The story of his vocation, in Ireland and mission to Gaul, Germany and Italy

1. SAINT COLUMBANUS - 1
IRISH MISSIONARY TO EUROPE

2. Most of what we know about
Columbanus is based on
Columbanus' own works
and Jonas of Susa's Vita
Columbani which was
written between 639 and 641

3. Columbanus comes from Latin and means “white dove”.

4. Columbanus
an Irish
missionary
monk was
born in the
province of
Leinster, on
the border of
Carlow and
Wexford
in 543

5. Educated at home by excellent teachers who guided him in the study
of the liberal arts, he later entrusted himself to the guidance of Abbot
Sinell of the community of Cluain-Inis, in the north of Ireland, where
he was able to delve into the study of the Sacred Scriptures

6. He was first educated under Abbot Sinell of Cluaninis, whose
monastery was on an island of the River Erne, in modern
County Fermanagh. Under Sinell's instruction, Columbanus
composed a commentary on the Psalms

7. When he was about twenty years old, he entered
the monastery of Bangor, in the northeast of the
island, where Comgall was abbot, a monk well
known for his virtue and his ascetic rigor.

8. In full harmony with his abbot, Saint Columban
zealously practiced the severe discipline of the
monastery, leading a life of prayer, asceticism and study

9. He was well-educated in the areas of grammar,
rhetoric, geometry, and the Holy Scriptures.
Abbot Comgall taught him Greek and Latin

10. There he was ordained a priest.
Life in Bangor and the example
of the abbot influenced the
conception of monasticism that
Saint Columban matured with time
and spread later in his lifetime

11. BANGOR, N IRELAND

12. In 590 a.D. when he was about fifty years old, following the typically Irish ascetic ideal of the
"peregrinatio pro Christo", that is, of becoming a pilgrim for Christ, Saint Columban left the
island to undertake a missionary work on the European continent with twelve companions..

13. Columbanus set sail with twelve companions: Attala, Columbanus the Younger,
Gallus, Domgal, Cummain, Eogain, Eunan, Gurgano, Libran, Lua, Sigisbert and
Waldoleno. They crossed the channel via Cornwall and landed in Saint-Malo, Brittany

14. In Europe there was war between rival kingdoms. Coupled with the
negligence of local bishops, this has led to a breakdown in the practice of
religion. The migration of peoples from the north and east had brought
about a return to paganism of entire regions that had been Christianized.

15. “the Christian faith had almost departed from that country. The creed
alone remained. But the saving grace of penance and the longing to
root out the lusts of the flesh were to be found only in a few.

16. Columbanus
preached
the Gospel.
And it pleased
the people because
his teaching was
adorned by
eloquence and
enforced by
examples
of virtue”.

17. Columbanus, travelled via Cornwall to St
Malo in France. They were well received by
King Gunthran of Burgundy and Austrasia.

18. They took the Roman road east to Rheims, the capital of the kingdom
of the Franks. they only asked for a piece of land to cultivate.
They were granted the ancient Roman fortress of Annegray

19. Columbanus
regularly
retreated from
his community
and pilgrims
to a cave four
hundred feet
above the
monastery in
the valley of
the Breuchin.

20. He found near Annegray a grotto occupied by a bear. Nicely, he
asked the wild beast to leave this cave. The bear left and never
returned. Colomban visited this grotto many times to meditate
and to pray in solitude before the celebrations of the Lord

21. The fame of these foreign religious who, living by prayer
and in great austerity, built houses and tilled the land,
spread rapidly, attracting pilgrims and penitents.

22. Above all, many young people asked to be
welcomed into the monastic community.

23. Luxeuil; his second foundation. – with the favor of King Childebert II -
This monastery would become the center of the monastic and
missionary irradiation of the Irish tradition on the European continent.

24. A third monastery was erected at Fontaine, three miles north of Luxeuil.

25. In Luxeuil Saint Columban lived for almost twenty years.
There the saint wrote for his followers the Regula monachorum

26. for some time his Rule was more widespread in Europe than that
of Saint Benedict—, outlining the ideal image of the monk.

27. he also
drafted
the Regula
coenobialis,
a kind of
penal code for
the infractions
of the monks.

28. The Rule, which
Columbanus devised
for his three
monasteries,
is based on the
asceticism he
learned at Bangor.
Obedience
is the cornerstone
of the system,
and there is great
emphasis laid on the
confession of faults.

