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The Heroic AgeIssue 6Spring 2003 |
Adomnán,
Iona, and the Life of St. Columba
by Jeffrey
Wetherill
Notes
1. This phrase is borrowed from the title of Christopher Snyder's well-written article on this subject in the ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies.
2.
Sharpe, Introduction, p. 1.
3.
The Dál Riata (sometimes stated as Dál Riada) is
the collective term for the clans and kin of the ruling people
in the northeast of Ireland that migrated and settled into the
south/west of Scotland. It was through the Dál Riata that
Columba and Adomnán were distantly related.
4.
VC, iii. 23.
5.
In using the term "classics" I am merely referring
to the more widely read and familiar of the saints' "Lives."
These included such works as the Life of Antony (by Anthanasius
and Evagrius); Life of Paul of Thebes, Hilarion, and Malchus
(by Jerome); Life of St. Martin
of Tours (by Sulpicius Severus); and the Life of St. Benedict
(by Gregory the Great).
6.
The most widely recognized translations of the Life are
Reeves (1857); A. O. Anderson and
M. O. Anderson (1961, rev. 1991);
and Sharpe (1995). Throughout this
article all citations will be from the book and chapter divisions
in Sharpe, unless otherwise noted.
I have chosen Sharpe because his
translations was based on "latin text published in 1961
by Alan Orr Anderson and Marjorie
Ogilvie Anderson." (Sharpe,
Columba, Preface). Equally, it provides clarity and accuracy
to the original Latin, scholarly treatment of the issues, and
interaction with both Reeves and the Andersons
on some of the more debatable and complex issues contained in
the Vita Columbae.
7.
Adomnán (c. 627-704) was the 9th abbot of Iona. It is
a plausible suggestion that Adomnán perhaps wrote the
Life in preparation for the "eve of St. Columba's
feast" on the centenary of his death. See VC,
ii.45; Sharpe, Columba, p. 55; and
Richter, p. 76 for this possible
connection.
8.
VC, 2nd Preface.
9.
VC, 2nd Preface
10.
VC, 2nd Preface
11.
VC, 1st Preface.
12.
VC, 2nd Preface. Adomnán
names Columba's father as Fedelmid mac Ferguso and his mother
as Eithne. Columba was connected by lineas to the Cenél
Conaill, one of the most powerful ruling families of the Ui Néill
dynasty. Sharpe notes, "The
rulers of the Cenél Conaill, St. Columba's close cousins,
were therefore among the most powerful kings in Ireland."
(Sharpe, Columba, p. 247).
13.
VC, 2nd Preface, "...marked
out as a son of promise..." See also VC,
iii.1. The story is told that an angel of the Lord appeared to
Columba's mother after his conception, but before his birth.
The angel said, "Woman, do not be distressed, for you shall bear to the man to whom you are joined in marriage a son of such flower that he shall be reckoned as one of the prophets. He is destined by God to lead innumerable souls to the heavenly kingdom."
14.
VC, 2nd Preface. Further, Columba
was brought up by a foster-father and priest called Cruithmechan
(VC, iii.2); began his religious
studies, while still a deacon, under Gemman (VC,
ii.25) and studied sacred scripture with a bishop that is named
as Finnbarr, Finnio, and/or Uinniau (VC
i.1; ii.1; iii.4)
15.
VC, i.5.
16.
Bede, HE iii.4.
17.
VC, Second Preface.
18.
VC, iii.23; Most traditions hold
to this date, or its proximity, for Columba's death. See Anderson and Anderson,
Columba, p. 67; Kenney, 425; Reeves, Columba, p. 26; and Sharpe, Columba, p. 1.
19.
VC, ii.46.
20.
VC, i.28.
21.
VC, ii.34.
22.
Sharpe, preface.
23.
Bede, HE, v.15
24.
Unfortunately, I am unable to locate this reference with precision.
I believe it was by Pinkerton (1789) in his Vitae Antique
but can not be certain.
25.
O'Loughlin, p. 69.
26.
AU 624; Kenny, p. 284. Alternatively,
the Andersons suggest c. 628, p.92.
This can be dated from the entry of his deah in 704 which stated
that he was 77.
27.
See Kenny, p. 284. Alternatively,
the Andersons suggest c. 628 (p.
92). This can be dated from the entry of his death in 704 which
stated that he was seventy-seven.
28.
Anderson, Columba, p. 92.
29.
Kenny, p. 284l; Anderson,
p. 92.
30.
AU says he was seventy-seven at the time of his death.
31
These include: De Locis Sanctis (a guidebook written about
the Holy Places after his meeting with Bishop Arculf; see Bede, HE, v.15); Cáin Adomnán
(a law tract known as Adomnán's law that was adopted at
the Synod at Birr which placed women, children, and clergy under
protection in times of war and unrest).
32.
Bede, HE, v.21
34.
Richter, p. 69.
35.
Sharpe, Introduction, p. 57.
36.
Life of St. Martin (Dedicatory
Letter, Preface) and Life of St.
Anthony (Prologue; Preface).
37.
Life of St. Martin.
38.
Gregory the Great, Dialogues,
ii.35
39.
VC, 1st Preface
40.
Life of St. Martin, i.8-9;
xix.5.
41.
Sharpe, p. 242.
42.
Life of St. Anthony, p. 61.
43.
Refer to endnote #7 for a more detailed
explanation.
Bibliography
Anderson, A.O., and M. O. Anderson, trans. (1991) Adomnán's Life of Columba.2nd edition. Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons.
Kenney, James. (1929) The Sources for the Early History of Ireland: Ecclesiastical. New York: Columbia University Press.
Mac Airt, Séan and Gearóid Mac Niocaill, eds. (1983) The Annals of Ulster. Dublin: Four Courts Press.
O'Loughlin, Thomas. (2000) Celtic Theology. London: Continuum.
Reeves, William. (1857) The Life of St. Columba, Founder of Hy; written by Adomnán. Dublin.
Richter, Michael. (1999) Ireland and Her Neighbours in the Seventh Century. Dublin: Four Courts Press.
Sharpe, Richard, trans. (1995) Adomnán of Iona: Life of St. Columba. Harmondsworth: Penguin Classics.
Sherley-Price, L., trans. And D. H. Farmer, ed. Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Harmondsworth: Penguin Classics, 1990.
Snyder, Christopher. "The Medieval Celtic-Fringe-An Introduction." In the ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies. http://orb.rhodes.edu/encyclop/early/origins/rom_celt/CelticFringe.htm
White, Caroline, trans. (1998) Life of Antony by Athanasius. Harmondsworth: Penguin Classics.
______. (1998) Life of Martin of Tours. Hardmondsworth: Penguin Classics.
______.(1998) Life of Benedict by Gregory the Great. Harmondsworth, Penguin Classics.
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