St. Columban was an Irish abbot and missionary who founded monasteries in the Frankish lands and Italy, renewing the faith of Europe.
Life
Columban was born in Ireland in the mid-sixth century. He became a monk as a young man and spent many years in prayer and study at the monastery of Bangor.
Around 590 he crossed the sea with fellow monks to what is now France and founded several monasteries, including Luxeuil. His strict rule, his Irish customs and his rebuke of the royal court's wrongdoing brought conflict, and he was exiled. He then travelled through the Alpine lands to Italy, founded the monastery of Bobbio, and died there in 615.
Spirituality
Columban's spirituality is the life of a pilgrim who leaves home for Christ. He guarded his heart with strict discipline and constant prayer, and he never lost the courage to speak the truth even before the powerful. The monasteries he founded remained centers of prayer and learning for a long time.
Reflection
As immigrants, we too are pilgrims in a foreign land. Like Columban, how can we keep our roots in faith here and become a light for our neighbors?