Early Life
Little is known of St Gall’s early life, but traditions holds that born in Leinster of a prominent Scotti family, he entered the monastery of Bangor as a boy, where he studied under Comgall its founder. Comgall’s school was a renowned centre of learning which attracted students from all over Europe. There is indirect scholarly evidence that the curriculum at this centre included scripture studies, rhetoric, Canon Law, Latin and elementary Greek, some limited classical studies, and astronomy, all undertaken under a rule of strict discipline and an ascetic lifestyle. Each day the monks would have participated in regular psalm singing as laid down by the rule. At 17 he would have been given a habit and an Irish tonsure. Monks in Ireland had their heads shaven in a pattern distinct from the circular European one. His profession of vows on bended knees would have had particular emphasis on obedience to the absolute authority of the abbot. Few such rules as the Bangor Rule are extant, but the Columbanus rule is said to be based on this Bangor practice. In later years St. Gall became a senior teacher with Columbanus and was reputed to be a great scholar, preacher, musician and linguist.
Departure from Bangor
St Gall was one of the twelve and the most senior of the companions of Columbanus who departed from Bangor in 590 or 591 on a great “peregrination pro Christo” a mission to spread the Gospel and to seek personal holiness through prayer and contemplation. Comgall was reluctant to lose his senior monks, but consented to their departure for mainland Europe, where they faced the unknown dangers of travel without the sponsorship of kings and bishops. They eventually were granted land by King Guntram of Burgundy with his courtiers and friends, who were amazed and attracted by the piety, integrity and ascetic lifestyle of the newcomers at a time of great political unrest and violence and when, after the ravages of plague, the influence of bishops on the common populace had waned.
New Rule and Monastic Practices in Gaul
The monks were encouraged to settle at Annegray near the Vosges Mountains in Gaul. When Annegray, an abandoned Roman fort in which they established their first base, became unable to accommodate the numbers seeking to share their lifestyle, Columbanus received permission to found Luxeuil and, later as a novitiate, Fontaine, for the many monastic recruits attracted to the rule and lifestyle of the Scotti or Irish monks. However, Gall was a quiet and thoughtful confessor, at a time when there was a more gentle Irish approach to penitence in Irish monastic rules. The idea of “Friend of the Soul” or “Anam Cara” is of Irish Monastic origin. A discussion could be had on matters of conscience with a senior monk or abbot, where advice and guidance was given which would have been private. The severity of penances imposed seemed lighter than those imposed by the public punishment of Roman religious practice. The willingness and custom of the Irish monasteries to serve local laity, unlike most mainland European monasteries of the time, may also have influenced their popularity and the attraction of many novices to their ranks.
Onward to Bregenz
When Columbanus, through political, royal pressures and differences in liturgical practice between Scotti and the bishops in Gaul, lost the royal favour for the Bangor monks, they were forced to leave their monasteries and eventually travelled down the Rhine. St Gall’s strengths in communication came to the fore among the Germanic tribes, arousing both admiration and jealousy. His teaching was fearless and powerful and he preached in the local language. Columbanus laid on Gall the duty of preaching to the Germanic tribes and Gall condemned pagan practices and sacrifices. He set fire to the pagan temples at Lake Zurich, according to his biographer Walahfrid Strabo. Later at Bregenz we learn of his confrontation of Pagan idols which he smashed and threw into Lake Constance. Local nobles also resented the tillage of some land which they claimed was disturbing the hunting season and the monks’ lives were threatened. However, Gall settled in well, fishing in Lake Constance and weaving nets, skills doubtless gained from his experiences in Bangor, and
“catching such quantities of fish that the Brethren in Bregenz were never in any want and even visiting strangers received the benefit of his toil.”
Parting from Columbanus
Columbanus, however, was concerned that they were in danger as two of the monks had been slain when seeking to recover stolen livestock and the jealousy and dissatisfaction of some local tribesmen was more evident. Less than two years after their foundation, Duke Gunzo had been approached by the local nobles to expel the monks, and he ordered them to depart. Columbanus’ vision guided them to go South to Italy, and they sadly agreed. St Gall, suffering from a fever at the time, did not accompany the other monks across the Alps to Lombardy, the Kingdom of Agilolf, in 612. Columbanus interpreted St Gall’s desire to stay as a lack of obedience and enjoined him not to celebrate the Eucharist while Columbanus his Abbot, was alive. This separation caused both sides great sorrow. The local priest Willimar and his clerics who had welcomed them and had shown them the Bregenz site, nursed Gall to health at Arbon near the source of the Steinach river until his recovery, when he chose to go and pray in the wilderness. When he had selected a suitable place for settling, he made a Cross of hazel wood and hung his satchel upon it. For three days he fasted and prayed in a vigil with outstretched arms and consecrated the ground. There he formed a small community and was soon joined by twelve others.
