Today October 3

Today we have the wonderful memorial of Dom Columba Marmion (1858 - 1923). I like him because he was a philosopher, a theologian, and most of all, a very funny guy. This Irish priest (later, after much persuasion, he got his Irish archbishop to let him be a monk -- later the abbot -- of a Benedictine abbey in Belgium) was a teacher, but no administrator or disciplinarian. He was singularly unfit for and unsuccessful in his assigned role as dean in the boys' school, but he was a marvelous preacher, spiritual director and writer. His "Christ the Life of the Soul" moved many men to heights of holiness, including Pope Benedict XV, who personally thanked him. He was clear in form and accurate in content. He was very orthodox, and was responsible for many conversions, including whole parishes, notably the one in Caldey in Wales, and individuals such as a fierce woman atheist, whose car providentially broke down right in front of his abbey and whose confession he later heard. But he was not universally successful. He totally failed in getting George Tyrrell to reject Modernism, for instance.

He was brave. He stood up to the German soldiers during World War I who came to take the church bells for bullet material, as they did everywhere in the occupied countries. Dom Marmion told them the bells belonged to God and to take them would be stealing from God Himself. The soldiers retreated.

Later during the war they had to evacuate and Dom Marmion was chosen to lead a bunch of monks to Great Britain. He hadn't a passport, so he tried to sneak in under disguise and when questioned, he said, "I'm Irish and the Irish never need a passport -- except for Hell, and it isn't there that I'm wanting to go." They let him in.

Besides his classic books, he spoke to the hearts of people. He'd begin conversations by looking them in the eye and saying, "Well, my child, how is your soul?" And he said once, "You are never dearer to God, never glorify Him more than when, in full realization of your misery and unworthiness, you gaze at His infinite goodness and cast yourself on His bosom." Amen, Brother.

He died in peace on Jan. 30, 1923, his last words being "My God, my mercy" in Latin. His cause for beatification began in 1961. Dom Marmion, pray for us.