¹ To his most beloved sons and dearest disciples, to the frugal brothers, and to all his monks together, Columba, a sinner in Christ, sends greetings.

² “Peace be with you”, as the Lord, in his desire, said to his disciples: may there be peace, salvation, and eternal love. May the Trinity grant you these three things, and may it preserve them for you with my prayers, both in your relationship with God and among yourselves. The depth of my concern for your salvation is known only to Him who has given me both the desire and the care for your progress in learning. But, since, as the Lord said, “Tribulation and persecution have arisen on account of the Word,” no other admonition is now fitting for you than this: Beware that you do not become like the rocky soil, which, due to the thinness of its layer of earth, cannot nourish the seeds it receives. Let the Lord not say of you: “When tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately fall away.”

³ We ourselves know that we receive the Word of the Lord with joy and fervor; let us beware, then, that we do not become stony ground. Patience is necessary for us, so that “the testing of our faith,” as it is written, “may be more precious than gold.” Understand that the struggle is over fleeting things; but when it comes to the kingdom of heaven, it is no new thing that there is both conflict and contention concerning the kingdom. Nor should you suppose that humans themselves are persecuting you; it is demons within them who envy your virtues. Against these, take up the armor of God, which the Apostle shows us, and carve your path to heaven, striking them down with the fiery arrows of fervent prayers. For whatever you pray for with faith and unity will be granted to you. But be sure that you are of one heart and one soul, so that you may receive immediately the reward for whatever you ask for your salvation from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also our common Father, as the Lord promised, saying: “If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.”

⁴ Otherwise, if you do not have the same will and the same desires, it is better that you do not dwell together. Therefore, I command you: all who truly desire to consent to me from the heart, who recognize my intention and love it, should remain with my true follower, Attala, whether he is already there or chooses to come after me; that is for him to decide. He is aware of the danger to your souls. Obey him. But if he decides to come, let Waldelenus serve as prior, for with God’s help, he will quickly be able to discern what is right. In the meantime, take care that there is no one among you who does not share the same purpose as the rest. Whoever that person may be, he will do more harm to us than those outside who oppose us. We have suffered greater harm from those among us who were not of one mind with us.

⁵ You know, most beloved Attala, who is burdensome to your disposition; set them aside at once. Yet, do so with peace and in unity with the rule. Above all, honor Libranus and always hold on to Waldelenus. If you are there with the congregation, may God bless him; let him be humble, and give him my kiss, which I could not give when I was hastening away. As for you, you know how long I have desired to shape your character: if you see there is progress in souls, stay there; but if you see dangers, leave. By dangers, I mean the dangers of discord: I fear, indeed, that there too there might be discord about Easter, and that, with the devil lying in wait, they might seek to alienate you if you do not maintain peace with them. For now, without me, you seem weaker there. Therefore, be cautious, mindful of the time in which they cannot endure sound doctrine. Teach yourselves and anyone willing to listen; only let there not be anyone among you who is not one with the others. Above all, safeguard peace, always striving “to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” For what good is it to have a body but not have a heart?

⁶ I confess, I am broken by this matter, as I wanted to help everyone entirely, yet, when I spoke to them, they attacked me without cause. And while I trusted everyone, I was nearly made a fool. For this reason, you must be wiser. I do not want you to take on as much burden as I did, under which I sweated. You already know the smallness of my knowledge; you have learned that not all advice suits everyone, for the customs and qualities of people differ greatly. But what can I do? I will now provoke you to that immense labor that I myself flee from. If I open up the diversity of doctrine, I will temper it; therefore, you must be versatile and adaptable in caring for those who will obey you with faith and love. But even their love you must fear, for it will be dangerous for you.

⁷ But, dearest, troubles are everywhere: danger if they hate, danger if they love! Know that both are true, whether they hate or love: in hatred, peace is lost; in love, integrity is lost. Therefore, hold yourself to the impulse of a single desire, which you know my heart longs for. You know I love the salvation of many and solitude for myself—one for the progress of the Lord, that is, His Church; the other for my own longing. Yet these desires are more within me than accomplished. In you, however, may they be fulfilled, I pray, for in my absence, you can perceive both at least in part. However, I write not as one commanding.

