Saint Columbanus
It’s another Monday, and time for another installment of Hopfen und Malz
This will be the first of a small series of sporadic entries dedicated to Saints who loved beer. While there are a number of authentic accounts of Saints who personally imbibed, praised or otherwise promoted beer, they are a minority when compared to the number of Saints who went on record condemning our favorite beverage. But let’s move onto our first entry.
Saint Columbanus (543-615) was an Irish born Saint who helped bring Celtic monasticism to the continent. There are two associations connecting him with beer. The first is a story and the second, a quote. Legend has it that Columbanus came upon a group of men in the town of Bregenz (in modern day Austria) who were sacrificing a vat of ale to the god Wodan. Angry at this act of pagan idolatry Columbanus breathed upon the vessel which promptly shattered and spilled the beer upon the ground. Columbanus is then reported to have then told the now frightened Wodan worshippers that good ale is wasted on false gods. He then explained that the Christian God also loved beer but only when it was drunk in his name. The result of the miracle and Columbanus’ attractive (and beer-friendly) theology brought about many conversions.
Even more famous is this quotation “It is my design to die in the brew house; let ale be placed to my mouth when I am expiring, that when choirs of angels come they may say, ‘May God be propitious to this drinker.’” Few saint’s quotes are more memorable since I think it expresses some rather unconventional holy wisdom.So next time you’re toasting, raise a glass to this Saint of the Suds.
The Friar
I’m thinking Columbanus should have a starkbier named after him - if I become a brewer I’ll definitely do him that favor.
image from www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie
Tags: beer, bregenz, celtic_monasticism, christian_god, hopfen_und_malz, Religion, saints, saint_columbanus, wodanRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Culture
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