12. Colmcille And The Book

Colmcille, the third of Ireland's three patron saints, was of royal birth. But he decided at an early age to leave the comforts of his father's palace in Tir Chonaill and spend his life in the service of God.

He became a priest and founded many monasteries which soon became centres of faith and learning. He built his first monastry in a little oak wood ; Doire Cholmcille ; where the city of Derry now stands. Colmcille loved Ireland dearly, yet he left it at the age of forty-two and vowed that he would never set eyes on it again.

There is a very interesting legend which tells why Colmcille made such a strange vow.

According to this story Colmcille once visited Abbot Finian's monastry at Molville. This holy man owned a beautiful and valuable book of which he was very proud. In those days all books had to be written by hand, and so were scarce and very precious.

One night soon after Colmcille arrived, the abbot noticed a light burning in the monastry chapel. He wondered at this, for it was very late and all the monks were asleep in their cells. Quietly he made his way through the darkness to the little stone chapel. He opened the door softly and peered inside. A strange scene mer his eyes. A candle burned faintly near the altar, casting a dim light around the bare stone walls. Nearby a man leaned over a rough wooden table, eagerly making a copy of Finian's most precious book. It was Colmcille. So lost was he in his work that he had not heard the abbot approach.

Finian spoke to him sharply. Why was he here at such a lae hour, he asked, and who gave him permission to copy the book ? He greatly admired this precious book, Colmcille replied, and had come here secretly to make a copy of it for himself.

A dispute arose between the two men about the ownership of the copy which Colmcille had made. Finally they agreed to go to the great palace of Tara and ask the High King to judge between them. Patiently the High King listened to what each man said. Then he gave his judgement. The about was right, he decided ; " To every cow its calf, and to every book its copy."

But Colmcille thought this decision was unjust. He went home to Tir Chonaill where he gathered a large army and made ware upon the High King. A terrible battle was fought ; thousands of men were slain and the King was a length defeated. But Colmcille's heart was sick with shame at the thought of all who had died in the battle he had caused.

He went to Saint Molaise and confessed the shameful thing he had done. He must leave Ireland, Saint Molaise tolf him, and preach the Gospel in a foreign land. This penance would not be completed until he had brought as many men to God as had been slain in that terrible battle.

Sadly Colmcille obeyed. From Doire Cholmcille he set sail for the little island of Iona. As the green coast of Ireland faded from view he vowed that never again would he set eyes on the land he loved so well.