The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Adomnán, Life of Columba

For an overview of this work, see E06056.

(a) Fintan/Munnu mac Tulcháin, abbot of Taghmon (south-east Ireland), ob. 635

(1.2) Sanctus Finetus qui postea per uniuersas Scotorum eclesias ualde nobiscibilis habetus est, a puerili aetate integritatem carnis et animae deo adiuuante custodiens studiis dialis sofias deditus, hoc propossitum in annis iuuentatis conuersatus in corde habuit, ut nostrum sanctum Columbam Heuerniam deserens perigrinaturus adiret. Eodem aestuans desiderio, ad quendam uadit seniorem sibi amicum in sua gente prudentissimum uenerandumque clericum qui scotice uocitabitur Colum Crag, ut ab eo quasi prudente aliquod audiret consilium. Cui cum suos tales denudaret cogitatus hoc ab eo responsum accipit: 'Tuum ut estimo a deo inspiratum deuotumque desiderium quis prohibere potest, ne ad sanctum Columbam transnauigare debeas?] ...

'St Fintan, by God's help, kept himself chaste in body and soul from boyhood and devoted himself to the pursuit of godly wisdom, and in due course he came to enjoy renown among all the churches of Ireland. But while he was still a young man he had in his heart this wish, to leave Ireland behind him and join St Columba in his life of pilgrimage. On fire with desire, he approached a wise and venerable priest, a man of his people called Columb Crag, and asked his advice. Having told him what was on his mind, he got this answer: 'Your desire, I think, is devout and inspired by God. Who can stop you or say you should not sail away to Columba?'...'

That same day Fintan discovered that Columba had died. He resolved to sail to Iona anyway and join the community under his successor Baithéne. But after interviewing Fintan, Baithéne refused to take him as his monk.

... Hoc audiens hospes ualde contristatus infit: 'Forsitan ego indignus tuus non mereor fieri monacus.' Senior consequenter inquit: 'Non quod ut dicis indignus esses hoc dixi, sed quamuis maluissem te apud me retenere mandatum tamen sancti Columbae mei decessoris profanare non possum, per quem spiritus sanctus de te profetauit. Alia namque die mihi soli seorsum sic profetico profatus ore inter cetera dixit: "[...] o Baithenee [...] Statim namque post meum de hoc Christum saeculo [...] transitum, quidam de Scotia frater qui nunc bene iuuenilem bonis moribus regens aetatem sacrae lectionis studiis satis inbuitur, nomine Fintenus, gente mocu Moie, cuius pater Tailchanus uocitatur, ad te inquam perueniens humiliter expostulabit, ut ipsum suscipiens inter ceteros adnumeres monacos. Sed hoc ei in dei praescientia praedestinatum non est, ut ipse alicuius abbatis monacus fieret, sed ut monacorum abbas et animarum dux ad caeleste regnum ollim electus a deo est. Noles itaque hunc memoratum uirum in his nostris apud te retenere insulis, ne et dei uoluntati contraire uidearis. Sed haec ei intimans uerba ad Scotiam in pace remittas; ut in Laginensium uicinis mari finibus monasterium construat, et ibidem Christi ouinum pascens gregem innumeras ad patriam animas caelestem perducat." ...

'... Fintan was sorely disappointed, saying: 'Perhaps I am not worthy to become your monk.' The elder man said: 'I have not refused you because you are not worthy. On the contrary, I had rather kept you with me, but I cannot profane the injunction of St Columba, my predecessor, through whom the Holy Spirit prophesied about you. For one day when I was alone with him and he spoke with prophetic lips, saying among other things, "Baithéne ... Soon after I have gone from this world ... a brother will come to you from Ireland, called Fintan mac Tulcháin from the line of moccu Moie. At present he is still a youth, spending his time in the pursuit of good and the study of the Scriptures. He will beg you to receive him as one of his monks. But God knows this is not what is predestined for him, that he should be an abbot's monk. No, he has been chosen by God to be an abbot of monks himself, and one who leads souls to the kingdom of heaven ... reveal to him what I have said and send him back in peace, to Ireland, to Leinster, not far from the sea, where he may build a monastery, there feeding Christ's sheep and bringing countless souls to their heavenly home ...''

Text: Anderson and Anderson 1991, 18-22.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 112-14.


