medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
John B. Wickstrom
Kalamazoo College
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From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Phyllis Jestice
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 9:00 PM
To: John Wickstrom
Subject: saints of the day 15. January
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (15. January) is the feast day of...
[John B. Wickstrom] Not one but three lives of Placid were forged in the
early 12th century by the notorious Cassinese historian, Peter the Deacon,
whose imagination was far superior to his history. Benedict supposedly sent
Placid off to Sicily to defend Cassinese interests there in an invented
parallel to Maurus's mission to establish a Benedictine presence in Gaul
(Maurus' life was also forged, in the 9th century, by a French abbot). There
he and a number of (invented) siblings faced martyrs' deaths at the hands of
somewhat anticipated Muslims in the late 6th century.
Maurus and Placid (6th cent.) M. and P. were disciples of Benedict at
Subiaco; they appear in Gregory the Great's 2d dialogue. Legend added that
Maurus went to Francia and founded the monastery of Glanfeuil; Placid is
supposed to have been martyred at Messina by Muslim (!) pirates. Their
cult was reduced to "local or particular calendars" in 1969, despite which
they are the patron saints of Benedictine novices.
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