medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (13. May) is the feast day of:
Mucius (d. 304) Nucius was a Roman, born in Byzantium in the 3rd century.
He was raised as a Christian and became a priest. He is supposed to have
been killed in Diocletian's persecution, after he knocked down a pagan
altar.
Servatius (d. 384) The tomb of Servatius in Maastricht was one of the most
important pilgrimage locations of the Middle Ages. Servatius was probably
born somewhere in the eastern Mediterranean in c. 300. The first report of
him comes from 343, when he appears as a bitter opponent of Arianism at the
synod of Sardika. At some point S. became bishop of Tongres. A legend
reported by Gregory of Tours tells that Servatius hindered the Hun invasion
with his prayer; he went to Rome to strengthen his prayer, but had there a
vision of St. Peter, who told S. that the Huns had been sent by God to
punish the evil people of Gaul, but that he himself would die peacefully
before the Huns got there. The seven-yearly celebration of Servatius in
Maastricht includes a massive (about 800 participants) play about the life
of the saint. To be seen next on this day in 2004.
John Hesychastes (d. 558) John was born in Nicopolis (Armenia) in 454. He
became bishop in 483, but resigned after several years and became a monk at
the community of St. Sabas near Jerusalem. John remained there in complete
silence until his death.
Rolendis (8th cent.?) The cult of Rolendis developed around a sarcophagus
of the eighth century that purportedly contained her relics. The legend
that developed tells that Rolendis was the daughter of a gallic king who
fled to avoid marriage. She had intended to take refuge in Cologne, but
died in Belgium on the way.
Imelda (blessed) (d. 1333) Imelda is especially honored in Italy today as
the patroness of first communicants. Imelda was born in Bologna in c. 1321
to a noble family, and was raised by the Dominicans. Her greatest wish was
to receive communion, but was refused on account of her age. According to
legend, she received her wish in miraculous fashion on the feast of Christi
Himmelfahrt, and died immediately thereafter. A cult rose immediately
after her death, winning formal approval in 1826.
Maddalena Albricci (blessed) (d. 1465) Maddalena was born in c. 1400 in
Como (north Italy), and was already honored as a saint in her lifetime.
She entered the order of Augustinian hermits in 1420, soon becoming abbess
of Brunate near Como; she founded another convent in Como. The performer
of many miracles during her lifetime, miracles continued to occur at
Maddalena's grave after death. She was beatified in 1907.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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