medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (24. February) is the feast day of:
Montanus, Lucius, and companions (d. 259) This is a group of seven African
martyrs, several of whom had been clerics under Cyprian (who had been
executed the year before). They were arrested as convenient scapegoats by
the governor, imprisoned for a time, and finally decapitated. Of interest
is their acta: they themselves wrote the first part, telling of their
imprisonment, and a witness concluded with an account of their martyrdom.
Praetextatus of Rouen (d. 586) Praetextatus was archbishop of Rouen from
549 on. He got caught up in the rather sordid web of Merovingian family
politics and moralia, especially annoying Queen Fredegonde with his
condemnations and cries for repentance. P's condemnation by the council of
Paris in 577 and exile on a small island for six years was the result.
After his release, P continued to annoy Fredegonde, who finally arranged
his assassination---while praying among his clergy in his own church.
Robert of Arbrissel (blessed) (d. 1117) Robert was a Breton. He studied
at Paris and became archpriest of Rennes in c. 1089. In 1095, however, he
became a hermit in the Craon Forest. R. soon received a papal license to
preach and proved to be a charismatic wandering preacher, attracting so
many female followers that his chastity was called into question. Perhaps
as a response, R. founded the double monastery of Fontevrault and formed
his followers into a Benedictine community.
John Theristus (d. 1129) John's mother was a Calabrian, captured by
Muslims and enslaved on Sicily, where John was born. While still a child,
John escaped to Calabria, where he became a Benedictine and in time a
popular miracle-worker. His nickname "theristus" means "harvester"---a
name given him because of a miracle of harvesting.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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