⁸ Know, therefore: my order is for everyone, for I perceived the diverse desires of many regarding upholding the firmness of the rule. I have tied branches to the root, which, by their own fragility, had deviated from my slight firmness—that is, they had strayed from the truth of doctrine. Whoever has kept my understanding, let them serve God by always choosing for themselves those who are wiser and more devout, provided, however, that they are humble and merciful. Let all who are rebellious be cast out; let those who are obedient become heirs. Observe these things, and whoever belongs entirely to me—even if they are many—may you, as Christ enlarges and multiplies you, all look to Him who serves God near the altar, which was blessed by Saint Aidus the bishop. Therefore, if the persecution of these people reaches you…

⁹ I wrote these things because of the uncertain outcomes of events. My desire was to visit the nations and to preach the gospel to them through us. But, as Felix now reports their lukewarmness, it has nearly taken my spirit away from this endeavor.

¹⁰ I wanted to write you a tearful letter, but because I know your heart is already torn by necessary, harsh, and difficult matters, I chose a different style, preferring instead to restrain tears than to provoke them. Outwardly, therefore, the speech is gentle, but inwardly, sorrow is contained. Behold, tears pour forth, but it is better to seal the source; for it is not the mark of a strong soldier to weep in battle. What has happened to us is nothing new; we have long predicted this daily.

¹¹ Once, a philosopher wiser than the rest because he dared to declare—contrary to the opinions of all—that there is one God, was cast into prison. The Gospels are full of this cause, and they were written for this reason: this is the truth of the Gospel, that the disciples of Christ crucified should follow Him with the cross. A great example has been shown, a great sacrament revealed: the Son of God offered Himself willingly—He was offered because He willed it. He ascended the cross as one guilty, “leaving us,” as it is written, “an example that we might follow in His footsteps.” Blessed, therefore, is the one who becomes a sharer in this passion and this humiliation.

¹² For there is something hidden there that is marvelous: “What is foolishness in God is wiser than men, and what is weakness in God is stronger than men.” In a miraculous way, wisdom beyond measure is seen in folly, and incomparable strength in weakness. Therefore, all the desirable comforts, the mysteries of salvation, are hidden there. Yet they are hard so that they might be precious; obscure so that they might be worthy of only a few; and worthy of only a few because they are exceedingly marvelous.

¹³ Thus, let us patiently endure all adversity for the sake of truth, so that we may be partakers in the Lord’s suffering: “for if we suffer with Him, we will also reign with Him.” What more need be added except perseverance? “He who perseveres to the end will be saved.” For judgment lies at the end, and praise is sung at the exit.

¹⁴ But To be persevering, let each one continuously pray for God’s help with all humility of heart: “for,” as it is said, “it is not of him who wills or runs, but of God who shows mercy.” For God’s mercy is greater and better than life itself, even the best of human life; for only those who confess themselves miserable and unworthy before God feel the need for salvation. They know that they can only be rescued from such great perils by the Lord’s mercy alone.

¹⁵ Even those conscious of their good works, while fearing God’s judgment and mourning their many sins, humbly place their trust in God’s mercy alone. Their perfect fear pleases God the more because it strives for humility: “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him and in those who hope in His mercy.”

¹⁶ Therefore, no one can save himself by his own strength, according to the word of the Lord to Job, where He mocked his justification by certain tests of patience, saying: “Then I will confess that your own right hand can save you.” None shall be saved unless, with humility, he exercises his given ability with fear and trembling, praying often, “Do not cast me away from Your presence,” and, “Do not reject me from Your commandments.”

