Saint Columbanus

Biography

Saint Columbanus, also known as Columbanus of Luxeuil or Columbanus of Bobbio, was born in 543 in West Leinster, Ireland. He was of noble birth, handsome, and well-educated. However, despite his privileged position, Columbanus felt torn between his desire for God and the easy access to worldly pleasures. He sought counsel from a holy anchoress, who advised him to withdraw from the world. However, his family strongly opposed his decision, with his mother even blocking the door to prevent him from leaving. Undeterred, Columbanus became a monk at Lough Erne and studied Scripture extensively, even writing a commentary on the Psalms. Later, he joined the monastery at Bangor under the leadership of Saint Comgall. In his middle age, Columbanus felt a call to missionary life. Gathering twelve companions, including Saint Attala, Columbanus traveled to Scotland, England, and eventually France in 585. The region they encountered, though nominally Christian, had fallen far from the faith. However, they found a warm reception and some success in their missionary work. They were particularly welcomed at the court of Gontram, the king of Burgundy, who invited them to stay. Choosing the half-ruined Roman fortress of Annegray in the Vosges Mountains as their new home, Columbanus became the abbot of this small community. The group's simple lives and obvious holiness attracted many disciples and the sick sought healing through their prayers. Columbanus often sought solitude for prayer in a cave seven miles from the monastery, maintaining contact through a messenger. As the number of new monks grew, King Gontram granted them the old castle of Luxeuil to establish a new monastery in 590. Soon after, they founded a third house at Fontaines. Columbanus served as the master of all three monasteries and wrote a Rule for them, incorporating many Celtic practices. This Rule was approved by the Council of Macon in 627, though it was later superseded by the Benedictine Rule. Difficulties arose for Columbanus and his followers in the 7th century when many Frankish bishops objected to the influence of a foreign missionary and the Celtic practices he brought, particularly those related to Easter. In 602, he was summoned to appear before them for judgment, but instead, he sent a letter advising them to hold more synods and to focus on more important matters. The dispute over Easter continued for years, with Columbanus appealing to multiple popes for help. Eventually, he abandoned the Celtic calendar when he moved to Italy. However, he faced further challenges in Italy as he spoke out against vice and corruption in the royal household and court, which was embroiled in power struggles. King Thierry and Queen Brunehault opposed him, leading to his brief imprisonment in Besançon. However, Columbanus managed to escape and returned to Luxeuil. Thierry and Brunehault then sent an armed force to forcibly return Columbanus and his foreign monks to Ireland. However, as their ship set sail, a storm blew them back to shore, and the captain took it as a sign to set the monks free. They sought refuge at the court of King Clothaire in Soissons, and then later at the court of King Theodebert of Austrasia in 611. From there, they traveled to various regions, including Metz, Mainz, Suevi, Alamanni, and Lake Zurich. The group had some success in evangelizing and founded a new monastery with Saint Gall taking the lead. However, political upheaval led Columbanus to cross the Alps into Italy, arriving in Milan in 612. In Milan, Columbanus preached against the heresies of Arianism and Nestorianism and received support from the Lombard royal family. In gratitude, the Lombard king granted him a tract of land called Bobbio between Milan and Genoa. There, Columbanus rebuilt a half-ruined church dedicated to Saint Peter and founded an abbey, which became a center for evangelization in northern Italy for centuries to come. Throughout his life, Columbanus had a close connection to nature, often walking in the woods where birds and squirrels would ride on his shoulders. As he grew older, word reached him that his old enemies were dead, and his brothers wanted him to return to the north. However, Columbanus declined and retired to a cave for solitude. He died in this cave as he had predicted on 21 November 615, in Bobbio, Italy. Saint Columbanus left behind a profound influence through his conversions and teachings. The faith he shared with those he converted was passed down through the generations, and the monastic communities he established protected learning and spread the Gospel across Europe. Numerous miracles were attributed to Saint Columbanus, including his ability to heal the sick, multiply food and drink, tame a bear, and miraculously find water. He is depicted in various representations, such as a bearded monk amidst wolves holding a book and an Irish satchel, a monk taming a bear, or a Benedictine monk with a missioner's cross and a bear nearby. Saint Columbanus was not officially canonized but is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on 23 November (formerly 21 November), and he is recognized as the patron saint against floods, motorcyclists, and the Missionary Society of Saint Columban. His impact on the spread of Christianity in Italy and Europe continues to be remembered and revered.