medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (19. October) is the feast day of:
Ptolemaeus and Lucius (d. c. 150) The Acts of these two saints was written
by Justin. Ptolemaeus converted a woman to Christianity who, upon her
conversion, demanded a divorce from her husband (who from the account seems
to have engaged in kinky sex). The husband denounced Ptolemaeus to the
authorities as a Christian, and his excecution was ordered. A bystander
named Lucius protested the sentence, since Ptolemaeus had committed no
crime except for being a Christian. When the prefect asked if Lucius were
a Christian too, he confessed it and was martyred with Ptolemaeus..
Asterius (early 4th cent.) Asterius was a priest in Rome who was martyred.
In c. 384, two of Asterius' former companions reported that Asterius had
been buried in a church in Ostia. A strong cult arose at an early age, and
an inscription discovered in the 18th century fixed the day of his death as
19. October.
Amabilis (d. c. 475) Amabilis worked as a priest in Riom in the Auvergne.
He won great veneration during his lifetime, which increased even more
after his death. In Riom, the church dedicated to Amabilis (dating from c.
1120) stands on the same site on which Amabilis himself is supposed to have
erected a church.
Frideswide (d. c. 735) Frideswide, perhaps the daughter of Didan of
Mercia, founded the nunnery of St. Mary in what is now Oxford, which she
then led until her death.
Laura (d. 864) Laura was a native of Cordoba. After her husband's death
she entered the nunner of S. Maria de Cuteclara in that city, becoming
abbess in 855. She was imprisoned and killed by the Muslim authorities
(apparently she was one of the Cordoba martyrs, and had publically
denounced Islam)---according to tradition by being thrown into a pot of
molten lead.
Peter of Alcantara (d. 1562) Peter was born in Alcantara (Portugal) in
1499, and in 1515 became a Franciscan. From 1542 on he became a zealous
reformer within his order, and in 1555 founded the reform convent of
Pedrosa. In 1555 Peter became the superior of all reformed houses in
Spain. Peter was famed as a mystic with the gift of prophecy, and was also
a gifted spiritual advisor. He was immensely influential, attracting
people of all ranks.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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