Saint Columban, Abbot. On November 23 we honor Saint Clement I, Pope & Martyr [see last week’s article]; Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, Priest & Martyr; and the above-mentioned Irish Monk and one of the ‘Fathers of Europe.’ Little is certain about his personal life; born sometime between 525 and 559, his death date is known: November 21, 615, in Italy. Again, why do we honor a man about whom we know next to nothing? Why is he the Patron Saint of Motorcycles and Dirt Bikes and the one whose intercession is sought during Floods? First, pray the Collect for his Feast Day, then I’ll explain his importance to us.
Saint Columban, Abbot O God, who in Saint Columban wonderfully joined the work of evangelization to zeal for the monastic life, grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example we may strive to seek you above all things and to bring increase to your faithful people. Through our Lord Jesus … for ever and ever. Amen.
“LEAVE ALL THINGS AND FOLLOW ME.” Unlike the rich young man in the Gospel who rejected Jesus’ invitation mentioned above [Cf. Mark 10:17-22:], Columban, aka Columbanus, heeded God’s call to reject riches and embrace poverty. Born into a wealthy family, and blessed with a good education and handsome, goodlooks, a wise elderly woman bid him flee from his many suitors. For as in these days, Matrimony was considered ‘optional’ – so she warned him to save his immortal soul – rather than indulge in bodily pleasures. His mother physically tried to stop him, but he broke free and went off to a monastery. [My parents were elated when I entered the Seminary, but some Seminarians’ parents oppose to the sons’ decision to enter!]
MONASTERY LIFE. Today, Columban’s self-imposed disciplines and penances are considered bizarre … except for those training to be top-notch athletes, who freely opt to endure similarly rigorous regimes! Monastery life was a mix of prayer and ‘hard’ labor: chanting the Divine Office at the various hours, day and night, between which they plowed fields and tended livestock; preaching and teaching was balanced with communal cooking, cleaning and caring for their own sick and their neighbors and burying the dead. Their life was all ‘Prayer and Work!’
A HOT HEAD ON THE GO. Initially, Columban served as a monk in his Irish homeland, but was compelled to cross the seas many times to the European mainland; he may be the first to call that continent ‘Europe.’ Some claimed he could calm the seas, so he is implored to Avert Floods. But as a rigid perfectionist, he engaged in so
many bitter disputes with local leaders and his own brothers that he regularly ‘moved on’ as a free spirit to new areas to start new monasteries. Many were drawn by the Monks’ soothing chanting of prayers, and sought to learn their farming and other skills, so many cities ‘sprung up’ around these monasteries. Thus, he was the
‘founder’ of many European cities, which often flourished because of their faith-based foundation. [We must take heed of what has happened to many of these formerly great cities that have since forsaken the Faith!]
His fiery disposition and reputation earned him the title Patron Saint of Motorcycles. My apology for employing that stereotype, for there are many faith-filled, peaceful motorcyclists. He is also credited with introducing the Irish form of one-on-one, private Confessions to Europe. In the Sacrament of Penance’s early development, penitents wore signs signifying their sins as they stood outside churches, seeking prayers from
worshippers; they were only admitted back into the Church after Lent. While this sounds harsh, many now boast of their sins via media sources – without being offered any means of Absolution!
Saint Columban took on many issues of his time: the Arian heresy which said Jesus was not truly God; the Easter date controversy: the Irish way to calculate it lost [in 2025, Orthodox Churches may also adopt Rome’s way to calculate Easter’s date; the laxity and depravity of civil and Church leaders; the proper Rite of Penance, etc. However, he always remained loyal to the Pope, the Successor of Saint Peter. May we do the same! Saint Columban, pray for us.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS