medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (13. November) is the feast day of:
Arcadius and companions (d. 437) Arcadius was one of a number of
Spaniards, says legend, who were exiled to Africa when they refused
to accept the Arian brand of Christianity, and were there tortured
and executed.
Brice (d. 444) Brice was raised by Martin of Tours but reacted
against that early influence and became a vain, ambitious cleric.
But in time Martin made B. see the light. B. succeeded Martin as
bishop of Tours---but then turned out to be lax and immoral to the
point that he was exiled. But then he repented *again* and came back
to be a model bishop.
Eugenius II of Toledo (d. 657) Eugenius was a Visigoth, born at
Toledo. He became a monk and was appointed bishop of Toledo in 647.
He was noted as a musician and poet.
Maxellendis (d. c. 670) Maxellendis was born near Cambrai (France).
Legend tells that her father insisted that she marry but she wanted
to become a nun, so she went into hiding. Her jilted bridegroom
discovered him and she fought to escape him, upon which he killed her
(and was stricken blind for it). Several years later, the
bridegroom's sight was restored when he begged for her forgiveness
before her coffin.
Nicholas I (d. 867) One of the three popes called "the great," Nick
was a native Roman who became pope in 858. He was a great upholder
of the new trend to make marriages indissoluble, demanded and won
papal rights to hear appeals from episcopal courts, encouraged
missionary work in Scandinavia and Bulgaria, and in general increased
the prestige of his office.
Abbo of Fleury (d. 1004) Abbo was born near Orleans and became a
monk at Fleury. He was one of the great intellectuals of the tenth
century (my office computer is named after him!), abbot of Fleury,
and a great fighter for the cause of monastic independence from
bishops. He was also a reformer, until a disgruntled reformee at the
monastery of La Reole murdered him. Thus he added the crown of
martyrdom to all his other accomplishments.
Homobonus (d. 1197) Homobonus was a merchant of Cremona, a married
man so renowned for his integrity, charity, and general holiness that
he was canonized two years after his death.
Nicholas Tavelic and companions (d. 1391) Nicholas was a Dalmatian
Franciscan who worked as a missionary in Bosnia for 20 years. He
then went to Palestine, and was arrested for preaching to Muslims.
He and three other friars were hacked to death at Jerusalem. They
were canonized in 1970.
Didacus (Diego) (d. 1463) This poor Spaniard became a recluse when
young and then a Franciscan lay brother. He worked as a missionary
in the Canary Islands before returning to Spain. D. was noted for
miracles. He was canonized in 1588.
A modern saint: Frances Xavier Cabrini (d. 1917) Frances was founder
of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, devoted to the
education of girls. The community spread rapidly until, in 1889 F.
was invited to New York to work with Italian immigrants. Then the
congregation *really* took off, spreading all over the US, Italy,
England, and South and Central America. F. was canonized in
1946---the first U.S. citizen to be formally canonized.
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