¹ Columban, also known as Columba, was born on the island of Ireland, which lies far out in the western ocean. According to common belief, it is a beautiful land, rich in natural resources, home to diverse peoples, and spared from the wars that trouble other nations. It is inhabited by the people of the Scots, who, although they do not follow the legal systems of other nations, thrive in the strength of Christian teaching and surpass all neighboring tribes in faith. Columban was born at the dawn of that nation’s conversion, so that the religion they had embraced with unwavering devotion might be further strengthened through his fruitful labor and the faithful support of those who worked alongside him.

² But what happened before his birth, before he saw the light of this world, must not be left unspoken. While his mother was carrying him in her womb, one stormy night as she lay fast asleep, she had a vision: she saw the sun rise from her own body, shining brightly as it emerged, and giving great light to the world. When she awoke, and dawn had scattered the shadows of night, she began to reflect deeply on what she had seen, wisely and joyfully considering the meaning of such a powerful vision. Desiring greater understanding, she sought the counsel of her learned neighbors, asking them with sincere hearts to carefully interpret the vision. In time, those who had given the matter thoughtful attention told her that she was carrying in her womb a man of extraordinary gifts, who would bring blessings not only for her own salvation but also for the salvation of those around her.

³ After learning of this vision, his mother cared for him with such devotion that she could hardly bring herself to entrust him even to close family members. As he grew, the boy’s life was marked by a desire to practice good works under the guidance of Christ—for without Him, no good work can be done. It was no mere coincidence that his mother had seen a radiant sun come forth from her womb, for this sun is a symbol of the Church’s faithful, who shine with holy light as members of the body of Christ, the universal mother. As the Lord says: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father”. So too, long ago, Deborah prayed to the Lord with inspired words, saying: “Let them that love You be as the sun when he goes forth in his might”.

⁴ For truly, the vaulted sky of the stars, gilded by its own distinction, is more splendid than the well-known brightness of any single light—just as daylight, brightened by the brilliance of the sun, shines more gently and graciously upon the world. In the same way, the body of the Church, already illuminated by the glory of its Founder, is further adorned by the multitude of saints and shines all the more through faith and wisdom. Those who come after are blessed by the fellowship of the wise. And just as the sun, the moon, and all the stars glorify both day and night with their brilliance, so too the virtues of holy priests increase the splendor of the Church.

⁵ When Columban’s childhood came to an end and he grew older, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the study of grammar and the sciences. With fruitful zeal, he pursued learning throughout his boyhood and youth until he reached manhood. However, because of his handsome appearance, his healthy complexion, and his noble bearing, he became well loved by all. Then the ancient enemy began to turn his deadly weapons against him, hoping to ensnare this young man—whom he saw increasing quickly in grace—within his traps. He stirred up against him the lust of immoral young women, especially those whose attractive figures and shallow beauty are known to inflame reckless desires in the hearts of misguided men.

⁶ But when that noble soldier realized he was surrounded on all sides by such deadly weapons, and saw clearly the cunning and craftiness of the enemy fighting against him—recognizing that through human weakness he could easily fall into ruin—he took action. As Livy wrote, “No one is made so sacred by religion, no one so protected, that lust cannot overcome him.” So, holding the shield of the Gospel in his left hand and wielding the two-edged sword in his right, he prepared to go on the offensive against the enemy forces threatening him. He feared that, if he were ensnared by worldly lusts, all his hard work in grammar, rhetoric, geometry, and the Holy Scriptures would have been wasted. And in the midst of these dangers, he received a special grace that gave him strength.

⁷ As he was already contemplating this course of action, he came to the home of a devout and holy woman. At first, he spoke to her with humility, but then he began to exhort her as best he could. Seeing the strength and zeal growing in the young man, she said: “I have gone forth to the battle as far as I was able. Look, it has been twelve years since I left my home and sought out this place of pilgrimage. With Christ’s help, I have not been involved in worldly affairs since then. After I put my hand to the plough, I did not look back. If the weakness of my sex had not held me back, I would have crossed the sea and chosen to live among strangers in a better place. But you, burning with the fire of youth, remain comfortably in your own land. In your weakness, you still give ear—even unwillingly—to the voice of the flesh, and you think you can be around women without falling into sin. But do you not remember the cunning of Eve and Adam’s fall, how Samson was deceived by Delilah, how David was led into injustice by the beauty of Bathsheba, and how the wise Solomon was ensnared by his love for women? Flee, young man, flee! Run from corruption, into which, as you know, many have fallen. Leave the path that leads to the gates of hell.”

⁸ The young man, trembling at her words—which were enough to strike fear into any youth—thanked her for the rebuke, said farewell to his companions, and set off. His mother, overwhelmed with grief, pleaded with him not to leave her. But he replied, “Have you not heard: ‘Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me’?”. She stood in his way, blocking the door, begging him to stay. Lying on the ground in tears, she swore she would not let him go. But he leapt over both the threshold and his mother, and asked her not to give in to her sorrow. He told her she would never see him again in this life, but that wherever the path of salvation led him, there he must go.

⁹ When he left his homeland—called Lagenland by the locals—he went to a holy man named Sinell, who was well known among his people for his exceptional piety and deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. When Sinell saw that Columban had remarkable ability, he began to instruct him in the full understanding of the Scriptures. As was the custom at the time, the teacher would sometimes test his students under false pretences, trying to draw them out in order to discern their true character—whether they were ruled by unchecked passions or dulled by laziness. He began to probe Columban’s disposition with difficult questions. Columban, though trembling, responded wisely. He was careful not to seem disobedient or motivated by the sin of seeking praise, and he answered each challenge as it came, remembering the words of the Psalmist: “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it”. In this way, Columban gathered such a wealth of sacred wisdom in his heart that, even in his youth, he could explain the Psalms with fitting language, compose many beautiful and edifying passages fit for singing, and provide instruction that was beneficial to read.

¹⁰ He then sought to join a community of monks and travelled to the monastery of Bangor. The abbot there, the holy Congall, was known for his virtue and served as a faithful spiritual father to the monks. He was greatly respected for the fervency of his faith and the strong order and discipline he maintained. At Bangor, Columban dedicated himself completely to fasting and prayer, to bearing the gentle yoke of Christ, to denying the desires of the flesh, and to taking up his cross and following Christ. In doing so, he aimed to become a teacher who would lead others more effectively by first setting an example through his own self-discipline; he believed that before he could instruct others, he must first teach himself.

¹¹ After spending many years in the monastery, he began to feel a deep desire to journey to foreign lands, inspired by the command the Lord gave to Abraham: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you”. So he opened his heart to the venerable father Congall and confessed the burning longing within him, a desire ignited by the fire of the Lord, of which Christ said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”. Yet he did not receive the response he had hoped for, for Congall found it difficult to let go of such a cherished and faithful companion. In time, however, Congall overcame his own sorrow and came to believe that he should not cling to his personal comfort when others had greater need. And all of this unfolded according to the will of the Almighty, who had prepared His servant through earlier trials so that, in the future, He might achieve glorious victories through him and win triumphs over the forces of evil.

¹² So the abbot called for St. Columban and, though grieved at heart, placed the needs of others above his own. He gave him the bond of peace, the strength that comes from comfort, and companions who were known for their holiness.

¹³ After gathering a group of fellow brothers, St. Columban asked for everyone’s prayers so that he might be supported in the journey ahead and strengthened by their devout intercession. At the age of twenty, he set out, placing his trust in Christ, and went with twelve companions to the seashore. There they waited, hoping that the mercy of Almighty God would allow their mission to succeed, and they came to understand that the Spirit of the all-merciful Judge was indeed with them. So they boarded a boat and began their perilous crossing of the sea. With calm waters and a favorable wind, they swiftly sailed to the coast of Brittany. There they paused to regain their strength and thoughtfully discussed their next steps. Eventually, they agreed to enter the land of Gaul, intending to carefully and zealously assess the hearts of the people. If they found the inhabitants receptive, they would stay longer to plant the seeds of salvation; but if the people remained in spiritual darkness, they would move on to the nearest neighboring nations.

¹⁴ So they left Brittany and entered the land of Gaul. At that time, due either to many external enemies or to the negligence of the bishops, the Christian faith had nearly vanished from the region. Only the Creed remained. But the saving grace of repentance and the desire to overcome the desires of the flesh were found in only a few. Wherever he went, the noble St. Columban preached the Gospel, and the people received it gladly, for his preaching was not only eloquent but also strengthened by the example of his holy life.

¹⁵ So great was the humility of St. Columban and his companions that, just as the people of this world strive after honor and power, they instead competed in showing deeper humility—remembering the words, “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted”, and also the passage from Isaiah: “This is the one to whom I will look: to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word”. Such devotion and love filled them all that they lived with one shared will and one common renunciation of the world.

¹⁶ Modesty and self-control, gentleness and humility were evident in all of them, equally. Laziness and division were completely cast out. Pride and arrogance were dealt with through strict discipline. Faithful diligence drove away scorn and envy. Their patience, love, and gentleness were so powerful that no one could doubt that the God of mercy was truly among them. When someone was found to be in the wrong, they worked together, with shared authority, to correct the person through fraternal rebuke. They held everything in common. Anyone who claimed ownership of anything for themselves was excluded from the community and given a penance. No one dared to repay evil for evil, or even to speak a harsh word, so that it seemed as though mortal men were living an angelic life. The holy man was honoured with such deep gratitude that wherever he stayed, everyone in that household was inspired to live the faith more devoutly.

