Life of St Columba 1 part 2/3

one of whom, Meldán by name, asked the Saint about his son who was present, what was to befall him. To him the Saint thus declared, 'Is not today the Sabbath day? Your son will die on Friday, at the end of the week, and on the eighth day, that is, on the Sabbath, he will be buried here.' The other common man accordingly, Glasderc by name, also asking likewise about his son whom he had there with him, hears such an answer from the Saint: 'Your son Ernán will see his grandsons, and will be buried in this island as an old man.' All which things, according to the Saint's word, concerning both boys were fully accomplished in their own times. Chapter 10: Concerning Colcu, son of Áed Draignech, sprung from the grandsons of Fechreg;

And concerning a certain hidden sin of his mother: the Saint's prophecy. At another time, the Saint asked the aforementioned Colcu, dwelling with him in the island of Iona, about his mother, whether she was religious or not. To him he himself, replying, said, 'I have known my mother to be well-mannered and of good repute.' The Saint then thus prophetically declared, 'Soon, God willing, when you have set out for Ireland, question your mother more diligently about a certain very grave hidden sin of hers, which she is unwilling to confess to any man.' He, hearing these things, obeying, departed to Ireland.

Accordingly the mother, being diligently questioned by him, although at first denying it, nevertheless confessed her sin, and according to the Saint's judgment, doing penance, she was healed, and greatly marvelled that what had been made manifest to the Saint concerning her. Chapter 11: But Colcu, having returned to the Saint, and having stayed with him for some days, asking about the end of his own time, hears this answer from the Saint: 'In your homeland which you love, you will be the head of some church for many years; and if perchance at any time you should see your cupbearer playing at the feast of friends, and whirling round the ladle by its neck in a circle, know that you are soon, within a short time, to die.' What more?

This same prophecy of the blessed man was thus fulfilled in every respect, just as it had been prophesied concerning the same Colcu. Chapter 12: Concerning Laisrán the gardener, a holy man. The blessed man on a certain day commanded a certain one of his monks, by name Trénán, of the people of Mocuruntir, to go out as an envoy to Ireland. He, obeying the command of the man of God, hastily prepared for the voyage; and he complained before the Saint that he lacked one sailor for himself. The Saint accordingly, answering him, uttered these words from his holy breast, saying, 'The sailor whom you say has not yet been supplied to you, I cannot now find. Go in peace: until you reach Ireland you will have prosperous and favourable winds.'

'And you will see a certain man coming to meet you from afar, who first before the rest will hold the prow of your ship in Ireland; this man will be the companion of your journey for some days in Ireland; and from there, as you return, he will accompany you all the way to us, a man chosen by God, who in this my monastery for all the remaining time will live well.' What more? Trénán, receiving a blessing from the Saint, with full sails crossed all the seas: and behold, as the little ship was approaching the harbour, Laisrán Mocumoie, swifter than the rest, ran to meet it and held the prow. The sailors recognized him to be the one of whom the Saint had foretold. Chapter 13:

Concerning a great whale, how the Saint, foreknowing, had spoken. On a certain day, when the venerable man was tarrying in the island of Iona, a certain brother, Berach by name, proposing to sail to the island of Tiree, coming to the Saint in the morning, asked to be blessed by him. The Saint, gazing upon him, said, 'O son, today take heed earnestly that you do not try to cross over the broader sea to the land of Tiree by a straight course; but rather, going round about, sail past the smaller islands; lest indeed, terrified by some monstrous portent, you can scarcely escape from there.' He, having received the blessing from the Saint, departed, and boarding the ship, as if making light of the Saint's word, crossed over;

crossing accordingly the greater spaces of the Tiree sea, he himself and the sailors who were there see, and behold, a whale of marvellous and immense size, raising itself like a mountain, opened a mouth wide gaping and full of teeth, swimming on the surface. Then accordingly the rowers, lowering the sail, greatly terrified, turning back, scarcely could escape that surge that arose from the beast's movement, and recognizing the Saint's prophetic word, they marvelled. On that same day too the Saint, to Baithéne, who was to sail to the aforementioned island, in the morning made known concerning the same whale, saying, 'This past midnight, a great whale lifted itself up from the depth of the sea, and between the islands of Iona and Tiree today it will raise itself onto the surface of the deep.'

