The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-06-18
St. Columbia Was a Scholar, an Exile
a Warrior, a Missionary
and Poet.
Of Royal Blood and Brilliant Pros
poets He Sacrificed All for
Religion.
The Sanctity of His Life Caused
the. Youth to Seek and Imi-
tate Him.

st. COLUMBIA, the patron of the Picts,
was one of the bright lights of old
AErin's brightest days. Missionary,
scholar, warrior, poet and exile, this
scion of a princely house of Fire is
one of the most interesting figures in
history, says the Catholic Standard
and Times. 1t is fourteen hundred
years since his birth, and every year
has added new lustre to the fame of
"The Dove of the Church"
Tender traditions have been woven
around the name of Columcille (Col-
umba of the Cell.) The bards of Erin
whose great protector and idol he was,
have touched their harps to sing his
praises; scholars and writer's have
loved to dwell on the founder of
schools and the teacher of the peo-
pie; Irish missionaries revere the first
great missionary Of the race.
COLUMBIA was born in the wild but
beautiful district Of Gartan, in Done
gal, on December I, 521. An ancient
life of him says: "By genealogy he had
natural right to the kingship of Ire
land, and 1t would have been offered to
him had. he not put it from him for
Gods sake His early youth was
passed among the rugged mountains
of his native place, and his education
in Latin and his mother tongue was
received from the priest who baptized
him. The thirst for learning drove
him to the most celebrated schools of
the time, and after his ordination he
wandered from monastery to monas-
terry and from saint to saint.
COLUMBIA left Ireland in the year 5ea
The accounts of his farewell to his ma
tive land are extremely touching
The Bishops, clergy and people came
out to say adieu to their beloved saint.
His heart was full, his eyes were dim
with tears, and he poured forth his
soul in song:
All! my heart will never find rest,
There's tear in my soft gray eye,
Give Err once more to my breast,
And then I am ready to die.
I stand on the deck of my bark
And gaze DER the southern sea,
But alas! and alas! my Fri
Forever is hidden from me.
How bright are the eyes of my Fri.
Like the CLEAN of an angels wing,
And sweet is the breath of my Err
Her voice is the music of spring.
Oh! deep is my burden of sorrow,
pine like the matchless dove
Will this heart from the years never
borrow
A balm for the loss of my love?
Columcille and his little band could
not have selected bleaker, wilder or
more barren site for their monastery
than the little island of Iona. Yet in a
few years it had become noted centre
of learning and sanctity. Scribes were
employed to copy the Scriptures; mis-
sionaries went abroad to convert the
Scots; students thronged it's halls, and
the fame of Iona was soon spread
throughout Europe.
COLUMBIA shines forth as the protec-
tor of the Bards of Erin. The Bards
were a powerful and a priviledged
class. All Irish history, literature and
most of the laws were written by
them. In time they became oppres-
sive in their demands, and the nation
rose up against their exactions. A
great convention was held, the object
of which was the abolition Of the
Bardic order They became terrified
and appealed to COLUMBIA, whose cou-
sin was High King, and whose influ-
ence was all-powerful. COLUMBIA at
tended the convention in SIS, and his
eloquence silenced all accusing voices.
The necessary reforms were made, and
the order continued to preserve the
records of the nation, to celebrate the
valiant deeds of kings and warriors
and chant a funeral dirge for the noble
dead.
The school of Derry was founded by