medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (10. February) is the feast day of:
Soteris (d. c. 304) Soteris was a kinswoman of Ambrose of Milan, who wrote
a good deal about her and her martyredom at the time of Diocletian.
Zeno of Antioch (d. first quarter 5th cent.) Zeno, born in the mid-fourth
century in Pontus (on the coast of the Black Sea), was a student of Basil
the Great. Later he became a soldier, but in 378 left the army and
proceeded to live for 40 years as a hermit in a tomb near Antioch.
Scholastica (d. 542 or 547) Scholastica was the sister, perhaps the twin
of Benedict of Nursia. She became a nun at a young age and lived in
various convents in the vicinity of Rome. According to legend, she and her
brother met once a year for prayer. At their last meeting, Scholastica
discerned that she would never see her brother again, so prayed for a storm
to delay his departure (Scholastica is still invoked to bring rain, and
prevents people from being struck by lightning). On the third day she then
died---Ben. saw his sister's soul fly to heaven in the form of a dove. She
was buried in the tomb in Monte Cassino that Benedict intended for his own
inhumation, and was later buried beside her.
William of Malavalle (d. 1157) William was a soldier who converted to the
religious life, going on penitential pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Santiago,
and Rome. Later he settled as an ascetic in Tuscany, apparently trying to
reform some eremitical groups in the vicinity without success. A strong
cult developed after William's death, and his hermitage developed into the
eremitical congregation of the Williamites (which survived until the early
18th cent.) William was canonized in 1202.
Hugh of Fosses (blessed) (d. 1164) Hugh, born in Fosses (near Namur,
Belgium), became the friend and companion of Norbert, the founder of the
Praemonstratensian order. In 1128 Hugh succeeded Norbert as abbot of the
mother house of the order, Premontre, and after Norbert's death in 1134
became general abbot of the order. A cult of Hugh arose immediately after
his death, but did not win formal Roman approval until 1927.
William of Notre-Dame de l'Olive (blessed) (d. 1240) William was born in
c. 1175 in Brabant (Belgium). He became a baker but after a dissolute life
became a monk. He later lived a highly penitential life as a
hermit---according to tradition going around on his hands and feet like and
animal to show his humility. He also founded the nunnery of Notre-Dame de
l'Olive in Belgium.
Clare Agolanti (of Rimini) (blessed) (d. 1346) Born in 1282 in Rimini
(Italy), Clare married twice and lived a worldly life until she was 34.
After both her father and her brother were killed in battle, though, she
transformed her life, becoming a Franciscan tertiary. She founded a
convent in Rimini (which she herself did not enter). Clare was beatified
in 1784.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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