medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The same story is told of St. Corbinian, bishop of Freising (7th c.), again with a bear, and no acolyte. The bear (with his pack) is depicted on Benedict XVI's coat of arms.
James L. Arinello
Boston College
Department of Theology
PhD Program - History of Christian Life and Thought
Second Year
Nihil enim nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset. O mira circa nos tuae pietatis dignatio! O inaestimabilis dilectio caritatis: ut servum redimeres, Filium tradidisti!
| On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 07:14:14 -0600
| John Dillon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
| medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
|
| Essentially the same story, but with a bear instead of a wolf (and no acolyte), is told in the ninth-century Vita of St. Marinus of San Marino (a.k.a. St. Marinus the Dalmatian).
|
| Best,
| John Dillon
|
|
| On Thursday, March 1, 2007, at 4:27 am, Brenda Cook wrote;
|
| > One of my favourites is the Breton Saint Herve'. (Mind you I probably
| > like him becuase one of my grandparents was a Harvey from Cornwall and
| > the link between Brittany & Cornwall is close.) So perhaps he is a
| > (collateral) anscestor! This is my remembered version
| >
| > Saint Herve' and an acolyte were returning home from a pilgrimage to
| > Rome with a mule loaded with books. The acolyte became tired and as it
| > was approaching midday, they paused for rest, un-harnessed the mule
| > and the indefatigable saint set off on foot for the neighbouring
| > village to buy - or beg - for some food. While he was away the acolyte
| > fell asleep and while he was asleep, a wolf came up and made ITS
| > dinner on the mule. When the saint got back, the acolyte was still
| > asleep and the satisfied wolf was licking the bones. The acolyte woke,
| > horrified at what had happened but Herve' (naturally) was equal to the
| > occasion.
| >
| > He addressed the wolf as follows: Brother Wolf, you were following
| > your God-given nature when you ate my mule, so you have not sinned but
| > you must pay for your dinner. I shall put the mule's harness on you,
| > and you shall be my beast of burden and carry my books for me.
| >
| > And so it was, the saint harnessed the wolf, loaded him and they
| > completed their journey to the saint's home town. All the townsfolk
| > came out amazed when they saw the wolf acting as a beast of burden and
| > knew that Herve' was indeed a saint. And Herve' unloaded his books,
| > unharnessed the wolf and let it go with his blessing.
| >
| > (I believe this story is told of other Celtic saints, but Herve' is
| > the one I know.)
|
| **********************************************************************
| To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
| to: [log in to unmask]
| To send a message to the list, address it to:
| [log in to unmask]
| To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
| to: [log in to unmask]
| In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
| [log in to unmask]
| For further information, visit our web site:
| http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
James L. Arinello
Boston College
Department of Theology
PhD Program - History of Christian Life and Thought
Second Year
Nihil enim nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset. O mira circa nos tuae pietatis dignatio! O inaestimabilis dilectio caritatis: ut servum redimeres, Filium tradidisti!
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|