To whom Baithéne, answering, said, 'I and that beast are under the power of God.' The Saint said, 'Go in peace; your faith in Christ will defend you from this peril.' Then Baithéne, having received the blessing from the Saint, sailed away from the harbour: and having passed over no small stretches of sea, he and his companions catch sight of the whale; and while all were terrified, he alone, with both hands raised, blessed the sea and the whale, undaunted. And at that same moment the great beast, plunging itself beneath the waves, nowhere thereafter appeared to them. Chapter 14:

Concerning a certain Baitán, who with others seeking a great desert place had sailed away: the holy man's prophecy. At another time a certain Baitán, of the people of Nepos Niath Taloirc, sought to be blessed by the Saint, being about to seek a desert hermitage at sea with others. To him, bidding farewell, the Saint uttered this prophetic word concerning him, 'This man, who is setting out to seek a desert place in the ocean, will not lie buried in a desert; but he will be buried in that place where a woman will drive sheep across his grave.' This same Baitán accordingly, after long circuits over windy seas, not finding the hermitage, returned to his homeland, and there for many years remained the master of a certain little cell, which in the Irish tongue is called Lathreginden.

And in those same days it came to pass, in which—after he had died some time later—he was buried at Roboretum Calgachi (Derry, the Oak-wood of Calgach), that on account of an inroad of hostility a neighbouring little band of common folk with women and children fled to the church of that same place. Whence it happened that on a certain day a certain woman was caught, who was driving her little sheep across the grave of that man lately buried. And one of those who had seen it, a holy priest, said, 'Now the prophecy of the holy Columba is fulfilled, divulged to many years before.' This aforementioned presbyter, who indeed related to me these things concerning Baitán, was by name Mailodrán, a soldier of Christ, of the people of Mocurin. Chapter 15:

Concerning a certain Némán, a feigned penitent: the holy man's prophesying. At another time the Saint came to the island of Hinba, and on that same day he gave orders that some comfort of food should be granted even to the penitents. Now there was there among the penitents a certain Némán, son of Cathir, who, being bidden by the Saint, refused to accept the small comfort offered. Whom the Saint addressed with these words, 'O Némán, do you not accept some indulgence of refreshment granted by me and Baithéne? There will be a time when you, together with thieves, will furtively eat the flesh of a mare in the wood.' This same man accordingly, afterward returning to the world, eating such flesh in a thicket with thieves, was found, according to the Saint's word, taking it from a wooden grid-iron. Chapter 16:

Concerning a certain wretched man who slept with his own mother. At another time the Saint roused the brethren in the dead of night, and to them, gathered in the church, he said, 'Now let us pray to the Lord more earnestly; for at this very hour some unheard-of sin has been perpetrated in the world, for which a most fearful judicial vengeance is to be dreaded.' Concerning which sin, on the next day, when some few inquired, he made known, saying, 'After a few months that wretched little man will come to the island of Iona, with Luigaid not knowing of it.'

On another day accordingly the Saint, after some months had intervened, commanding, said to Diarmait, 'Rise quickly; behold, Luigaid is approaching; and tell him that the wretched man whom he has with him in the ship he should drive off to the island of Mull, lest he tread upon the turf of this island.' He, obeying the Saint's command, went to the sea. And to Luigaid as he was arriving he related all the Saint's words concerning the wretched man. When he heard these things, that wretched one swore that he would never take food with the others unless he first saw the holy Columba and spoke with him. Which words of the wretched man Diarmait, returning to the Saint, reported.

