Saint · Feast 23 November
Saint Columban
Saint Columban, Abbot. The feast day is 23 November, kept as a optional memorial in the General Roman Calendar.
- Feast
- 23 November · Optional memorial
- Remembered as
- Abbot
The life
Abbot of Luxeuil and Bobbio, born in West Leinster, Ireland, in 543; died at Bobbio, Italy, 21 November, 615.
His life was written by Jonas, an Italian monk of the Columban community, at Bobbio, c. 643. This author lived during the abbacy of Attala, Columbanus's immediate successor, and his informants had been companions of the saint. Mabillon in the second volume of his "Acta Sanctorum O.S.B." gives the life in full, together with an appendix on the miracles of the saint, written by an anonymous member of the Bobbio community.
Columbanus, whose birth took place the year St. Benedict died, was from childhood well instructed. He was handsome and prepossessing in appearance, and this exposed him to the shameless temptations of several of his countrywomen. He also had to struggle with his own temptations. At last he betook himself to a religious woman, who advised him thus:
From the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), article “St. Columbanus”, in the public domain. Some details may since have been revised by later research. Read the whole article on Wikisource.
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