Pope Gregory the Great

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now the strict Penitential of Columbanus infringed on the authority of the local Frankish bishops. But it was only with his insistence on celebrating Easter according to the British calculation that he was left open to the charge of unorthodoxy. Not even that finest of Popes, Gregory the Great, could convince Columbanus that what had been handed down to his monks by the saints of Ireland could possibly be wrong. They had no wish to impose their usages on others but required to be left alone to themselves. Columbanus was indeed a man of strong will and he remonstrated with the synod of French bishops who objected to his practices with letters both to them and Pope Gregory on the subject, “Surely it is better for you”, he wrote, “to comfort rather than disturb us, poor old men, strangers too, in your midst. Let us rather love one another in the charity of Christ, striving to fulfil his precepts and, therefore, secure a place in the assembly of the just made perfect in Heaven.” However, the Irish practices were not in accordance with the contemporary discipline of the Church and certainly did not win Columbanus any affectation in the eyes of the Franks who were merely following that discipline.

 

Further trouble was to follow. Following the death of King Childebert in 595, his two sons became Kings of Austrasia and Burgundy. As both were minors their grandmother Brunhilde acted as Queen Regent and soon Gaul entered again a period of civil disorder. When the new young King of Burgundy, Theuderich (French Thierry, German Dietrich), grew to manhood he put aside his lawful wife and committed himself to a life of debauchery by installing concubines in the Royal household. The infamous Brunhilde instructed Columbanus to confirm Theuderich’s illegitimate children, but the Abbot refused and thus incurred the Queen Mother’s undying enmity. When Columbanus further denied Theuderich admission to the monastery at Luxeuil the Burgundian king determined to banish the great man and his followers from the kingdom. For the time being, Columbanus was imprisoned at Besançon where he was kept under strict guard. His longing to return to Luxeuil was so great, however, that one day he left Besancon for the monastery without the authority of the king. 

When Theuderich heard of this he was furious and ordered that all the monks from both Britain and Ireland should be expelled forthwith to their own countries of origin. To enforce this edict he sent his own chamberlain, Count Bertechar, with a guard of soldiers under a captain named Ragamund. When the soldiers arrived at Luxeuil they found Columbanus chanting the Divine Office. Although at first reluctant to go, Columbanus knew in his heart that the soldiers would be punished if they did not force him out of the monastery and so he called to his brethren and said, “let us go, my brothers, in the name of God.”

But it was not the will of God that Columbanus and his companions should return to Bangor, for when they had come to the mouth of the Loire a mighty sea arose and the ship which Columbanus had intended to rejoin was forced to return to harbour. A perfect calm then followed for three days and the captain, being very apprehensive of another storm, caused all the monks and their baggage to be put on shore for he feared that this was a sign from God and so, left to fend for themselves, Columbanus and his friends proceeded to Soissons, to the court of Clothair, King of Neustria, who received them with great kindness and generosity.

Clothair had always disliked Brunhilde and her grandsons and was anxious to keep the monks in his kingdom. However, Columbanus preferred to press on to Metz, seat of the court of Austrasia, where Theudebert, Theuderich’s brother, ruled. Theudebert received the monks well and at Metz several of the former brothers from Luxeuil joined Columbanus since they preferred to follow him in his wanderings rather than remain behind in the kingdom of his persecutor. From Metz Columbanus travelled to Mayence, being determined to preach to the pagan populations on the right bank of the Rhine and its tributaries.

Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During this time Columbanus wrote the famous Carmen Navale or “Boat Song”, which has been beautifully translated by Cardinal O’Fiaich as follows:

“Lo, little bark on twin-horned Rhine,
From forests hewn to skim the brine.
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring.

The tempest howl, the storms dismay,
But manly strength can win the day.
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring.

For clouds and squalls will soon pass on,
And victory lies with work well done.
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring.

Hold fast! Survive! And all is well.
God sent you worse, he’ll calm this swell.
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring.

So Satan acts to tire the brain,
And by temptation souls are slain.
Think, lads, of Christ and echo him.

Stand firm in mind ‘gainst Satan’s guile.
Protect yourselves with virtue’s foil.
Think, lads, of Christ and echo him.

Strong faith and zeal will victory gain.
The old foe breaks his lance in vain.
Think, lads, of Christ and echo him.

The King of virtues vowed a prize
For him who wins, for him who tries.
Think, lads, of Christ and echo him.”

Bregenz today 

After great hardship they came as far as Lake Zurich in Switzerland, finally establishing themselves at Bregenz on Lake Constance where they made a new headquarters. The countryside here was wild and beautiful and the tribes living in the region – the Suevi and Alemanni – were pagans who worshipped as their god Wodin. It is said that the impulsiveness of Gall, who set fire to their temples and threw their offerings into the lake, put this mission in jeopardy.

To be continued

© Pretani Associates 2014