When these things were learned, the Saint went to the harbour, and to Baithéne—who, bringing forward testimonies of holy Scripture, was suggesting that the wretched man's penitence should be received—the Saint accordingly said, 'O Baithéne, this man has committed fratricide after the manner of Cain, and has committed adultery with his own mother.' Then thereupon the wretched man, on the shore with bended knees, promised that he would fulfil the laws of penance, according to the Saint's judgment. To whom the Saint said, 'If for twelve years among the Britons you will do penance with weeping and tears, and will not return to Ireland until your death, perhaps God may pardon your sin.' Saying these things, the Saint, turning to his own people, said, 'This man is a son of perdition, who will not fulfil the penance which he has promised;'

But he will soon return to Scotia, and there, within a short time, he will perish, doomed to be slain by his enemies. All these things came to pass exactly according to the Saint's prophecy: for the wretched man, returning in those same days to Hibernia, in the region called Lea, falling into the hands of his enemies, was butchered. This man was of the descendants of Turtre. Chapter 17: Concerning a Certain Vowel-Letter 'I'. One day Baithene, coming to the Saint, said, 'I have need that one of the brethren go through with me the Psalter that I have written and correct it.' Hearing this, the Saint spoke thus: 'Why do you bring this trouble upon us without cause? For in this Psalter of yours of which you speak, not one superfluous letter will be found, nor any other lacking, except the vowel I, which alone is missing.'

And so, when the whole Psalter had been read through, it was found upon examination to be just as the Saint had foretold. Chapter 18: Concerning the Book that Fell into a Water-Vessel as the Saint had Foretold. On another day likewise, as he sat by the fire in the monastery, he saw Lugbe, of the people of the Moccu-Min, reading a book at a distance, and suddenly said to him, 'Beware, my son, beware; for I judge that the book you are reading is about to fall into a vessel full of water.' This soon came to pass exactly so: for that aforementioned young man, after some brief interval, rising up to some service in the monastery, forgetful of the holy man's word, the little book, which he had carelessly tucked under his arm, suddenly fell into a water-jar filled with water. Chapter 19:

Concerning the Ink-Horn Vainly Spilled. On yet another of these days a shout was raised across the strait of the island of Iona; and the Saint, sitting in his little hut supported on planks, hearing the shout, said, 'The man who shouts across the strait is not of subtle wit, for today, in tipping it over, he will spill my ink-horn.' His attendant Diormit, hearing this word of his, stood for a little while before the door, awaiting the troublesome guest who was to come, that he might protect the ink-horn. But soon some other matter calling him away, he withdrew from there; and after his withdrawal the troublesome guest arrived, and reaching out to kiss the Saint, with the edge of his garment he tipped over and spilled the ink-horn. Chapter 20:

Concerning the Arrival of a Certain Guest whom the Saint Foretold. At another time likewise the Saint, on the third day of the week, spoke thus to the brethren: 'Tomorrow, on the fourth day, we propose to fast; but nevertheless, a certain troublesome guest arriving, the customary fast will be broken.' This happened just as had been shown to the Saint: for in the morning of that same fourth day, another stranger shouted from across the strait, Aidan by name, son of Fergno, who, as is reported, served Brendan Moccu-Alti for twelve years; a man exceedingly devout, who, on his arrival, according to the Saint's word, broke the fast of that same day. Chapter 21:

Concerning a Certain Man who was Shouting from Across the Aforesaid Strait. On a certain day too, hearing a man shouting from across the strait, the Saint spoke in this manner: 'Greatly to be pitied is that man who shouts, who, intending to ask for something pertaining to bodily remedies, is coming to us; for whom it would have been more fitting today to perform true penitence for his sins; for he will die at the end of this week.' Those who were present made this word known to the wretched man as he arrived. But he, making little of it, having received what he had asked for, departed in haste; and, according to the Saint's prophetic word, before the end of that same week he was dead. Chapter 22:

