medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (28. September) is the feast day of:
Exuperius (d. 411) Exuperius was bishop of Toulouse from 405 until his
death. He gained a great reputation for caring for the poor and needy,
selling all of the gold altar gear of the diocese to raise money for his
charities---he celebrated mass with a glass chalice after that. Exuperius
was a friend of St. Jerome, and through Jerome also aided the poor in
Palestine and Egypt. In 407/408 he led the defence of Toulouse against the
Vandals.
Salonius of Genf (d. c. 455) Salonius was one of the important church
figures and authors of the fifth century. He was born in c. 400, the son
of Bishop Eucherius of Lyons, and was educated at Lerins. Salonius became
bishop of Genf (Switzerland in c. 437/438). A letter he wrote to Pope Leo
I is still extant.
Faustus of Riez (d. c. 460) Faustus was born in c. 408 in Brittany. He
became a monk at Lerins, and abbot there in 433. In 459 he became bishop
of Riez in southern France. He was an active combatant against Arianism
and Pelagianism.
Lioba (d. prob. 782) Lioba was a kinswoman of St. Boniface, born in c. 710
in Wessex. She was educated at the nunnery of Wimborne, and at a young age
became magistra of the school there. Lioba responded to Boniface's appeal
for support in his missionary endeavors, moving to the continent and taking
the leadership of Boniface's foundation of Tauberbischofsheim. Several of
her nuns there later became abbesses of new convents, with Lioba
maintaining supervision over them. Lioba developed close connections to
the Carolingian court, especially with Queen Hildegard.
Wenceslas (d. 929 or 935) Wenceslas was born in c. 904 in Bohemia. His
grandmother raised him as a Christian, and when Wenceslas became duke of
Bohemia in 922 he made great efforts to convert his land to Christianity.
His vitae report his deep piety and asceticism, which apparently won
considerable admiration, but also turned many of the Bohemian nobles
against their duke. Wenceslas' brother Boleslav succeeded in having his
brother murdered. [Does anyone know why the Christmas carol "Good King
Wenceslas" came into being?]
Eberhard of Tuntenhausen (c. 1370) Bavaria seems to have a surprising
number of servant/shepherd folk saints. Eberhard, according to legend, was
a shepherd in the region near Freising. He is credited with miraculous
powers; wherever he stuck he shepherd's crook into the ground, a tree grew.
Eberhard is believed to have died in c. 1370, and his cult first appears
in extant sources in 1428. Papal permission for the cult was granted in
1734, but Eberhard has never been formally canonized. He is primarily a
farmers' saint; in earlier times, earth from his grave was mixed with
cattle food to cure cattle sicknesses.
Bernardino of Feltre (blessed) (d. 1494) Bernardino was a Franciscan, born
in 1439 in Feltre (Italy) He became one of the greatest popular preachers
in Italy, apparently emulating his namesake of Siena.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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