Columba was born in Ireland in 521, and early in life showed scholarly and pastoral ability. He entered the monastic life, and almost immediately set forth on missionary travels. Even before ordination as a priest in 551, he had founded monasteries at Derry and Durrow.

Twelve years after his ordination, Columba and a dozen companions set out for northern Britain, where the Picts were still generally unaware of Christianity. Columba was kindly r…