St.

Columban

615 - 2015
Celebrating 1400years Anniversary

Columban Publication
Issue 3

September 2014

Contents
Page 3
From the Director
Columban ,Gavin and Mission
Page 4&5
Saint Columban
Monk and Missionary. Aidan Larkin ssc
Page 6 & 7 The Ireland that Produced
Columban
. Frank Hoare ssc
Page 8&9
The Europe to Which

St Columban Went
Frank Hoare ssc
Page 10
St Columban

Whos Who and What
Donal Mcilraith ssc
Page 11
The Merovigian Kings
. Donal Mcilraith ssc
Page 12 & 13 St Columban
Sermon,Letter,Rule and Boat Song
Page 14
Extracts of Cardinal Sean Bradys
Homily
Launching of the Columban

Celebration in Rome.

Page 15
Following the Footsteps of
St Columban
Page 16

Prayer of St Columban

CELEBRATING THE YEAR

OF ST COLUMBAN IN FIJI
Nov 8-9. 2014
Solemn Opening in Ba
Feb 2015
Remembrance of arrival of First Columbans to
Fiji
Feb 22, 1952.

Kaulotu
Published by Columban Missionaries
Nasese Suva Fiji
Editor: Visenia Navelinikoro
Editorial Assistant:Fr Donal Mcllraith
PO Box 2364
Government Buildings
Suva
Ph: 330 8290 Fax: 330 8292
Email: kaulotufiji@gmail.com

Kaulotu - September 2014 2

Torch bearing to some former Columban

Parishes.
May 2015.
Evangelization rallies in all three Columban
Parishes.
Nov 16-21
Closing week with Final Mass at Sacred Heart
Cathedral Suva on Nov 21

From the Director

Columban, Galvin and Mission

St Columban died on Nov 23, 615 at Bobbio,

N. Italy. In 2015 the entire Columban family
celebrates his 1400 anniversary. This family includes
Columban groups especially in Europe, the Knights
of St Columbanus and many others including the
Missionary Society of St Columban. The celebrations
began, Nov 10-11, 2014 with the solemn reception
of the relics brought from Bobbio by Cardinal Vallini
at the Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome. Here is Fiji we
have prepared also to celebrate this Columban year.
It happily coincides with the year of Consecrated Life.

It is an article of our faith that the Risen Christ is in

charge of history- all history, equally what happens
in China and in Kadavu. He is the Lamb who has
conquered to open the seven seals (Rev 5:5-6). So
Gods love in Christ guides all of history both the big
things, like wars and revolutions, and the little, like
the sparrows. This is Gods Providence that guides all
of us by the divine Wisdom. We see it at work guiding
the lives of Columban and Galvin. Both went on
mission and found support for this, Columban from
his Abbot Congal and his 12 Companions and Galvin,
originally from Frazer, O Reilly and OLeary, but then
St Columban is now celebrated by the universal from Fr John Blowick who helped his establish the
Church. He shares Nov 23 with St Clement. He is Society of St Columban. Providence gave both great
on the Universal Calendar thanks to the efforts of initial success and then disaster. Columban founded
Bishop Edward J Galvin, co-founder of the Columban the monasteries of Annegray, Luxeuil and Fontaine
Society. Bishop Galvin, already dying of leukemia, and disciples flocked to his side. The Holy See gave
was expelled from China in 1954 and as he returned Galvin and Blowick what became the dioceses of
to Ireland he requested most of the bishops of the Hanyang, Nancheng and Huchow. Galvin became first
US to request the Holy See that St Columban be Bishop of Hanyang. The Society prospered in China
put on the Universal Calendar. His efforts were and spread to the Philippines, Korea and Burma.
successful. Indeed Galvin is the one responsible
for our Missionary society taking Columban as our But the grain of wheat must die, if it is to bear fruit.
Patron. Born on Columbans day. Bishop Galvin has And so both Columban and Galvin experienced the
a great closeness to St Columban all his life, Fr Dan cross. Columban was forcibly expelled from France.
Fitzgerald, a co-worker in Hanyang, says that it was The boat refused to carry him and so he headed up
as if St Columban was in the next room to him.
the Rhine through Switzerland, Austria and Italy to
his last foundation, Bobbio. The Second World War
Our Patron saints influence our lives and so with St and the Red Revolution brought suffering and exile
Columban and Edward Galvin. Indeed there is an to Galvin. He died in Ireland on Feb 23, 1956.
uncanny parallel in how their lives developed. Both
were passionate lovers of Christ. Let us belong to Providence too is calling us in Fiji to encounter Christ
Christ and not to ourselves, is Columbans cry. In in a more profound way- and to prepare for mission.
his letters from Hanyang we see Galvins anguish
that so few Chinese know Christ. This love of Christ
drove them both into exile for Christ the old Irish
way of saying mission. Both were calmly prepared
for mission, Columban in Bangor Monastery until he Donal Mcilraith
was 50!, Galvin, after school in Cork and Maynooth
in Holy Rosary Parish Brooklyn, NY.
Kaulotu - September 2014 3

