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 received, and allowed to preach, convert, and baptize. He was also given possession of the island of Iona, where, according to legend, his tiny boat had washed ashore. Here he founded the celebrated monastery which became the center for the conversion of the Picts. From Iona, also, his disciples went out to found other monasteries, which, in turn, became centers of missionary activity.

Columba made long journeys through the Highlands, as far as Aberdeen. He often returned to Ireland to attend synods, and thus established Iona as a link between Irish and Pictish Christians.For thirty years, he evangelized, studied, wrote, and governed his monastery at Iona. He supervised his monks in their work in the fields and workrooms, in their daily worship and Sunday Eucharist, and in their study and teaching.

He died peacefully in 597 while working on a copy of the Psalter. He had put down his pen, rested a few hours, and at Matins was found dead before the altar, a smile on his face. He is quoted by his biographer Adamnan as having said, “This day is called in the sacred Scriptures a day of rest, and truly to me it will be such, for it is the last of my life and I shall enter into rest after the fatigues of my labors.”

Today the abbey at Iona is home to the Iona Community, an ecumenical retreat center that has shaped the spirituality of many Christians since it was founded in 1938, and which continues as an important place of pilgrimage and spiritual renewal to this day.