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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (31. May) is the feast day of: Petronilla (d. 98) Petronilla was the subject of very early veneration. According to a vita written in the 5th/6th century, she was a daughter of St. Peter, who healed her after a long illness. (Another tradition makes Petronilla the housekeeper of Peter's house in Rome.) When due to marry, Petronilla asked for a three-day delay, received communion on the third day, and died, as she had wished. She is thus accounted a martyr, since she died to preserve her chastity. There is already evidence of the cult of Petronilla in Rome in the fourth century. Paschasius of Rome (d. 520) Our main source for the life and deeds of Paschasius is Gregory I, who wrote about the deacon's holy life and care for the poor of Rome. Helmtrud (d. c. 950) Helmtrude was a famous hermitess, who lived by the monastery of Neuenheerse. Mechthild of Diessen (blessed) (d. 1160) Mechthild was the daughter of Count Bertold II of Diessen-Andechs, born in c. 1125. She was given as a young child to the Augustinian convent of St. Stephen in Diessen, which her grandmother had founded. She soon was honored for her holiness, and was transferred to Edelstetten to reform the community. Perceiving that her death was near, Mechthild got permission to return to Diessen and died there shortly afterwards. Her tomb became a popular pilgrimage site. Vitalis of Assisi (d. 1370) Not canonized. After a life as a thief, Vitalis converted and lived as a hermit and penitent near Assisi. He founded a community for laymen that dedicated itself to good works. Baptista of Varani (blessed) (d. 1524) Baptista (baptized as Camilla) was a member of the ducal family of Camerino (Italy), born in 1458. She entered the Clarissan order in Urbino and later founded a convent in Camerino, where she lived until her death. She was a mystic and important spiritual writer. Baptista was beatified in 1843. Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice [log in to unmask] ********************************************************************** 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