medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (24. December) is the feast day of some pretty obscure saints;
I'm glad Advent is almost over:
Adam and Eve (??) Commemorated on this day by some confessions as
the ultimate patriarch and matriarch. In what seems an unnaturally
perverse development, both are honored as the patrons of tailors.
Gregory of Spoleto (d. c. 304) Gregory's story seems to be
fictional. It tells that G. was a priest at Spoleto during
Maximian's persecution. The governor gathered all the people of
Spoleto together and asked them if they still worshipped the state
gods; they replied that they did---but then all pointed to G. as a
destroyer of cult statues. He was arrested, refused to sacrifice,
and was beheaded.
Delphinus (d. 403) Delphinus was the second bishop of Bordeaux. He
was a correspondent of St. Ambrose and baptized Paulinus of Nola.
Tharsilla and Emiliana (d. c. 550) Aunts of Gregory the Great,
Tharsilla and Emiliana lived as consecrated virgins in the home of
Greg's father.
Irmina (d. c. 710) Legend tells that Irmina was a daughter of
Dagobert II. When her betrothed was murdered she became a nun at a
monastery near Trier that her father either built or restored for
her. She assisted Willibrord with his missionary work and gave him
the building and grounds with which he founded the monastery of
Echternach.
Adela (d. c. 734) Adela was also a daughter of Dagobert II. She
became a nun after her husband died, and was founding abbess of the
convent of Pfalzel. She was a "disciple" (whatever that means) of
Boniface.
A modern saint: Charbel Makhlouf (d. 1898) The Lebanese Makhlouf
decided to become a monk at a young age, and finally snuck away from
his uncle's home and did so when he was 23. In 1875 he went on to
become a hermit, living in great austerity and attracting large
numbers of people who came to him for counsel and blessing. His tomb
is a pilgrimage center for both Christians and Muslims, given added
luster by reports that for periods in both 1927 and 1950 his corpse
sweated blood. CM was canonized in 1977.
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