Today, 1 November, is the feast of ...
* All Saints
- following fourth-century commemorations for all martyrs, by
the eighth century there are clear indications of this celebration
commemorating all saints; for example, c. 775 Cathwulf asked
Charlemagne to institute a feast, with a fasting vigil preceding, 'in
honour of the Trinity, the Unity, the angels and all the saints; the
northern English ninth-century calendar in ms. Oxford, Bodleian Library,
Digby 63, lists All Saints on 1 November as a principal feast
* Caesarius and Julian, martyrs (?)
- placed in a sack and thrown into the sea, for their indignation
regarding living sacrifices to Apollo in Terracina, Italy
* Benignus of Dijon, martyr (third century?)
- his tomb was thought to be that of a pagan until a dream revealed the
truth to St Gregory, bishop of Langres (according to Gregory's
great-grandson, Gregory of Tours
* Austremonius, bishop of Clermont (fourth century?)
- apostle and first bishop of Clermont, but a legendary account tells
of him being one of the 72 disciples of Jesus; buried at Issoire
* Mary, virgin and martyr (fourth century?)
- a Christian slave, she suffered horrible tortures before being allowed
to escape by a sympathetic soldier; although she later died a natural
death, the Roman Martyrology deems her a martyr due to the sufferings
she withstood during her life
* Maturinus or Mathurin (fourth century?)
- noted for his preaching in the Gatinais and his success as an
exorcist, he died in Rome and was translated to Sens
* Marcellus, bishop of Paris (c. 410?)
- succeeded Prudentius as bishop; known for many miracles, including
victory over a dragon); buried in catacomb on left bank of the Seine
* Vigor, bishop of Bayeux (c. 537)
- noted for his missionary activity in the area, he founded churches and
monasteries
- a limited cult took hold in England after the Norman Conquest; he is
the patron saint of Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath (the
site of Downside Abbey)
* Cadfan, abbot (sixth century)
- venerated as founder of an abbey of '20,000 monks'on isle of Bardsey
(Ynys Enlli); in a medieval poem he is called a patron of warriors; in
a chapel near Quimper he is dressed as a soldier, with a sword
* * * * * * * * * *
Dr Carolyn Muessig
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Bristol
Bristol BS8 1TB
UK
phone: +44(0)117-928-8168
fax: +44(0)117-929-7850
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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