medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (3. February) has nothing as fascinating as groundhogs, but is the
feast day of:
Blasius (d. c. 316) Blasius' life is strongly overlaid with legend. He is
supposed to have been bishop of Sebaste (Turkey) and was tortured to death
at the time of either Diocletian or Licinius. Legend reports that Blasius
hid from a forest from his persecutors, where he healed and blessed
animals. He had an affinity with animals usually reserved to Irish saints;
his feats included convincing a wolf to return a stolen pig to a poor
woman. His cult spread in the west by the ninth century, and he is counted
among the 14 Holy Helpers.
Laurentius Illuminator (d. 576) The Syrian Laurentius fled to Italy to
escape persecution in the middle of the sixth century, and founded a
monastery near Spoleto. Undependable sources report that he was bishop of
Spoleto for 20 years, then abdicated and went on to found the monastery of
Frafa near Rome, which he led until his death. Laurentius' nickname
"Illuminator" comes from his reputation for both healing the blind and
giving spiritual enlightenment to those in more figurative darkness.
Werburga (d. c. 700) The daughter of Wulfher and Ermenhild of Mercia
(England), Werburga entered the convent of Ely at a young age and soon
became abbess. She also founded the monasteries of Hanbury, Trentham, and
Weedon. She was famed as a miracle worker during her lifetime and was
already regarded as a saint before her death.
Nithard (d. 845) Nithard, born in c. 800, became a monk of Corbie
(France). Later he went to Sweden, where he was killed in an
anti-Christian rising. He is venerated as a martyr.
Ansgar (d. 865) Ansgar, born in c. 801 in France, became a monk and in 826
was sent to Scandinavia as a missionary. He is known as "apostle of the
north." In 831 Ansgar was consecrated as first archbishop of Hamburg
(later Hamburg-Bremen). Throughout his years in office, Ansgar was impeded
by inability to find enough co-workers, as the lovely vita by Rimbertus
makes clear. Despite his longing (and prophetic dreams) to be a martyr
(according to Rimbertus), Ansgar died peacefully.
Liafdag (d. 980) Liafdag was the first bishop of Ripen (Jutland), founded
at the instigation of Otto the Great in 947. He was martyred by irate
pagans in Ripen. There was a cult of Liafdag in Ripen for centuries.
Adelheid of Vilich (d. sometime between 1010 and 1020) Adelheid was first
abbess of Vilich near Bonn, a house of canonesses founded by her parents.
In c. 1000 she converted the house to the Benedictine Rule. When her
sister died in 1002, Adelheid also assumed leadership of the convent of St.
Maria im Kapitol in Cologne. Adelheid enjoyed the esteem of both the
people and the rulers, and was famed for her care of the poor. Her well in
Puetzchen is supposed to cure eye diseases and still draws pilgrims today.
Her cult was formally approved in 1966.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
[log in to unmask]
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|