St.Columba

The story of St.Columba

In Scotland June 9th is dedicated to the Feast ofSt. Columba

P.5 St. Patrick's Primary.researched the history of St.Columba and drew pictures to illustrate the story

St. Columba was a prince, who lived in Ireland, hundreds of years ago.When he was born his parents named him Colum, which means dove. He grew to become very tall and strong.

In Ireland at this time, large groups of people lived together and they were called clans. There were many battles between the different clans because they all wanted to be the most powerful and important clan.

However, Columba was a peaceful man, who wanted people to live together as friends, so he didn't like the fighting. Instead he became a priest and built monasteries , where men could live together in peace, praising God, teaching the people, and going out into the country around telling people about Jesus.

One day there was a battle between Columba's clan and another clan, which led to fighting and bloodshed. Nobody knows exactly what happened but this time Columba became involved in the fighting. Perhaps it was because he was the prince of his clan and felt responsible for his people. But very soon, he regretted his part in the fighting. He was terribly sorry for his actions and to show how great was his sorrow he decided to do, for the love of God, the most difficult thing he could think of. He would leave the land and the friends he loved so much and go over the sea to Scotland, where there lived The Picts who had never heard of Jesus.

So one day, with twelve friends who were monks like himself, he set sail in a coracle, which is a boat made of wicker work covered with the skins of animals. They took with them a few provisions to last them till they got to the other side, but, although they were going among fierce men, they took no weapons. They were dressed in long robes of white wool, with nothing but sandals on their feet.

At last they reached an island off the coast of Scotland and landed on it. Columba looked back over the sea but there far, far away he could still see the shores of Ireland. " We cannot stay here, " said Columba. " We must get in our boat again and go further on." " Why must we do that? " asked his companions. " This seems a good island to build our monastery on." " It is a good island," said Columba, " but we must go on further because from here we can still see our home. If day by day we look over the sea our hearts will always be going back there. Let us go where we cannot see it, and then we will be more content to live among the strangers who live in a strange land."

So they got in their coracle again and went further on, till they came to another island which was called Hy, but which is now called Iona. They scrambled on to the shore and looked back over the sea. But this time they could see nothing but the waves. The shores of Ireland had disappeared in the distance. They made their outpost on Iona and from here they traveled to different parts of Sco

	St. Columba was a prince, who lived in Ireland, hundreds of years ago.When he was born his parents named him Colum, which means dove. He grew to become very tall and strong.
	In Ireland at this time, large groups of people lived together and they were called clans. There were many battles between the different clans because they all wanted to be the most powerful and important clan.
	However, Columba was a peaceful man, who wanted people to live together as friends, so he didn't like the fighting. Instead he became a priest and built monasteries , where men could live together in peace, praising God, teaching the people, and going out into the country around telling people about Jesus.
	One day there was a battle between Columba's clan and another clan, which led to fighting and bloodshed. Nobody knows exactly what happened but this time Columba became involved in the fighting. Perhaps it was because he was the prince of his clan and felt responsible for his people. But very soon, he regretted his part in the fighting. He was terribly sorry for his actions and to show how great was his sorrow he decided to do, for the love of God, the most difficult thing he could think of. He would leave the land and the friends he loved so much and go over the sea to Scotland, where there lived The Picts who had never heard of Jesus.
	So one day, with twelve friends who were monks like himself, he set sail in a coracle, which is a boat made of wicker work covered with the skins of animals. They took with them a few provisions to last them till they got to the other side, but, although they were going among fierce men, they took no weapons. They were dressed in long robes of white wool, with nothing but sandals on their feet.
	At last they reached an island off the coast of Scotland and landed on it. Columba looked back over the sea but there far, far away he could still see the shores of Ireland. " We cannot stay here, " said Columba. " We must get in our boat again and go further on." " Why must we do that? " asked his companions. " This seems a good island to build our monastery on." " It is a good island," said Columba, " but we must go on further because from here we can still see our home. If day by day we look over the sea our hearts will always be going back there. Let us go where we cannot see it, and then we will be more content to live among the strangers who live in a strange land."
	So they got in their coracle again and went further on, till they came to another island which was called Hy, but which is now called Iona. They scrambled on to the shore and looked back over the sea. But this time they could see nothing but the waves. The shores of Ireland had disappeared in the distance. They made their outpost on Iona and from here they traveled to different parts of Sco