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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (3. February) is the feast day of: Blaise (d. c. 316) Blaise was bishop of Sebastea (Armenia) and was martyred during Licinius' persecution. Legend adds that he became bishop when a young man, retreated to a hermitage when persecutions began, and was brought to official attention by hunters who saw him curing sick and wounded wild animals. He was then tortured and killed. Legend also tells that he miraculously saved a boy who was choking on a fish bone, which is why throats are blessed on B's feast day. Two candles are used during the blessing ceremony, because the de-fishboned kid's mother is supposed to have brought B. two candles in prison. Lawrence of Spoleto (d. 576) Lawrence was a Syrian who went to Italy because of the Arian persecution of orthodox Christians there. L. became an active opponent of Arianism in Italy and founded a monastery near Spoleto. He was named bishop of Spoleto and initially was rejected by the populace as a foreigner, but the gates of the city miraculously opened for him so he was accepted. L. was famous for charity and peace-making. Lawrence of Canterbury (d. 619) Lawrence was one of Augustine's companions on his mission to England and succeeded Gus as archbishop of Canterbury in 604. He nearly abandoned England in the anti-Christian reaction after Ethelbert of Kent died, but a vision of an angry St. Peter---who whipped L. for his cowardly thought---changed his mind. Werburga (d. c. 700) Werburga was a Mercian princess. She refused to marry and became a nun at Ely. Her uncle King Ethelred put her in charge of the convents of his kingdom. She also founded the convents of Hanbury and Wedon. She was aided in her work by a reputed ability to read minds. Anskar (d. 865) Anskar (or Ansgar) was a monk first at Corbie and then at its daughter house Corvey. He became a missionary to Scandinavia and first archbishop of Hamburg in c. 831. He worked with little support but considerable success, only to see vikings overrun his mission territory and destroy Hamburg in 845. So A. went on to be first archbishop of Bremen in c. 848 (the see was united with Hamburg) and headed back to Denmark and Sweden for more missionary work. A. is called the "apostle of the north," but his work does not appear to have had lasting success. Rimbert's vita of Ansgar is a particularly lovely piece of hagiography, by the way. Margaret of England (d. 1192) According to tradition, this Margaret was an Englishwoman who went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and devoted herself to an ascetic life, making further pilgrimages and finally settling at the Cistercian monastery of Seauve Benite. Her tomb became a pilgrimage shrine. Aelred of Rievaulx (d. 1167) The English Aelred was in the service of King David of Scotland before becoming a Cistercian at Rievaulx. He eventually became abbot. A. was famous for his preaching and spiritual writing, and was already considered a saint in his lifetime. ********************************************************************** 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