(b) Cainnech, abbot of Aghaboe (southern Ireland), ob. c. 600

(1.4) Alio in tempore, cum in Ioua insula die fragosae tempestatis et intollerabilis undarum magnitudinis sedens in domu sanctus, et fratribus praecipiens, diceret: 'Praeparate ocius hospitium, aquamque ad lauandos hospitum pedes exaurite' ... 'Cuidam sancto et electo homini, qui ad nos ante uesperam proueniet, omnipotens tranquillitatem quamlibet in tempestate donauit.' Et ecce eadem die aliquandiu a fratribus exspectata nauis, in qua sanctus inerat Cainnechus, iuxta sancti profetationem peruenit. Cui sanctus cum fratribus obuiam uenit, et ab eo honorifice et hospitaliter susceptus est ...

'Once, in Iona, one day of crashing storm and exceptionally high waves, the saint was at home and announced these instructions to the brethren: 'Prepare the guest-house straightaway and draw water to wash the guest's feet. ... There is one, a chosen saint, to whom the Almighty has granted calm in the midst of the storm so that he may reach us in time for Vespers.' On the same day – look! – the boat for which the brethren were waiting arrived as the saint foretold. In it was St Cainnech, whom St Columba and the brethren met and welcomed as an honoured guest ...'

***
On another occasion, Columba and his companions met with a storm at sea. Columba prophesied that Cainnech would save them.

(2.13) ... Eadem hora sanctus Cainnechus in suo conuersans monasterio ... Ached bou, spiritus reuelante sancto supradictam sancti Columbae interiore cordis aure uocem audierat. Et cum forte post nonam coepisset horam in refectorio eulogiam frangere, ocius deserit mensulam, unoque in pede inherente calceo et altero pro nimia festinatione relicto festinanter pergit hac cum uoce ad eclesiam: 'Non est nobis nunc temporis prandere quando in mari periclitatur nauis sancti Columbae. Hoc enim momento ise huius nomen Cainnichi ingeminans commemorat, commemorat, ut pro eo et sociis perclitantibus Christum exoret.' Post haec illius uerba oratorium ingressus flexis genibus paulisper orauit. Eiusque orationem exaudiente domino ilico tempestas cessauit, et mare ualde tranquillum factum est. Tunc deinde sanctus Columba, Cainnichi ad eclesiam properationem in spiritu uidens quamlibet longe conuersationis, mirabiliter hoc de puro pectore profert uerbum, dicens: 'Nunc cognoui O Cainneche quod deus tuam exaudierit precem. Nunc ualde nobis proficit tuus ad eclesiam uelox cum uno calciamento cursus.' In hoc itaque tali miraculo amborum ut credimus oratio cooperat est sanctorum.

'... That very hour, St Cainnech was at home in his own monastery of Aghaboe when the Spirit brought St Columba's words to the inward war of his heart. Nones was already over and the saint was beginning to break the bread of blessing in the refectory. But he instantly left the table and ran to the church, one shoe on his foot and the other left behind in his hurry. 'We cannot have dinner at this time,' he said, 'for St Columba's boat is even now in peril on the sea. At this moment he speaks the name of Cainnech, saying that he should pray to Christ for him and his fellows in trouble.' So saying he entered the church where he knelt and prayed for a little time. The Lord heard his prayer and at once the storm ceased and the sea became calm. At this point St Columba, who had seen in the Spirit the haste with which St Cainnech went to the church, though the two saints were miles apart, amazed everyone when from his pure heart he said: 'Now I know, O Cainneach, that God has heard your prayer. Now indeed you have helped us by your swift running to the church wearing only one shoe.' In a miracle of this kind we believe that the prayers of the two saints worked together.'

***
Another time, Cainnech accidentally left his staff at Iona.

(2.14) ... Qui scilicet eius baculus post ipsius egresum in litore repertus sancti in manum traditus est Columbae. Quemque domum reuersus in oratorium portat, et ibidem solus in oratione diutius demoratur. Cainnechus proinde ad Oidecham appropinquans insulam subito de sua obliuione conpunctus interius perculsus est. Sed post modicum interuallum de naui discendens et in terra cum oratione fenua flectens baculum quem in portu Iouae insulae oblitus post se reliquit super cispitem terrulae Aithche ante se inuenit ...

'... When he had gone, the staff was found on the shore and given to St Columba. Returning to the monastery, he took it with him into the church and stayed there a long while alone in prayer. Cainneach reached the southern part of Islay before he realized that he had forgotten his staff and was much dismayed. But after a little time he left the ship and knelt down on the ground to pray. There on the green grass of Islay he found lying in front of him the staff he had left behind in the harbour of Iona ...'

Text: Anderson and Anderson, 26-8, 110-14.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 117, 163-5.

