Today, 1 October, is the feast of...
Remigius, or Remi, Bishop of Rheims (530): Remi baptised Clovis. On the
way to the baptism, Remi conducted the king by the hand, followed by
Queen Clotilda and the people. At the font the bishop allegedly told
Clovis the following: "Humble yourself, Sicambrian! Worship what you
have burned, and burn what you have worshipped!"
Romanus the Melodist (Sixth Century): The greatest of the Greek
hymn-writers.
Melorus, Melar or Mylor, Martyr (Date Unknown): The church of the great
nunnery at Amesbury in Wiltshire was dedicated to St Melorus whose
relics it claimed. The medieval Life of Melorus states that he was the
son of Melianus, Duke of Cornuaille (in Brittany). When he was seven
years old his uncle Rivoldus murdered Melianus, usurped his power, and
maiming Melorus by cutting off his right hand and left foot, confined
him to a monastery. By the time the boy was fourteen his miracles earned
him such honour that Rivoldus began to fear him, and bargained with his
guardian Cerialtanus to get rid of him. Accordingly Cerialtanus smote
off the boy's head. But the story ends happily. The dead body of Melorus
wrought several miracles, including the death of his murderers, and it
was buried with honour.
Bavo (655): Hermit, also called Allowin! He was a nobleman and after
being left a widower was moved to conversion to God by a sermon which he
heard St Amand preach at Ghent. He distributed all his money among the
poor, and went to the monastery of Ghent that was afterwards called by
his name.
Francis of Pesaro, Franciscan tertiary (1350): Also called Cecco. Joined
the third order of St Francis in 1300 and retired to a hermitage which
he had built on the slope of Monte San Bartolo, by Pesaro. Once when he
was ill he lost his appetite altogether, and his followers killed a
cockerel, intending to cook it carefully in the hope of thereby coaxing
him to eat. But Francis missed the bird's crowing and enquired after it.
He was devastated when he found out the bird's fate. But wait another
happy ending! He prayed over the dead cockerel, which was not only dead
but plucked, and its life was restored together with its plumage.
Nicholas of Forca Palena (1449): Secular priest from Abruzzo, founded a
society of hermits under the patronage of St Jerome.
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Dr Carolyn Muessig
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Bristol
Bristol BS8 1TB
UK
phone: +44(0)117-928-8168
fax: +44(0)117-929-7850
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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