¹⁷ News of Columban eventually reached the court of King Sigibert, who at that time ruled honorably over the Frankish kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy. Among all the peoples of Gaul, the Franks were especially respected and held in the highest esteem. When Columban and his companions arrived before the king, the depth of his wisdom and learning quickly earned him the favor of both the king and his court. King Sigibert earnestly pleaded with him to remain in the Frankish lands and not to journey on to other nations. He promised that whatever Columban needed or desired would be provided. In response, Columban told the king that he did not seek to be enriched with the wealth of others. Rather, as long as his body did not hinder him, he was determined to obey the call of the Gospel: “If anyone wants to come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me”.

¹⁸ Then the king replied, “If you truly desire to take up the cross of Christ and follow Him, then seek the solitude of a hermit’s life. But for the sake of your own spiritual reward, and for our benefit as well, I ask only that you remain within our kingdom and not go to the surrounding nations.” Since the decision was left to him, Columban accepted the king’s advice and chose the life of a hermit. At that time, there was a vast wilderness known as the Vosges. Within it stood the ruins of an old fortress long abandoned, known for generations as Anagrates. When the holy man arrived at this place, he and his companions settled there, despite the isolation, the harsh wilderness, and the rocky terrain. He remembered the words of Scripture: “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. For them, the Bread of Life was enough to nourish them, and they knew they would never go hungry.

¹⁹ While the man of God remained in that remote place with his companions, one of the brothers was suddenly struck with a violent fever—either as a test of faith or as a consequence of some sin. Because they had nothing to eat but what they could gather from bark and wild herbs, the entire community, united in spirit, resolved to devote themselves fully to prayer and fasting for the sake of their ailing brother. After three days of fasting, with their bodies weakened and no food left to sustain them, they suddenly saw a man standing at the entrance to their dwelling. His horses were loaded with bread and various provisions. He explained that he had felt an unexpected and urgent prompting in his heart to come to their aid and bring relief from his own resources to those who were suffering in the wilderness for the sake of Christ. He presented the supplies to the man of God and then humbly asked him to pray for his wife, who had been burning with a severe fever for an entire year and now seemed beyond all hope of recovery. Moved by the man’s sincere and contrite request, Columban could not turn him away. He gathered the brothers, and together they called upon the mercy of God on behalf of the sick woman. When they had finished praying, the woman—who had been on the brink of death—was instantly healed. Her husband, having received a blessing from the man of God, returned home and found his wife sitting up, fully restored. When he asked her at what moment the fever had left her, she confirmed that she had been healed at the very hour the man of God had prayed to the Lord for her.

²⁰ After a short time spent devoutly seeking forgiveness from Christ and repenting for their sinful thoughts through strict bodily discipline and intense fasting, the holy man and his companions brought their bodies into submission for the glory of God. They were determined to preserve the integrity of their spiritual calling. Through their severe practices, all fleshly desires were driven out, and the thief and destroyer of virtue—sin—was banished. For nine days, Saint Columban and his companions had eaten nothing but the bark of trees and the roots of herbs. Yet God’s mercy softened even this harsh fare, allowing them to endure. During this time, a certain abbot named Caramtoc, who led a monastery called Salicis, received a vision instructing him to provide sustenance to God’s servant Columban, who was living in the wilderness. Rising from his rest, Caramtoc called his cellarer, a man named Marculf, and shared the vision with him. Marculf simply replied, “Then do as you’ve been instructed.” Obeying the vision, Caramtoc ordered Marculf to gather whatever provisions he could and take them to Saint Columban. Marculf loaded the supplies onto wagons and set off. But as night fell, he was unable to find the path forward in the darkness. Trusting that if the command was truly from God, then God’s power would guide the journey, he released the reins and let the horses choose their way. By a miracle, the animals followed an unknown path straight through the forest and arrived directly at the dwelling of Saint Columban in Anegray. Marculf, astonished, followed their tracks and met the man of God. Columban gave thanks to his Creator, recalling the words of Scripture: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. Indeed, the Lord had not forgotten His servants in the wilderness. After receiving a blessing from Saint Columban, Marculf returned home along the same path and told everyone what had happened. Soon, crowds began to gather around Saint Columban—sick people, the suffering, and those seeking help for every kind of ailment. Though he had sought solitude, he could not turn them away. Yielding to their urgent prayers, and trusting entirely in God’s power, he interceded for them. Through his prayers, and by the grace of God, all who came to him were healed.

²¹ As the holy man was walking through the dark forest, he carried a book of Holy Scripture on his shoulder and was deep in meditation. Suddenly, a thought entered his mind: would he rather suffer harm at the hands of other people or be attacked by wild animals? He considered the question seriously, often making the sign of the cross on his forehead and praying. In the end, he resolved that it would be better to endure the violence of wild beasts—who act without sin—than to suffer at the hands of human beings, whose cruelty could lead them to eternal ruin. While this thought still lingered, he noticed twelve wolves coming toward him, surrounding him on both sides. Standing still in the center, he prayed aloud: “God, come to my aid! Lord, make haste to help me!”. The wolves drew closer and tugged at his clothes, but because he stood his ground and remained calm, they left him unharmed and wandered back into the woods. After overcoming this trial safely, he continued his journey through the forest. Before long, he heard the voices of several Suevi roaming nearby along hidden paths—they were robbing travelers in that area. But thanks to his courage and trust in God, he escaped the danger unharmed. Even afterward, he wasn’t entirely sure whether the incident with the wolves had been a real encounter or a deception from the devil.

²² At another time, the holy man left his cell and took a longer path deep into the wilderness. Along the way, he came upon a massive cliff, steep on all sides, with rugged, rocky paths that were difficult for anyone to climb. While exploring, he noticed a hollow space in the rock. Curious, he entered to see what was hidden inside. As he ventured deeper into the cave, he discovered it was the den of a bear—and the bear was there. Calmly but with authority, he commanded the animal to leave and not return to that place again. Remarkably, the bear obeyed. She left peacefully and never dared to come back. This place was about seven miles from the monastery at Anegray.

²³ During one period, the holy man was living alone in that hollowed-out rock, completely separated from the company of others. As was his custom, he chose to dwell in remote and hidden places in the wilderness—especially during the feasts of the Lord or the commemorations of the saints—so that his mind could be entirely free from worldly distractions and wholly devoted to prayer and spiritual contemplation. Through constant fasting, he had grown so thin and emaciated that he scarcely seemed alive. He ate only the barest amount of wild herbs or the small native apples of that wilderness, known locally as holluca. His only drink was water. Even this was sometimes hard to come by, as he was always occupied with spiritual discipline and, particularly during the fulfillment of his vows, had little time to obtain it regularly.

²⁴ A young boy named Domoalis was serving under the care of the saint. His role was to act as a messenger, carrying news from the monastery to the father and bringing back his instructions to the brothers. At one point, Domoalis spent several days in a remote hollow high up in a rocky mountain—a place difficult to reach from any direction. Eventually, he began to complain about how hard it was to get water. The steep paths exhausted him, and the journey wore out his knees. Hearing this, Columban said to him, “My son, get to work. Dig a small hole in the back of the rock. Remember, the Lord brought water from the rock for the people of Israel”. Domoalis obeyed, doing as he was told and began to dig into the rock. At the same time, the holy man knelt in prayer, asking God to help in their time of need. His prayers were eventually answered. As he continued to pray with deep faith, God’s power was made present—and soon, a stream of fresh water began to flow from the rock. That spring still flows to this day.

²⁵ And rightly so, the merciful Lord listens to the prayers of His saints—those who, out of obedience to His commandments, have put to death their own desires. Their faith is so strong that they do not doubt they will receive what they ask for from His mercy. For He has promised: “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” And in another place: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

²⁶ As the number of monks grew rapidly, Columban began looking for a more suitable location for a monastery in the same wilderness. He found a place about eight miles from the first settlement, formerly a stronghold known as Luxovium. This site included remarkably well-constructed Roman baths. Nearby, in the surrounding forest, stood many stone idols—remnants of an earlier pagan era, when such figures had been worshiped with horrific rituals. Here, the holy man began to establish a new monastery. News of this spread quickly, and people came from every direction to dedicate themselves to the religious life. So many arrived that the number of monks soon overwhelmed the available space. Sons of nobles came from distant regions, turning away from the vanities of the world and the trappings of wealth, longing instead for eternal reward. Columban saw that people were flocking to the path of repentance, and that one monastery could barely contain the flood of new converts. Though united in heart and purpose, they simply could not all dwell in the same place. So he sought out a new location, one especially notable for its abundant water, and there he founded a second monastery, which he named Fontaines (Fontanas). He placed in this house men of proven piety and spiritual strength. Once these two communities were established, Columban divided his time between them. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he laid down a rule of life for the monks—one that reflected his deep wisdom and holiness. From this rule, the careful reader or attentive listener may come to understand both the depth of his learning and the character of his sanctity.

