St Columba's Cell

This cell contains inspiration from the Celtic tradition.

The Prayer Poem of St Manchan

I wish, O Son of the living God, O ancient, eternal King,
For a hidden little hut in the wilderness that it may be my dwelling.
An all-grey lithe little lark to be by its side, 
A clear pool to wash away sins through the grace of the Holy Spirit,
Quite near, a beautiful wood around it on every side, 
To nurse many-voiced birds, hiding it with its shelter.
A southern aspect for warmth, a little brook across its floor,
 A choice land with many gracious gifts such as be good for every plant.
A few men of sense we will tell their number  
Humble and obedient. to pray to the King : Four times three, three times four, fit for every need,  
Twice six in the church, both north and south: Six pairs besides myself 
Praying for ever the King who makes the sun shine.
A pleasant church and with the linen altar-cloth, a dwelling for God from Heaven; 
Then, shining candles above the pure white Scriptures.
One house for all to go to for the care of the body,  
Without ribaldry, without boasting, without thought of evil.
This is the husbandry I would take, I would choose, and will not hide it: 
Fragrant leek, hens, salmon, trout, bees.
Raiment and food enough for me from the King of fair fame, 
And I to be sitting for a while praying God in every place.

from the Rule of St Columbanus

"The rule of silence must be diligently observed, for it is written: "The service of justice shall be quietness and peace." All superfluity of words must be avoided; except in cases of necessity or utility, the monk must be silent, because, according to the Scripture, "in the multitude of words there shall not want sin." Hence our Savior says: "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Justly indeed shall they be condemned who would not, though able, speak just words, but preferred in their garrulousness to speak wicked, unjust, ungodly, vain, injurious, double-meaning, false, quarrelsome, abusive, shameful, absurd, blasphemous, harsh, and crooked words. These and such like words must never pass the lips of the monk, whose tongue must ever be governed by prudence and right reason, lest by his talkativeness he be betrayed into detractions and contradictions born of pride."

"The monk shall live in a monastery under the rule of one father and in the company of many brethren, in order that he may learn humility from one, patience from another. One will teach him silence, another meekness. He shall not do what pleases him; he shall eat what is set before him, clothe himself with what is given him, do the work assigned to him, be subject to a superior whom he does not like. He shall go to bed so tired that he may fall asleep while going, and rise before he has had sufficient rest. If he suffers ill-usage, he shall be silent; he shall fear the head of the monastery as a master, and love him as a father, being ever convinced that what he commands is profitable to him; nor shall he criticize the words of the elders because it is his duty to obey and to do what he is bidden, as Moses says: "Attend, and hear, oh Israel." "

A Prayer Attributed to St Columbanus

'Lord, grant me, I pray thee in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son, my God, that love which knows no fall, so that my lamp may feel the kindling touch and know no quenching, may burn for me and for others may give light. Do thou, Christ, deign to kindle our lamps, our Saviour most sweet to us, that they may shine continually in thy temple, and receive perpetual light from thee the Light perpetual, so that our darkness may be enlightened, and yet the world's darkness may be driven from us. Thus do thou enrich my lantern with the light, I pray thee, Jesus mine, so that by its light there may be disclosed to me those holy places of the holy, which hold thee the eternal priest of the eternal things, entering there in the pillars of that great temple of thine, that constantly I may see, observe, desire thee only, and loving thee only may behold, and before thee my lamp may ever shine and burn. Be it thine, I beg, most loving Saviour, to reveal thyself to us who beseech thee, so that knowing thee, we may love thee only, love thee alone, hold thee in our thoughts; and do thou deign so far to inspire us with thy love, as it befits thee to be loved and cherished as our God; that thy charity may possess all our inward parts, and thy love may own us all, and thine affection may fill all our senses, so that we may know no other love apart from thee who art eternal; that such affection may be in us impossible of quenching by the many waters of this air and land and sea, according to that saying "And many waters are not able to quench love", which in us also can be fulfilled even in part, by the gift of thee our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory unto ages of ages. Amen'.

from "A Letter to a Young Disciple" by St Columbanus

Be helpful when you are at the bottom of the ladder and be the lowest when you are in authority.
Be simple in faith but well trained in manners.
Be demanding in your own affairs but unconcerned in those of others.
Be guileless in friendship, astute in the face of deceit.
Be tough in times of ease, tender in hard times.
Keep your options open when there is no problem, but did in when you must choose.
Be pleasant when things are unpleasant, and sorrowful when they are pleasant.
Disagree when necessary, but be in agreement about the truth.
Be serious in pleasures, but kindly when things are bitter.
Be strong in trials, weak in dissensions.
Be slow to anger, swift to learn, slow also to speak, as St James says, equally swift to hear.
Be up and doing to make progress, slack to take revenge, careful in word, eager in work.
Be friendly with men of honour, stiff with rascals.
Be gentle to the weak, firm to the stubborn, steadfast to the proud, humble to the lowly.
Be ever sober, ever chaste, ever modest.
Be patient as far as is compatible with zeal.
Never be greedy, but always generous – if not in money, then in spirit.
Be timely in fasting, timely in the night-offices, discreet in duty.
Be persistent in study, unshaken in turmoil, joyful in suffering.
Be vigilant in the cause of truth, cautious in time of strife.
Be submissive to good, unbending to evil
Be gentle in generosity, untiring in love, just in all things.
Be respectful to the worthy, merciful to the poor.
Be mindful of favours, unmindful of wrongs.
Be a lover of the ordinary man, and do not wish for riches.
Instead, cool down excitement and speak your mind.
Obey your seniors, keep up with your juniors, equal your equals, emulate the perfect.
Do not envy your betters, or grieve at those who surpass you, or censure those who fall behind, but agree with those who urge you all.
Though weary, do not give up.
Weep and rejoice at the same time, out of zeal and hope.
Advance with determination, for always fear for the end.

