medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. January) is the feast day of:
Syncletica (d. c. 400) Syncletica was a wealth Egyptian woman who decided
to give all her goods to the poor and live as an ascetic. She lived to the
age of 84.
Simeon Stylites the Elder (d. 459) Simeon was the founder of the ascetic
custom of sitting on pillars, and is the most famous of the stylite saints.
He was born in c. 390 in Cilicia, at first working as a shepherd, then
becoming a monk (he was soon driven from the community because of his
extreme asceticism). Then he attached himself to a cliff with a chain, but
was put off by the multitude of people who came to gawk at him and take
away a small piece of his clothing as a relic. So finally, Simeon climbed
onto a meter-high column, then an 18-meter column on the platform of which
he stayed for the last 37 years of his life. He preached twice a day and
spent the rest of his time advising people who came to him.
Gaudentius of Gniezno (d. 1006) Gaudentius was the younger brother of St.
Adalbert of Prague. Both brothers became monks in Rome, and later
Gaudentius accompanied Adalbert on his missionary journey to Prussia.
Gaudentius survived the attack the killed Adalbert in 997, and in 1000 was
named the first archbishop of Gniezno (Poland).
Edward the Confessor (d. 1066) The last English king of the house of
Wessex, Edward was the son of Aethelred "the Unready" and Emma of Normandy,
born in 1003. He spent his youth in exile in Normandy, but was recalled to
England by his half-brother Harthacnut shortly before becoming king in
1042. According to his vita, Edward had made a vow of chastity, and thus
lived chastely with his wife (whom he seems to have hated). I confess I
find it hard to see what besides nostalgia for the good ol' pre-Norman days
made a saint of him, except of course for his construction of Westminster
Abbey.
Gerlach of Houthem (blessed) (d. c. 1170) Gerlach foreswore his life as a
knight after his wife died in 1150. He undertood barefoot pilgrimages to
Rome and Jerusalem, and then in 1160 became a hermit, living in a hollow
oak tree on his estate (Netherlands) and living a life of extreme
asceticism. His lifestyle won the awed admiration of many people,
including Hildegard of Bingen. His cult was approved in 1604.
Roger of Todi (blessed) (d. 1237) Roger was received into the Franciscan
order by Francis himself in 1216 and soon sent to spread the order to
Spain. In the years before his death, he was spiritual director of the
Clarissan convent in Rieti. According to tradition, he worked many
miracles. His cult was approved in 1751.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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