9 June -- St Columcille

Today is the feast of St Columcille, a.k.a. St Columba, "the Apostle of Scotland and the bearer of culture and Christianity to Iona and Scotland (and indirectly to all of northern England)" as Mrs D'Arcy phrases it. He was "great, great grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, founder of the dynasty of Ulster kings that continued until 1610. On his mother's side were Leinster kings. Three of his cousins became monarchs of Ireland."

There is much on the web about him. The old Catholic Encyclopædia has this and the Wikipedia this.

Monarchists may note that:

The first Christian inauguration of a sovereign of record in history and the precedent for the coronation ceremonies of Westminster Abbey, is Colmcille's consecration of Aidan, King of the Irish colony in Scotland. Thus auspiciously he launched the king from whose line came Kenneth MacAlpine crowned at Scone the first Irish king of all Scotland. Malcolm Canmore who in 1093, laid the foundations of the Cathedral of Durham as it now stands; Alexander III, 1249-1286, the last Irish king of Scotland.

His collect in the traditional Roman Rite:

Cordibus nostris, quæsumus Domine, cælestis gloriæ inspira desiderium, et præsta: ut in dextris illuc feramus manipulos iustitiæ: ubi tecum sanctus coruscat Abbas Columba. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum. . . Amen.

The Baronius Missal translation:

Infuse into our hearts, we pray Thee, O Lord, a longing for heavenly splendour: that, holding in our right hands the sheaves of justice, we may go thither where the holy Abbot Columba shineth brilliantly with Thee. Through our Lord. Amen.


[Quotes not otherwise attributed are from Mary Ryan D'Arcy's very useful "The Saints of Ireland; A Chronological Account of the Lives and Works of Ireland's Saints and Missionaries at Home and Abroad"]