²⁷ At that time, a brother named Autierin asked permission to make a pilgrimage to Ireland. Columban replied, “Let us go into the wilderness and seek to understand God’s will—whether you are truly called to make this journey or to remain here among the community of brothers.” So they set out into the wilderness, taking with them a third young man named Somarius, who was still alive at the time of this account. They went to a place in the wilderness that had been designated for prayer and discernment, bringing with them only a single loaf of bread. Twelve days passed. The bread was gone, and they had nothing left to eat. As the time approached to break their fast, the father instructed them to go down among the rocky cliffs and into the valleys below to gather whatever food they could find that was suitable to eat.

²⁸ They walked gladly through the sloping valleys, heading down toward the Moselle River. Along the way, they came across some fish that had already been caught by local fishermen and were now floating on the water’s surface. As they approached, they saw five large fish. They took three that were still alive and brought them back to their spiritual father. When they returned, he asked, “Why didn’t you bring all five? They answered, “Two of them were already dead, so we left them behind.” Then he said, “You may not eat these until you return and bring the others you left behind.” Amazed at the depth of divine grace revealed through him, they retraced their steps along the same dangerous path, filled with regret for having left behind what they now understood as a gift from heaven—manna sent by God. Later, they were told to prepare the fish for eating. For, filled with the Holy Spirit, their father knew that this food had been provided by God specifically for him.

²⁹ On another occasion, he was living again in the same wilderness, though in a different location. Fifty days had passed, and only one of the brothers, named Gall, was with him. Columban instructed Gall to go to the Brusch and catch some fish. Gall took his boat and went to the Loignon River. When he arrived, he cast his net into the water and saw a large number of fish approaching. But strangely, none of them entered the net. It was as if they had hit an invisible wall, and they swam away. He labored there the entire day but could not catch even one fish. So he returned to Columban and told him his efforts had been in vain. Columban gently rebuked him for not going to the place he had originally been sent. Finally, he said, “Go quickly to the spot where you were told to fish.” Gall obeyed, returned to the designated place, and cast his net into the water. Immediately, it was filled with so many fish that he could hardly pull it in.

³⁰ At another time, Columban was staying in the cave he had previously claimed from a bear, spending a long period in prayer and fasting to discipline his body. Through divine revelation, he learned that the brothers living near Luxeuil were suffering from various illnesses, and only a few healthy ones remained to care for the sick. Leaving his cave, Columban went to Luxeuil. When he saw the afflicted monks, he commanded all of them to get up and go out to the threshing floor to process the harvest. Those whose hearts were stirred by obedience rose at once and, filled with faith, went to the threshing ground and began to work. Seeing their faith and their willingness to obey, the holy man said, “Stop now and rest your bodies, weakened by illness.” They obeyed—and to their amazement, they were completely healed. Not a single trace of their illnesses remained. As Columban had directed, they prepared the tables so that everyone could be renewed with a joyful meal. But Columban rebuked those who had refused to obey. He exposed the weakness of their faith and foretold that their illness would linger. And indeed, divine justice followed: those who disobeyed were struck with such severe sickness that they barely survived the entire year. They were made to carry out a full and fitting penance for the moment of their disobedience.

³¹ At that time, the season for gathering the harvest had arrived, but strong winds continued to drive in heavy clouds. Despite this, it was absolutely necessary to bring in the crops before the grain rotted on the stalks from too much rain. The man of God, Columban, was staying at the monastery of Fontaines, where a newly cultivated field had produced an abundant harvest. Yet the skies were dark with storm clouds, and the rain poured steadily onto the earth. Columban considered what to do. Strengthened by faith, he discerned the right course through divine inspiration. He called all the brothers together and ordered them to begin harvesting the grain. They were puzzled by the command—how could they reap in such weather? Nevertheless, they obeyed and came with their reaping tools, watching closely to see what Columban himself would do. He assigned four devout men to stand at the four corners of the field: Comininus, Eunocus, and Equanacus—three monks of Irish origin—and Gurganus, a Briton. Once they were in place, Columban began to reap with the others in the center of the field. And then something extraordinary happened. The rain, which had soaked the land, suddenly fled from the field. It scattered in all directions, leaving the crops dry. The sun broke through, shining warmly on those reaping in the middle, and a strong, warm wind blew as they worked. This weather held as long as they gathered the grain. Such was the power of faith and prayer, that in the midst of storm and wind, God granted them clear skies and sunshine to bring in the harvest.

³² At that time, there was a nobleman named Waldelen who ruled the region between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. He and his wife, Flavia—who was distinguished both by her noble birth and by her character—had no children. Like Juvencus writes of Zechariah and Elizabeth, “the gift is all the more precious to those who have already lost hope”. The couple traveled from the town of Besançon to visit Saint Columban. They pleaded with him to pray to the Lord on their behalf, for although they had great wealth, they had no son to whom they could pass it on after their death. The holy man said to them: “If you promise to dedicate the child God gives you to His service, and if you allow me to lift the child from the baptismal font, I will ask the Lord to show you mercy—not only to grant you this one child whom you consecrate to Him, but as many more as you desire.” They joyfully agreed to his request, asking only that he continue to intercede for them. Saint Columban assured them that they would soon receive what they longed for, but warned them not to break the promise they had made.

³³ A truly wonderful thing happened—no sooner had they returned home than Flavia realized she had conceived. In due time, she gave birth to a son and brought him to the holy man, offering thanks to God, who had heard the prayers of His faithful servants.Saint Columban dedicated the child to the Lord, lifted him from the baptismal font, and gave him the name Donatus. He then returned the infant to his mother to be nursed. As Donatus grew, he was educated in the monastery and instructed in wisdom. In time, he was made Bishop of Besançon, a position he still holds. Out of devotion to Saint Columban, he later established a monastery governed by Columban’s rule. Because it was built on the site of an ancient building, it was called Palatium.

³⁴ God faithfully fulfilled the promise made through His servant and granted Waldelen a second son, named Ramelen, a man of noble birth and remarkable wisdom. After Waldelen’s death, Ramelen succeeded him in his position. Though he remained a layman, he was deeply devoted and walked in the fear of God. Out of love and respect for Saint Columban, Ramelen also founded a monastery according to his rule, establishing it in the Jura Mountains along the Movisana River. He appointed Siagrius as abbot to lead the community. The Lord, in His generosity, also gave Waldelen and Flavia two daughters, who were noble in birth and even more so in their reverence for Christ. After Waldelen’s passing, Flavia founded a convent in Besançon, placed it under her protection, and gathered many women into religious life. The grace of God, working through the holy man Columban, was powerfully present among them. These women rejected the empty vanities of the world and dedicated themselves with fervor to the service of God.

³⁵ If we include details that may seem minor, it will still reveal the goodness of the Creator—who is just as merciful in small matters as in great ones, and who listens just as quickly to the smallest concerns as He does to the most serious pleas. This will be clear even to those who mock out of envy. One day, the holy man of God had gone with the brothers to harvest crops near a place called Calmem, also known as Baniaritiaj. As they worked, a south wind was blowing, and one of the brothers named Theudegisil accidentally cut his finger with a sickle so badly that it was left hanging by only a strip of skin. When the man of God saw Theudegisil standing apart from the group, he told him to return to his work. But Theudegisil explained why he had stepped aside. Columban quickly went to him and, using his own saliva, restored the injured finger to full health. Then he told Theudegisil to get back to work with renewed energy. Theudegisil, who had been upset for a long time about his wounded finger, now joyfully threw himself into the task with even greater effort, pushing ahead of the others in cutting the grain. He himself told us this story and showed us the healed finger. A similar event took place later at the monastery of Luxeuil.

³⁶ A parish priest named Winnoc—the father of Babolen, who is now the abbot of Bobbio—once went to visit St. Columban. At the time, Columban was in the forest with the brothers, gathering wood. When Winnoc arrived, he stood watching in amazement as they split the trunk of a large oak tree with just mallets and wedges. But suddenly, one of the wedges shot out from the trunk and struck Winnoc squarely in the middle of his forehead, cutting deeply enough that blood poured from the wound and the bone was exposed. Seeing the severity of the injury, Columban, the man of God, immediately fell to the ground and began to pray. Then he got up and healed the wound with his saliva, so effectively that barely a trace of a scar was left.

³⁷ On another occasion, when St. Columban came to dine at the monastery of Luxeuil, he placed his gloves—called Wantly by the Gauls, which he usually wore while working—on a stone outside the door of the refectory. In the quiet that followed, a thieving raven swooped down and flew off with one of the gloves in its beak. After the meal, Columban came out and looked for his gloves. When everyone was asking who might have taken them, the holy man said, “No one here would dare take anything without permission—except the bird that Noah sent out from the ark and that did not return”. Then he added that the raven would not be able to feed its young unless it quickly returned what it had stolen. As the brothers searched, the raven suddenly flew back into their midst and returned the stolen glove in its beak. It didn’t try to escape, but, as if it had forgotten its wild nature, stood there humbly in full view, waiting to be judged. The holy man simply told it to go. Oh, the wondrous power of the eternal Judge, who gives such authority to His servants that they are honored not only by people but even by the obedience of birds!