(c) Colmán Elo, abbot of Lynally (central Ireland), ob. 611

One day Columba spoke of a vision of Colmán

(1.5) '... Columbanus filius Beognai ad nos transnauigare incipiens nunc in undosis carubdis Brecani aestibus ualde periclitatur; ambasque ad caelum in prora sedens palmas eleuat, turbatum quoque et tam formidabile pilagus benedicit. Quem tamen dominus sic terret, non ut nauis naufragio in qua ipse resedet undis obruatur, sed potius ad orandum intentius suscitetur, ut ad nos deo propitio post transuadatum perueniat periculum.'

'... Colmán mac Beognai has set sail to come here, and is now in great danger in the surging tides of the whirlpool of Corryvreckan. Sitting in the prow, he lifts up his hands to heaven and blesses the turbulent, terrible sea. Yet the Lord terrifies him in this way, not so that the ship in which he sits should be overwhelmed and wrecked by the waves, but rather to rouse him to pray more fervently that he may sail through the peril and reach us here.''

***
On another occasion, Columba prayed for a favourable wind for Colmán on the same day he had prayed for another in the opposite direction

(2.15) ... Hora uero eiusdem diei tertia uir uenerandus Columbanum aduocat prespiterum, dicens: 'Nunc Baitheneus prospere obtatum peruenit ad portum. Ad nauigandum te hodie praepara. Mox dominus uentum conuertet aquilonem.' Cui sic prolato beati uiri uerbo eadem hora auster obsecundus uetus se in aquiloneum conuertit flatum ... Post illa in die sancti Columbani egresum sanctus hoc de illo profeticum Columba protulit uerbum: 'Vir sanctus Columbanus cui emigranti benediximus nusquam in hoc saeculo faciem uidebit meam' ...

'... At the third hour of the same day St Columba sent for Colmán the priest and said to him: 'Baithéne has now arrived safely at the harbour he was wanting. Make your preparations to sail today. For soon the Lord will bring the wind round to the north.' Within the hour the south wind had obeyed St Columba's word ... Later on the same day, after Colmán's departure, St Columba delivered his prophecy concerning him: 'The holy man Colmán whom we have blessed will never see my face again in this world.'...'

Text: Anderson and Anderson, 28, 114.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 118, 165-6.


(d) Cormac Ua Liatháin, monastic founder in Ireland, 6th c.

(1.6) Alio quoque in tempore de Cormacco nepote Lethani, uiro utque sancto, qui tribus non minus uicibus herimum in ociano laboriosae quaesiuit, nec tamen inuenit, sanctus Columba ita profetizans ait: '[...] Nec tamen etiam hac uice quod quaerit inueniet; et non ob aliam eius culpam nisi quod alicuius relegiosi abbatis monacum ipso non permittente dicessorem secum non recte comitari nauigio susciperit.'

'Once St Columba prophesied about Cormac Ua Liatháin, a truly holy man who no fewer than three times laboured on the ocean in search of a place of retreat and found none: '... He will not find what he seeks. It is not for any fault of his, but because he has taken within him the monk of a religious abbot who is going away without his abbot's consent, and it is not right.''

***

(2.42) Alio in tempore Cormacus, Christi miles ... etiam secunda uice conatus est herimum in ociano quaerere ... sanctus ... in spiritu praecognouit quod post aliquot menses idem Cormaccus esset ad Orcadas uenturus. Quos ita postea euenit. Et propter supradictam sancti uiri commendationem de morte in Orcadibus liberatus est uicina ...

'Once, Cormac, a soldier of Christ ... tried again, a second time, to find a place of retreat in the ocean... The saint [Columba] knew in the spirit that Cormac would arrive in Orkney after several months. This afterwards came about, and, thanks to the saint's commendation, he was delivered from imminent death there ...'

Then one day, months later, Columba prophesied the arrival of Cormac at Iona

... Et post quasi unius horae interuentum, mirum dictu et ecce inopinato Cormacus superueniens oratorium cum omnium ammiratione et gratiarum ingreditur actione ...

'... It was only perhaps an hour later, strange to tell, look, there was Cormac. Quite unexpectedly he arrived in the church to give thanks, to the astonishment of everyone there ....'

Text: Anderson and Anderson, 28-30, 166.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 118, 196.


