Our trek into saintly Quirks and Quotes continues with Meister Eckhart taking on Columba. To make it to the Saintly Sixteen Eckhart somehow managed to defeat Drogo, the patron saint of coffee, while Columba snuck past Kateri Tekakwitha in the closest encounter (of the saintly kind) of Lent Madness 2016.
Don't forget, especially if you're just getting started in Lent Madness, that links to all the previous battles are available on the Bracket page (scroll down). In other words, what you read in this round isn't all that has been written about our saints. You can read the initial bios in additional to these write-ups and make a fully informed decision. To make this as user friendly as possible, you can even click the links in the first paragraph above to revisit the first round matchups of both Meister Eckhart and Columba. Yes, throughout Lent, the Supreme Executive Committee continues to lose sleep on your behalf.
Yesterday, Albert Schweitzer made it past Methodius 56% to 44% to claim his spot in the Elate Eight. He'll face the winner of Roch vs. Julian of Norwich.
And in case you missed yesterday's edition of Monday Madness, you can watch it here. Learn how to submit your Mug Shot (and view several examples) to have a crack at winning St. Francis of Assisi!
Meister Eckhart
“The eye, with which I see God, is the same eye with which God sees me; my eye and God’s eye are only one eye and one seeing and one knowing and one love.”
So taught Meister Eckhart, Dominican friar, professor, preacher, teacher, and mystic.
Eckhart received his formal schooling from the University of Paris, the greatest institution of higher education in late 13th century Europe. However, Eckhart’s work of preaching and providing spiritual counsel to the Dominican nuns of Saxony was not a one-way street; his informal education came from the women whom he conversed with on spiritual matters, and his writings show a familiarity with the mystical mothers of the Rhineland including Hadewijch and Mechtild of Magdeburg.
In summing up his own preaching, Eckhart said that everything he taught was a variation on four intertwined themes:
“When I preach, I am careful to speak about detachment and that a person should become free of self and of all things. Secondly, that one should be reformed in the simple good that is God. Thirdly, that one should think of the great nobility which God has placed in the soul, so that a person can thereby come to God in a wonderful way. Fourthly, concerning the purity of divine nature—there is such brilliance in it that it is inexpressible!”
Basically, Eckhart is saying that through humility, love, and discernment, believers are able to break through their own distracting notions and ideas about both God and the self (that’s what he means by being “free of self and all things”) to discover that God and the soul are—by nature—at one.
As one aspect of this teaching, Eckhart insists that creation and incarnation should be understood as two sides of the same coin, and uses the image of a dance of sorts: “The Father speaks the Son always, in unity, and pours out in him all created things. They are all called to return into whence they have flowed out. All their life and being is a calling and a hastening back to God from whom they have issued.”
While his Dominican superiors approved of his teaching, the Archbishop of Cologne and later the pope condemned Eckhart’s writings after his death based on excerpts taken out of context. The charges focused around technical statements suggesting some aspects of the soul were uncreated, that Eckhart failed to draw a sharp enough distinction between Creator and creature. His defenders argue that the context of his works provide assurances of his orthodoxy, and Eckhart himself declared that he had no intention of teaching anything contrary to the faith.
With that, Eckhart himself receives the last word: “He who lives in the goodness of his nature lives in God’s love; and love has no why.”
Columba
Columba was
the founder of the abbey at Iona--the center of Celtic Christian activity through the Middle Ages and beyond. According to several sources, Columba was initially baptized Crimthan, which means "The Fox." However, as he grew up, his patient and loving demeanor didn’t fit his name, so he was renamed Columba, which means "The Dove." Despite his name change, Columba cut an arresting figure: “He was a striking figure of great stature and powerful build, with a loud, melodious voice which could be heard from one hilltop to another.”
The two battles that he was involved in really did pain him. It was Columba himself who suggested his exile to Scotland to the council of monks--vowing that he would go forth and convert all the world in order to make penance for those he had hurt, and never again see Ireland. He chose Iona as a settling place because it had no view of the Irish coast, as opposed to the first island where he landed.
From Iona, he traveled all over Scotland, and his missionary efforts included people and monsters. Apparently, in August of 565, Columba was wandering around the Highlands and came up to the River Ness. He noticed some Pict men dragging the body of a man out of the lake. The man had fallen out of his boat and been chomped by Nessie. The people on the shore had cast out fishing lines to bring back the body. Columba, unperturbed, asked someone to swim across the lake and retrieve the boat so he could cross the river. Lugne Moncumin (one of the men) quickly stripped and dove in the water.
