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Today, 19 November, is the feast of ... * Pontian, pope and martyr (c. 236) - exiled to Sardegna by emperor Maximinus, he resigned his office; some sources state he was beaten to death with sticks * Nerses I, Katholikos of the Armenians, martyr (c. 373) - poisoned at dinner hosted by king Pap * Barlaam, martyr (fourth century?) - a judge tried to get this pious peasant to sacrifice to pagan gods in this way: he set up an altar with burning coals and incense upon it; Barlaam's hand was placed on it, so that in shaking the embers off his hand, it could be said that he was offering sacrifice; but Barlaam kept his hand in the fire, until the rest of his body was consumed by the fire * Elizabeth of Hungary, widow (1231) - promised in marriage at age of four to Louis, son of the landgrave of Thuringia; eventually did marry him, and with his help she worked with the poor; after his death, she joined the Franciscan Third Order (of which she is now patron); canonized four years after her death * Mechtildis, virgin (1298) - German mystic, known for her singing as a 'nightingale of Christ', she wrote *Book of Special Grace* (also known as *Revelations*); some have identified her with the Donna Matelda in Dante, *Purgatorio* 27-28 * * * * * * * * * 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] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%