of
Beanchuir, or Bangor. from whence he
departed, with twelve disciples, among
the number of whom was st. Gall, to
go to Britain and from thence to Bur-
gundy.
In the latter country he was receiv-
ed" by the king, sigebert, with every
mark. Of respect, for his fame had
Travelled before him. This prince Of
fered him lands for a settlement. and
Columbanus fixed on Luxen, in the
desert, at the foot of the mountains
of Vosge, where he founded a cele-
brated monastery, and the perpetual
psalmody, by different choirs, who re.
lieved each other day and night The
Order of st. Columbanus was then
considered as the model Of a retired
life, and Luzen as the center of per-
fection. The number Of persons of ev-
cry rank and condition who wished to
submit to the law Of St. Columbanus
was so great that, in order to tighten
the burden on the house Of Luxen he
was obliged to found another at Fon-
taine.
Columbanus had been for nearly 20
years among the people Of Burgundy,
when he was expelled through the in
fluence of Brunehaut. This ambitious
queen shared the government with her
grandson, Thierry II. Fearing that
the marriage Of this prince would di-
minish her authority, she endeavore1
to dissuade him from it by procuring
him illicit pleasure, which excited the
zeal Of st. Columbanus, who re-
preached him for the shameful life he
led. The prince, who had high opin-
ion of the sanctity of st. Columbanus,
heard him patiently but the intrigues
Of Brunehaut. who had prejudiced all
the mobiles of the kingdom against him,
forced him to yield to the storm by
leaving his monastery at Luxen.