Spiritality of Saint Columban strong desire for union his monks to look at the with God was the magnificent works of creation Adriving force in the life all round them in order to of St Columban. He believed understand the nature of God. that the risen Christ was present This link between his in him and the world around appreciation of the him: and that Christ was the awesomeness of nature and his source of all the gifts he needed strong belief in God comes out in life. St Columban was heavily strongly in his early sermons. influenced by the spirituality of There was a pastoral and the Desert Fathers. They were caring side to Columban which determined not to succumb to contrasts with the harsh and the seductions of the secular overly ascetic image that world around them and initially comes across from his committed themselves to the writings. His Fourth Letter search for their true selves in the written to the members of his deserts of the Middle East. In Luxeuil Community as he Ireland we do not have deserts awaited deportation back to but we do have plenty of quiet Ireland at the port of Nantes, lonely places which the Irish solitary meditation is reminiscent of offers us a rare but sincere monks sought out. There are over Jesus’s own prayer pattern which insight into his caring attitude for his 200 places in Ireland named Dysart was rigorously practiced by the fellow monks. It also offers us a (desert) which gives some indication desert monks. Here in the silence of glimpse into the personal angst he of how widespread was the practice his own heart Columban came in endured as he exercised leadership in among early Irish monks of seeking contact with the presence of God the same community. His pastoral out quiet places of solitude. Solitude deep within him. The results of these sensitivity is evident in his rules for and silence were the prerequisites for times of deep communion with God clergy and laity living outside the this inner search which was driven are evident in his writings: in monastery. At that time in Western by the belief that God dwelt at the particular his Sermon 12 and 13 are Christianity his introduction of deep core of their real selves. among some of the most mystical private confession and penance was The Lives of St Anthony of Egypt writings we have of any European a welcome relief to many Christians and St Martin of Tours were well monk. In Sermon 13 he writes: ‘how in several parts of Europe. known in the Irish monasteries of the lovely is the fountain of living water, His whole life was inspired by his 5th and 6th centuries. The writings whose water fails not, springing up belief that only God alone could of St John Cassian were also to eternal life. O Lord, you yourself answer the deep thirst in his heart. In standard documents in Irish are that Fountain ever and again to Sermon 12 we glimpse something of monastic libraries. These books be desired, though ever and again to this fundamental stance where he contained the wisdom of the Abbots be imbibed. Ever give us, Lord writes: ‘Lord grant me I pray in the from the desert which outlined the Christ, this water, that it may be in name of Jesus Christ your Son, my strict ascetic practices and prayer us too a Fountain of water that lives God that Love which knows no fall, methods to be followed by those and springs up to eternal life.’ so that my lamp may feel the who sought the way to union with How to keep alive the awareness kindling touch and know no God in the heart of their true selves. of their close relationship with Christ quenching, may burn for me and for The ‘Cave’ is a strong motif running was the major priority of their others give light. Grant us Christ, to through the life of St Columban: spiritual life: the carrying of the kindle our lamps … that they may from his early foundation in Eastern sacred host in a Pyx hung around the shine continually… and receive France to his final foundation in neck of each monk was a sign of this perpetual light from You, The Bobbio we find that he regularly left ongoing close connection with the perpetual light, so that our darkness his monastic community to spend risen Christ. The regular cycle of may be enlightened, and the world’s time at prayer in caves some distance prayer, work and study ensured that darkness may be driven from us.’ from his monastery. He was a man their focus on their friendship with dedicated to long periods of private God was never far from their minds. and communal prayer. This Saint Columban saw nature as his commitment to periods of silent teacher about God. He encouraged Fr Tommy Murphy SSC 8 Intercom • June 2015 National Celebration of 1400th anniversary of death of St Columban Step 5. No one is excluded from the table of the Lord Step 6. Here we are called to mission Step 7. How awesome is this place! Step 8. This is a holy land Step 9. We are Pilgrims for Christ. Suggested activity for Saturday, • Promote the event through 20 June the parish newsletter and Nine step Pilgrim Walk in ‘The Way local media. of St Columban’ Parishes and communities around Summary of The Way of the country are invited to mark the St Columban … nine steps occasion with a local pilgrim walk, The Way of St Columban is ‘The Way of St Columban’ to an ecumenical pilgrimage commemorate the 1400th experience with nine steps anniversary of the death of St along a selected route. Each Columban. step consists of: • A biblical reading Here is how to go about it: • The words of St Columban • Get a group of interested people • A brief reflection, together to organise the pilgrim • The Our Father. walk. • Download the text for the ‘Way of The nine steps conclude with St Columban’ nine step pilgrim a litany, prayers of walk from the website: intercession, the prayer to www.columbans.com or send an Saint Columban and a shared Getting to know all the places email to Blessing. Pilgrims may also choose around the country dedicated to [email protected] sharing reflections on local sites, St Columban for printed copies of the text. songs, prayers and invocations that As part of our national celebration • Select a route that is feasible for they consider appropriate to mark 1400th anniversary of the walking that takes in some throughout the route. death of St Columban, we are significant places in the area that These nine steps are a synthesis of inviting our readership to identify have a connection with our what concerns us as a Christian churches, hospitals, community religious, Celtic, historical and pilgrim people. They an integral part centres and historical places that monastic heritage sites. of every pilgrimage, whether it be to bear the name of St Columban (often • Mark out nine stops along the historic sites or in one’s own locality, known as St Columbanus or Naomh selected route. community or parish. Columbán). We would appreciate • Set a time for starting the Pilgrim you sending this information to Step 1. We are on a pilgrim journey walk and inform the Gardaí of the [email protected] . Step 2. We are disciples of Jesus selected route. You will be sent a copy of Liam Step 3. We are brothers and sisters • Inform and invite local church and Lawton’s CD with a song he on the road of life civil leaders to participate in the composed especially to mark the Step 4. Your Word gives me life. event. 1400th anniversary. Intercom • June 2015 9 Who was Saint Columban and why he is important today? Fr Seán McDonagh SSC presents some facts about the life of Saint Columban Columban – Irish dimension – collapse of the Empire. Columban an impact in the 6th and 7th 1North and South . He was born in and the monks who followed him to centuries in Europe. According to Dr Leinster, on the Carlow/Wexford Europe in the 6th and 7th centuries Damian Bracken, ‘shrines, towns and border and educated in Northern changed that perception radically. landmarks across Europe bear Ireland by St Sinell at his monastery Europeans accept that during the Columbanus’ name and testify to the at Cleenish on an Island in Lough sixth and seventh centuries the light widespread diffusion of devotion to Erne. From Cleenish, Columban came, not from the East but from the the saint. In the middle of the 9th went to Bangor to become a monk. West. century, a biographer of St Gall, a He spent more than 25 years at The fact that, within a generation colleague of Columban, Bangor during which time he was after his death, Jonas of Susa, a acknowledged the debt of his people ordained and probably taught monk at Bobbio, wrote the Life of to Ireland whence the splendour of scripture to young monks. Columbanus is a testimony to the such light came to us.’ He goes on to say that the light of Christianity has Columban has an All-Ireland importance of Columban’s legacy in shone westward to Ireland through dimension. There are opportunities Europe. The UCC historian Dr missionaries such as St Patrick. for both jurisdictions in Ireland to Damian Bracken comments that Between the 6th and 8th centuries coordinate in the celebration around ‘This is another first: Columbanus is this light shone in the opposite the person of Columban.