At 10:30 AM 12/29/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Colleagues:
>
>Has anyone heard of an author of a saint's life refer to himself as a
>"baiulus"? The Lexicon lat. Nederlandicae defines baiulus as a "bearer"
>or "carrier". In Fra Giunta's Legenda de vita et miraculus beatae
>Margaritae de Cortona (Iozzelli critical ed. 1997) the hagiographer Fra
>Giunta often refers to himself as Baiulus, with the implication that he
>is the bearer of St Margaret of Cortona's (d. Feb 22, 1297, Franciscan
>Tertiary) message or deeds. Is the biographer suggesting that he is
>God's chosen messager to transmit the words and actions of Margaret? Is
>this a first in the development of Latin saints' lives? It almost seems
>he is making himself a sort of alter-saint, along with his subject.
>
>I would appreciate any leads you might have.
>
>Thanks
>
>Thomas Renna - History
You may be misinterpreting the term. Baiulus is the term used for the
porter of a monastic house; which was one of the traditional duties of
franciscan brothers. ergo, your author may actually have been the porter,
or at least styles himself in this regard to the Saint, to infer that he is
opening the door to her life and spirit so that you may enter into it,
Sincerely in Christ,
Br. Alexis Bugnolo
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