 |
 |
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (1. February) is the feast day of: Pionius, Sabinus, and Ascelepiades (d. c. 250) Pionius was a priest of Smyrna, famous for learning and skill at converting people. He was arrested in the Decian persecution, tortured, and burned to death along with Sabinus and Ascelepiades. Brigid (d. 525) Legend tells that Brigid was a daughter of an Irish chief and a slavewoman. Her parents were baptized by Patrick, and little B. became his friend. She became a nun---although according to legend the presiding bishop "accidentally" read the ceremony for consecrating a bishop over her (which is supposed to account for the special rights accorded the abbesses of Kildare until the twelfth century). In c. 470 B. founded the double monastery at Kildare, the first women's religious establishment in Ireland. Called "Mary of the Gael," B. is co-patron of Ireland along with Patrick and Colum Cille. Sigebert III of Austrasia (d. 656) Sigebert was a son of Dagobert I and became king of Austrasia in 38. S. was a noted founder of monasteries and churches, known for his care of the poor and personal holiness. He died at the age of 25. John "of the Grating" (d. c. 1170) John was a Breton who became a Cistercian. J. founded monasteries at Begard and Buzay before becoming bishop of Aleth (which he moved to the place now named St. Malo). J. also reformed monasteries and his cathedral chapter. His nickname comes from the grating later placed around his tomb, not from some lurid death story. A modern saint: Henry Morse (d. 1645) Morse was an Englishman, raised a Protestant but converted to R. Catholicism in 1614. He became a priest and went back to England as a missionary. Almost immediately arrested, he became a Jesuit while in prison (by correspondence course?) and was eventually expelled. But he went to England *again*, was caught again, and was finally hanged, drawn, and quartered. HM was canonized in 1970. ********************************************************************** 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