This is a difficult question to assess, as many _vitae_ interpret the events
surrounding the birth of a saint as evidence of their sanctity in later
life. Many sources, especially if they involve a conversion I would argue,
maintain that the subject of their _vita_ was chosen all along (by God) to
be a saint.
Specifically on pre-birth stories, I seem to recall that the _Vita Prima
Sancti Bernardi_ has an account of a dream experienced by Bernard of
Clairvaux's pregnant mother, in which she believed there to be a dog barking
in her womb. This is interpreted as a presage for Bernard's vociferous
activities as Abbot of Clairvaux. Perhaps there are more direct references
to his sanctity around this as well...?
Regards,
Don.
-----------------------------
Dr Don Mowbray
>From: Katja J Ritari <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: born-to-be-saints
>Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 14:38:49 +0300 (EET DST)
>
>Hello you wise ones.
>
>I am working on a paper about the nativities of early Irish saints and
>the question that specially interests me is the way Irish saints are
>usually chosen by God to be saints already before their birth and how
>this is manifested in prophecies and miracles before and during their
>births.
>I am just wondering how common this kind of born-to-be-saints are in early
>Continental hagiography versus saints that have to go through a conversion?
>
>Yours,
>Katja Ritari
>University of Helsinki
>
>
>----------------------
>[log in to unmask]
>Meritullinkatu 6 F 52
>00170 Helsinki
>Finland
>tel. 040 - 724 92 13
>
>
>
>
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