29. With another famous work, entitled De poenitentiarum misura taxanda, which he
also wrote in Luxeuil, Saint Columban introduced private and repeated confession and
penance to the continent; This penance was called "tariff" due to the proportion established
between the seriousness of the sin and the reparation imposed by the confessor.

30. These developments aroused suspicion among the bishops of the
region, suspicions that turned into hostility when Saint Columban
had the courage to openly reproach the customs of some of them.

31. They also
argued over
the date
of Easter:
Ireland followed
the Eastern
tradition,
which did
not coincide
with the Roman
tradition

32. Columbanus was summoned in the year 603 in Châlon-sur-Saôn to give
an account before a Synod of his customs on penance and Easter. Instead of
appearing before the Synod, he sent a letter downplaying the issue, inviting
the synod fathers to discuss not only the problem of the date of Easter,
according to him a secondary problem, "but also all the necessary canonical
norms, which many do not observe, which is more serious" (cf. Epistula II, 1).

33. -Upon the death of King
Guntram of Burgundy, the
succession passed to his
nephew, Childebert II,
the son of his brother
Sigebert, and Sigebert's
wife, Brunhilda of Austrasia.
-When Childebert II died,
his territories were divided
between his two sons:
-Theuderic II inherited the
Kingdom of Burgundy and
-Theudebert II inherited
the Kingdom of Austrasia.
Both were minors
and Brunhilda, their
grandmother, ruled
as their regents
Conflict with Brunhilda of Austrasia

34. Being intransigent on all moral issues, Saint Columban also
came into conflict with the royal house, for he had harshly
rebuked King Theodoric for his adulterous relationships.

35. From this arose a network of intrigues and
maneuvers on a personal, religious and political
level that, in the year 610, led to a decree
expelling Saint Columban and all the monks of
Irish origin from Luxeuil, who were sentenced
to a prison sentence and final banishment.

36. Brunhilda incited the court and Catholic bishops against
Columbanus and Theuderic II confronted Columbanus at Luxeuil,
Columbanus asserted his independence to run the monastery
without interference and was imprisoned at Besançon for execution

37. Columbanus escaped and returned to Luxeuil. When the king and
his grandmother found out, they sent soldiers to drive him back
to Ireland by force, separating him from his monks by insisting
that only those from Ireland could accompany him into exile

39. Columbanus was taken to Nevers, then travelled by boat down the Loire river to
the coast. At Tours he visited the tomb of Martin of Tours, and sent a message to
Theuderic II indicating that within three years he and his children would perish.

40. When he arrived at Nantes, he wrote a letter before embarkation to
his fellow monks at Luxeuil monastery. The letter urged his brethren to
obey Attala, who stayed behind as abbot of the monastic community

41. They were escorted to the sea and embarked, at court expense, for Ireland.
But the ship in a storm ran aground a short distance from the beach, and
the captain, seeing in this a sign from heaven, gave up the undertaking and,
for fear of being cursed by God, returned the monks to the mainland.

42. Columbanus
found sanctuary
with Chlothar II
of Neustria at
Soissons, who
gave him an
escort to the
court of King
Theudebert II
of Austrasia.
He journeyed on
to Metz, receiving
a hospitable
reception.
He decided to
start a new work
of evangelization.

43. They embarked on the Rhine and went up the river. After a first stage
in Tuggen, next to Lake Zurich, they went to the region of Bregenz,
next to Lake Costanza, to evangelize the Germans in the year 610-612.
Bregenz
Tuggen

44. In the spring of 612, war broke out between Austrasia and
Burgundy. Columbanus supported King Theudebert but he was
beaten by King Theuderich. Austrasia was added to the kingdom
of Burgundy. Columbanus found himself in a vulnerable position.

45. Over the past eighteen months, he and his monks had
undertaken an uncompromising mission, smashing pagan idols
and disrupting pagan ceremonies. Now, with monks being
murdered in the woods, Columbanus had to flee.

47. he crossed the Alps with most of his disciples. Only one
monk remained, named Gallus. The famous abbey of Sankt
Gallen, in Switzerland, would develop from his hermitage.

48. Foundation of St Galo, around which the town grew

49. Arriving in Italy, Saint Columban was cordially received at the
Lombard royal court, of of King Agiluf and Queen Theudelina.

50. the Church was torn apart by the Arian heresy, still dominant among
the Lombards, and by a schism that had separated most of the
Churches of northern Italy from communion with the Bishop of Rome.

51. When the king of the Longobards, in
the year 612 or 613, assigned him a
piece of land at Bobbio, in the Trebbia
valley, Saint Columban founded a new
monastery that would later become a
center of culture comparable to the
famous one at Monte Cassino.

