medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (1. February) is the feast day of:
Pionius and companions (d. 250) The subjects of a still-extant eyewitness
account, Pionius and his fifteen companions were martyrs of the Decian
persecution. Pionius was a priest of Smyrna (Asia Minor); he and his
congregation were arrested while celebrating the anniversary of St.
Polycarp's martyrdom---and interesting early case of the cult of martyrs in
action. They were burned to death after being tortured.
Brigid of Kildare (d. c. 525) One of the great saints of Ireland, Brigid
is for the most part the stuff of legend rather than history; one current
school of belief is that she never existed at all and is just a
christianized Celtic goddess. Legend says that B. was born near Dundalk,
became a nun (the bishop "accidentally" reading the service for
consecrating a bishop over her, a story that accounts for the special
honors paid abbesses of Kildare until the 12th century), and founded
Kildare, the first nunnery in Ireland.
Sigebert III of Austrasia (d. 656) The Frankish Sigebert became king of
Austrasia at age three. He wasn't a good warrior and seems to have been a
pretty rotten king, but founded several religious houses and won a
reputation for good morals before his death at age 25.
Brigid of Fiesole (9th cent.) A rather dubious legend tells that Brigid
was a sister of St. Andrew the Scot. She became a hermit near
Florence---but was still able to go to her faraway brother's deathbed,
thanks to some accommodating angels.
Clarus of Seligenstadt (d. c. 1048) Clarus was a monk of Seligenstadt near
Mainz. He became a hermit for 30 years, known for his asceticism, and his
constant motto of "Christ, and him crucified."
John de Craticula (d. 1163) John "of the grating" (de Craticula) was from
Chatillon (Brittany). According to tradition, he was an Augustinian canon
in Blois and friend of Bernard of Clairvaux. He became bishop of Aleth,
transferring the see to Saint-Malo, at the same time serving as abbot of
Guingamp. His nickname comes from the metal railings that were placed
around his shrine.
Reginald of St. Gilles (blessed) (d. 1220) REginald taught canon law at
the university of Paris and then headed the collegiate church of St. Agnan
in Orleans. But he met St. Dominic, joined the Order of Preachers, and
played an important role establishing the Dominicans in Bologna and Paris.
His cult was formally confirmed in 1885.
Ela Longsword (blessed) (d. 1261) Ela was a widowed countess of Salisbury
who became a disciple of St. Edmund Rich. She founded a Carthusian
monastery at Hinton, and also an Augustinian nunnery at Lacock, becoming
abbess of the latter.
Anthony Manzoni (blessed) (d. 1267) Anthony, born in Padua in c. 1237, won
the nickname "the pilgrim." He was the son of a wealthy family who gave
his whole inheritance to the poor and spent the rest of his short life on
pilgrimages between Loreto, Rome, Compostela, and the Holy Land.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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