medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (2. May) is the feast day of:
Victorinus of Pettau (d. c. 304) Victorinus was bishop of Pettau
(Pannonia; now Slovenia). He was martyred in Diocletian's persecution.
Jerome reported Victorinus' great facility in explicating the Bible.
Athanasius the Great (d. 373) Athanasius, born in c. 298 in Alexandria, is
one of the outstanding figures of the eastern Church and one of the Doctors
of the Church. In 328 he became archbishop of Alexandria, an ardent
defender of catholicism against all comers, most notably the Arians. He
was exiled several times, for a total of seventeen years. Many of
Athanasius' theological works and letters are extant; however, the most
influential was probably his smal vita of Antony of the Desert.
Wiborada (d. 926) The Alamannian noblewoman Wiborada became a recluse at
St. Gallen in 916. She became a famous teacher and counsellor, also noted
for her prophetic powers. She foretold a Magyar raid in 926 and, at her
advice, the monks escaped to safety along with the monastery's treasures.
Wiborada, however, refused to break her vow of reclusion, and was killed by
the Magyars. She was formally canonized in 1047-the first woman so
honored.
Conrad of Seldenburen (blessed) (d. 1126) The Swiss Conrad founded the
famed monastery of Engelberg on his family land in 1120. He himself
entered the new monastery as a laybrother. On this day in 1126, he was
murdered by a relative, probably because of an inheritance dispute. A
strong local cult emerged immediately after his death.
Mafalda (blessed) (d. 1257) Mafalda was a Portuguese princes, born
probably in 1184. She married at the age of twelve, but the marriage was
dissolved in 1216, after which Mafalda set out to reform a Cistercian
monastery in Arouca. Mafalda probably entered the Cistercian order herself
there. She was beatified in 1793.
Niels Hermansson (blessed) (d. 1391) Niels was born in c. 1330 in Sweden.
He became archdeacon of Linkoping in 1360, and bishop in 1374. Closely
allied with the family of Birgitta of Sweden, Niels raised Birgitta's sons,
the mother house of the Brigittine order was founded in his diocese in
1384, and he wrote the order's rule. Niels was also a forceful defender of
church rights, and a noted hymn writer. His relics were raised in 1515.
Antoninus of Florence (d. 1459) Antoninus Pierozzi was born in 1389 in
Florence. At the age of sixteen he entered the Order of Preachers. During
the following 40 years, he lived in various convents in Italy, serving
several times as abbot, and twice as provincial general. In 1436 Antoninus
founded the monastery of S. Marco in Florence, and in 1446 became
archbishop of Florence. He was famed for his concern for pastoral care and
his governance of the diocese. Besides all this, Antoninus was a noted
author; his world chronicle reaches to the year of his death. Antoninus
was canonized in 1523.
Called away by my cravings for medievalist company, I won't be writing this
column for the next four days. To be caught up soon. Hope to see a lot of
list members at the medieval-religion sessions at Kalamazoo!
Phyllis
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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