medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (20. August) is the feast day of:
Philibert (d. c. 685) Philibert was born in Gascony and became a monk in
St. Ouen's monastery of Rebais. He was abbot for a short time, but found
himself too inexperienced to handle the monks. So Philibert retired to
Neustria, where Clovis II gave him land to found the monastery of Jumieges.
Later (after a spell of imprisonment for political reasons) Philibert also
founded Noirmoutier and three other monasteries.
Oswin (d. 651) Oswin was king of Deira (northern England) 644-51. After
his father King Osric was killed in 634, Oswin took refuge in Wessex. When
he was able to return, Bede explains that Oswin was loved by all-except his
cousin Oswiu, who soon went to war with him. Oswin disbanded his army to
avoid bloodshed and he himself hid, but was betrayed and killed. Oswin was
venerated as a martyr; as a 12th-century homilist explained, it was because
he died "if not for the faith of Christ, at least for the justice of
Christ" (Farmer).
Bernard of Clairvaux (d. 1153) Bernard is of course one of the Big Saints
of the MA. He was the third son of the Burgundian Tescelin Sorrel, was
well-educated by the secular canons at Chatillon-sur-Seine, and at the age
of 22 became a monk at Citeaux (along with 31 companions, which gives some
suggestion of his charisma). Within a few years, B of C became abbot of
the new daughter house of Clairvaux, and went on to become a spectacular
propagandist of the new order. He also became very active in the affairs
of the larger Church, as Abelard and an awful lot of crusaders on the
second crusade discovered to their cost. I can't think of any good
competitors he had as Most Influential Churchman of the twelfth century.
Already regarded as a saint in his lifetime, Bernard was canonized in 1174
and named a doctor of the Church in 1830.
Rognvald (d. 1158/9) Rognvald was earl of Orkney. In 1137 he began
building the cathedral of Kirkwall in thanksgiving for gaining the earldom
(a kinsman had taken it from him). Rognvald went on pilgrimage to the Holy
Land; on his way home, he was murdered in Caithness. A popular cult grew
up around his tomb.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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