Introduction to Altus Prosator

Colum Cille: Altus Prosator (3)

The exalted Creator, Ancient of Days, and Unbegotten One…
He is, and He will be for unending ages.

  – Colum Cille, Altus Prosator (“Exalted First Sower”)

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever…

  – Psalm 136. 3, 4

Overview
We turn to Altus Prosator—“Exalted First Sower,” as it is in English. 

As the title suggests, the theme of Colum’s poem is God, God as Creator, God as sovereign Lord, the God who rules the spirits—both good and evil—God Who gave His Law to men, then gave His Son to judge the world and bring the righteous to eternal glory in the Presence of the Lord. This is the God Colum celebrates in Altus Prosator. This is the God Who brought him to Iona, sent companions to work with him, and was opening opportunities for the Gospel day by day toward the end of the 6^th century.

Altus presents a compact account of the divine economy in twenty-three tight stanzas, six lines each (except the first), each line divided into half-lines of eight syllables, with end rhymes for each line. Reading it is like opening a zip drive of divine revelation, with power packed into every word.

Each stanza starts with the next letter of the Latin alphabet, not unlike Psalm 119 and the Hebrew alphabet. Reading the poem in Latin, you can feel its pulse-beat and imagine it was easy to commit to memory, to recite or sing together, or even to incorporate into the rhythms of a day of work.

Colum introduces us to God in Stanza A, the only stanza with seven lines. Seven is the number for God and man, heaven and earth—the perfect number. Then, in Stanzas B through F, Colum traces out the work of God in making all that is. It was important for Colum to establish that everything that is comes from God and therefore rightly belongs to Him, to do with it as He wills for His purposes and glory. We are thus stewards of God’s riches, appointed to invest and improve them for His glory, as Colum and his monks would do from their monastery on Iona.

Next, Stanzas G and H relate the fall of men and the demise of Satan and his henchmen, who remain concealed from men, the better to lead them into sin and misery. 

The next six stanzas celebrate the rule of God throughout the cosmos, drawing on both natural philosophy and tropes from classic poetry, as well as works from ancient theologians. Stanza P describes the paradise, once lost, but once again in preparation. This is the place of our ultimate disposition, and Colum wanted his readers to keep it in mind.

Stanza Q explains the giving of the Law and its importance. Stanzas R through X describe the coming judgment and the Lord’s return; and Stanzas Y and Z relate the end of both the righteous and the wicked. 

Then an envoi asks us: “Who can please God in the last time, when the noble rules of truth have all been changed, except for those who scorn this present world?” 

Thus Colum Cille sets our focus on the unseen God, and calls us to observe His ways, look to His Son,
beware of and resist the devil’s wiles, rest in God’s goodness (which is everywhere to be known and enjoyed); and to put our trust not in men, nor rest our hopes in this soon-passing world, but let our minds and hearts peer through the veil that separates the here-and-now from then-and-there, and find our joy and purpose in preparing for the age to come, and for the everlasting joy and pleasure that will be ours when we see the Lord, and dwell with Him forevermore.

Why such a poem?
Imagine what life on Iona must have been like. Lonely, wind-swept and storm-tossed. Meager and hard. Frequently intruded upon by curious visitors. And throughout the day, hours of prayer and manual labor, preparation for missions, intermittent periods of worship, and the constant companionship, example, and teaching of one of the greatest saints of the day.

The monks on Iona needed to remember that God is sovereign in all of creation, including the spiritual world. He provides for His people and calls them to prepare for His coming. Those who served with Colum on Iona did not have Bibles—except those they were assigned to copy—so they would need help in knowing and keeping in mind the story of Scripture and the meaning of their times. Altus Prosator does that admirably well, as we shall see.

Imagine if you had a pastor—and perhaps you do—who cared so much for you, that he would undertake such a magnificent and effective project as to write a song to help you understand the story of Scripture and the course of history. This is what Colum did for his monks. And we have the privilege of sharing in his artistry and pastoral concern.

For reflection
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the best rating, how would you rate your overall understanding of the divine economy—the story of Scripture in the history of the world? Why did you choose that number?

2. How do you hope our study of Altus Prosator will help you in this matter?

Psalm 136.1-4
Plainfield: Nothing But the Blood of Jesus
Thank the God of gods and kings—for His love endures forever!
Let us our thanksgiving bring—for His love endures forever!
Wonders from Him abound; none other can be found
for whom our praise will sound, for His love endures forever!

T. M. Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15). For more information about Colum Cille and Iona, download a free copy of Colum Cille: A Devotional History from our bookstore.

Other columns of interest: This week: Our ReVision series on “Everyday Christianity” explores the joy of knowing the Presence of the Lord.  Our Read Moore podcast continues through our book, The Disciplined Life. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study looks at Colossians 2. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.