medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (2. November) is the feast day of:
All Souls. This feast to commemorate (and pray for) all the faithful
departed was instituted by Abbot Odilo of Cluny (d. 1049). It spread from
Cluny through the entire western European Church.
Justus of Trieste (d. 303) A martyr of Diocletian's persecution, according
to his Acts Justus was a Christian from childhood. When he refused to obey
the imperial edicts to make sacrifice, he was thrown into the sea with lead
weights tied to his arms and legs. His body was later washed up and buried
by a priest.
Marcian of Chalcis (d. 387) Marcian was an imperial courtier who gave up a
promising military career to become a hermit. He retreated to a strongly
ascetic life in the desert of Chalcis (living in a cell too small to stand
or lie flat in). Despite his efforts, he attracted disciples, and much
against his will he won a reputation as a miracle worker. His distaste for
worldly fame extended to worries that saint-hungry people were waiting for
his death to claim his relics. So he made his disciple Eusebius promise to
bury him secretly. As a result, Marcian's relics weren't discovered for
fifty years---at which time they became the center of a vigorous cult.
Wichmann of Arnstein (d. 1270) Not formally canonized, but venerated as a
saint in the Middle Ages. Wichmann was born in Saxony in c. 1185 to a
noble family. He was educated in the Praemonstratensian canonry of St.
Mary's in Mgdeburg, and in 1210 became the provost of that institution. In
1221 Wichmann was elected bishop of Brandenburg, but the election was not
confirmed by the pope. In 1224 he introduced the Dominican order to
Magdeburg, joining their convent in that city himself in 1230. From 1246
on he was prior of the Dominican convent of Neuruppin in Brandenburg.
Margareta of Lorraine (blessed) (d. 1521) Margareta was a daughter of Duke
Friedrich of Lorraine, born in 1463. In 1488 she married the duke of
Alencon. After her husband's early death in 1492, Margareta raised their
three children and ruled her land. She turned to the religious life, in
1513 founding a house of Poor Clares in Argentan and in 1520 entering it
herself. Her cult was approved in 1921.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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