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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (16. December) is the feast day of: Haggai (d. c. 520 BCE) The Orthodox Church seems to enjoy celebrating holy people from Hebrew Scripture more than the Western Church does, and commemmorates the prophet Haggai on this date. Haggai was apparently one of the Jews who returned to Israel from the Babylonian exile, and as an old man started a second career as a prophet. Sturmi of Fulda (d. 779) Sturmi was Boniface's favorite disciple. After completing his education, he was a hermit for a time, then sent as a missionary to Hesse. In 744 Boniface sent him to found the monastery of Fulda, where Sturmi became first abbot. Sturmi is responsible for much of the early greatness of Fulda, especially thanks to his coup in obtaining Boniface's body after his death (Fulda also has the book Boniface tried to defend himself with while being martyred; it has a deep ax slash in it and is a rather shocking sight). Sturmi himself was buried next to Boniface, and canonized in 1139. Adelheid (d. 999) Adelheid really ought to be the heroine of a good historical romance. She was a Burgundian princess, first married to Lothar of Lombardy, but had to escape imprisonment in romantic circumstances after he died. She then became the second wife of Otto the Great, and became empress when her husband was crowned emperor on Groundhog's Day (oops, I mean the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary) in 962. When Otto died, Adelheid retired to Pavia; it's a debatable point whether this was because of persecution instigated by her son's wife Theophanu. After Otto II died, Adelheid played an important role in preserving the throne for her young grandson Otto III (boring naming patterns). She then retired again, but when Theophanu died in 991 Adelheid assumed the regency. When O III came of age, she retired again, to the convent of Seltz in Alsace, which she had founded. She was canonized in c. 1097. Sebastian Maggi (blessed) (d. 1494) Sebastian joined the Order of Preachers. He held a number of offices and became a noted reformer. He was also the friend and, until his death, superior of Savonarola, whom he defended against all critics. His body is incorrupt. 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