Saint Columba (
521-
597) was an Irish missionary who helped re-introduce
Christianity to
Scotland and the north of
England. He was born in Donegal on
December 7, 521. He became a monk and soon rose in the church hierarchy to the rank of priest. Tradition asserts that, sometime around
560, he became involved in a copyright wrangle with Saint Finnian over a psalter. The dispute eventually led to a pitched battle in 561 during which many men were killed. As penance for these deaths, Columba was ordered to make the same number of new converts as had been killed. In
563 he founded a monastery on the island of
Iona off the west coast of Scotland which became the centre of his evangelising mission to
Scotland. There are many stories of miracles which he performed during his mission to convert the
Picts.
He died on June 9, 597.
He is frequently confused with Saint Columbanus.
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