medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (17. June) is the feast day of:
Bessarion (4th cent.) An Egyptian anchorite,
Bessarion was a disciple of St. Antony (the one
with the pig, not the one with the Christ child).
He seems to have specialized in water miracles,
including making salt water fresh, bringing rain
in a drought, and walking on the Nile.
Nectan (6th cent.?) Nectan is a Welsh saint, the
eldest of the 24 children of King Brychan (an
alternative explanation is that he led a group of
Cornish and Devon saints known as the "children
of Brychan").N. moved into English territory,
where he lived as a hermit, only meeting his many
disciples once a year. Still, he managed to
found churches in Devon and Cornwall before being
murdered by robbers.
Hervé (6th cent.) The patron saint of people
with eye trouble, Hervé (according to his
13th-century vita) was born blind. He was raised
at a monastic school by his uncle, and eventually
took charge of the school himself, finally going
on to found a monastery at Lanhouarneau. He was
famous for piety and preaching ability. Legend
tells that one day while still young, H. was out
plowing a field, only to have a wolf come and eat
his donkey. H. prayed for help, whereupon the
wolf let itself be harnessed up to finish the
plowing job.
Moling (d. 697) Moling was a major saint of
Ireland, with a widespread cult and early
evidence of veneration. Legend tells that he was
related to the kings of Leinster, was educated at
Glendalough, and went on to found the monastery
of Tech Moling. He is supposed to have lived in
a hollow tree, to have been blessed with
superhuman strength, and to have been good at
settling disputes.
Rainerius of Pisa (d. c. 1161) Rainerius is the
principal patron of Pisa. Like so many male
Italian saints, he came of a wealthy family and
tried out a good dose of dissipation in his
youth. He repented, though, took to barefooted
begging, and finally returned to Pisa where he
lived in several monasteries before his death.
He was a famous healer.
--
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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