medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (15. November) is the feast day of:
Felix of Nola (d. 287) According to legend, Felix was the first bishop of
Nola in Campania. He was martyred along with 30 companions.
Anianus and Marinus (d. 697) Anianus and Marinus are supposed to have been
missionaries in Bavaria---legend reports that Pope Eugenius I had
consecrated Marinus as bishop and Anianus as deacon. They lived as hermits
for 40 years in Irschenberg (south of Munich). However, on one of their
journeys they were attacked by robbers, who burned them to death.
Findan of Rheinau (d. 879) Findan was born in Leinster in c. 800. At a
young age he was carried off from his home and enslaved on the Orkneys. He
fled to Scotland, and from there went on a pilgrimage to Rome. On his
return journey, Findan stopped at the monastery of Rheinau (Switzerland),
where he became a recluse for the last twenty years of his life.
Leopold III (d. 1136) Leopold is the patron saint of Austria. He was born
in c. 1075, educated at the monastery of Melk, and in 1095 became margrave
of Austria. In 1106 Leopold married Agnes, the daughter of Emperor Henry
IV---the two of them produced 18 children, including Otto of Freising.
During the continuing Investiture Contest, Leopold remained firmly loyal to
thte papacy. He was also a great patron of monasticism, founding numerous
monasteries throughout his realm. Leopold seems to have been the ideal
Christian prince, following a policy of peace and social responsibility
that won him the name "the mild margrave" in his own lifetime. He was
canonized in 1485.
Albertus Magnus (d. 1280) Albertus is of course one of the greatest
theologians and philosophers of the Middle Ages. He was born (probably
shortly before 1200) in Lauingen (Swabia), and in 1223 became a Dominican
in Padua. Soon afterwards he came to Cologne, where he spent much of his
life. Albert became a doctor of theology at Paris in 1245 and in 1248
founded a Dominican study center in Cologne, which became an important
center of learning (one of his students was Thomas Aquinas). From 1260 to
1262, Albert was bishop of Regensburg, but abdicated his office. While
most of his reputation rests upon his scholarship, he was also an important
crusade preacher and won of the most important mediators in the political
conflicts of his age. Albertus Magnus was canonized and proclaimed a
doctor of the Church in 1931, with the title "doctor universalis" thanks to
his comprehensive knowledge.
Richard Whiting (blessed) (d. 1539) Richard Whiting became abbot of
Glastonbury in 1525. He soon fell foul of Henry VIII over a little matter
of protesting the dissolution of his monastery and upholding papal
supremacy. Richard was convincted of high treason and, along with two of
his monks, hanged, drawn, and quartered. He was beatified in 1895.
Lucia of Narni (blessed) (d. 1544) Lucia Brocadelli was born in 1476 in
Narni. After spending three years in a chaste marriage, her husband
consented to her joining a convent of Dominican tertiaries. From 1496 on
she lived in Viterbo, where she had visions and also received the stigmata.
She went on to found a convent in Ferrara, which she led as prioress.
However, in 1506 Lucia was deposed and for the last 38 years of her life
was constantly humiliated and ill-used---which she bore without complaint.
Her grave is in the cathedral of Ferrara (which seems to suggest
contemporary veneration); she was beatified in 1710.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
[log in to unmask]
**********************************************************************
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
|