Saint Columban (543-615)

Monk and Missionary
Let us belong to Christ, not to ourselves
St Columban was born in Ireland in the
province of Leinster. His parents probably of
high social status though they did not belong
to the nobility. His mother has a vision a few
days before his birth of her child. She saw the
sun rise from her bosom and issuing forth,
resplendent; furnish great light to the world.
Columban may well have been an only child.
Was she over protected or had she a more
profound reason?

handsome. His good looks attracted the

unwelcome attention of the local girls. But
he would grow up and become, first a monk,
then a priest, then a distinguished Scripture
scholar, and finally, head of the monastery
school of Bangor. He was a master of Latin
prose. (Latin was the common language of the
educated people in Europe). Though he could
become embroiled in many controversies,
the undisputable effect of his presence
wherever he went would be a renewal and
The young Columban exhibited many strengthening of the Christian life. He wasnt
gifts, both intellectual and artistic. He was perfect but he was a saint and he led many to
holiness.
He studied first under the abbot Sinell, in the
monastery of Cleeenish, near to modern day
Enniskillen, in Co Fermanagh, but he chose
to enter the great monastery of Bangor in Co
Down, under the famous abbot of St Comgall.
Bangor was very strict but the monks loved it.
In due course Columban became teacher in
the monastery school, and finally head of the
school. With the job went the title sapiens
which meant a wise man. A sapiens was an
eminent man in early Christian Ireland. The
death of such a man was always recorded in
the Irish annals.
Light from the mothers breast.

Kaulotu - September 2014 4

In 591 Columban obtained permission from

Abbot Comgall to undertake a journey from

Bangor to Gaul (modern France). In letter IV

he tells us that his intention was to visit the
pagan peoples and to evangelize. This was
in fact a journey into exile. Columban did
not intend ever to return to Ireland. Twelve
monks accompanied him.
This kind of undertaking which became a
major feature of Irish Monasticism was really
the beginning of a new life. It came to be
known of exile for Christ, latin, peregrinatio
pro Christo. It was a twofold commitment:
the living of the monastistic life as exiles in
a foreign land, and the evangelization of the
in habitants of the place where the monks
settled, in this case, Gaul. In Gaul Columban The alps which Columban crossed on foot.
and his companions settled in the kingdom
of Burgundy in the east. Here they built the It was the monastic ideal that inspired St
famous monastery of Luxeil and later on two Columban. The monasticism I have in mind
more. They would live there for twenty years. in Egyptian monasticism. Anthony of Egypt is
the father of monks. To attempt an account of
What sort of man was Columban? First he was the spiritual teaching of the Desert Fathers,
undoubtedly very learned, skills in the Sacred (as they came to be called), would take us far
Sciences. He was a man who feared no one, afield. A noteworthy feature was to see the
except God, and feared no law except the Law monastic life as a kind of martyrdom. This
of God. He stood up to kings and bishops. He identification with the crucified Christ found
wrote freely to popes debating the problem strong resonances among Irish monks in the
of the Easter cycle in one breathe and in the Early Middle Ages. With Christ I am nailed to
next breath expressing congratulations to cross.
the Pope, in this case Pope St Gregory, for his
latest book, a book full of advice to bishops. Columban insisted on the absolutely sanctity
Yet he was gentle too. We see him in a Life of marriage. In this the kings set a bad example.
written by Jonas visiting a friends house and So Columban found himself in hot water
blessing his children.
several times. He was finally expelled by the
King. Another feature of his ministry was his
But he also knew when children were abused, devotion to the Sacrament of Penance, which
as in the case of the young princes, when led to a renewal of faith and devotion among
the request for a blessing was politically many. Finally, we cannot ignore his deeply
motivated. He was holy, but he was also personal love for Christ; Let us belong to
street wise.
Christ, not to ourselves (instruction X). These
are the words which no one can listen to
without being deeply touched. They provide
us with a sure rule of life