The Holy Man's Prophecy Concerning a City under Roman Law Burnt by Sulphurous Fire Falling from Heaven. At yet another time, Lugbe of the people of the Moccu-Min, of whom we made mention above, coming one day to the Saint after the threshing of the crops, was in no way able to look upon his face, which was suffused with a wondrous redness; and being greatly terrified he quickly fled away. The Saint, clapping his hands together a little, called him back. He, returning, being at once asked by the Saint why he had fled away so swiftly, gave this answer: 'I fled because I was too greatly terrified.' And after some little interval, acting with more confidence, he dared to ask the Saint, saying, 'Was there not in this hour some terrible vision shown to you?' To him the Saint gave this reply:

'So terrible a vengeance has now been carried out in a remote part of the world.' 'What sort of vengeance,' said the young man, 'and in what region was it done?' The Saint then spoke thus: 'A sulphurous flame from heaven has at this hour been poured out upon a city under Roman law, situated within the bounds of Italy; and nearly three thousand men, apart from the number of women and children, have perished. And before the present year is ended, Gaulish sailors, coming from the provinces of Gaul, will relate these very things to you.' These words, after some months, were proved to have been true.

For the same Lugbe, journeying together with the holy man to the Headland of the Region, questioning the shipmaster and sailors of an arriving vessel, heard from them all those things concerning the city and its citizens related exactly as they had been foretold by the worthy man. Chapter 23: The Vision of the Blessed Man Concerning Laisran Son of Feradach. On a certain wintry and very cold day the Saint, afflicted with great sorrow, wept. His attendant Diormit, asking him the cause of his sadness, received this answer from him: 'Not without reason, O little son, do I grieve at this hour, seeing my monks, whom Laisran is now wearying, fatigued with grievous labour, in the building of some larger house; which greatly displeases me.' Wonderful to relate!

At that very moment of the hour Laisran, dwelling in the monastery of Durrow (the Plain of the Oaks), as if somehow compelled, and as though kindled within by some fire, ordered the monks to cease from their labour, and that some comforting refreshment of food be prepared; and that not only on that same day should they take rest, but also on the other days of harsh weather should they repose. These words of comfort to the brethren, spoken by Laisran, the Saint hearing in the spirit, ceased to weep, and being marvellously gladdened, himself dwelling on the island of Iona, related the whole matter to the brethren who were then present, and blessed Laisran as the comforter of the monks. Chapter 24:

Concerning Fiachna the Wise, How as a Penitent He Came to Saint Columba, Having Been Foretold by Him. At another time the Saint, sitting on the summit of the mountain which towers at a distance above this our monastery, turning to his attendant Diormit, spoke, saying, 'I wonder why a certain ship from Scotia is approaching rather slowly, which is bringing a certain wise man, who, having lapsed into some misdeed, bearing tearful penitence, will soon arrive.' After this, not long afterward, the attendant, looking toward the south, saw the sail of a ship approaching the harbour. When he pointed it out to the Saint as it arrived, he rose quickly, saying, 'Let us go to meet the stranger, whose true penitence Christ receives.'

And indeed Fiachna, descending from the ship, came to meet the Saint as he arrived at the harbour; with weeping and lamentation, kneeling before his feet on bended knees, he groaned most bitterly, and in the presence of all who were there confessed his sins. The Saint then, weeping together with him, said to him, 'Rise, son, and be comforted; the sins which you have committed are forgiven; for, as it is written, A contrite and humbled heart God does not despise.' He, rising up, gladly received by the Saint, was after some days sent on to Baithene, who was at that time prior dwelling in the Plain of Long, departing in peace. Chapter 25:

The Holy Man's Prophecy Concerning Cailtan His Monk. At another time, sending two monks to another of his monks, named Cailtan, who at that time was prior in the cell which even today is called by the name of his brother Diun, lying near the lake of the river Aba, the Saint by these same messengers committed these words: 'Going quickly to Cailtan, make haste, and tell him to come to me without any delay.' They, obeying the Saint's word, going out and reaching the cell of Diun, made known to Cailtan the nature of their little errand. He, at that same hour, in no way delaying, following the Saint's messengers, as their companion on the journey, swiftly reached him as he dwelt on the island of Iona.

