L’eredita’ spirituale ed istituzionale di Colombano in Pascasio Radberto e nella cultura monastica carolingia e postcarolingia

Jonas of Bobbio describes Columbanus as a “living saint”, but at the same time his work marks the beginning of the crisis of the late antique “holy man”, as well as of a new process of institutionalization. Originally connected to (and dependant from) the charismatic figure of the saint, Columbanus’ Rule coexisted for a long time with the much more systematic Benedictine Rule. Even Benedict of Aniane made ample use of Columbanus’ Rule in his Concordia regularum, especially for what concerns humility, the recitation of Psalms, regulations on food and penitential rituals practiced within the monastery. During the ninth century, Benedict and Columbanus were often associated with one another. Conversely, Paschasius Radbertus, who was critical towards the monastic reform of Benedict of Aniane, propounded the Columbanian model from a prophetic perspective, presenting Wala as his ideal heir. United by the same religio, both Columbanus and Wala held the post of abbot in Bobbio after being persecuted by a Queen. In the Vita Galli, Wettinus and Walahfrid Strabo, described the area of Luxeuil, as «serpentibus plenam», as opposed to Bobbio: a «locus pacificus» which had been granted by the Lombard king. The Gesta abbatum Fontanellensium report that Wandregiselus founded a monastery which was modeled on Bobbio. Various sources from the ninth century mention the connection between this monastery and the Carolingian sovereigns. For example, in the Planctus Karoli (later cited by Thietmar, the chronicler who proffered the Columbanus-Atala connection), Columbanus is shown grieving for the death of the great emperor. Notker’s Gesta Karoli, instead, narrate the monastic career of two humble members “de familia sancti Columbani”, who, on account of their magister’s ability, became prepositi of the Abbey of Bobbio. The commemorative tradition attests to the fact that the monastery of Bobbio was fully included in a network of monastic communities at a broader (European) level.