peregrinatio pro Christo.

Bobbio

Kaulotu - September 2014 5

The Ireland That Produced Columban

Columbans Vocation:

Advice to flee the World

Columban was born into a wealthy farmers family

in the south-east of Ireland around 540 A.D. His
pregnant mother, according to his biographer Jonas,
had a vision of a glittering sun rising from her breast
and lighting up the world. Columban had a tutor to
teach him Latin but as a handsome youth he was
advised by a woman hermit to flee from temptation.
Columbans mother pleaded with him not to leave
home and threw herself across the threshold. In the
first great mortification of his life Columban begged
her not to grieve, stepped across her body and
journeyed to the monastery of Cleenish in the North
of Ireland. What is the background to this dramatic
incident?
Kinship and Religion:
Irish households in the sixth century were made up
of extended families and were ruled by a king within
a small territory (tuath). Society was hierarchical. The
pagan Irish were animist in religion. They believed
in spirits of rivers, trees and wells. They also had a
fascination with the sun.
Lifestyle:

Cooking fire and dwelling inside ringfort.

There were no towns or villages. Extended families

lived in isolated farmsteads beside rivers or lakes,
in clearings or on hilltops. Ditches and high circular
embankments protected them from enemies and
wild animals. At night they gathered in the thatched
houses around the fires to listen to stories and songs.
The people wore clothes made of sheeps wool or
animal skins. They ate a kind of porridge, bread,
vegetables, fish, fowl and cooked or salted meat. A
man who owned cattle was wealthy.
Christianity:

St Patrick with shamrock

Kaulotu - September 2014 6

Up to the fifth century A.D. people had little choice of

life in Ireland. But Christianity was introduced to small
communities around the coast by traders. In 431
A.D. Pope Celestine sent a bishop named Paladius to
pastor the Christians in Ireland. Columban reminded
Pope Gregory of this in a letter, 80 years later, to
show the direct connection between Irish Christians
and the successors of St Peter in Rome. Around 432
A.D. a bishop named Patrick came to spread the
gospel among the pagan Irish. He tells us himself that
he baptized thousands, ordained clerics everywhere,
gave presents to kings, was put in irons, journeyed
everywhere in many dangers and rejoiced to see
the flock of the Lord in Ireland grow splendidly and
the children of kings becoming monks and virgins of
Christ.

Fr Frank Hoare
Monasticism:
St Patrick introduced monasticism to the Irish.
Monasteries were built on the model of the family
homesteads with a wall around the monastery
separating the monks from the outside world. The
monks became a spiritual family with their abbot as
the king. Obedience and respect for the abbot was
strictly enforced.
Life in the monastery was marked by discipline,
austerity and silence. The monks ate only one meal
(normally vegetarian) a day, in the early afternoon.
Prayer, (especially the psalms), manual work (like The Monastery was constructed on the model of the model of
humble commoners) and study (of scriptures, and the Irish homestead with protecting wall, cells , chapels and
other subjects) were the pillars of monasticism. sometimes a round tower.
Monks, advanced in prayer, spent days apart in a cave
or forest. A few monks were ordained to celebrate
mass on Sundays and feast days, and to provide the
sacraments for the monks and for lay people nearby.
The founding of hundreds of monasteries shows how
fervently the Irish accepted Christianity. They valued
monastic life as a way of living for and with Christ. It is
similar to the way early Fijian and Tongan catechists
left their vanua to evangelize and catechize people in
other places.
Pastors of the People:
In Ireland monasteries were more important
than parishes and dioceses. People flocked to the
monasteries to hear sermons, to confess their sins
privately, to pray for their needs, to be educated
in the monastic schools and, finally, to bury their
relatives close to that holy place. The abbot, who
might not even be a priest, was seen as more holy
and more powerful than the local bishop. So later,
Columban claimed independence from the bishops in
France. We obey not your rules, but the commands
of God. Help us to be pilgrims rather than hinder us,
he wrote.