¹⁷ For, as one has said, the greatness of virtue has often been the cause of destruction for some, who, by the very reason of their beauty in virtue, fall from the height of humility. Hence it is written: “The more beautiful you are, descend, rise, and sleep among the uncircumcised,” as if the soul swollen with pride were being told: “Because you have exalted yourself in pride through your sanctity, now descend from it and be numbered among sinners, for nothing that is done with pride is of value to Me.”

¹⁸ The gate is narrow, as you see, and the way of perfection is found by few; it avoids vices on the left and the evils of vanity and pride on the right. Therefore, we must walk the royal road to the city of the living God through the affliction of the flesh and the contrition of the heart, through bodily toil and the humility of spirit, through diligence in our duty according to the law, not the dignity of merit, and, greater than all these, through the grace of Christ, through faith, hope, and love. Consider the many dangers; understand the cause of the conflict and the greatness of the glory. Do not underestimate the strength of the enemy, and recognize that freedom lies within the balance of choice.

¹⁹ The gate stands open to the enemy from the north: thus, Jerusalem too shall be opened from the north. From that place, the enemy dwelling in the north watches; thus it is written: “From the north, evil will break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.” If you remove the enemy, you remove the battle; if you remove the battle, you remove the crown. If these things exist, wherever they may be, virtue, vigilance, fervor, patience, faithfulness, wisdom, steadfastness, and prudence must necessarily be present. If not, destruction will follow. If you take away freedom, you take away dignity.

²⁰ Behold the adversities that surround us and the whirlwinds that encompass us, dearest disciple, apart from those that lurk within and daily wage war against us from within ourselves. Therefore, amid such perils, to will and to run is yours, yet it is not yours; for human strength alone is not enough to attain what it desires among so many obstacles unless the mercy of the Lord grants both the will and the fulfillment, ensuring that the efforts of the one who strives are completed and that the runner, overcoming falls and stumbling blocks, may finish the course unhindered. Thus, humility of mind is the cause of merit; without assistance, one cannot be helped. The proud do not deserve grace: the abandoned become hardened, the ungrateful, failing to pray, are irreverent. The lazy servant is scourged in life; his service is despised. The one who despairs is considered unworthy even of the disdain of men. What then shall we say to these things, O wretched ones that we are, who flatter ourselves with blessings before we deserve to be free from evils and hope to attain perfection before laying aside our vices? We desire to know everything, yet we are reluctant to do all that we know, hoping that words can be repaid instead of deeds. Perhaps this may happen here, but there, before God, it is clear that it cannot; for there, “not everyone who says” but “he who does” shall be saved.

²¹ Now, as I write, a messenger has arrived, informing me that a ship is being prepared to take me unwillingly to my homeland; yet if I flee, no guard forbids it, for it seems they wish that I should flee. If I am cast into the sea like Jonah—who, in Hebrew, is also called ‘dove’—pray that instead of the whale, there may be some favorable rowing that safely brings your Jonah back to the desired land.

²² But now this letter must come to an end, though the vastness of the subject compels it to extend further; love knows no order, hence it is sent in confusion. I wished to say everything briefly, but I could not. What I wished to write, I did not, due to differing wills. My will, perhaps, is not without flattery; let God’s will be done in all things. He, if He wills, knows my desire. Examine your consciences to see if they are purer and holier in my absence; do not seek me out of love, but only out of necessity. Do not let this occasion make you negligent, nor let this separation lead you to seek a freedom that would reduce you to servitude to vices. He belongs to me who loves unity; he does not belong to me who causes division: “For he who does not gather with me,” says the Lord, “scatters.”

²³ Otherwise, if you see that perfection is becoming more distant from you than before, and if fate separates me from you, and Attala is not sufficient to govern you, since your brothers are here near the Britons, gather yourselves together wholly in one place, which is better, so that you may more easily fight against the vices and snares of the devil. Let him whom you all choose in the meantime preside over you, because, if it is left to me, God willing, it will be my responsibility to care for you. However, if the places please you and God builds with you there, grow and multiply with His blessing into thousands upon thousands.

²⁴ Pray for me, my beloved, that I may live for God.