As he was swimming across, he woke up Nessie again, and she charged at him, ready to chow down a second time. Columba raised his arm and rebuked the sea monster in the name of the crucified Christ, while making the sign of the cross. He said, "You will come no further. Go back! Do not touch this man!" At once, the monster receded. "Quicker than if pulled down by ropes" writes Columba’s biographer. The Picts were amazed and impressed.
Lugne retrieved the boat unharmed. And everyone, including Nessie, became Christian. Apparently, this story in Columba’s biography has been used extensively by crypto-zoologists in the search for the Loch Ness monster.)
He did return to Ireland once, in 575 CE, in order to settle a dispute between the king and the league of poets. In order to hold to the terms of his exile, he traveled blindfolded the entire time. The poets had sent for him because of his well-known love of books; however, he was so reasonable and calm, he succeeded in getting the king to compromise and see the dispute in the poets’ way.
Columba’s dedication to evangelism and the wonders of the written word have left a lasting impact on the world
[poll id="159"]
166 comments on “Meister Eckhart vs. Columba”
I have had the blessed good fortune to visit the Isle of Iona and dwell in the spirit of beauty and holiness there. Columba gets my vote.
I have a Nessie shaped ladle on my kitchen counter, and our daughter Vanessa is nicknamed "Nessa" so I had to go with Columba today!
Meister Eckhart, "love has no why", in honor and memory of my first teacher of Christian Mysticism, Rev. Evelyn Newman.
I'm torn between a mystic and a Celt, both of them groups that are dear to my heart. I'm going with Columba (who I think got my vote on the first round). He has enough of a real life going for him that I don't think he needs all that apocryphal stuff about Nessie. I grant it's hard to reconcile a guy named "Dove" with fighting in battles, but you know those Celts--and he did repent. And we have monastery at Iona to thank him for. . . . Even so, it was a close call for Eckhart.
Back in the dark ages (the1970s), Forward Movement had a wonderful Lenten devotional called Holy Island that focused on Iona. I wore my copy out. Does anyone know where I can get another?
Although Columba's voice and choice of location make him a favorite for me, the inclusion of the Loch Ness myth denigrates all of his good works. Meister's view of God and good outweighs the myth.
Against almost anyone else, I would happily vote for Meister Eckhart, but as a member of the Iona Community I can not vote for anyone but Columba. Sailing to Iona with his 12 companions, Columba carried with him the 'little book' of God, the bible, but sought always to learn from the 'great book' of God, creation. Iona is still a sanctuary and a light, a blessed place that nourishes the soul and sends people back out into the world to bear that light.
(And on an utterly irreverent side note, the potential for Nessie related kitsch is not insignificant.)
Columba for me. He made huge mistakes but worked all his life to make recompense. That's an invaluable role model. And what recompense! Iona was a lighthouse for learning for more than two centuries. But he didn't just stay on the island. Nessie aside, he ministered to those notoriously tough customers, the Picts. He stuck to his guns--that blindfolding story...whoa....But I'm delighted to learn about the marvelous Meister Eckhart, about whom I would never have known if not for Lent Madness.
Last week's gospel was the parable of the Prodigal Son. So, with sympathy for Meister Eckhart, I am voting for Columba because he is the prodigal son of today. He sinned, he repented big time, and served the rest of his life in good faith.
Besides, he converted Nessie. 'Nuff said. If Meister Eckhart had converted Grendel, then it might be a closer choice.
The Celtic tamer of monsters or the mystic? I have to go with the mystic, perhaps because of my own frustrated aspirations!
As the daughter of a Scot, I feel that anyone who can convert Nessie gets my vote. Perhaps a Nessie and Columba pint would be in order?
The parish I was baptized in was named after Columba. And as a retired Librarian I love anyone who promotes books and literature. Great respect for Meister Eckhart, but St. Columba for me!
"What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" Elvis Costello echoed Meister Eckhart. This is a message the world needs today!
to moderator: I emailed this post re my professor's words to some friends, some rabbis too, with the subject heading:
Lent Madness: my post re Eckhart AKA my rabbis taught me to argue like this
Also I added in my intro to them before my post: [btw, I wish they had non-christian saints !!!]
