Earlier this week we celebrated the Apostle to the Germans, St. Boniface, who brought Christianity to the Germanic Tribes of northern Europe. Today, we honor a saint who lived about a 150 years before St. Boniface, who is credited with taking Christianity to Scotland. While today is also the feast of St. Ephraim, I like to honor St. Columbkille, as he is the patron saint of my first parish assignment at St. Columbkille Parish in Parma.
Born of royal bloodlines on both his mother’s and father’s side in County Donegal in northern Ireland on December 5, 521, his proper name was Colum MacFehlin MacFergus. He completed his studies in the Irish monastic schools, and was ordained a priest, and spent the first fifteen years of his priesthood working among the poor in his native Ireland and became famous for his works of charity and preaching. He also spent time as a scribe, copying the Scriptures. The great illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, is attributed to St. Columbkille.
Tradition asserts that there was a bit of a feud between St. Columbkille and St. Finian over the ownership of a particular manuscript, and the feud got so heated that Columbkille discerned that it was an opportune time to leave Ireland and go evangelize an entirely different country. Funny how God works.
So, in 563 with twelve fellow monks, Columbkille left Ireland and set sail for the Scottish Isle of Iona, where he established a monastery which served as a base for his evangelizing mission. He spent the next 34 years establishing churches and schools and making disciples who were attracted to the faith due to Columbkille’s ardent penances, fervent prayer, sincere preaching, and deep confidence in God. Columbkille died in 597 and is honored as the Patron of Scotland. He is a patron of poets, bookbinders, and a co-patron of Ireland. And you can still visit the Iona Abbey, on the Isle of Iona, off of Scotland.
Here's an example of a saint, who made good use of the time he had been given in circumstances that were beyond his control. He was forced to leave his native land. But because he persevered in the faith, he sowed the seeds for Christianity to grow in a place where it had not been before. And this was possible because he had allowed Christianity to flourish in his life through prayer, penance, study, and even writing holy poetry for God.
And isn’t that what Christians are called to do? We don’t get to control all the circumstances of our lives. But we are to live out the faith and spread the faith in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
May St. Columbkille inspire us to generously live out our faith in all the challenging circumstances of our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That those in public office may govern with wisdom, put an end to all political corruption, and work for a society of authentic justice and peace with special care for the most vulnerable.
For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for a strengthening of marriages, for all single people who strive to follow Christ, and for the graces needed for our evangelizing mission.
For an end to oppression, racism, hatred, addiction and injustice. For the healing of all the sick.
That those who have died may share in the joy of life-everlasting; for our deceased family members, friends, and fellow parishioners, for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this mass is offered.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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