St Gall and the Bear
Legend has it that when St Gall was warming his hands beside a fire a bear approached in search of food and crumbs which had been scattered about. Gall ordered the bear to fetch a log and put it on the fire and when the beast complied, he gave him a loaf of bread in return with a stern warning not to return. The event is commemorated in the historic Coat of Arms of St Gallen city.
Signs of Reconciliation
In 615, on the death of Columbanus in Bobbio, the Holy Man received the staff of Columbanus also known as the cambutta, which was the symbol of the absolute authority of his Abbot Columbanus. This was a sign of reconciliation and absolution and St Gall was then free to celebrate the Eucharist again. It is said that he had a vision of Columbanus’ death before the cambutta was delivered by Magnus.
The cambutta was to play a significant role in promoting the legacy of Gall and it was guarded by Magnus. Such was its influence that it was used in times of disaster, such as crop failure, as a means of protection against harm and there is a tale of the 7th Century monk, musician and poet, Balbus Nochtur, using it to chase demons from the St Gallen scriptorium. He reputedly split the head of the staff when putting the demons to flight.
Humble Heir of Columbanus
In 627, St Gall was approached by the monks in Luxeuil, one of Columbanus’ French foundations, to become their Abbot on the death of Eustasius. His response reflected his humility – one of the core monastic virtues.
“I left my kinsfolk and acquaintances and ever sought the recesses of the wilderness, that I might have more leisure and freedom to serve the Lord.”
Twice Gall was offered the Bishopric of the See of Constance. On the first occasion when Columbanus was still Abbott of Bobbio, Gall pleaded that he was a stranger and that it was contrary to church law. He would also have felt bound by the vow of obedience to his Abbot and so refused. On the second occasion he was asked, he proposed that one of his deacons, Johanes, whom he had instructed in Scripture and Canon Law, would be a more suitable candidate. His recommendation was accepted and Johanes was ordained and consecrated as Bishop.
Despite his preaching gifts, Gall was known to be a humble man, never seeking personal attention. He wished for a life of reflection and prayer, administering the penitential with mercy. Over time his humble dwelling and lifestyle drew so many companions that it grew into the famous Swiss city of St Gallen, with its internationally celebrated scriptorium and library. This brought learning and the development of skills which produced exquisitely ornamented manuscripts. Books were painstakingly reproduced on vellum by monks across Europe.
St Gall’s Death
On his death in 645, Gall’s tomb became a place of pilgrimage and rest and prayer and it grew from a Church to a Basilica and later a Cathedral. Bishop Johanes came to officiate and grieve at Arbon and Strabo gives a touching description of the bier being carried by horses to his place of rest.
St Gall’s Legacy
Over the centuries monks from Ireland visited, or sought refuge, in St Gallen Monastery, often leaving manuscripts which were preserved from destruction by Viking or other ravages. St Gall’s original books became the founding collection of the extensive monastic Library at St Gallen. The foundation was made a Royal Monastery and Library in the reign of Emperor Louis the Pious in the 9th Century giving them independent income and governance, thus securing their future and growth.
One of the better known Irish travellers was Marcellus or Moengal who, on the return journey to Bangor from Rome, stayed 10 years in St Gallen. He later became Abbott of Bangor and died in 869 being remembered as “Most learned in the affairs of God and man.”
The vibrant Cathedral and Library of St Gallen today and the beautiful churches and statues dedicated to him in both Switzerland and Bavaria remain a powerful testament to St Gall’s influence and legacy. He continues to be celebrated as the Patron Saint of the Federal State or Canton of St Gallen, is revered throughout Switzerland and cited as foremost among the many Swiss Saints
Bibliography
| Columbanus in his Own Words | Tomás Ó Fiaich | 1974 |
| The Life of St Gall | Maud Joynt | 1927 |
| Saint Columbanus Pilgrim for Christ | Aidan J Larkin | 2012 |
| Sancti Columbani Opera | G S M Walker | 1957 |
| Life of Columbanus | Jonas of Bobbio | |
| Life of Columban | Mrs Thomas Concannon | 1915 |
| Life of St Gall (leaflet) | North Down Borough Council |
Researched and written for Friends of Columbanus Bangor by Máire Treasa Foley