This divine miracle was accomplished in the presence of King Bridei and his household. In that same country, he took a white stone from the river, and blessed it for the working of certain cures, and that stone, contrary to nature, floated like an apple when placed in water.
On other occasions, also, contrary winds were at his prayers changed into fair. When returning from the country of the Picts, where he had been for some days, he hoisted his sail when the breeze was against him to confuse the druids, and made as rapid a voyage as if the wind had been favourable. The surging waves, also, at times rolling mountains high in a great tempest, became quickly at his prayer quiet and smooth, and his ship, in which he then happened to be, reached the desired haven in a perfect calm. Partly by mortification, and partly by a bold resistance, he subdued, with the help of Christ, the furious rage of wild beasts. By virtue of his prayer, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, he healed several persons suffering under various diseases and he alone, by the assistance of God, expelled from this our island, which now has the primacy, innumerable hosts of malignant spirits, whom he saw with his bodily eyes assailing himself, and beginning to bring deadly distempers on his monastic brotherhood.
I shall begin this book with a brief account of the evidence which the venerable man gave of his power. An excellent new edition and translation is now available from Penguin Books (the sections here are numbered according to Sharpe’s edition). The following text was adapted by Michael Newton from Reeve, The Life of St Columba. It is known to be based on several previous written accounts as well as oral tradition (as Adomnán states). Vita Columbae “The Life of (Saint) Columba” was written by Adomnán of Iona in Latin before his death in 704.
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