Monk studying the scripture

Exile for Christ:

The Irish had a communal way of living. A person
belonged to his extended family and to his land
similar to the understanding Fijians have of vanua.
Columban sacrificed his family belonging, his status
among his kin and worldly pleasures for the harsh
life of the monastery. When he left Ireland from
the monastery of Bangor and set out in a boat to
wherever the winds of God would take him he was
imitating the faith of Abraham.
Columban cared for his inner spiritual life and for
the evangelization of lukewarm Christians, pagans or
schismatics. It was these concerns which caused him

Bangor - Columban sailed from Bangor into exile.

to resist his mothers claim on him. Faithfulness to

contemplation in action is a legacy through which St
Columban continues to challenge us.

Kaulotu - September 2014 7

The Europe To Which St Columban Went

St Columban in Europe

Monk preaching to pagans.

St Columban preached in Europe from 590 A.D. to his

death in 615 A.D. During that time he had struggles
with the Popes, with bishops, and with kings and
queens over heresies and the date for celebrating
Easter. Some background will help to clarify the
issues.

and cities were destroyed and even the Roman roads

fell into disrepair.

The Destruction of Rome:

By the fourth century A.D. the Roman Empire
supported the Church. This was the start of
Christendom, where secular leaders defended the
Church and upheld the rules of Christianity. But
Christian emperors sometimes put great pressure on
bishops and Popes, to the cost of the Church.

About the year 500 A.D., Clovis united the tribes

under himself in what is now France and he was
baptized. By Columbans time, most of France was
divided among Clovis heirs into Neustria in the west,
Austrasia in the north east and Burgundy to the
south.

Columban was given permission by King Gunthram,

to build monasteries in Annegray, Luxeil and Fontaine,
close to where the three kingdoms came together.
Queen Brunhilde, of Austrasia was prominent in a
forty years war between Neustria and Austrasia
which resulted in much death and destruction. She
By the early fifth century A.D. the Empire was had Columban and his Irish monks expelled from
collapsing and Rome was destroyed by pagan Luxeil in 599 A.D. The monks needed the patronage
German tribes. Many Christians felt that the end of of the secular rulers but
the world was near. The Christian Emperor moved continued protection was
to Constantinople in the east and ruled his smaller uncertain.
empire from there.
The Papacy and Heresies
Kings in France:
in Christendom:
What is now
France was, at
that time, full
of forests with
wild
animals
and dangerous
outlaws. Roman
law and order
had collapsed
when
the
barbarian tribes
poured in. Many
Roman towns

Ancient Rome

Kaulotu - September 2014 8

A priest named Arius taught

that Jesus was not equal
to God the Father. The
Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
condemned this heresy and
proclaimed that Jesus, God
the Son, was of the same
being as God the Father.
The Council of Chalcedon
in 451 A.D. condemned the
Monophysite heresy which
claimed that Jesus only
Emperor with Bishops in council

Fr Frank Hoare
appeared to be human. The Council asserted that
Jesus was true man as well as true God.
Around 550 A.D., when Columban was a boy in Ireland,
Pope Vigilius and his successor, Pope Pelagius, were
put under great pressure by Emperor Justinian to
side with the Monophysites. They resisted, but then
gave in. Many bishops in the West then refused to
accept these Popes until they returned to orthodox
teaching.
The Lombards were a Germanic tribe that settled in
northern Italy. Columban, finding that the king and
the Lombards were Arians, preached some strong
sermons defending the orthodox belief in the Trinity
in 612 A.D.

