medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (29. April) is the feast day of:
Hugh of Cluny (d. 1109) Hugh was the eldest son of the count of Semur, but
disavowed his heritage to become a monk at Cluny. He became abbot in 1049
and presided over Cluny's golden age; by the time of his death 60 years
later, the Cluniac confederation had grown from about 60 houses to perhaps
as many as 2000, in his spare time supporting the papal reform movement
(including mediating between Gregory VII and Henry IV at Canossa). He was
canonized in 1120.
Robert of Molesme (d. 1110) Robert, the founder of Citeaux, was born to a
noble family of Champagne. He became a monk and abbot; his reforming
ideals led him to found the reformed community of Molesme in c. 1075 and
Citeaux in 1098 (although R. was soon forced to return to Molesme). Robert
was canonized in 1222.
Peter Martyr (d. 1252) Peter of Verona grew up in a strongly Cathar
region---his parents were Cathars. At the age of fifteen, though, P.
became a Dominican. He served as prior of several hourses and became a
famous preacher at a young age. From 1234 on he worked as an inquisitor,
at first for the Milan region and from 1251 on through most of northern
Italy. The Cathars didn't like this. P. was frequently threatened by
assassins, who in 1252 succeeded in catching P. in an ambush on the road
between Como and Milan. P. was canonized in 1253, the first martyr of the
Order of Preachers.
Catherine of Siena (d. 1380) Catherine was the youngest of 20-odd children
of a Sienese dyer. She devoted herself to a life of prayer and penance
from an early age, refusing to marry and becoming a Dominican tertiary. C.
gradually moved outside of her home to nurse and then gather disciples, but
her views were best-expressed in her Dialogue and 383 letters. C. became
politically active and is credited with convincing Gregory XI to move the
papacy back to Rome from Avignon. Catherine was canonized in 1461 (by Pius
II, who just happened to be Sienese); she was declared a doctor of the
Church in 1970.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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