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Today, 1 October, is the feast of... Remigius, or Remi, Bishop of Rheims (530): Remi baptised Clovis. On the way to the baptism, Remi conducted the king by the hand, followed by Queen Clotilda and the people. At the font the bishop allegedly told Clovis the following: "Humble yourself, Sicambrian! Worship what you have burned, and burn what you have worshipped!" Romanus the Melodist (Sixth Century): The greatest of the Greek hymn-writers. Melorus, Melar or Mylor, Martyr (Date Unknown): The church of the great nunnery at Amesbury in Wiltshire was dedicated to St Melorus whose relics it claimed. The medieval Life of Melorus states that he was the son of Melianus, Duke of Cornuaille (in Brittany). When he was seven years old his uncle Rivoldus murdered Melianus, usurped his power, and maiming Melorus by cutting off his right hand and left foot, confined him to a monastery. By the time the boy was fourteen his miracles earned him such honour that Rivoldus began to fear him, and bargained with his guardian Cerialtanus to get rid of him. Accordingly Cerialtanus smote off the boy's head. But the story ends happily. The dead body of Melorus wrought several miracles, including the death of his murderers, and it was buried with honour. Bavo (655): Hermit, also called Allowin! He was a nobleman and after being left a widower was moved to conversion to God by a sermon which he heard St Amand preach at Ghent. He distributed all his money among the poor, and went to the monastery of Ghent that was afterwards called by his name. Francis of Pesaro, Franciscan tertiary (1350): Also called Cecco. Joined the third order of St Francis in 1300 and retired to a hermitage which he had built on the slope of Monte San Bartolo, by Pesaro. Once when he was ill he lost his appetite altogether, and his followers killed a cockerel, intending to cook it carefully in the hope of thereby coaxing him to eat. But Francis missed the bird's crowing and enquired after it. He was devastated when he found out the bird's fate. But wait another happy ending! He prayed over the dead cockerel, which was not only dead but plucked, and its life was restored together with its plumage. Nicholas of Forca Palena (1449): Secular priest from Abruzzo, founded a society of hermits under the patronage of St Jerome. ********************************* 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] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%