February 4 - Dove of the Church

February 4 – Dove of the Church

In 521 AD, a babe was born in Ireland. His parents named him Columba (which means Dove), he was also known as Colum Kille (St. Columbkille), which means dove of the church. His family was a Christian family living in northern Ireland. He went to schools provided by the monasteries and was an excellent student.

He ended up studying with Finian, who was famous for the CLonard Abbey where some of the most important people in Irish Christianity studied, and was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, who were quite famous during the sixth century.

Columba set sail in 563 for Iona, a western island of Scotland. Upon arriving there, they built homes and a church, setting up a base of operations for missionary work among the Picts – the neighboring Scottish tribe.

There are many legends of Columba, such as the story of the chief of Inverness bolting his gates against the missionaries. Columba made the sign of the cross, the gates flew open and the chief listened to their message.

The Druids were active during this time and gave them a bit of trouble, but it didn’t take long for the missionaries to bring Jesus to all of Scotland and northern England. Vikings continually attacked the island, but it maintained its strength.

A large monastery grew on the island of Iona and Columba was the abbot there. After he died, the abbots of Iona were the highest power in the Scottish church. Many missionaries left Iona, spreading the news of Jesus throughout Europe. They always returned to Iona and it became known for its education, holiness and evangelism.

The Abbey was torn down during the Reformation, but in 1900 the land was given back to the Church of Scotland and in 1938 a community was formed. They have restored the abbey and nunnery. Forty-six Scottish kings are buried there along with Columba, the first abbott.

You can check all of this out on their website at www.isle_of_iona.com/abbey.htm