E06062: Adomnán, in his Life of *Columba (abbot of Iona, ob. 597, S02167), describes how the saint knew miraculously of the death of *Colmán moccu Loígse (bishop in Leinster, 6th c., S02250) and how he added his name into the liturgy next to (or in place of) that of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050). Written in Latin at Iona, 696/704.

Adomnán, Life of Columba 3.12

For an overview of this work, see E06056.

De angelorum uisione sanctorum qui sancti Columbani episcopi mocu Loigse animam ad caelum exuerant

Quadam itidem die, dum fratres se calciantes mane ad diuersa monaterii opera ire praepararent, sanctus econtra ea die otiari praecipit, sacraeque oblationis obsequia praeparari, et aliquam quasi in dominico prandioli adiectionem fieri.

'Meque,' ait, 'hodie, quamlibet indignus sim, ob uenerationem illius animae quae hac in nocte inter sanctos angelorum choros uecta ultra siderea caelorum spatia ad paradisum ascendit, sacra oportet eucharistiae celebrare misteria.'

Et his dictis fratres obsequntur, et iuxta sancti iusionem eadem otiantur die, praeparatisque sacris ad eclesiam ministeriis quasi die sollempni albati cum sancto pergunt. Sed forte, dum inter talia cum modolatione officia illa consueta decantaretur deprecatio in qua sancti Martini commemoratur nomen, subito sanctus ad cantatores eiusdem onomatis ad locum peruenientes: 'Hodie,' ait, '"pro sancto Columbano episcopo" decantare debetis.'

Tunc omnes qui inerant fratres intellexere quod Columbanus episcopus lagenensis carus Columbae amicus ad dominum emigrauerit. Et post alicuius temporis interuallum aliqui de lagenica commeantes prouincia ea nocte eundem obisse nuntiant episcopum qua sancto ita reuelatum est.



'Of a vision in which holy angels carried to heaven the soul of the holy bishop Colmán moccu Loígse

Likewise, one day when the brethren were putting on their shoes in the morning ready to go out too various tasks around the monastery, St Columba stopped them and gave orders that there should be no work that day. Instead they should prepare for the right of the sacred offering, and there should be a special meal as on the Lord's day.

'And I who am so unworthy,' he said, 'must today celebrate the sacred mystery of the Eucharist, out of reverence for the soul that last night was carried away among the choirs of angels and ascended beyond the starry heavens to paradise.'

The brethren were obedient to his words. That day was made a holiday, the preparations were made for the sacred liturgy, and they all went to the church clothed in white as for a major feast. As they were singing the office, they reached the point where the prayer is usually chanted, which mentions the name of Martin. Here St Columba suddenly said to the singers: 'Today you must chant "for St Colmán the bishop".'

At this, all who were present realized that Bishop Colmán in Leinster, St Columba's friend, had gone to the Lord. Some time later, travellers arrived from Leinster bringing the news that the bishop had died on the night when this was revealed to St Columba.'

Text: Anderson and Anderson 1991, 198-200. Translation: Sharpe 1995, 214-5.