Cultural and religious contribution of St. Colmcille and the Irish monks to Europe Church of the Three SS Patrons
April 3, 2017 - 7.30pm
St. Colmcille, scholar, prince, diplomat, monk, an exceptional man, but above all a Saint, is the most important Irishman who brought Christianity to Scotland.
The third member of Ireland’s great saintly trinity, which also includes Patrick and Brigid, Colm Cille, “dove of the church”, was born in 521.
He studied at the schools of St. Finnian of Moville and St. Finnian of Clonard.
Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was his bosom friend: two moons in the sky.
Three Sorrows of the Saints of Erin. 1. The demise of Ciaran of Conmacnoise; 2. the exile of Colm Cille, and 3. the banishment of St. Mochuda from Rathain.
Did Colmcille leave Ireland of his own free will?
563: There came from Ireland into Britain a famous priest and Abbot, a monk by habit and life whose name was Columba to preach the word of God” (Bede).
From Iona, Colm’s disciples conquered the Picts, the Saxons & Britons.
Colm Cille did for Scotland what St. Patrick had already done for Ireland. He established there more than sixty monasteries.
Colm’s humility by the vision of 3 empty chairs by Baithan. His humour & Mochua.
He died at Iona in 597. Before dying a caress to an old white farm horse.
Colm Cille’s achievements: he is considered as one of the principal founders of the Scottish nation. Colm Cille’s name will always be remembered as the disinterested benefactor of Scotland. He came not to destroy, but to save, not to conquer, but to civilize (L. Chambers).From Iona centre came the Cathach, the Book of Durrow, the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells; metal treasure objects as Cathach Shrine & the Monymusk Reliquar.
His encounter with the Loch Ness Monster.
Other Irish Saints, associated with the growth of learning and religion in Scotland & England were: St. Kenneth, (Canice, Cainnech of Aghaboe), St. Adamnán, St. Drostan, St. Maelruba, St. Aidan, St. Colman of Lindisfarne, St. Cuthbert, St. Fursey, St Finan…