Germanic Tribes

Some bishops in that area were accusing the reigning

Pope Boniface IV of being sympathetic to the
Monophysite heresy. The Lombard king and queen
asked Columban to appeal to the Pope to unite the
people in one faith. What Columban knew about this
was only hearsay. But he wrote an elaborate letter to
the Pope challenging him to call a council to clear his
name against the accusations of heresy.
The Easter Controversy:
Controversy arose early on within the Church about
the date for celebrating Easter. For a time, Rome
observed an 84 year cycle. The Irish continued to
cling to this calculation as something ancient which
was introduced to them with the faith. Rome later
changed the way of computing Easter a couple of
times. Gaul followed the reformed Roman cycle but
Columban followed the Irish way of determining the
date for Easter. Columbans monks often celebrated
Easter a week before other Christians.

Cross with Easter.

Columban and the Bishops:

Kings had some of their followers, who were
laymen, appointed bishops in exchange for money.
Bishops were also the rulers of the cities where they Monticism was seen as a kind of martyrdom. It was a struglived. Some bishops had little interest in spiritual gle against the world, the flesh and the devil. The monks were
responsibilities but were known for hunting,
willing to accept self denial and ascetism.They wanted to live
feasting, lust and greed.
In Ireland, abbots were more important than
bishops. So Columban was annoyed when a council
of bishops, some of whom were unworthy men,
summoned him to their meeting to answer some
accusations against him. These included celebrating
Easter on a different date. Columban refused to
attend. He sent a strong letter defending his position
and urging them to attend to their duties and to
leave him and his communities in peace.
Columbans Influence on Europe:
When Christianity was legalized in the Empire,
Christians no longer suffered martyrdom. Instead,
zealous Christians became monks in the deserts

totally in Christ and to have Christ live in them.

of Egypt and in other wild places. Gradually

monasticism, known as green martyrdom, spread
to France where St Martin of Tours and St John
Cassian praised this lifestyle. St Patrick introduced
monasticism into Ireland where it spread rapidly.
Columban and his monks reformed Christian life in
France and in surrounding countries. There were
about 200 monasteries in Gaul when Columban
arrived around 590 A.D., but 50 years after his death
this had increased to almost 600. Most of these
followed Columbans rule because they had been
founded by monks from Columbans monasteries.
Kaulotu - September 2014 9

St Columban: Whos Who and What.

543. Born Leinster, Ireland.

of Burgundy (Childebert had been adopted

by and inherited Guntrams kingdom).

610. Expelled from Luxeuil. King Theuderic,

at Brunhilds instigation, expelled Columban
from Luxeuil. ATTILA was installed as Abbot.
564. Entered BANGOR Monastery (Belfast) THEUDEBERT was king of Austrasia and he
granted land to Columban in BREGENZ (in
Abott. CONGAL.
todays Austria)
588. Began Missionary Life with 12
companions: GALL , DOMOAL, CONININUS, 611, Mission in TUGGEN and in Bregenz with
EUNOCUS, EQUONANUS, COLUMBANUS Gall. WILLIMAR the priest helped them. Count
(Jnr), LIBRANUS,
AEDH (Bishop), LUA, GUNZO allowed him to settle and build the
Monastery of ST AURELIA but expelled them
LEOBARD, CALDWALD, another.
when Theuderic was murdered.
589. Columban arrived in Gaul.
612. Columban crossed the Alps to Milan.
590.
Founded
ANNEGREY,
LUXEUIL, Arian king AGILULF welcomed him with his
FORTAINE. This is in the Kingdom of Catholic wife THEUDELINDA.
BURGUNDY where the pious king GUNTHRAM
(JONAS says it was SIGIBERT) received him 614. They granted him land at BOBBIO in the
Mountains
well
560. Studied CLEENISH Monastery School.
Abott: SINNELL (Nov 12).

