Attala

Who they were

Attala, born in Burgundy, became a monk at Lérins but, finding its discipline lax, went to St Columban's new monastery at Luxeuil. When Columban was expelled he followed him into exile, and they founded the Abbey of Bobbio near Genoa.

After Columban's death in 615 Attala became Abbot of Bobbio. He held to strict discipline through hardships under the Arian King Ariowald and a revolt of his own monks, many of whom later returned. He died in 627.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A faithful disciple of St Columban who kept his monastery true to its rule.