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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Apart from their mentions by Gregory (_Dial._ 2. 2), we have no early testimonia for either Constantinus (Benedict's immediate successor) or Simplicius (the third abbot). If they are not altogether fictional, the Simplicius of the introductory verses to the RB (interpolated version) and the Simplicius who is said to have accompanied Maurus to Gaul could be another person or other persons of the same name. Is there any evidence that Glanfeuil possessed relics of C. (is he ever said to have even gone to Gaul?) or of S.? Peter the Deacon, who distinguishes between S. the companion of Maurus and S. the abbot, says that S. the companion of Maurus returned to Italy and died and was buried at the Lateran monastery and that both C. and S. the abbot died at Montecassino and were buried there next to Benedict (_Ortus et vita_, cap. 10-12). Of course, Peter is not an entirely reliable source, but his stress on the Cassinese burials of these figures may be a response to the claims of Fleury and have nothing to do with any relics of C. and S. at Glanfeuil. Peter's time is when C. and S. are historically "recovered" at Montecassino; they figure neither in Desiderius II's _Dialogi_ nor in the account in cod. cass. 47 of the dedication of Desiderius' basilica (which names five altars receiving special consecration) but are said to be paired in Cassinese liturgical texts from the twelfth century onward. I'm unable to consult Bloch's _Monte Cassino in the Middle Ages_ to see what he may say on this score (I don't own a copy and the library's is checked out to someone). As always, clarification would be welcome. Best, John Dillon On Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at 9:03 pm, John Wickstrom wrote: > Before their relics went to Monte Cassino, I presume, the bones of > Constantinus and Simplicius were enshrined at the rebuilt abbey > church of > Glanfeuil in 1119; presumably because the relics of the abbey's > patron,Blessed Maurus, had been retained by S. Pierre des Fosses > in Paris, whence > they had been taken by the Glanfeuil community fleeing the Vikings > in the > 860s. > JBW ********************************************************************** 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