SAINT COLUMBAN
He was born in Ireland in the year 543. At a very young age, he entered the monastery and remained there until he was 40 years old. Then, he left his homeland and crossed the sea with 12 companions to become a missionary on the European continent. These lands had fallen into decline after the Barbarian invasions and the fall of the Roman Empire.
Saint Columban and his companions traveled through northern France, founding various monasteries along the way, until they reached northern Italy, where he established his final monastic center in the town of Bobbio in the year 614. A year later, he died there on November 23, 615.
Saint Columban was a dedicated and determined man with a strong missionary vocation. He prophetically denounced the abuse and immorality of both authorities and the people, actively participated in religious debates, but within his community, he always showed immense affection for each of his companions and disciples.
An excerpt from the Instructions of Saint Columban, Abbot
(Instruction 1, On Faith, 3–5: Opera, Dublin 1957, p. 62)
(Instruction 1, On Faith, 3–5: Opera, Dublin 1957, p. 62)
THE UNFATHOMABLE DEPTH OF GOD
God is everywhere, He is immense and close to all, as He testifies about Himself: “I am a God who is near, not far away.”
The God we seek is not far from us, for He is within us—if we are worthy of His presence.
He dwells in us like the soul in the body, provided that we are healthy members of His body, and dead to sin.
Then truly does He dwell in us, He who said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them.”
If we are worthy for Him to be in us, then we are truly enlivened by Him, as living members of His body: “For in Him,” as the Apostle says, “we live and move and have our being.”
The God we seek is not far from us, for He is within us—if we are worthy of His presence.
He dwells in us like the soul in the body, provided that we are healthy members of His body, and dead to sin.
Then truly does He dwell in us, He who said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them.”
If we are worthy for Him to be in us, then we are truly enlivened by Him, as living members of His body: “For in Him,” as the Apostle says, “we live and move and have our being.”