52. He spent much of 613 in Milan, displaying all his customary drive as he
throws himself into the Arian controversy. - Saint Columban wrote a
libel against Arianism and a letter to Boniface IV to convince him to
commit himself decisively to the restoration of unity (cf. Epistula V) .

53. He prepared for death by retiring to his cave on the
mountainside overlooking the Trebbia river, where, according
to a tradition, he had dedicated an oratory to Our Lady

54. There he ended his life: he died on November 23, 615 and on
that date he is commemorated in the Roman rite to this day.

55. LIST OF PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH
Revised 1-11-2022
Advent and Christmas – time of hope and peace
All Souls Day
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – In the Light of the Word
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – The Experiences and Challenges of Families
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 - Looking to Jesus, the Vocation of the Family
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - Love in Marriage
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Love made Fruitfuol
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Some Pastoral Perspectives
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Towards a better education of children
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Accompanying, discerning and integrating
weaknwss
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – The Spirituality of Marriage and the Family
Beloved Amazon 1ª – A Social Dream
Beloved Amazon 2 - A Cultural Dream
Beloved Amazon 3 – An Ecological Dream
Beloved Amazon 4 - An Ecclesiastical Dream
Carnival
Conscience
Christ is Alive
Fatima, History of the Apparitiions
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – Church and Family today
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - God’s plan for the family
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – family as a Community
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – serving life and education
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – mission of the family in society
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - Family in the Church
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Football in Spain
Freedom
Grace and Justification
Haurietis aquas – devotion to the Sacred Heart by Pius XII
Holidays and Holy Days
Holy Spirit
Holy Week – drawings for children
Holy Week – glmjpses of the last hours of JC
Human Community
Inauguration of President Donald Trump
Juno explores Jupiter
Kingdom of Christ
Saint Leo the Great
Saint Luke, evangelist
Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland
Saint Maria Goretti
Saint Mary Magdalen
Saint Mark, evangelist
Saint Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Saint Martin de Porres
Saint Martin of Tours
Sain Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta
Saints Nazario and Celso
Saint John Chrysostom
Saint Jean Baptiste MarieaVianney, Curé of Ars
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint John of the Cross
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcuta
Saint Patrick and Ireland
Saing Peter Claver
Saint Robert Bellarmine
Saint Therese of Lisieux
Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Saints Zachary and Elizabeth, parents of John Baptist
Signs of hope
Sunday – day of the Lord
Thanksgiving – History and Customs
The Body, the cult – (Eucharist)
The Chursh, Mother and Teacher
Valentine
Vocation to Beatitude
Virgin of Guadalupe – Apparitions
Virgin of the Pillar and Hispaniic feast day
Virgin of Sheshan, China
Vocation – mconnor@legionaries.org
WMoFamilies Rome 2022 – festval of families
Way of the Cross – drawings for children
For commentaries – email –
mflynn@legionaries.org
Fb – Martin M Flynn
Donations to - BANCO - 03069 INTESA SANPAOLO
SPA
Name – EUR-CA-ASTI
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Laudato si 1 – care for the common home
Laudato si 2 – Gospel of creation
Laudato si 3 – Human roots of the ecological crisis
Laudato si 4 – integral ecology
Laudato si 5 – lines of approach and action
Laudato si 6 – Education y Ecological Spirituality
Life in Christ
Love and Marriage 12,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Lumen Fidei – ch 1,2,3,4
Mary – Doctrine and dogmas
Mary in the bible
Martyrs of Korea
Martyrs of North America and Canada
Medjugore Santuario Mariano
Merit and Holiness
Misericordiae Vultus in English
Moral Law
Morality of Human Acts
Passions
Pope Francis in Bahrain
Pope Francis in Thailand
Pope Francis in Japan
Pope Francis in Sweden
Pope Francis in Hungary, Slovaquia
Pope Francis in America
Pope Francis in the WYD in Poland 2016
Passions
Querida Amazonia
Resurrection of Jesus Christ –according to the
Gospels
Russian Revolution and Communismo 1,2,3
Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr
Saint Albert the Great
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Bruno, fuunder of the Carthusians
Saint Charles Borromeo
Saint Cecilia
Saint Faustina Kowalska and thee divine mercy
Saint Francis de Sales
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint James, apostle
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla
Saint Joseph

