medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (20. March) is the feast day of:
Parasceve (d. 138/161) Parasceve was a particularly beloved saint in the
Middle Ages, and a rich body of legends developed around her. Parasceve
was a virgin martyr, probably killed in the reign of Antoninus Pius in
Palestine. Legend reports that Parasceve was imprisoned and tortured
several times, but remained miraculously uninjured; the emperor was so
impressed that he accepted baptism. After that, Parasceve traveled widely
and preached Christianity with great success---at one point she even killed
a dragon, impressing yet another ruler so much that he converted.
Claudia (d. c. 300) A legendary passio relates that Claudia was martyred
in Asia Minor by being hanged, flayed, and finally burned in an oven.
Martin of Braga (d. 579 or 580) From c. 550 on, Martin worked as a
missionary among the Arian Sueves in the region of Braga (NW Iberian
peninsula), successfully converting them to catholicism. From c. 556 on,
Martin was first bishop of Dumium, and from 570 on archbishop of Braga (now
Portugal)
Cuthbert (d. 687) Cuthbert is one of the great saints of England; his
nickname was "miracle worker of Britain." Cuthbert was born in 634 and in
651 entered the monastery of Melrose (Scotland). In 664 he became prior of
Lindisfarne. He lived for six years as a hermit, becoming ever more
famous, and in 685 was named bishop of Hexham (the see soon transfered to
Lindisfarne). His tomb was opened eleven years after his death, and the
body was found uncorrupt.
Herbert of Cumberland (d. 687) The English priest Herbert was a disciple
of St. Cuthbert. He venerated Cuthbert so greatly that he prayed to die on
the same day as his hero, which he did.
Wulfram (d. 700 or 720) Wulfram was a monk, and in c. 690 became
archbishop of Sens (France) However, he soon left his bishopric and worked
with Willibrord as a missionary in Frisia.
Remigius of Strassburg (blessed) (d. 783) Remigius was a son of the duke
of Alsace and a nephew of St. Odilia. After a time as abbot of Munster
near Colmar (Alsace), from 776 he served as bishop of Strassburg. Pope Leo
IX beatified Remigius in 1051.
John of Parma (blessed) (d. 1289) John, a member of the Buralli family,
was born in Parma probably in 1209. In 1233 he entered the Franciscan
order, and over the following years held a number of offices in the order,
including serving as general minister from 1247 to 1257; he was one of the
reformers of the young order. John was sent as papal legate to
Constantinople in 1288, but died on the journey. He was beatified in 1777.
Mauritius Pannonius (Csaky) (d. 1336) Never formally canonized, but with a
major cult in Hungary. Mauritius was a member of the Hungarian royal
family, born in c. 1280. He married, but after three years separated from
his wife and entered a monastery in Budapest. He was highly honored for
his asceticism, humility, and intensity of prayer.
Baptista Spagnoli of Mantua (blessed) (d. 1516) The Carmelite Baptista of
Mantua was a great Catholic humanist and important author who was sometimes
likened to Vergil. Baptista was born in 1448 in Mantua, and entered the
Carmelite order at the age of fifteen. He held several high offices in the
order, besides composing about 55,000 verses. He was beatified in 1885.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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