³⁸ Another miracle was performed through St. Columban and his cellarer, which I will now relate. When it was time for the meal and the cellarer was preparing to serve the beer—which is made by boiling down the juice of corn or barley, and is preferred over other drinks by all the nations of the world, except for the Scots and certain barbarous peoples living in the ocean; that is, in places like Gaul, Britain, Ireland, Germany, and other regions that still follow these customs—he took a jar, called a tyhrum, into the cellar and set it in front of the vat that held the beer. He removed the plug and allowed the beer to flow into the jar. Just then, another brother suddenly called him by order of the abbot. Fired with the spirit of obedience, he rushed to the holy man, still holding the plug—called a daciculum—in his hand, completely forgetting to put it back in place. After doing what the man of God had asked, he quickly returned to the cellar, expecting that the beer vat would be completely empty. But to his astonishment, he saw that the beer had flowed cleanly into the jar, without a single drop spilling outside, and the jar now appeared as though it had doubled in size. Such was the merit of Columban’s command and the cellarer’s obedience that the Lord intervened to prevent grief for either of them. For if the zeal of one had led to the loss of the community’s provisions, both would have gone without needed food. So the righteous Judge hurried to wipe away the accidental faults of both, committed unknowingly and with the Lord’s permission, though each would have claimed responsibility for the oversight.

³⁹ At that time, the man of God—who loved solitude—was walking through a dense thicket of fruit trees when he came upon a bear about to devour the carcass of a stag that had been killed by wolves. The bear was already licking up the blood. Before it had begun eating the flesh, the man of God approached and commanded it not to damage the hide, as it was needed to make shoes. Amazingly, the beast forgot its wild nature and became gentle, lowering its head and backing away from the carcass without protest—completely contrary to its usual behavior. The man of God then returned and told the brothers what had happened, instructing them to go and remove the hide from the stag’s body. When the brothers arrived, they saw a large flock of scavenging birds in the distance, but none of them dared to approach the body because of Columban’s command. The brothers waited nearby for quite some time, curious to see whether any animal or bird would defy the order and try to claim the forbidden food. Though many were drawn by the scent, they all stopped short, and, as if sensing something deadly and dangerous, turned away and quickly flew off.

⁴⁰ On another occasion, while Columban was staying at Luxeuil, a priest named Winnoc—whom we mentioned earlier—came to see him and began accompanying him wherever he went. They eventually arrived at the storehouse where the grain was kept. Seeing how little grain there was, Winnoc looked down on the supply and criticized Columban for what he saw as laziness in providing for such a large community. St. Columban responded, “If people truly serve their Creator, they will never lack what they need, for as the voice of the Psalmist declares: ‘I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging their bread’”. He added, “He who fed five thousand men with five loaves can just as easily fill this storehouse with grain”. That night, while Winnoc remained at the monastery, the storehouse was miraculously filled through the faith and prayers of the man of God. In the morning, as Winnoc passed by, he was surprised to see the storehouse open and the custodian standing in front of the door. He asked who had ordered the delivery or what animals had brought the grain. The custodian answered, “It isn’t as you think. Look closely—do you see any tracks on the ground? The keys never left my possession during the night, and yet while the door remained locked, the storehouse was filled with grain by divine help.” Winnoc then examined the area carefully, watching the ground intently for any sign of pack animals. When he found no trace at all, he exclaimed, “The Lord is indeed able to prepare a table for His servants in the wilderness”.

⁴¹ Some time later, Columban went to the monastery of Fontaines and found sixty brothers working the land, hoeing the soil and preparing the fields for the next crop. When he saw them toiling hard to break up the clumps of earth, he said, “May the Lord prepare a feast for you, my brothers.” Upon hearing this, his attendant replied, “Father, believe me, we have only two loaves of bread and a small amount of beer.” Columban said, “Go and bring them here.” The attendant quickly brought the two loaves and the little beer. Columban lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed: “Christ Jesus, only hope of the world, you who fed five thousand people in the wilderness with five loaves, multiply these loaves and this drink.” What incredible faith! Everyone ate until they were satisfied, and each man drank as much as he wanted. The servant gathered up twice as much bread and twice as much drink as they had started with. In this way, it became clear that faith is more worthy of divine blessings than despair, which tends to reduce even what one already has.

⁴² While the man of God was staying at Luxeuil, one of the brothers—who was also named Columban—was struck with a fever. Lying near death, he waited peacefully for the joyful release he had long hoped for, trusting in the eternal reward he had sought through years of faithful service. As he was about to draw his final breath, he saw a man clothed in light come to him and say, “I cannot free you from your body right now, because I am being held back by the prayers and tears of your father Columban.” When the sick man heard this, he awoke as if from sleep and sorrowfully called out for his attendant, Theudegisal, whom we mentioned earlier. He said, “Go quickly and bring our father Columban to me.” Theudegisal hurried off and found Columban weeping in the church. He urged him to come quickly to the sick brother. Columban came at once and asked what he needed. The dying man replied, “Why do you keep me in this sorrowful world with your prayers? Those who would lead me away are already here, but your prayers and tears are holding them back. I beg you—let go of what holds me, so that the gates of heaven may be opened to me.” Columban, filled with awe, gave a signal for everyone to gather. His joy at his companion’s reward softened his sorrow over the loss. He gave him the Body of Christ as viaticum and, after giving him the final kiss, began the chant for the dying. They had been of the same kin, shared the same name, and had left Ireland together.

⁴³ And do not be surprised that wild animals and birds obeyed the commands of the man of God. We have this testimony from Chamnoald, the royal chaplain at Laon, who was Columban’s attendant and disciple. He often saw Columban wandering in the wilderness, fasting and praying, and calling to the wild creatures. At his call, the animals and birds came at once, and he would gently stroke them with his hand. They would joyfully play and frolic around him, much like cats do around their mistresses. Chamnoald said he had often seen Columban call down a small animal—what people commonly call a squirrel—from the tops of tall trees. The squirrel would come to him, and Columban would take it in his hand, place it on his neck, and let it crawl in and out of his robe.

⁴⁴ The reputation of Columban had already spread throughout all of Gaul and Germany, and everyone was speaking highly of the revered man. King Theuderich also frequently visited him and humbly asked for his prayers. Theuderich had come to power in this way: Sigibert was assassinated at the royal estate of Vitry, not far from Arras, at the urging of his brother Chilperich. At that time, Chilperich was living in Tournai and had been targeted for death by Sigibert. After Sigibert’s death, his wife Brunhilda helped ensure the kingdom passed to their son, Childebert II. When Childebert died young, his two sons, Theudebert and Theuderich, inherited the kingdom and ruled it together alongside their grandmother Brunhilda. Theudebert took control of Austrasia, while Theuderich ruled over Burgundy. Theuderich believed he was especially blessed to have St. Columban living in his realm.

⁴⁵ As King Theuderich frequently visited Columban, the holy man began to confront him about his immoral behavior. He rebuked the king for living with concubines instead of committing himself to a lawful wife. Columban urged him to seek the blessings of legitimate marriage, so that he might father royal children through an honored queen, rather than producing illegitimate offspring through concubines. After this rebuke, Theuderich promised to change his ways and abstain from such sinful behavior. But the ancient serpent, Satan, stirred up trouble through his grandmother Brunhilda, who acted like a second Jezebel. She was filled with pride and resentment toward the holy man, because she saw that Theuderich was beginning to obey him. Brunhilda feared that if the concubines were cast out and a queen was established at court, her own influence and status would be diminished.

⁴⁶ One day, St. Columban visited Queen Brunhilda while she was staying at the estate of Brocarnaca. As he entered the courtyard, she approached him, bringing with her the illegitimate sons of King Theuderich. When St. Columban saw her, he asked, “What do you want from me?” Brunhilda responded, “These are the king’s sons. Give them your blessing.” Columban replied, “Know this: these boys will never bear the royal scepter, for they were conceived in sin”. Furious at his words, Brunhilda dismissed the boys. After Columban departed the court, a loud cracking noise was heard, the entire house trembled, and all present were struck with fear. Yet even this frightening sign did nothing to calm the wrath of that wretched woman.

⁴⁷ From that time on, Brunhilda began to persecute the nearby monasteries. She issued harsh decrees: no monk was to be allowed to leave monastery lands, no one was to receive them into their homes, and no one was to offer them any form of assistance. Seeing that the entire royal court had turned against him, Columban quickly set out for Spissia, where King Theuderich was staying at the time. He went there to confront the defiance openly and warn the king once more. He arrived around sunset, but did not enter the palace. When word reached Theuderich that Columban had come but refused to cross the threshold, the king said, “It would be wiser and more respectful to show proper hospitality to this man of God than to provoke the wrath of the Lord by dishonoring His servant”.

⁴⁸ At the king’s command, food and drink were prepared in the royal kitchen and sent to the servant of God. When the attendants arrived and, following the king’s orders, offered the lavish meal to Columban, he asked them what it meant. Upon hearing that it was a gift from the king, he pushed the food away and said: “It is written: “The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked”. It is not fitting for the servant of the Lord to be defiled by the food of a man who not only bars him from his home, but also prevents him from being welcomed elsewhere.” At these words, all the dishes shattered. The wine and other drinks spilled onto the ground, and the food was scattered everywhere. Alarmed, the servants rushed to report this to the king. Gripped with fear, the king, accompanied by his grandmother, went early the next morning to see Columban. They both earnestly begged his forgiveness for their past wrongs and promised to change their ways. Relieved by their apparent repentance, Columban returned to his monastery. However, they did not keep their promises. The persecutions soon resumed, even more harshly, as the king persisted in his sinful ways. In response, Columban sent the king a letter filled with strong rebukes and warned him that if he did not repent, he would face excommunication.

