St. Columban was born in Ireland in the sixth century and became a monk during the great age of Irish missionary Christianity. Rather than remaining within his monastery, he set out across continental Europe with a small group of companions.

Columban founded monasteries in what are now France, Switzerland and Italy, bringing with him a demanding life of prayer, study and missionary work. His journeys helped reconnect Christian communities across a divided Europe and made him one of the most influential Irish missionaries of the early Middle Ages.