ST COLUMBANUS(c. 543–615)
Seek God, not with the clamour of words, but with the silence of a pure heart. For God is found not in the noise of the marketplace, but in the stillness of the soul that loves Him. Read the Scriptures, for in them you will find the traces of His footsteps; meditate on His works, for in them you will see the reflection of His glory; and above all, love Him with all your heart, soul, and strength (cf. Deut 6:5), for in love you will come to know Him, not as He is in Himself—for that is beyond us—but as He reveals Himself to those who seek Him in truth. Thus, let your life be a constant prayer, a ceaseless offering, that you may one day behold Him face to face, when faith gives way to sight and hope to fulfilment.
[Adomnán (+704) described a white horse weeping for Columba’s impending death on Iona: “A white horse, which was used to carry milk to the monastery, came to the saint, placed its head in his lap, and began to shed tears like a human, as if it knew of his departure. Columba, moved, blessed it, saying, ‘This beast, which has served me, grieves for me.’”]