⁴⁹ Brunhilda once again stirred up hostility in the king’s heart against Columban. She encouraged the nobles and everyone at court to oppose him, and she even persuaded the bishops to challenge Columban’s faith and push for the abolition of his monastic rule. Her efforts were so effective that the holy man was eventually faced with a harsh choice: either defend his faith before the authorities or leave the country.

⁵⁰ Spurred on by Brunhilda’s influence, the king traveled to Luxeuil and accused Columban of disregarding the local customs and of forbidding all Christians from entering the inner part of the monastery. Columban, unafraid and confident in his calling, responded firmly. He explained that it was not customary to allow laypeople into the private quarters of those consecrated to God, but he had made provisions for a separate area where all visitors could be welcomed appropriately. The king insisted: “If you want to continue receiving our favor and protection, then from now on, everyone must be granted unrestricted access to all parts of the monastery.” To this, Columban replied: “If you dare to violate even one aspect of the monastic rule, then I will no longer accept any gift or assistance from you. But if you have come here to destroy the houses of God’s servants and to tear down their discipline and way of life, then I say this to you: your kingdom will fall, and your entire royal line will perish.” The king had already brazenly stepped into the monastery’s refectory when Columban declared these words. Overwhelmed by fear, he quickly turned and withdrew. As time would show, Columban’s warning proved true.

⁵¹ When Columbanus sharply rebuked him with scathing words, King Theuderich replied, “You seem to want me to give you the glory of martyrdom. But don’t think I’m so reckless as to commit such a crime. Instead, I will take a wiser and more reasonable course. Since you refuse to follow the customs shared by all, I will send you back to the land you came from.” At the same time, the members of the royal court agreed unanimously: they would not tolerate anyone who refused to live in fellowship with others. But Columbanus stood firm, saying that he would not leave his monastery unless he was physically forced out.

⁵² The king then withdrew, but left behind a nobleman named Baudulf. Baudulf forcibly expelled the holy man from his monastery and brought him to Besançon, placing him under guard until the king decided what further action to take. While in Besançon, Columbanus learned that the city’s prison was filled with men condemned to death. The man of God went quickly to them and, encountering no resistance at the gate, entered and began to preach the word of God to the prisoners. They listened attentively and promised that, if they were granted freedom, they would repent, amend their lives, and do penance for their past crimes. After this, Columbanus turned to his young attendant—mentioned earlier—and told him to take hold of the iron bar that bound the prisoners’ feet and pull on it. The boy obeyed, and as he pulled, the metal shattered like a piece of rotting wood. Seeing their chains broken, Columbanus told the prisoners to leave. Once freed, he preached the Gospel to them, then knelt and washed their feet, drying them carefully with a linen towel. He instructed them to go to the church, to do penance for their sins, and to weep in repentance to wash away their guilt. The men rushed to the church, only to find its doors shut and barred.

⁵³ When the captain of the guard saw that the chains of the condemned had been broken by Columban through God’s power, and that the prison now held no one but was completely empty, he was shocked. Though awakened from sleep, he immediately began to follow the trail left by the escapees. The fugitives, realizing that the soldiers were closing in on them and that the doors of the church were locked, found themselves trapped and turned on the man of God in frustration. They scolded Columban for setting them free only to face recapture. But Columban, breathing heavily, lifted his face toward heaven and prayed earnestly, asking the Lord not to allow those whom He had delivered from iron chains by His strength to fall back into the hands of their pursuers. Just as it is written, “The Lord frees prisoners”, and “He shatters doors of bronze and cuts through bars of iron”. Immediately, the goodness of the Creator acted. The locked church doors opened on their own, revealing a path of escape for those in danger. The condemned rushed inside. As soon as they were within, the doors closed again—without any human touch—right before the soldiers’ eyes, as if an unseen doorkeeper had unlocked them and locked them back. When Columban arrived with his companions, and the captain arrived at the same time with his soldiers, they found the church doors securely shut. They called for the janitor, a man named Aspasius, to bring the key. But when he tried to unlock the doors, he exclaimed that he had never found them so tightly sealed. From that day forward, no one dared to harm the men whom divine grace had rescued.

⁵⁴ Since Columban now realized that no one was watching him and that no one intended him any harm—for everyone recognized that he was empowered by the strength of the Lord, and they avoided harming him to keep themselves free from guilt—he acted with confidence. One Sunday, he climbed to the summit of the mountain. The city itself was built into the slope of this steep mountain, with houses clustered tightly along its side. Above the city, sheer cliffs towered upward, rising as if to touch the sky. The entire mountain was encircled by the River Dou, which formed a natural barrier and left no clear path for travelers. Columban waited until noon, watching closely to see if anyone would attempt to stop him from returning to his monastery. When no one did, he took the road that led straight through the city.

⁵⁵ When Queen Brunhilda and King Theuderich heard what had happened, their anger deepened even more. Once again, they ordered a group of soldiers to seize the man of God by force and return him to his former place of exile. The soldiers, led by their commander, arrived at the monastery and began searching its grounds for him. At that very moment, the man of God was in the vestibule of the church, peacefully reading a book. The soldiers passed by him several times. Some of them even brushed against him with their feet or their clothing—but they could not see him. Their eyes were mysteriously blinded, and they remained unaware of his presence. And it was an exceedingly beautiful sight: they rejoiced and searched, yet he could not be found; when they saw that he was placed in their midst, they did not see him. Then the tribune came, and looking in through a window, he saw the man of God sitting joyfully among them and reading. Seeing the power of God, he said, “Why do you wander so through the courts of the church, yet still cannot find him? Let your hearts no longer be deceived by the delusion of madness: for you will not be able to find the one whom divine power conceals. Depart from this plan, and let us hasten to tell the king that you have utterly failed to find him.” And it becomes plainly understood that the tribune of the soldiers had not come of his own accord to do violence to the man of God, and therefore was granted this vision in order to see him.

⁵⁶ They reported the matter to the king. Driven by the madness of his wicked intent, the king sent Count Bertarius, along with the royal guard, to search more thoroughly for Columban. He also sent Baudulf, whom he had previously dispatched. When they found the holy man, he was in the church, praying and singing psalms with all the brothers. They said to him, “Man of God, we ask you to obey the king’s command—and ours as well—and return to the land from which you came.” But Columban replied, “I do not believe it would be pleasing to my Creator for me to return to the homeland I left for the sake of Christ.” Seeing that Columban would not comply, they withdrew. However, they left behind several men of harsh and violent character.

⁵⁷ Those who had remained behind pleaded with the man of God to have compassion on them. They explained that they had been deceitfully left with the task of removing him and urged him to consider the danger they faced. If they didn’t force him out, their own lives might be at risk. But Columban, as he had often made clear, replied that he would not leave unless he was forcibly removed. Driven by fear—knowing they faced danger no matter what they did—some of the men grabbed hold of the robe he was wearing. Others fell to their knees and begged him not to hold them guilty of such a grave offense. They insisted they were not acting on their own will, but were only obeying the king’s command.

⁵⁸ He finally chose to surrender, not for his own sake, but so that others would not suffer because of him. As he left, sorrow and grief were felt by all. The king provided an escort to accompany him all the way to the border of the kingdom at Nantes, with Ragamund appointed as their leader. The entire community followed him as if they were attending a funeral, for sadness filled every heart. Their spiritual father, deeply troubled at the loss of so many of his brothers, looked up to heaven and prayed: “O Creator of the world, prepare for us a place where Your people may worship You.” He then comforted his brothers, urging them to trust in the Lord and give great praise to the Almighty God. This, he explained, was not a tragedy for him or for them, but an opportunity for the monastic community to grow even more. Anyone who wished to follow him, and had the strength to share in his trials, was welcome to come. Those who preferred to remain at the monastery should do so with confidence, knowing that God would not delay in defending the wrongs they had suffered. Yet the monks were unwilling to be separated from their shepherd, and so they all resolved to go. However, the king’s men made it clear that only those who were either from the same homeland as the abbot or had joined him from Brittany would be allowed to leave with him. By royal command, the rest had to stay behind. When the abbot saw how his companions were being forcibly separated from him, both his grief and theirs grew even deeper. But he turned to the Lord—the Comforter of all people—and prayed that He would care for those whom royal force had torn away. Among those left behind was Eustasius, Columban’s student and devoted assistant. In time, Eustasius would become abbot of this very monastery, which had once been under the oversight of his uncle, Mietius, the Bishop of Langres.

⁵⁹ So, twenty years after he had first come to that place, the holy man departed, traveling through Besançon and Autun, eventually reaching the fortress of Cavalo. Along the way, the king’s chief horseman attempted to kill him with a lance. But the hand of God intervened—his arm was suddenly paralyzed, and the weapon dropped to the ground at his feet. Then, overwhelmed by a divine power, he fell prostrate before Columban. Despite the attack, Columban showed him mercy. He cared for the man through the night, and by morning, he had recovered completely. Columban then sent him safely back home, healed.