A Prayer of St Columba

Let me bless almighty God,
whose power extends over sea and land,
whose angels watch over all.

Let me study sacred books to calm my soul:
I pray for peace,
kneeling at heaven's gates.

Let me do my daily work,
gathering seaweed, catching fish,
giving food to the poor.

Let me say my daily prayers,
sometimes chanting, sometimes quiet,
always thanking God.

Delightful it is to live
on a peaceful isle, in a quiet cell,
serving the King of kings.

Some sayings of St Ailbhe of Emly

Be like an anvil in support of every profitable thing. ...
Cultivate and share the fruits of the earth. ...
Keep guard over your tongues. ...
Give your mind to prayer with humility and with great peace....
Diligence at prayer and at the sacrifice of the Mass is necessary for piety and meekness. ...

from "Of Wanting and of the Gift" by St Tugdual of St Dolay

How can it be of any concern to the hermit whether he spends his time working in the garden or preaching to the visitors? What matters is to know at any given moment that one is of little significance.
All these fluctuating desires are temptations that it is necessary to break upon the rock of faith in Christ the Son of the Living God.

Is it not by divine order and in answer to a divine call that a hermit finds himself in a particular retreat? If the hermit doubts the Master on this point is he not failing to place all his trust in Him? It is not at all necessary to achieve contentment and the ability to accept the choices God makes by coming the long way round through doubt and questioning. If our Saviour has chosen us, led us, guarded us until we end up in solitude in a certain place can we then question whether he knows what he is doing? He who is omniscience itself and uncreated Wisdom! Now then let us do all with a good heart and live well and in peace wherever He puts us. Let us never forget the Golden Rule: “Any and everything we do has value only in so far as it conforms to the all-Holy will of God.” this divine will is always revealed to the hermit through his rule of life, through his prayer and ascesis and the work of his hands, through the words of his elder and the holy practices and customs of monasticism and through the things that happen to him by the operation of Divine Providence in the daily course of his existence.

A Celtic Prayer by Revd David Adam

"I weave a silence on to my lips
I weave a silence into my mind
I weave a silence within my heart
I close my eyes to distractions
I close my eyes to attractions
I close my heart to temptations.
Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm
Let all the tumult within me cease
Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace."

A Blessing of Solitude

May you recognize in your life the presence, power, and light of your soul. May you realize that you are never alone; that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe. May you have respect for your own individuality and difference. May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful, good and eternal happening. May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.
Fr John O'Donohue - "Anam Cara"

The Rule of St Columba

Be alone in a separate place near a chief city, if thy conscience is not prepared to be in common with the crowd.
Be always naked in imitation of Christ and the Evangelists.
Whatsoever little or much you possess of anything, whether clothing, or food, or drink, let it be at the command of the senior and at his disposal, for it is not befitting a religious to have any distinction of property with his own free brother.
Let a fast place, with one door, enclose you.
A few religious men to converse with you of God and his Testament; to visit you on days of solemnity; to strengthen you in the Testaments of God, and the narratives of the Scriptures.
A person too who would talk with you in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at what he cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress you more should he be a tattler between friends and foes, you shal not admit him to you, but at once give him your benediction should he deserve it.
Let your servant be a discreet, religious, not tale-telling man, who is to attend continually on you, with moderate labour of course, but always ready.
Yield submission to every rule that is of devotion.
A mind prepared for red martyrdom [that is death for the faith].
A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom. [that is ascetic practices] Forgiveness from the heart of every one.
Constant prayers for those who trouble you.
Fervour in singing the office for the dead, as if every faithful dead was a particular friend of yours.
Hymns for souls to be sung standing.
Let your vigils be constant from eve to eve, under the direction of another person.
Three labours in the day, viz., prayers, work, and reading.
The work to be divided into three parts, viz., your own work, and the work of your place, as regards its real wants; secondly, your share of the brethen’s [work]; lastly, to help the neighbours, viz., by instruction or writing, or sewing garments, or whatever labour they may be in want of, ut Dominus ait, “Non apparebis ante Me vacuus [as the Lord says, "You shall not appear before me empty."].
Everything in its proper order; Nemo enim coronabitur nisi qui legitime certaverit. [For no one is crowned except he who has striven lawfully.]
Follow alms-giving before all things.
Take not of food till you art hungry.
Sleep not till you feel desire.
Speak not except on business.
Every increase which comes to you in lawful meals, or in wearing apparel, give it for pity to the brethren that want it, or to the poor in like manner.
The love of God with all your heart and all your strength;
The love of your neighbour as thyself
Abide in the Testament of God throughout all times.
Your measure of prayer shall be until your tears come;
Or your measure of work of labour till your tears come;
Or your measure of your work of labour, or of genuflexions, until your perspiration often comes, if your tears are not free.