medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (10. January) is the feast day of:
Paul the Hermit (d. c. 345) Those spoilsports in 1969 deleted Paul from
the Catholic calendar of saints. According to the tradition given
immortality by St. Jerome, Paul was the first Christian hermit. He fled to
the desert, perhaps from Decius' persecution, and lived there until well
over 100 years old (although there's so much fantasy in the vita it's hard
to trust anything).
Marcian of Constantinople (d. c. 480) Marcian was a priest and treasure of
Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. In that office he restored much of the
church. He also wrote hymns and was a lavish almsgiver (in secret). A
great legend tells that once he was on his way to the consecration of a new
church when he passed a nearly naked pathetic beggar. Much more generous
with his clothing than some saints (Martin's half a cloak has always seemed
chintzy to me), Marcian stripped himself of everything but his chasuble and
gave it to the beggar. But when he arrived at the church, the people
thought they saw a very fine golden robe under M's chasuble; after the
consecration the patriarch even rebuked him for wearing such finery. Upon
which M. stripped off his chasuble and showed he was naked underneath.
Diarmaid (Dermot) (6th cent.) D. was an Irish abbot of royal blood, a
native of Connacht. He was associated with St. Senan, and founded a
monastery on Innis Clothran in Lough Ree.
Peter Orseolo (d. 987) Peter was a Venetian of powerful family, who became
doge of Venice in 976. But in 978, without even telling his wife and son,
Peter left Venice, went to the monastery of Cuxa, and became a monk. After
a few years he became a hermit.
William of Bourges (d. 1209) William was intended by his family for a
military career, but instead became a priest. He was a canon of Soissons,
then of Paris. Then he became a monk at Grandmont, after which he
transferred to the Cistercians. From 1200 on he was bishop of Bourges,
where he was renowned for his pastoral care and success in converting
Cathars. 18 miracles were reported in his lifetime. He was canonized in
1217.
Gregory X (blessed) (d. 1276) Theobaldo Visconti was a native of Piacenza
who studied canon law at Paris and Liege, then became archdeacon of Liege.
While on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1272 he received word that he had
been chosen as pope by a committee of cardinals appointed to resolve the
papal election deadlock which had kept the office vacant for three years.
As Pope Gregory X, he worked to make peace between the Guelfs and
Ghibellines, ended the long imperial interregnum, and called the Council of
Lyons (which effected a temporary reconciliation between Eastern and
Western churches, among other business). Gregory was beatified in 1713.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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