With apologies to our readers and a H/t to Phil over at Ennis Blue for the reminder, but November 23rd is the feast day of St Columban or St Colmbanus and this year we are celebrating the 1400th anniversary of his death.
The bishops of Ireland have designated 2015 as a celebratory year to mark the 1400th anniversary of the death in Bobbio, Italy, of the extraordinary Saint Columban, also known as Saint Columbanus.
Born around 543AD in Leinster, Saint Columbanus studied in the monastery on Cleenish Island, Co Fermanagh, after which he then entered the monastery in Bangor, Co Down. He became a monk at Bangor and later principal teacher there. In 591, desiring to go on a pilgrimage for Christ, he set out with twelve companions and came to Burgundy. He established monasteries at Annegray, Luxeuil and Fontaine. Later he worked in Bregenz in Austria.
His greatest foundation is at Bobbio, near Genoa, where he died in 615. He is remembered as one of the greatest of all Irish missionaries who dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel and to establishing monasteries in Europe.
This anniversary will be celebrated in Ireland with liturgies and events on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June 2015, in Bangor and in Armagh respectively
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Continue reading about the national celebrations here.
Check out the page of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference for events here.
Celebrating St Columban
- Fr Seán McDonagh discusses the significance of the celebrations of the 1,400th anniversary of the death of St Columban
Thanks so much for linking and belated blessings to you all on St Columbanus feast day and the rest of this special year x
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