medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (11. April) is the feast day of:
Barsanuphius (d. c. 550) Barsanuphius was an Egyptian who became a
recluse attached to the monastery at Gaza (Palestine). He was
much-visited as a spiritual advisor (although he would communicate
only in writing) and legend tells that he lived for years with
neither food nor water.
Isaac of Spoleto (d. c. 550) Isaac was a Syrian who left home due to
Monophysite persecutions and became a hermit on Monte Luco (Italy).
He organized his disciples into a community, and was known for his
miracles and prophetic abilities.
Godeberta (d. c. 700) Godeberta was a native of Amiens. Her parents
wanted her to marry, but St. Eligius convinced her parents to allow
G. to become a nun. Clothar III gave her a house in Noyon for a
convent. G. was a very effective miracle-worker: her prayers stopped
both the plague and a major fire dead in their tracks.
Guthlac (d. 714) Guthlac was a Mercian warrior who at the age of 24
became a monk. He went on from there to become a hermit on an island
in the Fens. His hermitage developed into Croyland Abbey. G. had a
lively spiritual life, including visits from demons, visions,
miracles, and prophecy.
Stanislaus (d. 1079) The patron saint of Cracow, Stanislaus was a
Polish noble who became a canon of Cracow. S. won fame as a preacher
and spiritual advisor, was an active reformer, and in 1072 was named
bishop of Cracow. But King Boleslas rather resented S. loudly
denouncing royal cruelties and injustices, such as the kidnapping of
a married noblewoman. Boleslas resented it even more when S.
excommunicated him. In fact, he was so mad that he killed S. with
his own hands while the bishop was saying mass in a chapel outside
the city. S. was canonized in 1253.
A modern saint: Gemma Galgani (d. 1903) Gemma Galgani was a Tuscan
mystic. Before her death of tuberculosis of the spine (? that sounds
awful) at the age of 25, GG had visions of Christ, was assaulted by
demons, received the stigmata, and bore her illness with great
fortitude, even in the face of a lot of mockery of her visions. A
popular cult developed after her death, and she was canonized in 1940.
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