St. Columbanus

Columbanus was born in 543 in West Leinster, Ireland. He was a handsome young man, often tempted by the excessive attention of young women. He asked a nun to give him advice and she told him to flee the world; he joined an abbey despite the pleas of his mother. After years as a monk, he felt called to preach the Gospel in France. He and his companions preached and founded monasteries. When French bishops opposed the Celtic practices in these monasteries and their different calendar for celebrating Easter, Columbanus appealed to the pope and traveled to Rome. In Italy he founded a celebrated monastery at Bobbio. Many of Columbanus’ writings including his monastic rule and several sermons survive. Columbanus could be blunt and outspoken in defense of the truth, but he was considerate of his monks, well loved by the faithful, and kind to animals. Wild birds are said to have landed on his head as he prayed in the woods; wolves and bears are said to have obeyed him. He died on November 21, 615 in Bobbio. The Benedictines and the Church in Ireland remember him on November 24.