Columbanus, known as San Columbano, in Italy, was an Irish saint who was active in the Frankish Empire, establishing monasteries throughout what is now France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, in the 6th and 7th centuries.
The best known are: St. Gall in Switzerland, Disibodenberg in the Rhine Palatinate, St. Paul's at Besançon, Lure and Cusance in the Diocese of Besançon, Beze in the Diocese of Langres, Remiremont Abbey and Moyenmoutier Abbey in the Diocese of Toul, Fosses-la-Ville in the Diocese of Liège, Mont-St-Michel at Peronne, Ebersmunster in Lower Alsace, St. Martin at Cologne.
Finally, he moved on to Italy, where, at Bobbio, he established a great monastic centre. He worked to convert the Arian Lombards and restore unity with the Bishop of Rome. It was here that he spent the last years of his life, leaving a corpus of writings that shaped the monastic culture of the Middle Ages.
The best known are: St. Gall in Switzerland, Disibodenberg in the Rhine Palatinate, St. Paul's at Besançon, Lure and Cusance in the Diocese of Besançon, Beze in the Diocese of Langres, Remiremont Abbey and Moyenmoutier Abbey in the Diocese of Toul, Fosses-la-Ville in the Diocese of Liège, Mont-St-Michel at Peronne, Ebersmunster in Lower Alsace, St. Martin at Cologne.
Finally, he moved on to Italy, where, at Bobbio, he established a great monastic centre. He worked to convert the Arian Lombards and restore unity with the Bishop of Rome. It was here that he spent the last years of his life, leaving a corpus of writings that shaped the monastic culture of the Middle Ages.
All of this, however, fails to convey how fascinating Columbanus actually was. Apparently a pretty handsome man, he is said to have left Ireland, partially, in order to escape all of the women who were chasing him!
He also performed some particular miracles that involved an incident where he squared off with a bear and another where he did for beer what Jesus had done with loaves and fishes.
One tale recounts these sorts of events when Columbanus went to the monastery of Fontaines and found sixty of the men hoeing the ground and preparing the fields for the future crop.
Seeing their toil he said, “May the Lord prepare for you a feast, my brethren.” His assistant replied, “Father, believe me, we have only two loaves and a very little beer.”
He also performed some particular miracles that involved an incident where he squared off with a bear and another where he did for beer what Jesus had done with loaves and fishes.
One tale recounts these sorts of events when Columbanus went to the monastery of Fontaines and found sixty of the men hoeing the ground and preparing the fields for the future crop.
Seeing their toil he said, “May the Lord prepare for you a feast, my brethren.” His assistant replied, “Father, believe me, we have only two loaves and a very little beer.”
So Columbanus took the two loaves and beer, raised his eyes to heaven, said, “Christ Jesus, only hope of the world, do Thou, who from five loaves satisfied five thousand men in the wilderness, multiply these loaves and this drink.” Miraculously, the bread and beer multiplied, leaving enough for everyone to have their fill.
Additionally, Columbanus is the Patron Saint Of Motorcycling, as officially endorsed by the Vatican. Perhaps one of the coolest saints to ever exist, he's also someone that any motorcyclists might want to visit and say a prayer to.
He died at the monastery he founded in Bobbio, Lombardy, and his bones still lie interred in his church there. So, if you want to visit this rock and roll saint, just find a vacation rental in Lombardy and pay him a visit.
Additionally, Columbanus is the Patron Saint Of Motorcycling, as officially endorsed by the Vatican. Perhaps one of the coolest saints to ever exist, he's also someone that any motorcyclists might want to visit and say a prayer to.
He died at the monastery he founded in Bobbio, Lombardy, and his bones still lie interred in his church there. So, if you want to visit this rock and roll saint, just find a vacation rental in Lombardy and pay him a visit.
Photo credits
picture 1: Trebbia / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Davide Papalini / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Davide Papalini / CC BY 2.5
picture 1: Trebbia / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Davide Papalini / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Davide Papalini / CC BY 2.5