(e) Comgall, abbot of Bangor (north-east Ireland), ob. 601/2

(1.49) Alio in tempore uir beatus cum post regum in dorso Cette condictum ... ad campos reuerteretur equore<o>s, ipse et Comgellus abbas quadam serena aestei temporis die haut procul a supra memorata munitione resedent. Tum proinde aqua de quodam proximo ad manus lauandas fonticulo ad sanctos in eneo deferto uasculo. Quam cum sanctus Columba accipisset ad abbatem Comgellum a latere sedentem sic profatur: 'Ille fonticulus O Comgelle de quo haec effusa nobis allata est aqua ueniet dies quando nullis ussibus humanis aptus erit' ...

'Once, after the meeting of the kings at Druim Cett ... the blessed man was on his way back to the coast when he and Abbot Comgall sat down to rest one clear summer day not far away from this fort. Water for them to wash their hands was brought to the saints from a nearby spring in a bronze basin. St Columba took it and said to Abbot Comgall, who was sat beside him: 'The day will come, Comgall, when the spring from which this water was fetched for us will be unfit for men to use.'...'

Years later a terrible battle took place at the sight, and the anchorite Fínán, who was present, saw a headless corpse in the spring.

... eademque die ad monasterium sancti Comgil quod scotice dicitur Cambas commiso reversum bello, quia inde prius uenerat; ibidemque duos sancti Comgilli senes monacos repperisse, quibus cum de bello coram se acto et de fonticulo humano cruore corrupto aliquanta enarraret, illi consequenter: 'Verus profeta Columba,' aiunt, 'qui haec omnia ... ante multos annos futura nobis audientibus coram sancto Comgello iuxta Cethirni sedens munitinem praenuntiauerat.'

'... On the day of the battle he had returned to St Comgall's monstery at Camus, from where he had previously set out. There he found two old men who had previously been monks since the time of St Comgall. He told them of the battle he had witnessed and of the spring tainted with human blood. 'A true prophet was Columba,' they said at once; 'years ago he foretold all this ... We heard him as he sat with St Comgall near Dún Cethirn.''

***
Another time Columba had a vision of Comgall's monks at sea

'[iii. 13] [...] 'Nunc,' ait, 'oratione monacis abbatis Comgilli auxiliemur, hac in hora in stagno dimersis uituli. Ecce enim hoc momento in aere contra aduersarias belligerant potestates...'

''Now... we must bring the help of our prayers to Comgall's monks who are drowned in the Belfast Lough at this time. See, even now at this time they are battling in the air against the powers of the Adversary...''

Text: Anderson and Anderson, 88-90, 200.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 151-2, 215.


(f) Uinniau, bishop in Ireland, 6th c.

[ii. 1] Alio in tempore cum uir uenerandus in Scotia apud sanctum Findbarrum episcopum [...] quadam sollemni die uinum ad sacrificale misterium cassu aliquo minime inueniebatur [...] Vir itaque beatus [...] inuocato nomine domini Iesu Christi [...] quo etam in hoc operante miraculo inferior hoc est aquatica natura in gratiorem uidelicet uinalem per manus praedicabilis uiri conuersa est speciem [...] Quo cognito sanctus cum ministris episcopus eximias deo referunt grates. Sanctus uero iuuenis hoc non sibimet sed sancto Vinniauo adscribebat episcopo [...]

'Once, when St Columba was still a young man studying the Holy Scriptures with St Uinniau, the bishop, in Ireland... by some mischance no wine could be found for the sacrificial mystery... He [Columba] called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ... with Christ's help, here once again the lowly nature of water was transformed at the saint's gesture to the more desired form of wine... When this was known, the holy bishop and his ministers gave great thanks to God, but the youthful saint ascribed it not to himself, but to the holy bishop Uinniau...'

***
[iii. 4] Alio in tempore uir sanctus uenerandum episcopum Finnionem, suum uidelicet magistrum, iuuenis senem adiit. Quem cum sanctus Finnio ad se appropinquantem uidisset, angelum domini pariter eius comitem iteris uidit; et ut nobis ab expertis traditur quibusdam asstantibus intimauit fratribus [...]

'Once, in his youth, St Columba went to his master, the holy bishop Uinniau, who was an old man. When St Uinniau saw him approach, he noticed that the companion walking by his side was an angel of the Lord. St Uinniau, so the story is handed down to us by learned men, drew this to the notice of the monks who were nearby...'

Text: Anderson and Anderson 1991, 94, 186.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 154, 208.


(g) Brendan, 'the Elder,' abbot of Birr (central Ireland), ob. 565/72

Columba, under a sentence of excommunication, made his way to a synod convoked against him.

