medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (22. May) is the feast day of:
Aemilius and Castus (d. either c. 203 or c. 250) Aemilius and Castus were
Christians of Carthage; their martyrdom is recounted by Cyprian and
Augustine. They were imprisoned because of their faith, and under torture
denied their beliefs. But in a second hearing they recanted their
recantations, upon which they were condemned to death.
Quiteria (d. 4th cent.) Quiteria is honored in Gascony, and her cult also
exists in Spain and Portugal. According to her probably legendary passio,
Quiteria, who became a Catholic Christian at the age of 13, fled from the
marriage her Arian parents had planned for her. Her bridegroom discovered
her and beheaded her.
Julia of Carthage (of Corsica) Julia is still an important saint of Italy,
the patroness of Brescia, Bergamo, and Livorno, as well as the island of
Corsica. According to legend, Julia was from Carthage, transported to
Corsica as a slave. There she was crucified in 439 when the Vandals
invaded.
John of Parma (d. c. 985) John was born in c. 910 in Parma (Italy) and is
credited with six pilgrimages to Jerusalem. From 973 until his death he
was abbot of S. Giovanni in Parma.
Humilitas (d. 1310) Born Rosanna di Negusanti in Faenza (Italy) in c.
1226, the future saint married at the age of 15. After several years of
marriage, the couple decided to enter the monastic life. Taking the name
Humilitas, Rosanna first lived as a recluse by the Vallombrosan church S.
Apollinare in Faenze, then in 1266 founded a Vallombrosan nunnery outside
of Faenze, which she led.
Rita of Cascia (d. 1457) Rita was born in Roccaporena (near Cascia, Italy)
in c. 1380. Her parents married her off at a young age to an abusive
husband. After her husband's murder, Rita's two sons swore revenge; Rita
said she would rather they died, and they did in fact die shortly
afterwards. After several attempts to join the Augustinian convent in
Cascia, Rita was admitted to the Augustinian hermitesses. She lived a
starkly penitential and mystical life, receiving in a 1443 vision the
wounds of the crown of thorns, which she bore until her death.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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