Columba of Terryglass(Colum) (died 13 December 552) was the son of Ninnidh,[1]a descendant of Crinthainn, King of Leinster. Columba was a disciple ofSt. Finnianof Clonard.[2]He was one of theTwelve Apostles of Ireland.[3]
Saint Columba of Terryglass | |
|---|---|
| Died | 13 December 552 |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church,Roman Catholicism |
| Feast | 12 December |
Life
editIn his youth, he learned his psalms and hymns from an old holy man named Colman Cule, who lived near Clonenagh, and founded the church of Cluain Cain. Afterwards, he studied with Finnian of Clonard.[1]Columba resolved to go to Rome and bring back some relics of Saints Peter and Paul. On his return, he visited Tours and brought from there the staff ofSt. Martin of Tours.[2]He also visited England and preached with some success to the Anglo-Saxons. Returning home, he remained a year at Clonenagh before crossing Slieve Bloom and founding a church nearLough Derg.
John Healyreports that around 520 Columba was prompted by an angel to relocate toInis Cealtra,where he remained a long time. According to one story, when one of his monks died suddenly on the shore opposite the northern part of the island, Columba ordered the monks to go and say to the dead man, "Columba bids thee arise." The man then arose and returned with them to the island.[1]Columba founded the celebrated monastery of Tirdaglas (Tir-da-glasí), orTerryglassin 548.[4][5]Fintan of Clonenaghreceived his religious formation at Terryglass and was deeply influenced by the penitential practices and the severity of the Rule.
When Saint Finnian was in extremis, suffering from the plague, he sent for Columba to administer HolyViaticum.Columba himself died of the plague on 13 December 552, and was buried within the precincts of his monastery at Terryglass. Aholy well,named after Columba, is located in the village of Terryglass and is alleged to cure headaches and migraines.[6]
Some fifteen other saints of Ireland, bearing the name Columba, are mentioned in the Martyrology of Gorman.[2]
References
edit- ^abcHealy, John.Insula Sanctorum Et Doctorum,Sealy, Bryers & Walker, 1890
- ^abcEdmonds, Columba. "St. Columba of Terryglass." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 24 Jul. 2013
- ^Grattan-Flood, William. "The Twelve Apostles of Erin." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 24 Jul. 2013
- ^Butler, Alban. “Saint Columba, Abbot in Ireland”. Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints, 1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 3 December 2013
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^"St. Columba", Dúchas. ie.
- ^"Geograph: St Columba's Headache Well".
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Columba of Terryglass".Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.
