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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (3. June) is the feast day of: Chlothilde (d. 545) Chlothilde was a Burgundian princess, born in c. 484. In 493 she was married to the (probably pagan but perhaps Arian) Clovis, king of the Franks. Chlothilde gradually succeeded in converting Clovis to catholic Christianity. After Clovis' death (511), Chlothilde founded several monasteries and churches and occupied herself with the conversion of the Franks. Her relics were destroyed during the French Revolution. Liphardus (c. c. 560) Liphardus was abbot of Meung-sur-Loire in the diocese of Orleans in the mid-sixth century. His relics, rediscover in 1865, are preserved in the parish church of Meung. Coemgen (Kevin) (d. c. 618) Coemgen was the founder and abbot of Glendalough (Co. Wicklow, Ireland). He was a very popular saint-there are no fewer than three Latin and three Irish saint's Lives about him. These, however, were all written at least 400 years after his death, to further the claims of Glendalough, and provide little information about the historic figure. According to tradition, Coemgen was of royal family, and is most noted for his ascetic withdrawal from noble Irish life. He became a hermit at Glendalough, most probably by the Upper Lake, where he appears to have re-used the Bronze Age rock tomb known as St. Coemgen's Bed as his hermitage. This cave gives a clue to Coemgen's asceticism: it is only 4 feet wide, 7 feet deep, and 3 feet high. Coemgen is said to have slept in his cave on bare rock, and to have dressed only in the skins of wild animals. Hagiographers tell how he would stand naked in the lake in the winter to pray, roll in nettles to fend off temptation, and eat next to nothing. Perhaps his most impressive (if implausible) ascetic feat is the report that Coemgen, while praying, inadvertently stuck a hand out the window of his cell in the monastery. A blackbird built her nest on his palm, and laid her eggs there. Coemgen waited until the young blackbirds were safely hatched before he moved his hand. Like the fathers of the Egyptian desert, would-be imitators eventually sought out Coemgen and forced him to abandon his solitary life. According to tradition, the saint was discovered when a cow happened upon the hermit and licked his feet, then returned to her byre and produced an enormous supply of milk. The curious herdsman followed his cow the next day, and found that it was sanctity, rather than good pasture, that had produced such a good yield. Coemgen tried to get the man to keep his presence secret, but the herdsman brought Coemgen out to the world. He and his disciples built the monastery of Glendalough beside the Lower Lake, which became an important center of pilgrimage after its founder's death. Morandus (d. c. 1115) Morandus was educated at the cathedral school of Worms, then made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. After a long residence there, he went to Cluny, where he became a monk. When in c. 1106 Cluny established a daughter house in Altkirch (Alsace), Morandus was sent out as its first prior. He won a great reputation, and when he died pilgrimage to his tomb became popular (and Altkirch was eventually named St-Morand after him). Morandus' head was eventually taken to the Stephansdom in Vienna; the Habsburgs honored Morandus as one of the chief patrons of their dynasty. Andreas Caccioli (of Spello) (blessed) (d. 1254) Andreas was born in Italy in 1194. He became acquainted with Francis of Assisi and was so impressed that in 1223 he joined the young Franciscan order. Andreas was present at Francis' death in 1226, and afterwards preached in Spain and northern Italy. He was a champion of absolute poverty in the order, which brought him opposition from many of the friars. Andreas was canonized in 1738. 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