56. LISTA DE PRESENTACIONES EN ESPAÑOL
Revisado 1-11-2022
Abuelos
Adviento y Navidad, tiempo de esperanza
Amor y Matrimonio 1 - 9
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – A la luz de la Palabre
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – Realidad y Desafíos de las Familias
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 La mirada puesta en Jesús: Vocación de la
Familia
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - El Amor en el Matrimonio
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Amor que se vuelve fecundo
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Algunas Perspectivas Pastorales
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Fortalecer la educacion de los hijos
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Acompañar, discernir e integrar la fragilidad
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – Espiritualidad Matrimonial y Familiar
Carnaval
Conciencia
Cristo Vive
Dia de todos los difuntos
Domingo – día del Señor
El camino de la cruz de JC en dibujos para niños
El Cuerpo, el culto – (eucarisía)
Encuentro Mundial de Familias Roma 2022 – festival de las familias
Espíritu Santo
Fatima – Historia de las apariciones
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – iglesia y familia hoy
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - el plan de Dios para la familia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – familia como comunidad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – servicio a la vida y educación
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – misión de la familia en la sociedad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - participación de la familia en la
iglesia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Fátima – Historia de las Apariciones de la Virgen
Feria de Sevilla
Haurietis aquas – el culto al Sagrado Corazón
Hermandades y cofradías
Hispanidad
La Iglesia, Madre y Maestra
La Comunidad Humana
La Vida en Cristo
San José, obrero, marido, padre
San Juan Ma Vianney, Curé de’Ars
San Juan Crisostom
San Juan de la Cruz
San Juan N. Neumann, obispo de Philadelphia
San Juan Pablo II, Karol Wojtyla
San Leon Magno
San Lucas, evangelista
San Mateo, Apóstol y Evangelista
San Martin de Porres
San Martin de Tours
San Mateo, Apostol y Evangelista
San Maximiliano Kolbe
Santa Teresa de Calcuta
Santos Marta, Maria, y Lazaro
Santos Simon y Judaa Tadeo, aposttoles
San Nazario e Celso
San Padre Pio de Pietralcina
San Patricio e Irlanda
San Pedro Claver
San Roberto Belarmino
Santiago Apóstol
Santos Zacarias e Isabel, padres de Juan Bautista
Semana santa – Vistas de las últimas horas de JC
Vacaciones Cristianas
Valentín
Vida en Cristo
Virgen de Guadalupe, Mexico
Virgen de Pilar – fiesta de la hispanidad
Virgen de Sheshan, China
Virtud
Vocación a la bienaventuranza
Vocación – www.vocación.org
Vocación a evangelizar
Para comentarios – email –
mflynn@lcegionaries.org
fb – martin m. flynn
Donations to - BANCO - 03069 INTESA SANPAOLO
SPA
Name – EUR-CA-ASTI. IBAN –
IT61Q0306909606100000139493
Laudato si 1 – cuidado del hogar común
Laudato si 2 – evangelio de creación
Laudato si 3 – La raíz de la crisis ecológica
Laudato si 4 – ecología integral
Laudato si 5 – líneas de acción
Laudato si 6 – Educación y Espiritualidad Ecológica
Ley Moral
Libertad
Lumen Fidei – cap 1,2,3,4
María y la Biblia
Martires de Corea
Martires de Nor America y Canada
Medjugore peregrinación
Misericordiae Vultus en Español
Moralidad de actos humanos
Pasiones
Papa Francisco en Baréin
Papa Francisco en Bulgaria
Papa Francisco en Rumania
Papa Francisco en Marruecos
Papa Francisco en México
Papa Francisco – Jornada Mundial Juventud 2016
Papa Francisco – visita a Chile
Papa Francisco – visita a Perú
Papa Francisco en Colombia 1 + 2
Papa Francisco en Cuba
Papa Francisco en Fátima
Papa Francisco en la JMJ 2016 – Polonia
Papa Francisco en Hugaría e Eslovaquia
Queridas Amazoznia 1,2,3,4
El Reino de Cristo
Resurrección de Jesucristo – según los Evangelios
Revolución Rusa y Comunismo 1, 2, 3
Santa Agata, virgen y martir
San Alberto Magno
San Antonio de Padua
San Bruno, fundador del Cartujo
San Carlos Borromeo
San Francisco de Asis 1,2,3,4
San Francisco de Sales
Santa Faustina Kowalska, y la divina misericordia
Santa Cecilia
Saint Margaret,Queen of Scotland
Santa Maria Goretti
Santa María Magdalena
Santa Teresa de Lisieux
San Marco, evangelista
San Ignacio de Loyola