medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (11. December) is the feast day of:
Damasus I (d. 384) Damasus was elected to the pontificate in 366,
when he was about 60. His election was the occasion of some pretty
bitter fighting in Rome: a minority elected another pope (Ursinus)
and supported him violently; the emperor had Ursinus' followers
massacred (D. was accused of hiring mercenaries to do some of the
work) and Ursinus himself was banished. D. had a reputation for
living in great pomp---Jerome even tells that a non-Christian senator
said "Make me bishop of Rome, and I will be a Christian tomorrow."
One of D's most important works was to open up the catacombs for
pilgrims. He also encouraged Jerome to produce the Vulgate. I can't
figure out, though, why D. is regarded as a saint.
Daniel the Stylite (d. 493) A well-known Syrian pillar-sitter.
Daniel became a monk at age twelve. As an adult, he went to visit
Simeon Stylites several times. Finally, when Simeon died and D. was
about 50, D. set himself up on a pillar. He settled not far from
Constantinople on a pillar about 12 feet high, provided by his
friends. D. attracted vast crowds, had the respect of several
emperors, and occasionally prophesied. He only came down from his
pillar once: when Basiliscus usurped the imperial throne and
supported the Eutychian heresy. D. went to Constantinople and (with
the help of an enormous mob) got the new emperor to reverse himself.
Franco of Grotti (blessed) (d. 1291) Frnco Lippi was born near Siena
and lived an uninspiring life until age fifty: he went from being
insubordinate and lazy in his youth to murder to joining a group of
bandits. But F. went blind at age 50 and suddenly saw the error of
his ways. He made a pilgrimage to Santiago---where he regained his
sight. He took to wandering around the streets in sackcloth, beating
himself with a whip. Finally at age 70 he became a Carmelite lay
brother, indulging in a great deal of penitential self-torture.
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