603. Conflict with Royal House. THEUDERIC ,

son of CHILDEBERT (son of Brunhild) was King

615. Nov 21, Columban Dies at Bobbio.

MAP - THE JOURNEY OF COLUMBAN

Kaulotu - September 2014 10

The Merovingian Kings

Why Columban was expelled from France.
CLOVIS, (466-511) was the first King of the Franks
Franks, He married a Catholic, CLOTILDA, and
became Catholic himself c 500. The conversion
of Gaul and start of the MEROVINGIAN Dynasty
dates from this. Clovis left 4 sons.
By Columbans time there were 3 main Kingdoms
in
Gaul/France:
NEUSTRIA,
AUSTRASIA,
BURGUNDY.
King SIGIBERT of Austrasia married the Spanish
princess BRUNHILD. The Kings half-brother
CHILPERIC of Neustria, divorced his wife and
married Brunhilds sister GALSWINTHA. She
was murdered and replaced by her servant,
FREDEGUND, who became Chilperics Queen.
Their son, CLOTHAIR became King of NEUSTRIA
and finally, sole king of the Franks. The enmity
between Brunhild and Fredegund almost
destroyed France.

Clovis

Guntram who
welcomed
Columban

589. Columban arrived in Gaul and settled in

BURGUNDY. He was welcomed by king Gunthram.
603. Conflict with Royal House. THEUDERIC ,
son of CHILDEBERT (son of Brunhild) was King of
Burgundy (Childebert had been adopted by and
inherited Guntrams kingdom). Theuderic was
unmarried but had several mistresses. Visiting
the Royal Palace Columban refused to bless the
royal but illigetimate children presented to him
by their great grandmother Brundehild. He was
insisting on the sanctity of marriage. The rage of
Brunehilde and Thuederic did not cease until he
was driven from France.
610. Expelled from Luxeuil. King Theuderic,
at Brunhilds instigation, exiled Columban
from France. ATTILA was installed as Abbot.
THEUDEBERT was king of Austrasia and he
granted land to Columban in BREGENZ (in todays
Austria)

King Theuderic 11

King Sigibert of Austrasia

611, Mission in TUGGEN and in Bregenz with Gall.

WILLIMAR the priest helped them. Count GUNZO
allowed him to settle and build the Monastery of
ST AURELIA but expelled them when Theuderic
was murdered.
Kaulotu - September 2014 11

Columban The Hermit

This old bear cave is where according to tradition
Columban used to pray in solitude. It lies even today,
in remote woods above the Breuchin valley. A nearby
spring is known as columbans holy well.wherever he
went Columban sought out a cave where he could
pray alone. Prayer was at the heart of his ministry.

To all his monks Columba the sinner sends

greeting in Christ. I confess that I am broken,
for while I wished to help everyone, they fought
against me without cause; and while I trusted
everyone they have me driven almost mad. I
wanted to write you a tearful letter, but my grief
is shut up within. The tears flow, but it is better
to check the fountain, for it is unbecoming for a
brave soldier to lament in battle. This is the truth
of the gospel: that the true disciples of Christ
crucified should follow him with a cross. Blessed is
the one who shares in this passion and shame, for
the foolishness of God is wiser than men. Therefore let us patiently bear all adversities for truths
sake, that we may be sharers in the Lords passion,
since none are worthy of mercy, except those who
confess their unworthiness. It is through affliction
of the flesh, and contribution of the heart, through
Christs grace that we enter the city of the living
God, Now the ship is ready.....
Columban, Letter IV written as he waited to sail to Ireland

It became the custom with Columban to retire

alone to this cave on Sundays and before the
feasts of saints, to give himself to uninterrupted
prayer. All he had to eat were a few herbs, and the
small apples that grew in the forest.
His drink was water. Jonas
Let us live for Christ,

who while dying restored to life.
Let us
die to ourselves and live
to Christ. Let us not be proud , haughty, or
undisciplined, but humble kindly. and courteous, so that christ may reign in our hearts.
Let us be Christs, and not our own,

for we are not our own, for we were
bought at a great price, a very price great
price, when the Lord was given for a slave,
a King for a servant, and God for humankind.
Let us Fight against our faults

that we may be crowned elsewhere,
disdain passing things, and seek what is
to come, seek life without end, and so exchange blessing for misery, jo for sorrows,
heaven for earth.
May Christ our Lord deign to grant us this
who with the Father and the Holy Spirit is
one god, for ever and ever. Amen
St Columban, Sermon IX

