The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-11-20
Continued from page ID
ST. COLUMBANUS.

pllSn6Q IN the spread OF the gospel, a
brief account of his life and labours
may not prove uninteresting to our
readers.
st. Columbanus was born in West
Leinster, Ireland, in A. D. 543, the
year st. Benedict died. His first mas
ter was Smell, Abbot of Cluaninis in
Lough Erne, under whose tuition he
composed commentary on the
Psalms. He then betook himself to
the celebrated monastery of Bangor
on the coast of Down, which at that
time had for it's Abbot ST. Comgall
There he embraced the monastic state.
and for many years led a life con-
spicious for fervor, regularity, and
learning. At about the age of forty
he seemed to hear necessarily the
voice of God bidding him preach the
gospel in foreign lands At first his
abbot declined to let him go, but at
length he gave consent.
Embarked on Missionary Career.
Columbanus set sail with twelve
companions, whose names have come
down to us: st. Attala, Columbanus
the Younger, Cummain, Donegal, Fog
ain, Eunan, st. Gall, Gurgano, Libran,
Lua, Sigisbert, and Waldoleno. The
little band passed over to Britain,
landing probably on the Scottish
coast. They remained but short
time in England, and then crossed
over to France, where they arrived
probably in 585. at once they began
their apostolic mission Wherever
they went the people were struck by
their modesty, patience, and humility.
France at that period needed such a
band of monks and preachers. Col
umbanus, by his holiness, zeal, and
learning, was eminently fitted for the
work that lay before him. He and
his followers soon made their way to
the court of Gontram, King of Bur-
CANDY, who gave them a gracious re-
ception, inviting them to remain in
his Kingdom. The saint complied,
and selected for his abode the half
ruined Roman fortress of Annegray
in the solitudes of the Vosges Noun
tains. Here the abbot and his monks
led the simplest of lives, their food
oftentimes consisting of nothing but
forest herbs, berries, and the bark of
young trees. The fame of Column
banus' sanctity drew crowds to his
monastery. Many, both mobiles and
rustics, asked to be admitted into the
community. Sick persons came to be
cured through his prayers But
Columbanus loved solitude. Often he
would withdraw to a cave seven miles
distant, with single companion, who
acted as messenger between himself
and his brethren.
Monastery of LuxeuiI.
After a few years the eyer-increas-
ing number of his disciples obliged
him to build another monastery. Col
umbanus accordingly obtained from
King Gontram the Gallo-Roman
castle named Luxeuil, some eight
miles distant from Annegray. It was
in wild district, thickly covered with
pine forests and brushwood This
foundation of the celebrated Abbey
of Luxeuil took place in 500. But
these two monasteries did not suffice
for the numbers who came, and a
third had to be erected at Fontaines
The superiors of these houses always
remained subordinate to Columbanus
For these flourishing communities
he wrote his rule, which embodied the
customs of Bangor and other Celtic
monasteries.
Persecution and Exile.
For we'll nigh twenty years Column
banus resided in France and during
that time observed the unreformed
paschal computation. But dispute
arose. The F'rankish bishops were
not too well disposed towards this
stranger abbot, because of his ever
increasing influence; and at last they
showed their hostility. They OBJ
jected to his Celtic Easter and his
exclusion of men as well as women
FROM the precincts of his monasteries,
Columbanus had to wage war against
vice in the royal household. The
young King Thierry, to whose king
dom Luxeuil belonged, was living a
life of debauchery. Finally Thierry
and his party went to Luxeuil and
ordered the abbot to conform to the
usages Of the country. Columbanus
refused, whereupon he was taken
prisoner to Besancon to await further
orders. Taking advantage of the abb
sence of restraint he speedily return
ed to his monastery. On hearing this,
Thierry and Brunehault sent soldiers
to drive him back to Ireland. None
but Irish monks were to accompany
him. Accordingly he was hurried to
Nevers. made to embark on the Loire,
and thus proceed to Nantes. At
Tours he visited the tomb of st. Mar
tin and sent messenger to Thierry
that within three years he and his
children would perish. At Nantes
before the embarkation he addressed
a letter to his monks, full of affection.
1t is memorial of the love and
tenderness which existed in that
otherwise austere and passionate soul
As soon as they set sail, such a
storm arose that the ship was driven
ashore. The captain would have