medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
No, it is still an optional memorial in the universal calendar, the lowest level of veneration, but a level occupied by a host of very well known saints--the number of obligatory memorials, feasts, and solemnities is fairly restricted (among recent canonizations, I believe, Padre Pio's and Faustina Kowalska, Maximilian Kolbe etc. were made obligatory, so too, Juan Diego, if I am not mistaken).
What was suppressed was the cult of Januarius's companions, Festus, Desiderius, Sosius, and Proculus.
As to why the liquefaction was first observed in the 14thc, why not? Any explanation one might offer as to why or why not would be speculation, unless one has evidence of fraud or of a non-miraculous "natural" cause (miraculous causes are also natural, though unexpected, counterintuiitive, and all-around marvelous). In the book _In Search of a Miracle_ by Joe Nickel (name escapes me) offers some "natural explanations" for the Januarius miracle, but as I recall (I don't have it in front of me), they beg some of the important questions that would have to be answered.
Dennis Martin
>>> [log in to unmask] 09/19/02 10:08AM >>>
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Phyllis:
Was not the cult of Januarius (d. c. 305) recently downgraded or
abolished (whatever is done in such cases) by Rome? And why did
the liquefaction await the fourteenth century? Yours, John
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|