Saint Columban

Catholic Saint

st.Columban-Irish abbot in France

Feast Day : November 23

Also known as: Columbanus, the Younger Columba

Columban was born around 543 in Leinster, Ireland, to a noble family. He received a good education, and decided at a young age to enter monastic life. He went to an island in Lough Erne, where he studied with St. Comgall. After his ordination in 590, Columban took 12 companions, among them St. Gall, and went to England and France. In France they established monasteries at Annegray, Fontaine and Luxeuil. They were not well received and encountered many difficulties. Columban denounced King Thierry II of Burgundy for keeping concubines, and the king exiled him in 610. Columban spent two years traveling, eventually reaching Austrasia, where he and Gall parted company. Columban and the rest of his party returned to Ireland. They were shipwrecked en route and were taken in by King Clotaire of Neustria and King Theodobert at Metz, France. They stayed and evangelized in the area around Lake Constance in parts of modern Germany and Switzerland. Columban died in 615 at Bobbio, Italy