medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (19. January) is the feast day of:
Nathalan (d. 678) Nathalan was born near Aberdeen (Scotland) to a
noble family. He left aristocratic life to take up farming and
contemplation. Legend tells that he miraculously fed people in the
region during a famine, and also that he made a pilgrimage to Rome
and was made a bishop there. After years in Rome he returned to
Scotland, where he built several churches. N's cult won formal
approval in 1898.
Fillan (8th cent.) Fillan (or Foelan) was a son of St. Kentigerna.
He became a monk at a young age and accompanied his saintly mom from
Ireland to Scotland, where he became a hermit. F spent some time as
abbot of St. Andrew's, but resigned and became a hermit again at
Glendochart (Perthshire), where he built a church. He's credited
with some rather spectacular miracles, for example convincing a wolf
by prayer to do the work of an ox it had killed, and start dragging
building materials to the church for the saint.
Canute (Knut) (d. c. 1086) Canute was a bastard son of King Sweyn
Estrithson of Denmark. He became king Canute IV in 1081. As king,
Canute aided missionaries, built churches, and made himself popular
with the clergy. His heavy taxes and fights with the nobles, though,
led to a rebellion. C. had to flee, but was tracked down and killed
along with his brother and 17 followers (in a church where they had
taken refuge). Numerous miracles were reported at C's tomb, besides
the fact that he was newly confessed and kneeling before an altar
when killed---*clearly* he was a martyr. Paschal II authorized C's
cult in 1101.
Wulfstan (d. 1095) Wulfstan (or Wulstan) was a native of
Warwickshire who served the bishop of Worcester before becoming
bishop there himself in 1062. He was the only bishop in England
allowed to remain in place after the Norman conquest, rebuilt his
cathedral, mediated between Normans and English, etc. W. was
canonized in 1203.
Henry of Uppsala (d. c. 1156) Never formally canonized, but still
the patron saint of Finland, Henry was an Englishman who went with a
papal legate to Scandinavia in 1151 and stayed there. He was
consecrated bishop of Uppsala (Sweden), and soon accompanied Eric of
Sweden when he invaded Finland. H. remained in Finland as a
missionary until he was murdered by a convert who resented being
given a severe penance for murdering someone.
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