medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (2. December) is the feast day of:
Bibiana (d. 365) Legend reports that Bibiana was a young Christian woman,
martyred in Rome in 365 (which seems very strange). She is supposed to
have been tortured for months, and ended by being flogged to death. A
hundred years later the church of S. Bibiana was built on the site of her
tomb, in which is still preserved the column to which Bibiana was supposed
to have been bound during her flogging.
Silverius (d. 537) Silverius became pope in 536. After the death of
Agapetus I the Gothic king Theodahat chose Silverius, a son of Pope
Hormisdas (514-523) as successor. Silverius was soon entangled in the
struggle between the Byzantines and the Ostrogoths. When Belisarius took
Rome, he deposed Silverius, and his successor (Vigilius) banished Silverius
to the island of Ponza (near Naples). Silverius soon died of the
mistreatment he had suffered, and is therefore honored as a martyr.
Oderisius (blessed) (d. 1105) Oderisius was born in c. 1025 to the comital
family of Marsio in Italy. He was educated at Montecassino, and became a
monk there in c. 1040. In 1059 he was made a cardinal, and from 1087 on
was also abbot of Montecassino. Oderisius was especially known as a peace
mediator, and as a poet.
John of Ruysbroek (blessed) (d. 1381) John was one of the greatest Belgian
mystics, winning the nicknames "the wonderful," "the second Dionysius," and
"doctor divinus." He was born in 1293 in Ruysbroek (near Brussels). His
career began as chaplain in the cathedral of Brussels. In 1343, however,
John and several companions retreated to the forest near Waterloo, founding
the Augustinian canonry of Groenendael, with John as prior. John had a
great many mystical experiences, which he wrote down. His cult was
approved in 1908.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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