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Life of St Columba

St Adamnán of Iona, tr. Reeves, 1874

Book 1, Of the Danger to the Holy Bishop Colman Mocusailni in the Sea, Near the Island…

Of the Danger to the holy Bishop Colman Mocusailni in the Sea, near the island called Rechru

ON another day, also, while St. Columba was engaged in his mother-church, he suddenly cried out, with a smile, “Columbanus, the son of Beogna, has just now set out on a voyage to us, and is in great danger in the rolling tides of Brecan’s whirlpool: he is sitting at the prow and raising both his hands to heaven: he is also blessing that angry and dreadful sea: yet in this the Lord only frightens him, for the ship in which he is shall not be wrecked in the storm; but this is rather to excite him to pray more fervently, that by God’s favour he may escape the danger of his voyage, and reach us in safety.