medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (23. December) is the feast day of:
The Ten Martyrs of Crete (d. 250) A number of Cretans (10, to be
precise), martyred during the Decian persecution.
Victoria and Anatolia (d. c. 250) Anatolia and Victoria were sisters
who, like so many luscious, nubile virgins in the early days of
Christianity (one wonders how the religion kept from dying out),
refused to marry, despite being imprisoned and starved to encourage
them.They were denounced as Christians and executed.
Dagobert II of Austrasia (d. 679) Dagobert became king of Austrasia
in 656 when he was still a child. He was driven into exile, though,
and was taken to Ireland when the Carolingian Grimoald tried to usurp
the throne on his son's behalf. D. came back when the interloper was
murdered in 675. He was a good friend of St. Wilfrid, which seems to
be the only evidence that D. was particularly religious. But he had
the good fortune to be murdered (apparently one of the many victims
of the evil mayor of the palace Ebroin), and a martyr cult developed.
Thorlakr Thorhallsson (d. 1193) Thorlakr is Iceland's only
Roman-approved official saint. He was a native of Iceland, sent
abroad to study. When he returned he founded the monastery of
Thykkviboer, and in 1178 was named bishop of Skalholt, where he
proved to be a thoroughgoing reformer. He has the interesting
distinction of having been "canonized" by the Icelandic assembly
shortly after his death.
John of Kanty (d. 1473) John was a native of Poland who became a
lecturer in Scripture at the University of Cracow. He was famous for
his preaching, but forced from his position by colleagues, so he
became a parish priest for a time, but soon returned to a university
position. He was noted for his learning, asceticism, and care for
the poor. In 1737 J. was declared patron of Poland and Lithuania and
he was canonized in 1767.
A modern beata: Marie Marguerite d'Youville (d. 1771) Marie
Marguerite was a native of Quebec. When she was widowed she and
three friends founded the "Grey Nuns." They took charge of a
hospital in Montreal and expanded from there. Since MM's time the
Grey Nuns have established schools, hospitals, and orphanages
throughout Canada, the US, Africa, and South America. They are
especially known for their work with the Eskimos. She was beatified
in 1959.
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