Columbanus

Life events

1. Born — 543

   Columbanus was born in the Kingdom of Leinster, Ireland, in 543. His name is the Latinised form of the Irish Colman, meaning little dove.

2. Educated — 560

   Columbanus was first educated under Abbot Sinell of Cluaninis on an island of the River Erne in modern County Fermanagh, where he composed a commentary on the Psalms, then moved to Bangor Abbey where Abbot Comgall taught him Greek, Latin, grammar, rhetoric, and geometry.

3. Pilgrimage — 590

   Around 590, with Abbot Comgall reluctant permission, Columbanus set sail from Ireland with twelve named companions, crossed via Cornwall, and landed at Saint-Malo in Brittany; welcomed by King Guntram of Burgundy, he converted a ruined Roman fortress at Anegray in the Vosges Mountains into a school, then established Luxeuil Abbey and a second school at Fontaines.

4. Council — 602

   In 602-603, Frankish bishops assembled to judge Columbanus over his use of the Irish Easter calculation and the distinct Irish tonsure. Rather than appear, Columbanus sent a letter admonishing the bishops and appealed directly to Pope Gregory I; Gregory death in 604 left the matter unresolved.

5. Imprisoned — 610

   After Columbanus rebuked King Theuderic II of Burgundy for keeping a concubine, Queen Brunhilda incited the court against him. Theuderic II had Columbanus imprisoned at Besancon for execution; Columbanus escaped and returned to Luxeuil, prompting the king to send soldiers to expel him to Ireland.

6. Exiled — 610

   Expelled from Burgundy, Columbanus was taken to Nantes for forced return to Ireland, but a storm drove the ship back ashore and the captain refused further transport. He found sanctuary with Chlothar II of Neustria at Soissons and was escorted to the court of Theudebert II of Austrasia, then travelled up the Rhine to Bregenz on Lake Constance.

7. Wrote — 613

   At King Agilulf request, Columbanus wrote a letter to Pope Boniface IV on the Three Chapters controversy, writings by Syrian bishops suspected of Nestorianism, urging the pope to convene a council and prove his orthodoxy. The diplomatically framed letter, despite pointed criticism, survives as one of Columbanus major epistles.

8. Died — 615

   Columbanus died at Bobbio Abbey on 21 November 615, having founded the monastery there in 614 on land granted by King Agilulf of the Lombards. His remains are preserved in the crypt at Bobbio; relics were placed in a new shrine in 1482.

Relationships

Documented claims

• Columbanus is the first Irish person to be the subject of a biography: Jonas of Bobbio wrote the Vita Columbani between 639 and 641, drawing on monks who had known Columbanus personally at Bobbio. (likely)
• Columbanus letter to Pope Gregory I in c. 600 contains the phrase totius Europae (all of Europe), identified as the first known written use of that expression. (likely)
• The Rule of Saint Columbanus, based on customs of Bangor Abbey, comprises ten chapters covering obedience, silence, food, poverty, humility, chastity, choir offices, discretion, mortification, and perfection; approved by the Fourth Council of Macon in 627, it was later superseded by the Rule of Benedict. (likely)
• In 2002 the Vatican declared Columbanus patron saint of motorcyclists, a designation proposed by Bishop of Hereford John Oliver on account of his extensive travels across Europe. (likely)
• Luxeuil Abbey produced sixty-three missionaries who carried Columbanus rule into France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy; these disciples are credited with founding more than a hundred monasteries. (likely)