-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Carolyn
Muessig
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2000 5:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FEAST 5 October
Today, 5 October, is the feast of...
Placid, martyr (sixth century): Not to be confused with the Placid
rescued from drowning by Maurus following Benedict's orders, this Placid
founded the monastery of St John the Baptist at Messina. He was martyred
with Eutychius and 30 companions by Moorish Moslem pirates from Spain;
this despite the fact that there were no Moors in Spain in the sixth
century, and no Saracen descents on Sicily until the middle of the
seventh century.
Well, actually the two Placids were confused (or at least blended) quite
thoroughly. In the 12th century, the famous historian/forger of Monte
Cassino, Peter the Deacon forged a "Life of Placid", the young monk who, s
Carolyn reports, was a companion of Maurus and a disciple of Benedict who
was rescued from drowning at Subiaco. According to Peter's Life of Placid,
the latter was, after the rescue, sent to Sicily to oversee vast properties
given to Monte Cassino by his noble Roman father. Eventually, Placid and 30
companions, many from Monte Cassino, were martyred by the Saracens. (Peter
had, consciously or not, confused the two Placids and so invented this Vita
that conflated the two stories).
This life became extremely popular and was the basis of a cult of Placid
that was widespread in the high and later middle ages. His feast was, as I
recall, celebrated on Oct 5 for some time in the Benedictine world since the
two Placids were "fused". Later his feast was transferred to Oct 10. Both
Placids were removed from the Roman calendar in the Great Purge of Vatican
II. Nonetheless, there is still devotion to Placid in the Order of St.
Benedict as the following URL demonstrates.
http://www.stplacid.org/who.html
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