Above: Drawing of St. Columcille and the white horse

The story of his death as told by Adamnan is one of the most affecting passages in Christian biography. On the last day of his life he went to a little hill near the monastery that overlooked the whole island, and gazing around him for the last time, he blessed the island and its inhabitants. Then he told Dermot, one of his monks who was with him, of his approaching death. ” This day,” he said, “is in the sacred volume called the ‘ Sabbath,’ which is interpreted, ‘ Rest,’ and today is truly a Sabbath for me, because it is the last day with me of this present toilsome life, upon which after all my toils and sorrows, I come to enjoy my Sabbath ; and at the approaching hour of midnight, as the hallowed day of the Lord hegins, I shall, as the Scripture saith, be going the way of my fathers. For now my Lord Jesus vouchsafes to invite me to Himself, and when this midnight, as I say, comes, I shall go at His own bidding to be with Him.”

As he was returning to the monastery he sat down by the roadside, wearied by age and his exertions. Whilst he sat here an old white horse that was used for carrying the milk pails to the monastery, laid his head on the Saint’s breast and began to whinny and to drop great tears. When the attendant saw this, he came up to drive the horse away, but the Saint forbade him, saying, ” Let him alone, for he loves me. Whilst thou, a man possessing a rational soul, couldst in no wise know anything about my departure hence, this brute beast, devoid of reason, has been shown in some way by the Creator Himself that his master is about to depart from him.” And saying this, he blessed his servant, the horse, as it sadly turned to go away.

Above: Depiction of Saint Columcille writing his prayer

Then returning to the monastery, he sat in his cell transcribing the Psalter until he came to the verse of the thirty-third Psalm which reads:—” But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” ” Here,” he said, laying down his pen, ” I must stop, and what follows let Baithene (his cousin and disciple) write.” After attending vespers in the church he returned to his cell, and sat up during the night on his pallet, a bare took, exhorting the Brothers to preserve matual and unfeigned charity and peace amongst themselves. When the bell began to toll for prayer at midnight he went to the church, which he reached before any of the other monks, followed by his attendant Dermot, and fell on his bended knees before the altar in prayer. Dermot was unable to see St. Columcille in the dark church, and called out, ” Where art thou, Father ?” Then groping his way in the darkness he found the Saint lying before the altar, and raising him up a little he placed the holy head on his bosom.

The little community of monks now began to assemble with lights in the church, and all wept when they beheld their dying father. The Saint opened his eyes and looked around him with great cheerful ness and joy of countenance. Dermot lifted up his right hand that he might bless the choir of monks, but the venerable father himself at the same time moved his hand as much as he was able, so that though he could not speak, he might give his last blessing to the Brotherhood. And thus signifying his holy benediction, the Saint breathed forth his spirit. The author of the Old Life says that in three places is the full habitation of St. Columcille, Iona, Derry, and Down. To Iona he gave his ‘ stainless grace,’ to Derry, his soul,’ and to Down, where he was buried, his body.