medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (31. August) is the feast day of:
Aristides of Athens (d. 133) Aristides was a Greek philosopher who became
a Christian and composed an apologia for Christianity that he sent to
Emperor Hadrian. He does, however, appear to have died of natural causes
Eanswith (d. c. 640) Eanswyth was a daughter of King Edbald of Kent. She
refused to marry and instead founded a nunnery at Folestone, which she
entered herself and died at a young age.
Aidan (d. 651) One of the gentlest of the Irish saints, even Bede can't
find anything bad to say about Aidan (except that he celebrated Easter on
the wrong date). Aidan was invited to Northumbria by King Oswald to spread
Christianity. He lived a life of humility and poverty, wandering on foot
from place to place to preach.
Waldef (d. 1076) An interesting case of a political cult, Waldef was an
English nobleman who fought the Norman invaders. William the Conqueror
pardoned him once, but in 1076 Waldef was involved in another rebellion,
was imprisoned, and a year later was beheaded for treason. Waldef's body
was buried at Croyland (to which he had given generous donations), and a
cult soon grew up with strongly political overtones, declaring Waldef an
Anglo-Saxon martyr. In 1092 Waldef's relics were moved to the church of
Croyland and his body declared incorrupt. The developed legend reported
many miracles worked at Waldef's tomb, and also included the interesting
detail that Waldef died reciting the Lord's Prayer---and his decapitated
head finished reciting it after it was severed from the body.
Raymund Nonnatus (d. 1240) Raymund gained the nickname "Nonnatus" (not
born) because he was delivered by Caesarian section after his mother had
died. A native Catalonian, Raymund joined the Mercedarian order. The
order sent him to Algeria, where he redeemed many Christian slaves,
offering himself as a ransom for some. He had some success in converting
Muslims to Christianity, for which he was imprisoned for a time. In 1239
Raymund returned to Spain. Gregory IX named him a cardinal, but Raymund
died on his way to Rome to take up his new office.
Dominic del Val (d. 1250) Another perverse case of Jews accused of ritual
murder. According to legend, Dominic was a seven-year-old altarboy at
Saragossa Cathedral. He was kidnapped by Jews, who nailed him to a wall.
Dominic's cult became popular throughout Aragon.
Blessed Servite martyrs (d. 1420) This is a group of 64 Servite friars,
roasted in their own church in Prague by the Hussites. Their cult was
confirmed in 1918.
Richard Bere (blessed) (d. 1537) Richard was educated at Oxford and the
Inns of Court, then became a Carthusian monk at the London Charterhouse.
He and several other members of his community opposed Henry VIII's new
religious policy; they were imprisoned and starved to death in Newgate
prison.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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