A path through Europe with Saint Columbanus

Written by Ben Kesp. 

St. Columbanus: Abbey Window Bobbio 

He was one of the many Irish monks that pushed the boundaries of the Irish Church into Europe spreading its teachings based on and intertwined with its former Irish Celtic culture. The Irish Church had become known across Europe for its simplicity of life, scholarly pursuits, artistic expression, deep spirituality and love of nature.

Born in the Kingdom of Meath in 543, Columbanus studied under Sinell, Abbot of Cluaninis in Lough Erne. From Meath, Saint Columbanus moved to Bangor Abbey and remained there until he began his travels to the European continent. He spent twenty years in France and established many monasteries, most notably the Luxeuil Abbey. 

Luxeuil Abbey, France. 

In France, he gathered a huge following but he had conflict with the French bishops who feared his influence. Columbanus defended his position and Celtic customs strongly with the bishops and continued by sending three letters to the Pope. In addition to speaking out against the Roman Church, Columbanus had issues with the French royal family that culminated in his abduction and he was to be banished to Ireland. He managed to escape and travelled to the Alps. Here, he established the Mehrerau Abbey around the grounds of an oratory dedicated to St. Aurelia. However, Columbanus’s old enemy King Theudebert II took hold of the region and an uprising followed against his community. 

Columbanus moved on to Italy and befriended King Agilulf and Queen Theodelinda of the Lombards. Again, he had disputes with Rome and Pope Gregory I over the Three Chapters, writings by the Christians in Syria and Egypt who were considered to favour Nestorianism (the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus) that was considered a heresy in the fifth century. He asked the Pope to prove his orthodoxy and assemble a council. Following is a quote from one of his letters to the Pope: 

We Irish, though dwelling at the far ends of the earth, are all disciples of St. Peter and St. Paul...we are bound to the Chair of Peter, and although Rome is great and renowned, through that Chair alone is she looked on as great and illustrious among us...On account of the two Apostles of Christ, you are almost celestial, and Rome is the head of the whole world, and of the Churches.

Columbanus established Bobbio Abbey based on the monastic practices of the Celtic Christianity at the Apennine Mountains, Italy. Before his death, he was asked by King Chlothar II to return to Burgundy, France, but he did not. He died on the 21st of November 615 in Italy leaving his legacy behind him. 

Bobbio Abbey, Italy. 

Images: Wikipedia.