Marmion Abbey and Academy are named for Blessed Columba Marmion O.S.B., the third abbot of Maredsous Abbey in Belgium and a noted spiritual author and retreat master. He died in 1923 and was beatified as a Blessed of the Church by Pope John Paul II on September 3, 2000. His feast day is observed on October 3, the date of his blessing as abbot.

As an Irish diocesan priest in the Dublin Diocese he felt called to the monastic way of life and so entered Maredsous Abbey several years after being ordained a priest.

In 1909 he was elected abbot of Maredsous Abbey and served in that capacity until his death on January 30, 1923. He authored three books based upon his extensive retreats. These works give a deep insight into his spirituality: Christ, the Life of the Soul (1917), Christ, in His Mysteries (1919), and Christ, the Ideal of the Monk (1922). It is a spirituality centered on Christ and His divine adoption of the children of God. These works have been translated into many languages and are considered spiritual classics.

Prayer

God, our Father,
you called your servant, Columba,
to the monastic life.
You bestowed on him the grace
to understand the mysteries of your Son
and to make him known as the ideal
for all who have been baptized.
Grant that we may learn from his example
to live in Christ by opening our hearts in joy
to the Spirit of your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

To report spiritual favors received through Blessed Columba Marmion's intercession or to order a full color booklet entitled Praying with Abbot Marmion ($1.00 per copy), please contact:

Marmion Abbey
850 Butterfield Rd.
Aurora, Illinois 60504 U.S.A.
Phone: (630) 897-7215, est. 312
FAX: (630) 897-0393