ColumbanusA.D. 615Feast Day: November 21
Shirley Toulson notes that at his departure from Ireland Columbanus was to become probably one of the first and certainly one of the most influential of the Irish missionaries to the continent. Born in a noble family in Leinster, Columbanus grew up as a handsome youth, pursued by the young women of the area. As he pondered his future he sought the advice of an anchoress nearby. At her urging he left his home at the age of seventeen to join the Christian community of Cleenish on Loch Erne, founded by Sinell, one of Finnan of Clonards disciples. Cleenish carried on the tradition of learning with holiness of Clonard and there Columbanus became quite a scholar. Leaving Cleenish, he took his monastic vows at the famous community of Bangor where he became head of the scholars.
During that time the urge to travel for the love of Christ, the powerful motive force behind the Celtic peregrinati, grew in Columbanus. He sought permission from his abbot, who understandably refused. However, the stubbornness and determination that marked his later ministry finally overcame objections and, with twelve companions, he sailed for the continent. Columbanus ended up in Gaul, in the Frankish Kingdom of Austrasia and Burgundy. Though this area had earlier been evangelized, the Christianity of the region was nominal. The Church was in disarray and the bishops, with a few notable exceptions, were indifferent to their flock and given to corruption. With the permission of the king, Columbanus and his companions selected a deserted pagan temple, once dedicated to Diana. They first spent three days in prayer at the site, then began digging the trench that would mark off the boundaries of their community.
At this site, near the modern town of Annegray, the monks first experienced great hardship and want. Their local reputation for holiness and spiritual power brought their first aid when a stranger appeared laden with supplies. His wife was seriously ill, and the Holy Spirit had inspired him to take the supplies to the monks and ask for their prayers. His wife soon recovered. However, their relief was short lived and they were soon in want again. This time their aid was from Carantoc, Abbot of Saulcy, a days journey away. The abbot had a dream in which God told him to send provisions to men in the wilderness. As there were no roads, Marculf, the abbots cellarer, left the horses to their own devices and they found their way to Columbanus doors. Marculf was so impressed by this that he spread the news of their piety abroad. Soon the little community began to grow and they were forced to found a second community in nearby Luxiel.
This second community became the mother house of the Celtic communities. Columbanus would have been happy to remain there had he not fallen afoul of King Theuderich, the grandson of the king who had made him welcome. Columbanus refused to bless the kings illegitimate sons, children of the concubines the new king had brought into his household. This earned not only the enmity of the king, but of his mother, Queen Brunhilde. This estrangement gave opportunity for the Frankish bishops, long jealous of Columbanus infringement of their prerogatives, to arrange his exile.
After initial resistance, Columbanus and the Irish monks were transported to Nantes, where divine intervention convinced the captain of their ship to set them free to wander again in Europe. This time Columbanus formed a community south of Lake Constance. After a brief period, feeling again the call of God, Columbanus headed south, finally ending in the northern Italian community of Bobbio. He left behind him one of his closest Irish companions, St. Gall whose memory is still maintained in the Swiss town which bears his name. There is some confusion about the manner in which Gall and Columbanus parted company. At any rate, Columbanus forbade Gall to celebrate Mass so long as Columbanus lived. Yet at his death, Columbanus sent Gall his abbatical staff, a sign of reconciliation and forgiveness.
During his long life Columbanus brought revival to the pale church of the old Roman empire. Rarely succinct, Columbanus rebuked kings and popes alike, lacing his comments with witty puns, satire and sarcastic humor. The legacy of the last Celtic community he founded at Bobbio may well be in one of the Churchs most popular saints. For centuries later, that community, steeped in the ways of Celtic Christian spirituality, was a major influence in the spiritual formation of a young man from a nearby town, Giovanni Bernadone, better known by the nickname by which he was canonized, Francis of Assisi.
(Much of this article is drawn from the book Columbanus in his own words, by Tomas O Fiach, late Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh.)
