Page "Columbanus" Paragraph 20

On the other hand, the letter expresses the most affectionate and impassioned devotion to the Holy See.

The whole, however, may be judged from this fragment: " We Irish, though dwelling at the far ends of the earth, are all disciples of St. Peter and St. Paul ... we are bound to the Chair of Peter, and although Rome is great and renowned, through that Chair alone is she looked on as great and illustrious among us ... On account of the two Apostles of Christ, you pope are almost celestial, and Rome is the head of the whole world, and of the Churches ".

If zeal for orthodoxy caused him to overstep the limits of discretion, his real attitude towards Rome is sufficiently clear.

He declares the pope to be: " his Lord and Father in Christ ", " The Chosen Watchman ", " The Prelate most dear to all the Faithful ", " The most beautiful Head of all the Churches of the whole of Europe ", " Pastor of Pastors ", " The Highest ", " The First ", " The First Pastor, set higher than all mortals ", " Raised near into all the Celestial Beings ", " Prince of the Leaders ", " His Father ", " His immediate Patron ", " The Steersman ", " The Pilot of the Spiritual Ship " ( Allnatt, " Cathedra Petri ", 106 ).