When he saw him, the Saint thus addressed him, speaking to him with these words: 'O Cailtan, you have done well in hastening to me obediently: rest a little while. For this reason I sent to invite you, loving you as a friend, that here with me in true obedience you might finish the course of your life. For before the end of this week you will pass to the Lord in peace.' Hearing these things, giving thanks to God, and weeping as he kissed the Saint, having received a blessing from him, he went to the guest-house: and that same night following, falling sick, according to the Saint's word, in that same week he passed to Christ the Lord. Chapter 26: The Holy Man's Foreseeing Prophecy Concerning Two Pilgrim Brothers. On a certain Lord's day a shout was raised from across the oft-mentioned strait.

Hearing the shout, the Saint said to the brethren who were there, 'Go quickly, and bring to us at once the pilgrims who are coming from a far-off region.' They, immediately obeying, crossing the strait, brought the guests: whom the Saint, having kissed, then questioned about the reason for their journey. They, answering, said, 'We have come that we might sojourn with you for this very year also.' To them the Saint gave this reply: 'With me, as you say, you will not be able to sojourn for the space of one year, unless you first promise the monastic vow.' At which those who were present greatly marvelled that this should be said to guests arriving at that very hour.

To these words of the Saint the elder brother, answering, said, 'Although until this very hour we have in no way held this purpose in mind, nevertheless we will follow your counsel, which, as we believe, is divinely inspired.' What more? At that same moment of the hour, entering the oratory with the Saint, devoutly, on bended knees, they vowed the monastic vow. The Saint then thereupon, turning to the brethren, said, 'These two strangers, presenting themselves as a living sacrifice to God, and within a short time completing the long seasons of Christian warfare, will soon, in this very month, pass to Christ the Lord in peace.' Hearing these things, both brothers, giving thanks to God, were led to the guest-house:

and after an interval of seven days, the elder brother began to sicken, and, that same week being completed, departed to the Lord. Likewise the other, after seven more days falling sick, at the end of that same week, happily passed to the Lord. And so, according to the Saint's truthful prophecy, within the limit of that same month, both ended the present life. Chapter 27: The Holy Man's Prophecy Concerning a Certain Artbranan. When the blessed man was tarrying for several days on the island of Skye, striking with his staff a piece of ground near the sea at some spot, he said thus to his companions, 'Wonderful to relate, O little sons! Today on this piece of ground of this place a certain heathen old man, keeping the natural good throughout his whole life, will both be baptized, and die, and be buried.'

And behold, as if after the interval of one hour, a little boat came up to that same harbour; and in its prow there was carried a certain decrepit old man, the chief of the cohort of Geona, whom two young men, lifting up from the boat, set down before the sight of the blessed man. He at once, having received the word of God from the Saint through an interpreter, and believing, was baptized by him; and after the rites of baptism were completed, just as the Saint had prophesied, in that same place he consequently died, and there his companions, having heaped up a cairn of stones, buried him. He is even today discerned on the sea-shore; and the river of that same place in which he had received that baptism is, from his name, called Dobur Artbranani to the present day, and is so named by the inhabitants. Chapter 28:

Concerning a Little Boat Moved by the Saint's Command. At another time, journeying across the Spine of Britain, having found a little village amid the deserts with its little fields, and there beside the edge of a brook entering a pool, the Saint, making his lodging, while they slept that night, having tasted half-sleep, roused his companions, saying, 'Now, now, going out of doors more quickly, bring here at once the little boat which you placed in the house across the brook, and set it in the nearer little dwelling.' They, immediately obeying, did just as had been commanded them;

and when they had again settled to rest, the Saint, after a certain interval, silently nudged Diormit, saying, 'Now, standing outside the house, look at what is happening in that village where you earlier placed your little boat.' He, obeying the Saint's command, went out of the house, and looking back saw the whole village being consumed by an advancing flame. Returning to the Saint, he reported what was happening there. The Saint thereupon told the brethren about a certain envious persecutor who had set fire to those houses that same night. Chapter 29:

Concerning Gallan Son of Fachtna, who was in the Diocese of Colcu Son of Cellach. On a certain day likewise the Saint, sitting in his little hut, prophesying to Colcu, who was reading beside him, said, 'Now demons are carrying off to the lower regions one tenacious chief from among those set over your diocese.' But indeed, Colcu hearing this, writing down the time and the hour on a tablet, after some months returning to his homeland, learned, having inquired of the inhabitants of that region, that Gallan son of Fachtna had died at that same moment of the hour, at which the blessed man had related that he was carried off by demons.

The Blessed Man's Prophecy Concerning Findchan the Presbyter, Founder of that Monastery which in Scottish is called Artchain, in the Land of Tiree. At another time the aforementioned presbyter Findchan, a soldier of Christ, brought with him from Scotia to Britain, under the habit of the clerical state, Aid surnamed the Black, sprung of royal lineage, of the Cruithni people, that for some years he might live as a pilgrim with him in his monastery. This Aid the Black was indeed a very bloodthirsty man and had been the slaughterer of many; he had also slain Diormit son of Cerball, ruler of all Scotia, ordained by God's authority.

And so this same Aid, after some time spent in his pilgrimage, a bishop having been summoned, although not rightly, was ordained presbyter at the house of the aforesaid Findchan. The bishop, however, did not dare to lay his hand upon his head, unless first that same Findchan, loving Aid carnally, should lay his right hand upon his head for confirmation. When such an ordination was afterward made known to the holy man, he took it ill:

then thereupon he uttered this fearful sentence concerning that Findchan and concerning the ordained Aid, saying, 'That right hand which Findchan, against divine and ecclesiastical law, laid upon the head of the son of perdition, shall soon rot away, and after great torments of pain shall go before him into the earth to be buried; and he himself, after his hand has been buried, shall live on as survivor for many years. But Aid, ordained unworthily, like a dog, shall return to his own vomit, and shall himself again be a bloody slaughterer, and at the last, his throat pierced by a spear, falling from wood into water, shall die drowned. Such an end of life did he deserve long before, who slew the king of all Scotia.'

This prophecy of the blessed man concerning both was fulfilled; for the right hand of the presbyter Findchan, rotting away by the fist, went before him into the earth, buried on that island which is called Ommon: but he himself, according to the word of Saint Columba, lived on for many years afterward. Aid the Black, however, a presbyter only in name, returning to his former crimes, treacherously pierced by a spear, falling from the prow of a ship of tin into the water, perished.

Concerning a Certain Consolation of the Spirit Sent by the Saint to His Monks Toiling on the Way. Among these worthy-of-mention prophecies of the prophetic spirit, it does not seem out of place also to commemorate in our little writings a certain spiritual consolation, which the monks of Saint Columba at one time perceived, his spirit meeting them on the way. For at another time, the brethren, after the labours of harvesting, returning in the evening to the monastery, and reaching that place which in Scottish is called Cuuleilne, which place is said to be midway between the western little plain of the island of Iona and our monastery, each one seemed to perceive within himself something wonderful and unaccustomed: which nevertheless none dared in any way to disclose to another.

And so for several days in that same place, and at that same evening hour, they perceived it. Now in those same days holy Baithene was among them the dispenser of the work, who on another day thus spoke to them, saying, 'Now, brethren, each of you ought to confess if in this middle place between the harvest and the monastery you perceive some unaccustomed and unexpected marvel.' Then one of them, an elder, said, 'According to your command, I will tell what has been shown to me in this place; for both in these days now passing, and even now, I perceive a certain fragrance of wondrous odour as if of all flowers gathered into one; a certain heat too as if of fire, not penal, but in a manner sweet: