medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
In the hope that it's *not* my computer (Gerbert the Recalcitrant
iMac) that's infected---at least I haven't heard from any other
correspondents from the last day or so on the subject, and Macs
indeed have far fewer virus problems than PCs. . .
Today (29. September) is the feast day of:
Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (clearly never died. I don't suppose
archangels are "born" either). In the Middle Ages, today was
specifically the feast of the archangel Michael, but in 1970 Gabriel
and Raphael were tossed in on the same day instead of rating separate
feasts. Michael appears twice in the Hebrew Scriptures (in Daniel)
and twice in the New Testament (Jude and Revelation). His cult seems
to have originated in Phrygia but spread widely in the medieval West,
especially after his apparition at Monte Gargano in the fifth
century. Gabriel also appears in both testaments (Daniel and Luke,
with a strong supporting role in the nativity narrative in the
latter). Raphael appears in Tobit, Enoch, and John.
Rhipsime, Gaiana, and companions (d. c. 312) These seem to have been
Armenian martyrs, with a very improbable legend attached to them.
This tells that Rhipsime was a Roman virgin (young and
beautiful---surprise, surprise) and Diocletian fell madly in lust
with her when he saw a portrait. R fled, along with Gaiana (the head
of the community of consecrated virgins), and they settled in
Armenia. Diocletian found out, and wrote to the king, who roasted R.
to death and executed G. along with 35 companions.
John of Montmirail (d. 1217) John was a French noble who was
converted to a religious life at about the age of 30. He built a
hospital and took to serious asceticism, in a few years getting his
wife's permission to go off and become a Cistercian. Once a monk, he
lived a life of extreme penance, to the point that his superiors
reprimanded him for excess.
Charles of Blois (d. 1364) Charles wanted to become a Franciscan,
but his birth was just too high for it to be allowed (he was a son of
a count of Blois and one of Philip VI's daughters). In 1337 Charles
married Jeanne of Brittany and became duke through her, an office
that he held with a high degree of piety and lots of religious
foundations. In 1346 he was defeated in battle and imprisoned in
England for nine years before he was ransomed. After his release, C.
fought to regain his duchy without success, and was finally killed in
battle. He was canonized in 1904.
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