Columba Marmion

Columba Marmion OSB ( born April 1, 1858 in Dublin, Ireland; † 30 January 1923 in Maredsous, community Anhée ) was the third abbot of Maredsous Abbey in Belgium.

Life

His father William Marmion was Irish, his mother Herminie Cordier French. In the name Joseph Aloysius baptized, he entered the diocesan seminary in 1874 in Dublin one. His studies he continued at the University of Propaganda Fide in Rome. On 16 June 1881 he was ordained a priest.

He wanted to be in the episode Missionary Benedictines in Australia, but a visit to the new Abbey of Maredsous in Belgium impressed him so much that he instead wanted to enter Maredsous by the local liturgical culture. His bishop initially asked him to be patient and appointed him curate in Dundrum and then professor of theology in Clonliffe ( 1882-86 ). He was incidentally confessor for Redemptoristines and also in a women's prison.

In 1886 he entered the novitiate of the Maredsous Abbey and was dressed by Abbot Placidus Wolter. During his novitiate, the now 30 -year-old had to learn new languages ​​and customs. His idealistic conception of religious obedience had already been one of the reasons for its occurrence, and the spiritual theme obedience accompanied him throughout his life. On 10 February 1891 he passed the profession.

He became known in Belgium and England soon as confessor and spiritual exercises. Among his penitents was Msgr Désiré -Joseph Mercier, later Cardinal. They became lifelong friends.

On September 28, 1909 Marmion was elected abbot and benediziert on October 3. His motto, he chose from the Rule of St. Benedict, was: Magis quam prodesse praesse ( It is better to serve than to rule ). The community of Maredsous time numbered more than 100 monks with diverse and challenging fields of activity, including the publication of the Revue Benedictine.

His reign was marked by war and nationalism. This meant for him, as he himself emerged from two cultures and was abbot of a German establishment in Belgium, very worried and caused him severe internal suffering. He searched the preaching his comfort and donated catching and others. His secretary, Dom Raymond Thibaut edited Marmion's numerous speeches and lectures, which were spread throughout the world, translated into several languages ​​and appreciated.

Dom Columba died during an influenza epidemic. Since 1963, his grave is in the side chapel of Saint- Grégoire of the abbey church.

The writings of Dom Columba Marmion, especially Le Christ dans ses Mystères have deeply influenced the work of Olivier Messiaen, particularly his piano cycles Visions de l' Amen and Vingt Regards sur l' Enfant Jésus, but also the organ works of Le Livre du Saint- Sacrement.

Beatification

The Diocese of Namur in 1957 initiated the diocesan process for the beatification one. Pope John Paul II spoke Columba Marmion on September 3, 2000 blessed. His feast day is October 3.

Works

• Le Christ, vie de l' âme. 1917 ( Christ, the life of the soul )
• Le Christ dans ses Mystères. Conférences spiritual. 1919 ( Christ in his mysteries )
• Le Christ, idéal du moine. 1922 ( Christ, our ideal )

Posthumously:

• Sponsa verbi. La vierge au consacrée Christian. Conférences spiritual. 1923 ( sponsa verbi. , The soul as the bride of Christ)
• Paroles de Vie en marge du missel. 1937 ( words of life. Thoughts days after the Missal. )
• Le Christ, idéal you prêtre. 1952 ( Christ, the Ideal of the Priest )
• Spiritual oeuvre: 1858-1923 Lethielleux, Paris 1998 ISBN 2-283-60173-8.