medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (16. September) is the feast day of:
Cornelius (d. 253) Cornelius became bishop of Rome in 251 after a 14-month
vacancy during the Decian persecution. The main controversy of his
pontificate was whether or not to let apostates back into the fold after
the persecution died down; with the support especially of Cyprian of
Carthage, Cornelius succeeded in establishing a lenient policy. When
persecution started up again, Cornelius was exiled, and soon died.
Cyprian of Carthage (d. 258) Cyprian was a lawyer who converted to
Christianity probably in 245 and became bishop of Carthage in 248. He was
a voluminous author, playing an important role in shaping the North African
church. During the Decian persecution, C. went into hiding, but was caught
and martyred under Valerian.
Lucy and Geminian (d. c. 300) A touching story of a 75-year-old Roman
widow and a catechumen, who were martyred together in the Great
Persecution. Their cult was suppressed in 1969.
Abundius, Abundantius, and companions (d. c. 303) Rather spectacular acta
tell that Abundius was a priest who raised a senator's son from the dead.
There being no gratitude in the world, Diocletian then ordered Abundius'
decapitation, along with the deacon Abundantius and some others.
Euphemia of Chalcedon (d. c. 307) Euphemia is one of the most popular
virgin martyrs of the eastern church; a church was built on the site of her
death that was the meeting place of the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Just
because her acta are fictional, her cult was reduced to local status in the
West in 1969.
Rogellus and Servusdei (d. 852) Rogellus was a monk of Cordoba; Servusdei
was his disciple. The two stomped into a mosque and denounced Islam. Very
soon they got their wish and joined the ranks of the martyrs of Cordoba.
Ludmilla (d. 921) Ludmilla was a Bohemian duchess, who educated her
grandson, St. Wenceslas. Unfortunately, L's daughter-in-law resented her
saintly influence on saintly little Wenceslas, and arranged to have
mama-in-law strangled.
Edith of Wilton (d. 984) Edith was a daughter of King Edgar of England and
his mistress, the nun Wulftrude. Edith was sent off to Wilton Abbey as a
baby and in time was professed there, refusing to become abbess and
refusing to leave to take her place in the world when her father died. She
died at the age of 23.
Victor III (d. 1087) Desiderius Danfari was a Beneventan who became a monk
and eventually abbot of Montecassino in 1057. After Gregory VII's death he
was elected pope; he refused at first and avoided consecration for a year
and died after only four months in office. His official canonization was
in 1887.
Vitalis of Savigny (blessed) (d. 1122) Vitalis was born near Bayeux. He
became a hermit and wandering preacher before settling in the forest of
Savigny, where he founded a reformed Benedictine monastery in 1112. This
became the mother house of a new congregation, which spread through France
and England before being absorbed by the Cistercians in 1147.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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