medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (18. April) is the feast day of:
Molaise (Laserian) (d. 564 or 571) Molaise is a pet form of the name
Laissren (Mo Laisse = "my Laissren"). According to tradition, the Irish
Molaise was a member of the royal family of Ulster. Little is known of his
life, besides the fact that he founded the monastery of Devenish on an
island in Lough Erne, as well as the monastery of Inishmurray. An
interesting legend reports that Molaise brought soil from Rome to hallow
Devenish.
Ursmar (d. 713) Ursmar, born in the second half of the seventh century in
northern France, became an auxiliary bishop with headquarters in Lobbes
(Belgium). In 697 he also became abbot of the community. Ursmar was a
successful missionary over a wide territory.
Wikterp of Augsburg (d. c. 771) Wikterp (Wigbert) was the first
historically attested bishop of Augsburg. He was an active missionary and
co-founder of the monasteries of Kempten, Ellwangen, and Wessobrun.
Herluka of Bernried (blessed) (d. prob. 1127) Herluka was probably born in
Bavaria, in c. 1060. After a series of both bodily and spiritual
sufferings she dedicated her life to prayer and asceticism. She became a
semi-recluse, supporting the gregorian reform, encouraging the cult of St.
Wikterp (see above), and acting as spiritual advisor. In 1120 she had to
flee from her home in Epfach (Bavaria), and died in her refuge of Bernried.
Idesbald (blessed) (d. prob. 1167) Idesbald was born in c. 1095 in
Flanders and was raised at the court of the counts of Flanders. He
abandoned his privileged life, though, to enter the Cistercian monastery of
Les Dunes, becoming abbot in 1155. By the time of his death, Idesbald had
a great reputation for sanctity. His cult won formal approval in 1894.
Galdinus della Sala Valvassi (d. 1176) Galdinus was a member of the high
nobility, born in 1096 in Milan. He became archbishop of Milan in 1166,
and from 1167 on was papal legate for Lombardy. Galdinus had the task of
rebuilding Milan (destroyed by Frederick Barbarossa), and is also credited
with reorganizing his diocese and bringing the religious life there to a
new bloom.
Werner of Oberwesel (d. 1187) A canonization process for Werner was begun
in the fifteenth century, but never reached a conclusion. Werner was a
vineyard laborer who at the age of 16 was murdered and his body found in a
field near Bacharach (Germany). The locals ascribed the foul deed to the
Jews (need I say that there was no evidence?). Werner was venerated as a
martyr (his relics have now vanished). He was deleted from the calendar in
1963.
Amedeo degli Amidei (d. 1266) Amedeo was one of the seven founders of the
Servite order. He and his co-founders were canonized in 1888.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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