medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (2. May) is the feast day of:
Athanasius (d. 373) Athanasius was by far the
noisiest and most spectacular opponent of
Arianism. He became patriarch of Alexandria, his
home town, in 328, when he was still in his early
30s. Already A. was a noted theologian and
church politician. Emperor Constantius did his
best to eliminate A, even stationing soldiers in
Alexandria to try to kill the patriarch (A.
escaped and spent some time among the monks of
the Thebaid). He was venerated immediately after
his death as one of the first confessors among
the saints, and his reputation as a doctor of the
church also dates back to late antiquity.
Waldebert (d. c. 665) Waldebert was a Frankish
noble who became a monk at Luxeuil, then a
hermit. He ended up as abbot of Luxeuil, ruling
for forty years, the greatest in the monastery's
history.
Wiborada (d. 926) Wiborada was a noble Swabian
woman who became a recluse attached to the
monastery of St. Gall. She was a noted spiritual
counsellor and prophet; her prophecies included a
warning of Magyar raiders, but she refused to
leave her cell when the monks fled. The Magyars,
unsurprisingly disturbed to find a wild-looking
woman walled up in a small room, killed her. She
was the first female saint to win formal papal
canonization, in 1047.
Conrad of Seldenbüren (blessed) (d. 1126) Conrad
founded the monastery of Engelberg (Switzerland)
and also a convent. After a pilgrimage to Rome,
he himself became a lay brother at Engelberg.
His body was incorrupt---but was destroyed in a
fire in 1729.
Nils Hermansson (blessed) (d. 1391) Nils was a
great Swedish bishop and poet. He was born in
Ostergotland, studied at Paris and Orleans, and
on his return to Sweden became a canon. In 1374
N. was elected bishop of Linkoping. He was a
good bishop, cared for the poor, and furthered
the cult of St. Bridget. In 141 all the bishops
of Sweden petitioned Antipope John XXIII for N's
canonization, along with two other saintly
Swedes. The canonization proces was never
completed, but N's cult was very popular in
Sweden until the Reformation.
Antoninus of Florence (d. 1459) Antoninus was a
Florentine Dominican, a fine theologian and
reformer who lived a life of personal holiness.
He was canonized in 1523.
--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
Associate Professor & Chair
History Department
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr. #5047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
(601) 266-5844
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