Columbanus , Patron Saint of Europe?
Irish Missionaries Revitalised Europe, in particular Columbanus
Columbanus the Handsome Youth
Columbanus was born in Leinster about 543 and was advised to enter the religious life because it was said he was so handsome he would fall prey to wilful women.
He trained first at the monastery in Cleenish under Abbot Sinell on Lough Erne before moving to Bangor Abbey which was run by Saint Comgall.
Bangor Abbey
Bangor Abbey was an immense monastery in the 6th Century and was reputed to have students from all over Europe and numbering over 3000 monks. Unfortunately, being right on the sea, Bangor fell easy prey to maurading bands of Vikings and there is now nothing left of the original buildings.
Columbanus readily accepted the austerity demanded by Saint Comgall and taught for almost thirty years until he decided he wanted to enter ‘white martyrdom’; leave the country to spread the gospel. He asked permission to go the Europe as a missionary.
Initially, Comgall refused permission but finally Columbanus was allowed to set out with twelve companions for France at the age of 48. There is a Columbanus Trail in Cornwall where he and his disciples are said to have walked across the peninsula before travelling on to Brittany.
First Monasteries
He set up his first house at Annegray in the Vosges Mountains. His fame spread and soon he had to set up a second house at Luxeuil and then a third at Fontaines.
In doing this, he ran into difficulties with the French hierarchy. He had set up his monasteries without the permission of the local clergy, had opened three houses and was also following an Irish Paschal cycle which was out of line with the local calendar and the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Disputes with the Papcy
Columbanus never shirked controversy ands wrote directly to the Pope stating his position. He and his followers were responsible for revitalising Church practices throughout Europe. St. Gall moved into Switzerland while Columbanus opened further monasteries in Bregenz and Bobbio where he died in 615.
The Irish missionaries made an enormous impact throughout Europe. Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich said:
"Before his death much of western Europe was dotted with monasteries founded by Columbanus’ disciples’. This point is also reflected in Thomas Cahill’s book, 'How the Irish Saved Civilisation', commenting on the immense work done by all of the Irish Missionaries in Europe during the Dark Ages. Columbanus’ influence is so noted that there is a move afoot to have him nominated as a Patron Saint for Europe.
Bangor County Down
His feast day is November 23. Pilgrims travel from all over Europe to visit Bangor in Ireland to see where Columbanus set out on his Great Mission.
Although there are no signs of the original Abbey , there is a fine scale model in the North Down Museum in Bangor , a recreated Monk’s cell and a display referring to Columbanus and the development of Christianity from Bangor to Bobbio.
Sources:
Life of Saint Columbanus Jonas of Bobbio c643
Catholic Encyclopaedia Columba Edmonds
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