Kaulotu - September 2014 12

St Columban: Writings
Thirty four (34) of St Columbans writings
survive.
These are:
6 letters (3 to Popes)
13 Theological Instructions, on Faith etc.
3 Rules (1 each for Monks, Hermits and a
penitential)
6 Poems (1 a Boat Song, 1 of 140 lines made
of 2 words, Accipe, questo)
7 miscellaneous writings.
(Source:: G.S.M. Walker, Sancti Columbani
Opera, Dublin: Dublin Institute of
Advanced Studies, 1957, reprinted
1997).
THE MONKS RULE
First of all things we are taught to love God
with the whole heart and the whole mind and
all our strength, and our neighbour as ourselves.
OF THE MONKS PERFECTION
Let the monk live in a community under the
discpline of one father and in company with
many, so that from one he may learn lowliness,
from another patience. For one may teach him
silence and another meekness. Let him not do
as he wishes, let him eat what he is biddenkeep
as much as he has recieved, complete the tale
of his work, be subject to whom he does not
like. Let him come weary to his bed and sleep
walking, and let him be forced to rise while his
sleep is not yet finished. Let him keep silence
whe he has suffered wrong, let him fear the
superior of his community as a lord, love him
as a father, believe that whatever he commands is healthful for himself, and let him not
pass judgement on the opinion of an elder, to
whose duty it belongs to obey and fulfil what
he is bidden, as Moses says, Hear, o Israel,
and the rest.
END OF RULE.

THE BOAT SONG

Lo, cut in forests, the driven keel passes on the stream

Of twin-horned Rhine, and glides as if anointed on
the flood.
Ho, my men! Let ringing echo sound our Ho!
The winds raise their blasts, the dread rain works its
woe,
But mens ready strength conquers and routs the
storm.
Ho, my men! Let ringing echo sound our Ho!
For the clouds yield to endurance, and the storm
yields,
Effort tames them all, unwearied toil conquers all
things.
Ho, my men! Let ringing echo sound our Ho!
Bear, and preserve yourselves for favouring fortune,
Ye that have suffered worse, to these also God shall
give an end.
Ho, my men! Let ringing echo sound our Ho!
Thus the hated foe deals as he wearies our hearts,
And by ill temptation shakes the inward hearts with
rage.
Let your mind, my men, recalling Christ sound Ho!

Kaulotu September 2014 10

Kaulotu - September 2014 13

Excerpts from Cardinal Sean Brady, retired archbishop of Armagh, Ireland.

He was the Principal Celebrant at a Mass at the Church of Santa Aria Sopra Minerva in
Rome, marking the 1400th anniversary of the death of Saint Columbanus.
Saint John Paul II often called for a new evangelisation of Europe after the decline in faith of recent
decades. Saint Columbanus could be seen as a model
and a patron of this bnew evangelisation His missionary work could also be described as a second, and
new, annoucncing of the Good News after the damage
inflicted by the invasions from abroad and by the fall
of the Roman Empire in the West. Columbanus and
his monks brought the light of faith to people who,
themselves, in turn became evangelisers until Europe
became, once more, a Christian continent.

The procession of the relics of St Columban to the

Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome.

The rule of Columbanus recommended that the

monks should confess privately, and often, to one
particular confessor. It was an effort to address
the crisis that flowed from having only confessions
which a public confessions which were rarely celebrated more than once in a lifetime. Perhaps he has
something to say to all of us today on that topic.

The chapel of St Columbanus, the crypt of St Peter Basilica

In Saint Peters Basilica there is a mosaic dedicated to Saint Columbanus. It bears the inscription -if
you take away freedom you take away diginity. The
phrase is taken from one of the letters of Columbanus.
Indeed it is something that could have been written,
not only by a seventh century missionary, but also by
a citizen of todays world, where so many people live
in terrible conditions of slavery, fear and oppression.
In addition to the ancient forms of oppression such as
war, poverty, loneliness, violence and exile, the modern world has a new forms of slavery such as drug
and alcohol addition, which are particularly destructive of human diginity.