Columba all the way!
Born on June 20, 1/4 Irish, and St. Columba is still one of my favorite Irish hymn tunes! St. Columba gets my vote again!
And I am an 1/8 Scottish too! Who else could I vote for?
What a dilemma! On the one hand, I SHOULD vote for Meister Eckhart because he is one of the fathers of my own ministry of spiritual direction. On the other hand, I SHOULD vote for Columba who is one of my beloved Celtic saints. Finally, tradition won out over experience, and Columba got the prize. Lent Madness is giving me a headache!
Another difficult choice. This time because the two are very different, yet admirable.
Going with Eckhart because "love has no why" resonated.
Columba it is, having just visited Iona last May, and sat on the grass where he wrote his sermons. Iona is wonderful.
Had to go with Meister Eckhart. We need his teachings more than ever, especially among people who have no idea of God or Christianity.
Love Iona. Love Loch Ness (not so much Nessie, though I'm glad to know she actually converted). Love Columba and that stained glass window at the abbey. Love Megan. And Columba's feast day, 9 June, is an important date of various and recurring significance in my life. Love Oliver, too. So even though I also love Meister Eckhart and mystics, and even though my husband, whom I love dearly, says he'd vote for Eckhart, it's Columba for me again today. Love has no why, indeed.
Oh yeah, and where would LentMadness be without its Irish constituency in this the month of Irish Madness? Seems like there's always an Irish saint to bedevil the bracket, aye? Love Mister Meister's spirituality, but it's just got to be Columba for me.
Celtic religion talks about the "thin places." Meister Eckhart LIVED in a thin place and through writing and preaching invited others to join him there. Columba's story is quite enchanting but for lasting value it has to be the mystic.
I thought the description of Meistersinger Eickart, beautifully written and left me feeling I wanted to learn more. Columbas while once the patron St of Scotland was all about the Nessie legend and honestly jolly but silly
So it's Eickart for me
Aha! Auto-correct, so falsely named, claims another victim!
Here is a poem about St Colmba
The Pets by Robert Farren (1909-1984) from Dublin
Colm had a cat,
And a wren,
And a fly.
The cat was a pet,
And the wren,
And the fly.
And it happened that the wren
Ate the fly;
And it happened that the cat
ate the wren.
Then the cat died.
So Saint Colm lacked a cat,
And a wren,
And a fly,
But Saint Colm loved the cat,
And the wren,
And the fly.
So he prayed to get them back
Cat and wren;
And he prayed to get them back
wren and fly.
And the cat became alive
and delivered up the wren;
And the wren became alive
and delivered up the fly;
And they all lived with Colm
Til the day came to die.
First the cat died.
Then the wren died.
Then the fly.
[wild applause, whistling, table pounding]
Me too, me too! Whistle, clap, whistle!
Bravo! Claps and whistles!
Me, too, Oliver!
Most of my ancestors are from Scotland. Maybe Columba converted one or more of them. So I vote for him.
With St Patrick's Day a mere 2 weeks away I couldn't vote for anyone but Columba today. In honor of my Celtic ancestry, of course.
I can't help wondering why it's only us Irish-Americans, and not us German-Americans or us Italian-Americans, who make such a point of voting our ancestry. Being all three, I can ask that question. (And yes, I wrote "us," and not "we," advisedly.)
Meister Eckhart's story was the most compelling one to me, even though the thought of Iona, and what it is today, is a draw.
Somewhat tough choice for me because I love Eckhart but IONA is in my soul, so had to go with Columba.
I'm still going with the first round article on M. Eckhart:
"His German sermons were engaging and poetic, filled with puns and wordplay, drawing heavily on the vocabulary of courtly love, adapting it to speak of the birth of the Word in the soul." Sounds like a smart guy as well as a faithful one.
A big salute to the parish of St John the Baptist. Well done.
Sure'n now, would the Irish lie?
Rhonda, I was leaning towards Meister Eckhart but your quote "Love has no why" sealed the deal.
I had heard of Meister Eckhart but have not read any of his work -- which I now want to do.
I was very disappointed in the authors focusing on the nessie story and overlooking the astonishing number of miracles and conversions that St. Columba and his fellow monks accomplished. Especially in relation to the wonderful job the author did on Meister Eckhart. For heaven's sake read Bede!
Yes, I also found the writing of Eckhart's bio to be exceptional!