Produced by Michael Gray, Diocese of San Jose THE LIFE OF ST. COLUMBA ABBOT AND APOSTLE OF THE NORTHERN PICTS THE LIFE OF SAINT COLUMBA, OR COLUMKILLE, ABBOT, APOSTLE OF THE PICTS, AND PATRON OF THE MONASTIC ORDER IN IRELAND. "Iste est qui ante Deum magnos virtutes operatus est, et de omni corde suo laudavit Dominum." "This is he who before God operated wonders, and with all his heart praised the Lord." CHAPTER I. BIRTH AND HOLY DISPOSITIONS OF ST. COLUMBA--HIS ECCLESIASTICAL TRAINING AT ST. FINNIAN'S--HE RECEIVES THE HOLY ORDER OF DEACON AFTER having attempted to write the life of our illustrious St. Patrick, with that of his spiritual daughter Bridget, the saintly patroness of Ireland, it is but meet, and may be expected, that we should also endeavor to furnish the biography of the holy Columba, or Columkille, who, living almost in the same era, filled with the same spirit, and enclosed in the same shrine, has ever been deemed with them one of Erin's chief patrons, his name being interwoven with theirs in the reminiscences of Irish piety. This glorious saint was born about the close of the year 521, so that as a spiritual star, he began to rise in the firmament of the Irish Church, just as St. Bridget had disappeared therefrom to shine in heaven. His birth and future eminence were predicted during the lifetime of St. Patrick, perhaps by the holy apostle himself. By his father, Mancanava, the blood of the Nialls, princes of Tyrconnel, flowed in his veins, while by his mother Aethena, who drew her origin from an illustrious family in Leinster, he was connected with Caithir, the reigning monarch of all Ireland.