medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (14. April) is the feast day of:
Valerian of Rome (?) According to legend, Valerian was the bridegroom of
St. Cecilia, and was killed in a persecution of Christians.
Bernard of Tiron (d. 1117) Bernard, born in c. 1046 in Abbeville
(France---I hope I got this one right), became a Benedictine monk and held
several monastic offices. Beginning in c. 1100 he became a wandering
preacher and hermit. In 1114 Bernard founded a monastery in a forest near
Tiron (diocese Chartres), from which the congregation of Tiron developed.
Pedro Gonzales (d. 1246) (blessed) Pedro is honored today by seamen as
St. Elmo (or in Spain as San Telmo). He was born sometime before 1190 in
Astorga (Spain) to a noble family. At first Pedro led a very worldly life.
Legend reports that he converted after his horse threw him in the mud one
day while he was riding down the street, and everybody laughed at him.
Pedro returned to his house in shame, and soon became a hermit. After that
he entered the Dominican order and became confessor and advisor to
Ferdinand III of Castille. After several years Pedro abandoned the court
and began to preach among the poorest, especially among the crews of ships.
In 1254 his veneration was approved for Spain; in 1741 he was beatified
for the entire Church.
Lidwina (d. 1433) Lidwina (Lidia, Ludwina) was born in 1380 in Schiedam
(Netherlands) to a poor working-class family. She grew up to be beautiful,
and as the attention she received became more and more intrusive she asked
God to rescue her from her plight. A short time afterward, the 15-year old
girl fell while iceskating and broke a rib. This injury developed into
nearly 40 years of chronic suffering; Lidwina ended up able to move only
her head and one arm, went blind in one eye, had horrible toothaches, her
stomach refused food, she had constant bleeding from nose and mouth, etc.
(!) During her suffering, Lidwina experienced many ecstasies and visions,
and lived for many years with no nourishment but the eucharist. She died
in 1433 in her parents' home. Lidwina is highly honored in the
Netherlands, as well as parts of Germany. She was canonized in 1890.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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