E06598: Adomnán, in his Life of *Columba (abbot of Iona, ob. 597, S02167), recounts how he twice turned contrary winds by chiding the dead saint, the second time being the feast day of the saint and his successor *Baithéne (second abbot of Iona, ob. c. 600, S02475). Written in Latin at Iona, 696/704.

Adomnán, Life of Columba 2.45

For an overview of this work, see E06056.

De uentorum flatibus contrariis uenerabilis uiri uirtute orationum in secundos conuersis uentos

Praeteritorum nobis quae non uidimus talium miraculorum praesentia quae ipsi perspeximus fidem indubitanter confirmant. Ventorum namque flamina contrariorum tribus nos ipsi uicibus in secunda uidimus conuersa. [...]

Secunda uero uice [...] alia die tranquillo nautis mare plalmulis uerrentibus subito nobis contrarius insurgit fabonius qui et zefirus uentus. In proximam tum declinamus insulam quae scotice uocitatur Airthrago, in ea portum ad mandendum quaerentes. Sed inter haec de illa inportuna uenti contrarietate querimur, et quodam modo quasi accussare nostrum Columbam coepimus, dicentes: 'Placetne tibi sancte heac nobis aduersa retardatio? Huc usque a te deo propitio aliqud nostrorum laborum praestari sperauimus consulatorium adiumentum, te uidelicet estimantes alicuius esse grandis apud deum honoris.'

His dictis, post modicum quasi unius momenti interuallulum, mirum dictu ecce fabonius uentus cessat contrarius, ulturnusque flat dicto citius secundus [...] Non mediocriter quamlibet levuis illa querula nobis sancti accussatio uiri profuit. Quantique et qualis est apud dominum meriti sanctus apparet, quem in uentorum ipse tam celeri conuersione audierat.

Tertia proinde uice [...] ad Saineam deuenimus insulam; ibidem demoratos festiuae sancti Columbae nox et sollemnis diei nos inuenit ualde tristificatos uidelicet desiderantes eandem diem in Iuoa facere laetificam insula. Vnde sicut prius alia querebamur uice, dicentes, 'Placetne tibi sancte crastinam tuae festiuitatis inter plebeos et non in tua eclesia transigere diem? Facile tibi est talis in exordio diei a domino inpetrare, ut contrarii in secundos uertantur uenti, et in tua celebremus eclesia tui natalis misarum sollemnia.

Post eandem transactam noctem diluculo mane consurgimus, et uidentes cessasse contrarios flatus conscensis nauibus nullo flante uento in mare progredimur [...] postea manuum et pedum peracta lauatione hora sexta eclesiam cum fratribus intrantes sacra misarum sollempnia pariter celebraremus, in die festo inquam natalis sanctorum Columbae et Vaithenei [...]

Huius ergo praemissae narrationis testes non bini tanum uel terni secundum legem sed centeni et amplius adhuc exstant.


'How the intercession of St Columba turned contrary winds into favourable winds

The present-day miracles that I have seen myself confirm my faith in such events in the past, which I have not seen. For example, the changing of contrary winds to a favourable one I have myself witnessed on three occasions...

... The second time ... On a dead calm day, when the sailors were having to use oars, a wind suddenly sprang up from the west, blowing head on against them. We put in to the nearest island, called Eilean Shona, intending to stay in sheltered water. All the while I complained of this inconvenient change of wind, and began after a fashion to chide our St Columba, saying:

'Is this troublesome delay in our efforts what you wanted, St Columba? To this point I had hoped that by God's favour you would bring help and comfort in our labours, since I thought you stood in high honour with God.'

Hardly a minute had passed when the west wind dropped and, strange to say, a wind immediately blew from the north-east ... My little complaint against St Columba, trivial though it was, brought us considerable advantage. It is obvious how great and how special is the saint's merit with the Lord, who made the wind change as soon as he heard.

The third time this happened was during the summer ... We had reached the island of Saine, and the eve of St Columba's solemn feast saw us still held up there. I was much disappointed by this, for I very much wanted to be in Iona for this joyful day. So, as on the previous occasion, I complained, saying:

'Is it your wish, O saint, that I should stay here among the lay people until tomorrow, and not spend the day of your feast in your own church? It is such an easy thing for you on a day like this to change an adverse wind into a favourable one, so that I might partake of the solemn masses of your feast day in your own church.'

When night had passed and we rose at first light, we realized that the wind had dropped completely and we set out in the boats in still weather ... So we were able to wash our hands and feet before entering the church with the brethren to celebrate together the solemn mass at the hour of Sext, for the feast of St Columba and St Baithéne...

The law requires two or three witnesses, but there are a hundred and more who will testify to the truth of this account.'

Text: Anderson and Anderson 1991, 174-8. Translation: Sharpe 1995, 200-203.