⁶⁰ From Cavalo, he traveled to the river Chora, where he stayed in the home of a noble and devout woman named Theudemanda. While there, he healed twelve people who were possessed by demons. Later that same day, he continued on to the nearby village of Chora, where he cured five individuals who were suffering from madness. Afterward, he journeyed to the city of Auxerre. While there, he spoke to his companion, Ragamund, and said, “Know this: within three years, Chlotar—the man you now hold in contempt—will be your ruler.” Ragamund responded, “Why do you tell me such things, my lord?” But he answered, “If you are still alive, you will witness what I have foretold.”

⁶¹ After leaving Auxerre, Columban saw a young man possessed by a demon running toward him at great speed. The youth had run nearly twenty miles with all his strength. Columban stood still, waiting for the man—driven and wounded by the power of the evil spirit—to reach him. As soon as the young man fell at the feet of the man of God, he was immediately healed through Columban’s prayers and was visibly restored to full health. With guards accompanying him both ahead and behind, Columban continued on to the city of Nevers, intending to travel by boat along the Loire River to the coast of Brittany. When they reached the river and, with some difficulty, boarded the boat, one of the guards took an oar and struck one of the travelers—Lua, a man known for his deep holiness and devotion.

⁶² The man of God, seeing one of his companions struck before his eyes, said, “Cruel man, why do you add to my sorrow? Is the guilt of your wrongdoing not already enough to condemn you? Why do you show no mercy toward those who are merciful? Why do you strike one who belongs to Christ and is already weary? Why do you unleash your anger on someone so gentle? Know this: you will face God’s judgment in this very place where, in your rage, you struck a servant of Christ.” The punishment swiftly followed, fulfilling the words spoken by the saint. For when the man later returned to that same place to cross the river, he was struck down by divine justice and drowned. And why did the righteous Judge delay the sentence even briefly, if not to spare His servant from the distress of witnessing the man’s punishment?

⁶³ From there, they traveled to the city of Orléans. Sadly, they had to rest in tents along the banks of the Loire River, because the king had ordered that they not be allowed into any of the churches. After some time, their food ran out, and they sent two of their companions into the city to search for provisions. One of them was Potentinus, who would later go on to found a monastery in Brittany, near the city of Coutances—and who was still living at the time of this account. When the two men entered Orléans, they found nothing, because the townspeople, afraid of the king’s command, dared neither to sell nor to give them anything. Disheartened, they began walking back along the same road by which they had entered the city. Along the way, they encountered a woman from Syria in the street. When she saw them, she asked who they were. They explained their situation—that they were travelers searching for food, but had found none. She responded warmly: “Come, my lords, to the house of your servant. Take whatever you need. I too am a foreigner, a stranger from the lands of the East.” They gratefully accepted her invitation, followed her to her home, and sat down to rest. Meanwhile, she went to gather what they needed. In the house with them was her husband, who had been blind for many years. When they asked who he was, the woman said, “My husband is of the same Syrian people as I am. Because he is blind, I’ve been leading him by the hand for many years.” The travelers said to her, “If he were to go to Columban, the servant of Christ, he would receive his sight through that holy man’s prayer.” The blind man believed in the promise of healing, regained hope, stood up, and—led by his wife—went with them. When they arrived back at camp, they told Columban about the woman’s hospitality to strangers. Before they had even finished speaking, the blind man arrived and begged the man of God to pray that his sight be restored.

⁶⁴ When Columban saw the man’s faith, he asked everyone present to join in prayer for the blind man. Then, after lying face down on the ground in prayer for a long time, Columban got up, gently touched the man’s eyes, and made the sign of the cross over them. At that moment, the man received the sight he had long prayed for. He rejoiced, filled with gratitude for the gift of restored vision. It was only right, after all, that someone whose soul had already been illuminated by the light of faith and hospitality should not be left in physical darkness as well.

⁶⁵ Soon after, a group of men driven to madness—tormented by demons with brutal violence—hurried to the man of God, seeking healing. By the Lord’s mercy, healing was granted to them all through Columban. Every one of them was restored to health. The people of the city, moved by the miracles they had witnessed, brought gifts to Columban in secret. They dared not offer anything publicly because of the presence of the king’s guards, fearing they might bring down the king’s anger upon themselves. Then Columban and his companions continued on their journey.

⁶⁶ As they traveled along the Loire River, they reached the city of Tours. There, Saint Columban humbly asked the guards to stop so he could visit the tomb of Saint Martin. The guards refused. They urged the rowers to increase their speed and ordered the helmsman to keep the boat in the middle of the river, hoping to bypass the harbor quickly. Seeing this, Columban lifted his eyes to heaven with sorrow. He grieved deeply that he was being denied the chance to honor the saints by visiting their resting places—“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones”. But despite the guards’ efforts, the boat stopped suddenly—just as if it had dropped anchor—as soon as it came opposite the harbor. Then, against their commands, the vessel turned on its own toward the landing place. Seeing they had no control, the guards reluctantly allowed the boat to go where it wished. In an extraordinary way, it moved as though carried on wings from the middle of the river straight into the harbor, fulfilling the desire of the man of God.

⁶⁷ Columban gave thanks to the eternal King, who does not ignore the desires of His faithful servants—“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”. After landing, he went to the tomb of Saint Martin and spent the entire night there in prayer. At dawn, he was invited by Leoparius, the bishop of Tours, to break his fast. Columban accepted the invitation, especially to provide nourishment and rest for his fellow monks, and he spent the day in fellowship with the bishop. When they sat down together at the appointed hour for their meal, the bishop asked him why he was returning to his homeland. Columban answered plainly, “That dog, Theuderich, has driven me away from the brethren.”

⁶⁸ Then one of the guests, a man named Chrodowald—who was married to a cousin of King Theudebert but loyally served King Theuderich—spoke gently to the man of God. “It’s more pleasant to drink milk than wormwood,” he said, using a proverb to suggest peace was better than conflict. He then affirmed that he would remain faithful to Theuderich, as he had sworn, for as long as he was able. Columban replied, “I understand your desire to remain loyal to King Theuderich. And since you are his servant, I know you will be willing to carry a message from me to your lord and friend.” “Tell Theuderich this: he and his children will die within three years, and the Lord will wipe out his entire household.” Chrodowald, startled, asked, “Why do you speak such words, O servant of God?” Columban answered: “I dare not hide what the Lord has commanded me to proclaim, for the Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” In time, all the people of Gaul saw that this prophecy came true. And so it confirmed what had earlier been revealed to Ragamund.

⁶⁹ After the meal, the man of God returned to the boat, where he found his companions downcast and distressed. When he asked what had happened, they told him that during the night, someone had stolen what they had on board—including a sum of gold that he had not yet distributed to the poor. On hearing this, Columban went back to the tomb of the holy confessor, Saint Martin, and poured out his complaint in prayer. He lamented that he had kept vigil at the saint’s relics, only to suffer such a loss—“Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure?”. Immediately, the man who had stolen the bag of gold began to experience intense torment. He cried out in agony, revealing where he had hidden the stolen coins, pointing out one place after another. In fear and shame, his accomplices hurried to return everything they had taken and begged Columban to forgive their grave offense. This miracle filled everyone with such awe that upon hearing it, no one dared to lay hands on anything belonging to the man of God, believing that all his possessions were sacred—“Touch not my anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm”. After making sure Columban and his companions had food for their journey, Bishop Leoparius took his leave and bid him farewell.

⁷⁰ Filled with joy, they continued their journey by boat to the city of Nantes, where they stopped for a short time. One day, as the man of God was deep in prayer and meditation in his cell, a beggar cried out for help outside the door. Hearing him, Columban called for one of his attendants and said, “Give the beggar something to eat.” The attendant answered, “We have nothing left but a small amount of meal.” Columban asked, “How much do we have?” “I think it’s no more than a single measure,” the attendant replied. “Then give it all,” Columban said. “Keep nothing back for tomorrow.” The servant obeyed without hesitation and gave everything they had to the beggar, setting aside nothing for the community’s own needs—“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself”.

⁷¹ By the third day, they had been fasting continuously, having had almost nothing but the sustaining grace of hope and faith to revive their weary bodies. Then, quite suddenly, the sound of the door opening broke the silence. The doorkeeper, hearing the noise, asked why there was such a disturbance at the entrance. The man at the door replied that he had been sent by his mistress, Procula. She had received a divine message instructing her to send food to the man of God, Columban, and to his companions who were staying near the city of Nantes. The man explained that the provisions were already on their way and that he had been sent ahead to ask them to prepare containers to receive them. The supplies included a hundred measures of wine, two hundred of grain, and a hundred of barley. The doorkeeper hurried to report this to Father Columban. But the saint calmly responded that he was already aware of it. He then instructed that all the brothers gather together to pray to the Lord on behalf of their generous benefactress. At the same time, he directed them to give thanks to their Creator, who never fails to provide comfort and aid to His servants in every need. Only after giving thanks did they begin to receive the gifts.