Kaulotu - September 2014 14

Pilgrims to the celebration of 1400 years anniversary of St

Columbanus.

But what has columbanus to say to us -citizens of

the third millenium-after fourteen centuries? Sure,
columban is far distant from us in time and space,
but the relevance of his thought and spirituality
is extraordinary............ the Lord has marvellously
combines in Saint Columbanus, love of evangelisation, devotion to monastic life and the fullness of
human diginity.

Following The Footsteps of St Columban

FIJI FIRST COLUMBANS
22 February 1952

Fr Vincent Ratnam - Chile, South

America

Nanise Mounga - Philippines

Back Row:


Middle Row:

Front Row:

Rod Hoult,John J. OLoughlin, Michael Cryan, Patrick Kelly,

Kevin Fleming, John Doyle and Gerry Hurley.
Martin Dobey, Denis Fitzpatrick, Bishop Foley,
Charles OMahony and Seamus OConnor.
James Gavigan and Authur Tierney

Fr. Willie Lee - Chile, South America

Monica Lewatikana - Mexico

Maria Rosa - Korea

We Belong to Christ Not to Ourselves

St Columban

Fr. Napa Tavo - Chile

Fr. Taaramon Matauea Taiwan

Losena Biau - Korea

Pat Visanti - Pakistan

Sainiana Tamatawale - Mexico

Do you feel that God is calling you for something more?

COME AND SEE
For more information on how to become a
Columban missionary priest please contact:
The Vocation Director
P.O Box 2364
Goverment Buildings, Suva.

Kaulotu - September 2014 15

PRAYER OF
SAINT COLUMBAN
Lord, grant me, I pray you in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, my God, that
love which knows no fall, so that my lamp may feel the kindling touch and know
no quenching, may burn for me and for others may give light.
Do you, Christ, deign to kindle our lamps, our Savior most sweet to us, that they
may shine continually in your temple, and receive a perpetual light from you
the light perpetual, so that our darkness may be enlightened , and the words
darkness may be driven from us.
Thus do you enrich my lantern with your light. I pray you, Jesus mine, so that
by its light there may be disclosed to me those holy places of the holy, which
hold you the eternal priest of the eternal things, entering there the courts of the
great of that great temple of yours, that great temple of yours, that constantly
I may see, observe, desire you only, and loving you only may behold you, and
before you my lamp ever shine and burn.
I beg you, most loving Savior, to reveal yourself to us who beseech you, so
that knowing you, we may love you only, love you alone, desire you alone,
contemplate you alone by day and night, and ever hold you in our thoughts;
and do you deign so far to inspire us with your love, as it befits you to be loved
and cherished as our God; that your charity may possess all our inward parts,
and your love may own us all, and your affection may fill all our senses, so that
we may know no other love apart from you who are eternal;
that such affection may be in us impossible of quenching by the many waters of
this air and land and sea, according to that saying many waters are not able to
quench love, which in us also can be fulfilled even in part, by your gift, our Lord
Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory unto ages of ages. Amen

Available from St Columbans Office in Suva

Jonas life of St Columban

This is the first life columban written by Jonas, a monk of Bobbio immediately after Columbans death. It contains a detailed account of his
entire life and miracles.. $5.00

St Columban - Fr Pat Sayles ssc 1999

A 28 page beautifully illustrated booklet, giving a short account of

Columbanss life. $1.00

Kolobano - St Columbans Suva 2003

This 26page booklet gives a short account of St Columbans life in the

Fijian language. $3.00

COLUMBAN PILGRIMAGE TO BOBBIO AND ROME,

June 2015?
We seek interest in a Pilgrimage to visit the Columban
sites in France, Ausria and Italy for about 10 days next
June (2015). Cost approx 5-6,000.00F$. If interested
call Visenia at 3308290. If enough people are
interested we will consider this pilgrimage.