[iii. 3] [...] Quem cum eminus appropinquantem sanctus uidisset Brendenus, illius monasterii fundator quod scotice Birra nuncupatur, citius surgit, et inclinata facie eum ueneratus exosculatur. Quem cum aliqui illius seniores coetus [...] redarguerent [...] 'Si uos,' ait, 'uideretis ea quae mihi dominus hac in die de hoc suo quem dehonoratis electo manifestare non dedignatus est, numquam excommonicasetis [...]' 'Ignicomam et ualde luminosam,' ait Brendenus, 'columnam uidi eundem quem uos dispicitis antecedentem dei hominem, angelos quoque sanctos per campum eius iteris comites [...]' His ab eo dictis non tantum ultra sanctum excommonicare non ausi cessarunt [...]

'... When St Brendan, the founder of the monastery of Birr, saw St Columba approaching though still a little distance away, he rose quickly to meet him, bowed his face and kissed him with reverence, some of the elders berated him... 'If you,' replied Brendan, 'had seen what the Lord deigned to disclose to me today, concerning this chosen one whom you refuse to honour, you would never have excommunicated him... I saw a very bright fiery column of light going in front of the man of God whom you despise, and holy angels as his companions travelling across the plain' ... After this statement the elders dropped their charge, for they dared not continue with their excommunication...'

***
At the time of Brendan's death, Columba had a vision

[iii. 11] 'Sacra celeriter eucharistae ministeria praeperantur. Hodie enim natalis beati Brendini dies.' 'Quare,' ait minister, 'talia misarum sollempnia hodierna praeparari praecipis? Nullus enim ad nos de Scotia sancti iullius uiri obitus peruenit nuntius.' 'Vade tum,' ait sanctus, 'meae obsecundare iusioni debes. Hac enim nocte praeterita uidi subito apertum caelum, angelorumque choros sancti Brendini animae obuios discendere [....]'

''Have everything made ready for the sacred mystery of the Eucharist as quickly as possible. For today is the feast day of St Brendan.' 'Why,' said his servant, 'do you give orders for the celebration of this solemn feast today? No one has come from Ireland bringing news that this saint has died.' 'Go,' said St Columba, 'you must do what I have ordered. For last night I saw heaven opened and the choirs of angels descending to meet the soul of St Brendan...''

Text: Anderson, 184-6, 196-8.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 207, 214


(h) Shortly before the conclusion of his work, Adomnán relates how one day Cainnech, Cormac, Comgall and Brendan visited Columba together

(3.17) Alio in tempore iiii. ad sanctum uisitandum Columbam monasteriorum sancti fundatores de Scotia transmeantes in Hinba eum inuenerunt insula; quorum inlustrium uocabula Comgellus mocu Aridi, Cainnechus mocu Dalon, Brendenus mocu Alti, Cormac nepos Leathain. Hi uno eodemque consensu elegerunt ut sanctus Colum coram ipsis in eclesia sacra eucharistiae consecraret misteria. Qui eorum obsecundas iusioni simul cum eis die dominica ex more post euangelii lectionem eclesiam ingreditur. Ibidemque dum misarum sollemnia celebrarentur sanctus Brendenus mocu Alti, sicut post Comgello et Cainnecho intimauit, quendam criniosum igneum globum et ualde luminosum de uertice sancti Columbae ante altare stantis et sacram oblationem consecrantis tamdiu ardentem et instar alicuius columnae sursum ascendentem uidit donec eadem perficerentur sacrosancta ministeria.

'Once, four saints who had founded monasteries in Ireland came to visit St Columba. When they arrived at Hinba, they found him there. The names of these famous men were Comgall moccu Araidi, Cainnech moccu Dalann, Brendan moccu Altae and Cormac Ua Liatháin. When the sacred mysteries of the Eucharist were to take place, with one accord they chose St Columba to act as celebrant. He obeyed their command, and with them he entered the church as usual on the Lord's day after the Gospel had been read. There, while the sacrament of the mass was celebrated, St Brendan moccu Altae saw a radiant ball of fire shining very brightly from St Columba's head as he stood in front of the altar and consecrated the sacred oblation. It shone upwards like a column of light and lasted until the mysteries were completed. Afterwards St Brendan disclosed what he had seen to St Comgall and St Cainnech.'

Text: Anderson, 206.
Translation: Sharpe 1995, 219.

Service for the saint
Eucharist associated with cult

Saint’s feast

Cult building - monastic

Prayer/supplication/invocation
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts
Oral transmission of saint-related stories

Miracle during lifetime
Revelation of hidden knowledge (past, present and future)
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Power over objects
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Miracles experienced by the saint

Ecclesiastics - abbots
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Angels

Source

Discussion

Bibliography