medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (16. May) is the feast day of:
Peregrinus of Auxerre (d. 304) The first known bishop of Auxerre,
Peregrinus was martyred by decapitation in Diocletian's persecution.
Theodore of Tabennisi (d. 368) Theodore continued the tradition of
Pachomius. He was born in c. 314 in Egypt, and at the age of 14 became a
monk and disciple of Pachomius. In 350, after Pachomius' death, Theodore
became abbot of Tabennisi, going on to found further monasteries.
Possidius (d. c. 439) Possidius was a disciple and long-time friend of
Augustine. In 397 P. was elected bishop of Calama (Numidia). Possidius is
most famous for his biography of Augustine.
Brendan the Navigator (d. 577 or 583) Little is known of the historical
figure Brendan except his reputation as the founder of several monasteries,
including Clonfert (Co. Galway), Annaghdown (Co. Galway), Inishadroum (Co.
Clare), and Ardfert (Co. Kerry). There are also a few anecdotes of his
spiritual authority during his extensive missionary travels, which included
trips to Wales and, according to late tradition, Rome. He is said to have
been fostered by St. Ite, and it is she who advised Brendan to go away to
Britain to atone for his sin in causing a brother to be drowned by his
anger. In a tenth-century tale, the Archangel Michael came and made such
sweet music to the saint that afterward Brendan refused to listen to
earthly music, sticking wax plugs in his ears when in the presence of
musicians.
Brendan's fame and importance rest on a legend, "The Navigation of
St. Brendan" (Navigatio s. Brendani), probably written by the late eighth
century, perhaps on the Continent. This enormously popular work (at least
120 manuscripts survive from the Middle Ages) tells of Brendan's long
search on the Atlantic for the Promised Land of the Saints. The saint and
his 30 companions, voyaging in a hide coracle, spend seven years at sea,
returning each year to the same place. In the course of their journey they
encounter the Paradise of Birds, inhabited by fallen angels. Elsewhere the
monks discover saints of earlier times (both Irish and Egyptian), Judas
Iscariot sitting on a barren rock in the midst of the ocean, and a whale
named Jasconius, who permits the travelers to celebrate Easter mass on his
back each year. In the end, they reach the Land of Promise and return to
Ireland, after filling their boat with jewels and fruit.
The Life of Brendan adds some interesting details, including the
statement that Brendan and his companions failed to reached the Land of
Promise on their first voyage, because their ships, coracles, were made of
the hides of dead animals and thus not fit to touch consecrated land. So
they built ships of wood and the second time reached their goal.
Ubald of Gubbio (d. 1160) Ubald was a native of Gubbio, born in c. 1082.
In 1129 he became bishop of his home town. He was a strong protector of
his city, and was canonized in 1192.
Simon Stock (d. 1265) Simon lived as a hermit in his native England until
the first Carmelites reached the island and he joined the order. From 1256
on Simon was general of the order, founding numerous important Carmelite
houses.
John of Nepomuk (d. 1393) John was born in Bohemia in 1340/1350. He
became a canon in Prague, and from 1389 was generalvicar of the archdiocese
of Prague. He was possibly also court chaplain and the queen's confessor.
John was involved in numerous disagreements with King Wenceslas IV; the
last ended when the king had John tortured and thrown half-dead into the
Moldau (where he drowned). Later legend reports that John died because he
would not reveal the secrets of the queen's confession to the king.
Already by c. 1600 John was patron of Bohemia, and his cult had spread not
only throughout Europe but beyond (thanks to the Jesuits and Franciscans).
He was beatified in 1721, and canonized in 1729.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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