⁷² What a wondrous compassion our Creator shows! He allows us to experience need so that He can reveal His mercy by providing for us. He allows us to be tested and tempted, so that by helping us in our struggles, He may draw our hearts closer to Himself. He even permits His followers to endure harsh suffering, so that they might rejoice all the more deeply when healing and restoration come.

⁷³ Another noble and devout woman named Doda sent a generous offering: two hundred measures of wheat and one hundred measures of mixed grain. Her act of charity brought deep embarrassment to the city’s bishop, Suffronius, who had offered nothing—neither as a gift nor even in exchange for anything. While Columban was still in the area, a woman afflicted by a demon came to him, accompanied by her daughter, who was also suffering from a serious illness. When Columban saw them, he lifted his heart in prayer to the Lord on their behalf. By God’s mercy, both were healed. Afterward, he gently instructed them to return to their home.

⁷⁴ Afterward, Bishop Suffronius of Nantes and Count Theudebald began making arrangements to send St. Columban back to Ireland, as the king had ordered. But the holy man responded, “If there is a ship here preparing to return to Ireland, place my belongings and my companions on it. In the meantime, I will take my small boat down the Loire River toward the ocean.” They soon found a merchant vessel that had arrived with goods from the Irish (or Scots), and they loaded it with Columban’s possessions and his fellow monks. With the wind in their favor, the crew began rowing the ship toward the sea. But suddenly, a great wave struck the vessel and drove it onto the shore. The tide went out, and the ship was left stranded in the riverbed, stuck firmly in place. For three days, the vessel remained immovable on dry ground. Then the captain realized that this strange delay must be due to the presence of Columban’s belongings and his companions. He made the decision to unload everything associated with the man of God. As soon as they did, a wave rose up and carried the ship smoothly out to sea. Everyone present was struck with awe, recognizing that God was clearly preventing Columban from returning to his homeland.

⁷⁵ He returned to the house where he had previously lived, and no one stood in his way; in fact, Everyone helped the man of God by giving him food and gifts, each according to their ability. He was never left without protection, for in everything he was supported by the Creator—the One who guards Israel and never sleeps, keeping them safe under the shadow of His wings. In this way, God clearly shows that He wants to be glorified by everyone, each person in proportion to the greatness of the gifts they have received.

⁷⁶ Not long after this, Columban went to Chlotar, the son of Chilperich, who ruled over the Franks living along the coast in Neustria. Chlotar had already heard how the man of God had been persecuted by Brunhilda and Theuderich. He welcomed Columban as a true gift from heaven and pleaded with him to remain in Neustria. But Columban refused, saying that he did not wish to stay—neither to extend the length of his pilgrimage nor to escape hostility. Still, he stayed with the king for a while and spoke to him about various abuses, the kind that are almost unavoidable in a royal court. Chlotar promised to correct everything in accordance with Columban’s guidance, for he deeply loved wisdom and rejoiced in the blessing he had received.

⁷⁷ Meanwhile, a conflict broke out between Theudebert and Theuderich over the borders of their kingdoms, and both sent messengers to Chlotar, asking for his support. Chlotar was inclined to help one against the other and turned to Columban for advice. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, Columban told him that he should not side with either, because within three years he would receive both kingdoms. Trusting the prophecy spoken by the man of God, Chlotar chose not to aid either side but waited in faith for the appointed time. In the end, he was victorious and received both kingdoms, just as foretold.

⁷⁸ Later, Columban asked Chlotar to help him pass through Theudebert’s territory and, if possible, to cross the Alps into Italy. Chlotar provided him with an escort to lead him to Theudebert, and Columban set out on his journey, arriving first in the city of Paris. As he reached the city gates, he encountered a man possessed by an unclean spirit. The man was raving, tearing at his clothes, and babbling incoherently. As soon as he saw Columban approaching, he began crying out from a distance in a harsh, growling voice: “What are you doing here, O man of God?” When Columban saw him, he said, “Leave, evil one, leave! Do not dare to remain in a body that has been washed by Christ. Submit to the power of God and to the name of Christ, which is invoked.” But the demon resisted fiercely and with great cruelty. Then the man of God placed his hand on the man’s ear and struck his tongue, commanding the devil by the power of God to leave. The demon tore at the man with such violent force that he could barely be held by his restraints. At last, the demon came out with great retching and vomiting, creating such a foul stench that those standing nearby believed they could more easily endure the fumes of burning sulphur.

⁷⁹ Then Columban went to the city of Meaux, where he was warmly welcomed by a nobleman named Hagneric. Hagneric was a friend of Theudebert, a man of wisdom and noble character, and a trusted advisor to the king. He promised to care for Columban until he could be brought to Theudebert’s court, and insisted that the other escorts provided by the king were not needed. Wishing to keep the man of God with him as long as possible, he dismissed the others so that his own household might be honored and enriched by Columban’s wisdom. Columban blessed his house and dedicated Hagneric’s young daughter, Burgundofara, to the Lord—a child of whom more will be said later.

⁸⁰ From there, Columban continued to Eussy, on the river Marne. He was welcomed by a man named Autharius and his wife, Aiga. They had young sons, all under the age of ten, whom Aiga brought to the man of God to receive his blessing. Seeing the mother’s faith, Columban blessed the children and consecrated them to God. As they grew up, these sons became highly respected—first by King Chlotar, and later by Dagobert. But though they achieved great honor in the world, they were careful not to let worldly glory cost them eternal life. The elder son, Ado, chose to withdraw from worldly affairs and founded a monastery near Mount Jura, following the rule of St. Columban. The younger, Dado, also established a monastery under the same rule, near Brieg on the small river Rebais.

⁸¹ The man of God had such an abundance of faith that everyone he consecrated remained faithful to the end, continuing to do good works. Those he warned were later glad, knowing they had been spared because of his words. And it was only right that someone so strong in spirit, who had received even more grace, should have been rewarded—since he was guided by wisdom and refused to turn away from the path of a righteous life.

⁸² From there, Columban went to Theudebert, who welcomed him with joy. Many brothers from Luxeuil had already joined Theudebert, and he received them as if they had been rescued from the enemy. The king promised to find beautiful and suitable places for God’s servants, where they could preach to the surrounding people. Columban replied that if the king was sincere and would actively support him, he would gladly stay longer and try to plant the seeds of faith in the hearts of the nearby populations. Theudebert gave him permission to choose a fitting place, and with everyone’s agreement, Columban selected a long-abandoned city in the German region near the Rhine, known as Brigantia. But what the man of God did as he traveled up the Rhine in his boat must not be left unmentioned.

⁸³ As they travelled, they reached the city once known as Maguntiacum. The oarsmen, who had been sent by the king to assist the man of God, told him they had friends in the city who could provide food—since they had already been fasting for a long time. Columban told them to go, but they returned empty-handed, having found no help from their friends. Then Columban said, “Let me go for a short while to visit my friend.” They were puzzled—how could he have a friend in a place he had never been before? But he went to the church, entered, and threw himself down on the floor, offering a long prayer to God, the source of all mercy, asking for His protection. At that very moment, the bishop of the city left his house and came to the church. Seeing Columban, he asked who he was. Columban replied, “I am a pilgrim.” The bishop said, “If you need food, go to my house and take whatever you need.” After giving thanks to him and to the Creator who had moved his heart, Columban hurried back to the boat and told all the men—except for one to stay behind as a guard—to go and take what they needed. And so that no one would think this happened by chance, the bishop later often testified that he had never before offered food so spontaneously. He also confirmed that he had gone to the church that day by divine prompting, in recognition of the holiness of blessed Columban.

⁸⁴ Eventually they arrived at the place that had been chosen, though Columban was not completely satisfied with it. Still, he decided to stay there in order to spread the Christian faith among the local people, who were Swabians. One day, while travelling through the region, he came upon a group preparing to make a pagan offering. They had placed a large barrel—called a cupa—in their midst, which held about twenty-six measures of beer. When Columban asked what they planned to do with it, they told him it was an offering to their god Wodan (whom others call Mercury). When Columban heard this act of idolatry, he breathed upon the barrel—and immediately, it shattered with a loud crash, spilling all the beer onto the ground. It became clear that the devil had been hiding in the vessel, intending to use the drink to ensnare the souls of those who took part. The pagans, witnessing this, were astonished and remarked that Columban must have a powerful breath to break apart such a well-bound barrel. But he rebuked them with the words of the Gospel and ordered them to abandon such offerings and return to their homes. Many of them were converted through the preaching of the holy man. Turning to the truth and faith of Christ, they were baptized by him. Others, though already baptized, had still lived in pagan superstition—and like a good shepherd, Columban brought them back through his words to true faith and into the embrace of the Church.

⁸⁵ At that time, King Theuderich and Queen Brunhilda turned their anger not only against Saint Columban, but also against the holy Bishop Desiderius of Vienne. After subjecting Desiderius to great mistreatment and finally sending him into exile, they eventually ended his life—thus granting him the crown of martyrdom. Through his virtuous actions, as previously described, and the many sufferings he endured, he was found worthy to share in the glorious victory of the saints in the presence of the Lord.

⁸⁶ During a difficult period near the city of Bregenz, Columban and his companions faced severe hunger. For several days they had nothing to eat, yet they remained courageous and unshaken in their faith. Because of their steadfast trust in God, they received unexpected provision. After fasting for three days and growing physically weak, they suddenly came upon an extraordinary number of birds—much like the quails that once covered the ground around the camp of the Israelites in the wilderness.

