When the period arrived which terminated the holy deacon's residence in the monastery of St. Finnian, feeling desirous of becoming still more perfect in virtue and learning, he did not on leaving Moville at once return home, but for some time placed himself under the tuition of a certain master named Germanus, who had recently come from a foreign country, and had already acquired a high reputation in Ireland for piety and literature. The same special Providence who had hitherto watched over and illustrated the opening career of our saint, still continued its loving care of him. His new preceptor clearly saw that Columba was a cherished object of the divine predilection, having among other proofs less equivocal, evidence that the Almighty on a certain occasion revealed to him the judgment which he was about to visit on a guilty individual. [1] Dr. Lanigan, ch. 11, vol. 2, Eccles. Hist. [2] Adamnan, Book 1st, chap. 1st. CHAPTER II. ST. COLUMBA FOUNDS THE MONASTERIES OF TYRCONNEL AND DURROUGH-- HE IS ORDAINED PRIEST--GLORIOUS TESTIMONY TO HIS SANCTITY--HE ESTABLISHES OTHER RELIGIOUS HOUSES--AND FINALLY LEAVES IRELAND FOR HY IN THE HEBRIDES. BUT the time at length came in which our saint was to do great things for God, and to realize the projects which he had long conceived for promoting His glory. The fervent Columba was now in his twenty-fifth year, and perceiving from the example of the holy men his contemporaries, as well as those who had already passed to a glorious immortality, that the great object which he had in view would be best attained by multiplying throughout the land monastic institutions, he determined on laboring for their establishment, that the edifying example of the members should be every where felt; their observance of evangelical perfection invariably furnishing a powerful incentive to the national piety.