medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today is the feast day of:
Acacius (no date) A martyr who died, according to tradition, with 10,000
companions. Apparently completely mythical, a cult of these saints began
in Armenia, with the Acts of the martyrs written in the twelfth century.
The cult spread to Europe, especially Germany and Switzerland, with the
crusades. Acacius is frequently included among the Fourteen Holy Helpers,
because of a story that Acacius before his crucifixion asked God that
whoever venerated their memory would enjoy health of mind and body.
Paulinus of Nola (d. 431) Born into a very wealthy family, Paulinus was
educated by Ausonius, held public office (probably in Campania), and
married the Spanish Therasia. Both converted to Christianity, and after an
infant son died in c. 390 they began to distribute their wealth to the
poor. Paulinus was ordained a priest at popular demand by the bishop of
Barcelona, but Paulinus decided to settle into a semi-monastic life at Nola
(none of my sources say what happened to Therasia). He became bishop of
Nola in c. 409.
John Fisher (d. 1535) One of the few English clerics openly to defy Henry
VIII when he made his break from Rome. Fisher was a distinguished scholar,
who became chaplain to Lady Margaret Beaufort, and it that capacity
reformed Cambridge University. In 1504 he became bishop of Rochester, and
later confessor to Catherine of Aragon. He lost the king's favor by
upholding papal supremacy, refused to take the oath of Succession in 1534,
and was imprisoned. He was tried and beheaded as a trator on 22. June,
1535. He was canonized along with Thomas More in 1935.
Thomas More (d. 1535) A successful humanist and lawyer, More entered the
service first of Henry VII and then Henry VIII of England, rising
eventually to become chancellor. Like Fisher, though, More refused to
accept the Act of Succession that declared the children of Henry VIII and
Anne Boleyn to be successors to the throne, so was imprisoned, tried,
condemned, and beheaded as a traitor (on 6. July, but he shares a feast day
with Fisher).
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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