⁸⁷ The man of God, Columban, understood that this abundance had been sent directly by God for his and his followers’ preservation. He knew the birds had appeared because of his presence. Before allowing anyone to take the birds for food, he instructed his companions to first offer heartfelt thanks to their Creator. What followed was a remarkable miracle: the birds made no attempt to escape and were easily caught, exactly as Columban had directed. This divine provision lasted for three full days. On the fourth day, a priest from a nearby town—moved by a prompting from God—sent a supply of grain to them. As soon as the grain arrived, the Almighty, who had mercifully provided birds for the hungry, withdrew the flocks. They flew away at once. We learned of this event from Eustasius, who was there with the group under the direction of the servant of God. He testified that none of them had ever seen birds like these before, and their meat had such a rich and pleasing taste that it surpassed even the finest meals served to kings. What a marvelous display of divine mercy! When no earthly food was available to the servants of Christ, heaven itself provided nourishment—just as Scripture says of Israel: “He gave them the bread of heaven”. And when earthly sustenance was finally delivered, the heavenly food which had been mercifully granted was taken away.

⁸⁸ While Saint Columban was living in solitude beneath a cliff in the wilderness, he was practicing strict fasting, weakening his body as an act of spiritual discipline. His only food came from the wild apples growing nearby, which have been mentioned earlier. One day, a large and ravenous bear came to the area and began eating the apples, even carrying them off in its mouth. When the time came for Columban to eat, he instructed his companion, Chagnoald, to gather the usual portion of apples for his meal. But when Chagnoald went to the orchard, he saw the bear roaming among the apple trees and bushes, licking and eating the fruit. He quickly returned and told Columban what he had seen. In response, Columban calmly instructed Chagnoald to go back, designate a portion of the trees specifically for the bear, and tell the animal to leave the rest untouched. In obedience to his spiritual father’s command, Chagnoald returned, used his staff to mark off a section of trees and bushes for the bear, and set aside the other portion for Columban, just as he had been told. What followed was remarkable: the bear showed complete obedience. From that moment on, and for as long as Columban stayed in that place, the bear only took fruit from the trees assigned to it, never crossing the boundary or eating from the trees reserved for the man of God.

⁸⁹ At one point, Saint Columban considered traveling to the land of the Wends—also known as the Slavs—with the hope of bringing the light of the Gospel to their spiritually darkened minds, and guiding those who had long wandered in error onto the path of truth. As he prepared to make a vow and commit himself to this mission, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a vision. In the vision, the angel showed him a small circle that represented the structure of the world—just as one might draw the circle of the universe with a pen in a book. “You see,” said the angel, “how much of the world is set apart and open to you. Go to the right or the left, wherever you wish, and you will bear fruit in your labors.” Taking this as divine direction, Columban chose not to pursue the mission to the Slavs. Instead, he remained where he was—until the path to Italy opened before him.

⁹⁰ During this time, the peace treaty between King Theuderich and King Theudebert broke down. Each, proud of the strength of his army, sought to destroy the other. Seeing the threat of war and spiritual ruin, Saint Columban went to Theudebert and boldly urged him to abandon his throne and enter monastic life. He warned the king that, by clinging to worldly power, he risked losing not only his earthly kingdom but also eternal life. The king and his nobles laughed at the idea. Never before, they said, had a Merovingian king willingly given up the throne to become a monk. But Columban responded with solemn conviction: if Theudebert refused to accept the sacred calling of his own free will, he would soon be forced into it against his will. After delivering this message, Columban returned to his monastery. But his prophecy quickly began to unfold. Theuderich launched an attack against Theudebert, defeating him in battle near Zülpich and pursuing him with a large army. Theudebert tried to rally new forces, and a second battle was fought in the same region. Heavy losses were suffered on both sides, but in the end, Theudebert was decisively defeated and forced to flee.

⁹¹ At that time, the man of God was living in the wilderness, accompanied only by a single attendant named Chagnoald. Around the time that the battle near Zülpich began, Columban was sitting on the trunk of a decaying oak tree, reading a book. Suddenly, he was overcome by sleep and saw in a vision what was happening between the two kings. When he awoke a short while later, he called his attendant and described the bloody battle he had seen, mourning the tragic loss of so many lives. Chagnoald, speaking impulsively, said, “Father, pray for Theudebert, that he may defeat our common enemy, Theuderich.” But Columban replied, “Your advice is foolish and unholy. God has commanded us to pray for our enemies, not against them. The righteous Judge has already decided what He wills concerning them.” Later, Chagnoald inquired about the battle and learned that it had indeed occurred on the very day and at the very hour Columban had described.

⁹² Theuderich pursued Theudebert, who was eventually betrayed by his own followers and handed over to his grandmother, Brunhilda. Filled with rage—since she supported Theuderich—Brunhilda had Theudebert confined in a monastery. But after only a few days, she ordered his execution without mercy.

⁹³ Not long after these events, Theuderich was struck down by the hand of the Lord and perished in a great fire in the city of Metz. Following his death, Brunhilda placed the crown on the head of his young son, Sigibert. But Chlotar remembered the prophecy of Columban and began assembling an army to reclaim the lands that rightfully belonged to him. Sigibert marched out with his forces to confront Chlotar, but he was captured—along with his five brothers and his great-grandmother, Brunhilda. Chlotar had the boys executed, one after another. As for Brunhilda, he first paraded her in mockery by placing her on a camel and exposing her to the scorn of her enemies. Then, in a final act of cruelty, she was tied to the tails of wild horses and was torn to pieces in a horrific and pitiful death. With the entire family of Theuderich now exterminated, Chlotar became the sole ruler over all three kingdoms. Thus, the prophecy of Columban was fulfilled to the letter: one king and all his descendants were wiped out within three years; the second had been forced into religious life; and the third came into possession of all the kingdoms.

⁹⁴ When Columban saw that Theudebert had been defeated by Theuderich, as previously mentioned, he left Gaul and Germany and traveled to Italy. There, he was welcomed with honor by Agilulf, king of the Lombards. Agilulf granted him the freedom to settle anywhere in Italy that he wished, and Columban did so, guided by God. While staying in Milan, he resolved to confront the errors of the heretics—specifically, the Arian heresy, which he sought to root out and destroy using the cauterizing blade of Holy Scripture. To that end, he composed a learned and powerful work refuting their doctrines.

⁹⁵ At that time, a man named Jocundus came before the king and reported that he had discovered a church dedicated to the holy Apostle Peter. It was located in a remote area of the Apennine Mountains. The site had many natural advantages—it was remarkably fertile, and its waters were teeming with fish. The place had long been known as Bohium, named after the stream that ran beside it. Nearby flowed another river, notable for being the place where the Carthaginian general Hannibal had once spent a harsh winter, during which he lost a great number of soldiers, horses, and elephants. Columbanus then traveled to this location. With great care and dedication, he restored the church—already partly in ruins—to its former beauty.

⁹⁶ During the restoration, the remarkable power of the Lord became clearly evident. When fir beams were cut in steep cliffs or dense forests—or when, by accident, they fell into places too difficult for pack animals to reach—the man of God went with just two or three companions, as many as the treacherous paths would allow. Together, in a truly miraculous way, they carried beams of enormous weight—so heavy that thirty or forty men would struggle to move them on level ground. Yet, where they had barely been able to walk before due to the steepness of the terrain, they now moved with ease and joy, bearing their heavy load.

⁹⁷ Witnessing this extraordinary help, the man of God encouraged his companions to complete the work with joy and to remain steadfast in their commitment to the wilderness. He assured them that this was God’s will. So, he rebuilt the roof of the church, repaired the damaged walls, and provided everything else necessary to establish a functioning monastery.

⁹⁸ Around this time, King Chlotar, having seen that the words of Columbanus had come to pass, sent for Eustasius, who was then the abbot of Luxeuil. He urged Eustasius to choose an escort of noblemen and go find the holy Columbanus, wherever he might be, and invite him to return to the king’s court. The revered disciple set out in search of his master. When he eventually found Columbanus, he delivered the king’s message. However, Columbanus replied that he could not make the journey again. He kept Eustasius with him for a while and gave him serious counsel: not to neglect his own responsibilities, to maintain a community of brothers who were both learned and obedient, to grow their number, and to teach them according to the rule and guidance he himself had handed down.

⁹⁹ Columbanus sent a letter to King Chlotar filled with wise counsel, asking him to extend royal protection and support to the monks at Luxeuil. The king received the letter with great joy, as if it were a treasured gift and a sign of his bond with the man of God. He did not forget Columbanus’s request. On the contrary, he generously supported the monastery—granting it annual revenues, expanding its lands wherever the venerable Eustasius desired, and assisting the community in every possible way. After spending just one year at his monastery in Bobbio, the man of God, Columbanus, ended his devout earthly life on the eleventh day before the Kalends of December (which corresponds to November 23). Anyone wishing to know more about his works and deeds should look to the writings he left behind. His body is buried at Bobbio, where, through the power of Christ, his relics have shown their miraculous grace. To Him be glory forever and ever, world without end. Amen.