Columba of Iona 		June 9
Abbot, Missionary
Although usually associated with Scotland, Columba was born in Ireland about 521 and educated in a school attached to one of the monasteries founded by Patrick. He grew up in County Donegal and, when his schooling was hastily concluded by an outbreak of plague, he toured the northern regions of Ireland for fifteen years, preaching the gospel and establishing Christian communities. He established the monasteries of Derry and Durrow, and possibly Kells as well.
He left Ireland in 563 with twelve companions for the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. It is not clear whether he did this out of missionary zeal, or from a sense of guilt at his involvement in an altercation between two monasteries, or from a desire to help other Irish people beyond Ireland. Their life was hard, simple and austere: tilling the difficult soil and fishing the cold seas, coupled with a rigorous round of prayers and copying Christian manuscripts. Columba was a commanding figure with a vigorous commitment to the gospel, to the point of being quite harsh at times.
As the years passed, Columba mellowed, and his influence grew. Iona became the base for evangelistic missions to the Picts in Caledonia. Columba had to combat the power and influence of the Druids, but gradually Iona became the most important centre for evangelisation of the northern regions of Britain. He succeeded in converting Brude, the king of the Picts. In 574 Aidan of Dalriada, the Irish king, came to Columba for consecration. Columba and his successors established a number of monasteries in Scotland. Although Columba is often credited with the evangelisation of large parts of Scotland, much of this work was done later by others. He maintained his contacts with Ireland, and it is probably more accurate to regard him as the leader of the Irish in Scotland than as the apostle of Scotland. His influence in Ireland included some continuing control over the monasteries he established there.
Columba had great skills as a poet and scribe. He died on 9 June 597 at the age of seventy-six. A close friend wrote of him: “He was dear to all, always showing a cheerful, holy face, and was gladdened in his inmost heart by the joy of the Holy Spirit.” After Viking raids on Iona, his bones were translated to Dunkeld in the ninth century.
For Liturgical Use
Columba was born in Ireland about 521. Migrating to Iona off the coast of Scotland at the age of forty-two with twelve companions, he established a Christian community, which became the base for the evangelisation of Scotland. He established a number of monasteries in Ireland and Scotland, and was a skilful poet and scribe. He died in 597. Although his name means “dove”, he was a vigorous and commanding figure and at times stern. He has been traditionally known as “Columba the kind”.
Sentence
If I take the wings of the dawn, and alight at the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me fast. 	Psalm 139:9,10
Collects
Gracious God,
by his preaching,
your servant Columba
brought the light of the gospel to Scotland;
give us grace 
to follow his example of zeal and patience
and to expend our energy 
on winning others to faith in your Son, 
our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Glory to you, Spirit of God,
for the preaching of Columba, aptly named the dove,
and for his companions at Iona;
though we may never banish monsters from the river Ness,
help us, like him, to be loving to everyone,
happy-faced, in the joy of the Holy Spirit.
Psalms	18:31-37	47
Readings
Isaiah 66:18-19		The islands afar off
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8	Preaching the gospel
Mark 4:35-41		Do not fear
Post Communion Sentence
Fear the Lord, you that are God’s holy people, for those who fear the Lord are in want of nothing. 	Psalm 34:9