Tom:
Du Cange gives a second, and apparently more widely-attested, meaning of
"baiulus" as "paedagogus." I take it this is in keeping with the obsolete
Italian word baiulo, which the Cambridge Italian dictionary defines as not
only "standard bearer" but also "guardian" or "tutor." It's an interesting
thought that Giunta might think of himself as the "bearer" of Margaret and
thereby a sort of "alter-saint" as you put it. But in the context of the
vita as a whole "paedagogus" seems to me to make more sense of what Giunta
means by "baiulus" -- i.e., in the sense that, as her confessor, he is her
instruct or director (see 2.1, 2.7, 2.8, 5.8, 9.23; although it's true that
he is much else as well and that she also directs and instructs him on
occasion). There is also however that passage in one of Christ's
revelations to her that speaks of her as the "banner" around which sinners
would be rallied to conversion (7.24). It hadn't occurred to me that Giunta
might be her "bearer" in that sense; do you think so?
John Coakley
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Thomas Renna <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2000 10:30 AM
> Subject: Re: Recent titles (last list of 2000)
>
>
> > Colleagues:
> >
> > Has anyone heard of an author of a saint's life refer to himself as a
> > "baiulus"? The Lexicon lat. Nederlandicae defines baiulus as a "bearer"
> > or "carrier". In Fra Giunta's Legenda de vita et miraculus beatae
> > Margaritae de Cortona (Iozzelli critical ed. 1997) the hagiographer Fra
> > Giunta often refers to himself as Baiulus, with the implication that he
> > is the bearer of St Margaret of Cortona's (d. Feb 22, 1297, Franciscan
> > Tertiary) message or deeds. Is the biographer suggesting that he is
> > God's chosen messager to transmit the words and actions of Margaret? Is
> > this a first in the development of Latin saints' lives? It almost seems
> > he is making himself a sort of alter-saint, along with his subject.
> >
> > I would appreciate any leads you might have.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Thomas Renna - History
> > Saginaw Valley State University
> > University Center MI 48710
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
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