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Saint Columban, abbot
Optional Memorial
November 23rd

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(545-615) An Irish monk, he went to France and founded many monasteries which he guided with strict discipline. Soon his followers were also building monasteries in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Forced into exile by the Frankish King, he went to Italy and founded there the monastery at Bobbio, which was a center of culture and learning as well as spirituality.

Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003

Collect:
Lord,
you called St. Columban to live the monastic life
and to preach the gospel with zeal.
May his prayers and example
help us to seek you above all things
and to work with all our hearts for the spread of the faith.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:57-62
As they were going along the road, a man said to Him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to Him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head." To another He said, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Apolytikion in the Third Tone

A fearless accuser of sin and avenger of the injured, thou in repentance didst accept exile in a distant land, keeping the strait and afflicted path of obedience in the monastic rule. Thou didst cast the cloak of love over the failings of the feeble. A lover of chant, thou didst rejoice in the creation, whilst hymning the Creator, and didst command thy followers to be at peace and have love among themselves, O gracious Columba.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

O Thou prince of Celts and founder of monasteries, in obedience to the revelation of the Archangel Michael, thou didst endure exile and in so doing didst carry the Faith to the unenlightened. As one who received the grace of illumination by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that the hearts of us sinners may be purified by His radiance. Intercede thou that peace may rule throughout thy land and the whole world, and forget not thine erring children, O holy Father Columba