medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (4. February) is the feast day of:
Theophilus the Penitent (d. c. 538) According to legend, Theophilus was
archdeacon of Adana in Cilicia. He was unjustly deposed, and was so mad
that he made a pact with the devil. But he repented, and the Virgin Mary
appeared and returned the document he had signed for Satan. This is the
basis of the story of Faust.
Aldate (6th cent.?) There are churches dedicated to Aldate at Oxford and
Gloucester and colorful legend says that he was a Briton fighting Saxon
invaders. . . or perhaps a bishop of Gloucester. Actually, there's a
suspicion that the name is a place not a person---Aldate = "old gate."
Modan (6th cent.?) Modan was an Irishman who became a missionary in
central Scotland. In his old age he became a hermit near Dumbarton.
Adalbald d'Ostrevant (d. 652) Adalbald was a Frankish courtier. He
married Rictrude, a Gascon noblewoman. But her relatives disapproved and
murdered him. As a result, A. was venerated as a martyr. Rictrude and
their four children are also recognized as saints.
Rabanus Maurus (d. 856) Rabanus was a child oblate at Fulda. he became
headmaster of the moanstery school, was abbot 822-847, and then became
archbishop of Mainz. R. was a prolific writer, especially dedicated to
improving clerical education.
Gilbert of Sempringham (d. 1189) The only English founder of a medieval
religious order. Gilbert was the son of a Norman knight in Lincolnshire.
He became a parish priest in 1123 and as part of his pastoral care
organized seven village women into a religious community---the mother house
of the Gilbertine order. 22 double monasteries were founded in G's
lifetime.
Obitius (d. c. 1204) Obitius was a knight of Brescia. He had a vision of
hell in a near-death experience (he fell into a river during a battle and
nearly drowned), which led to a conversion of life. He spent the rest of
his life in penance, working for the convent of St Julia at Brescia.
Andrew Corsini (d. 1373) Andrew was a Florentine noble. He steeped
himself in vice but got over it at a young age, becoming a Carmelite at the
age of 16 and spending the rest of his life in rigorous penance. After
study at Paris and Avignon, Andrew became prior at Florence and bishop of
Fiesole in 1360. He won reputation for charity and effective mediation.
A. was canonized in 1724, but his cult was limited to particular calendars
in 1969.
Jeanne of Valois (d. 1505) Jeanne was daughter of King Louis XI of France,
physically deformed in some way. She was married off to the duke of
Orleans (who became Louis XII), but her husband got the marriage nullified
(on the grounds of constraint). J. then retired to a castle a Bourges,
where she founded the order of nuns of the Annunciation, with an emphasis
on active charity and not living in a community. J. was canonized in 1949.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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