medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (9. March) is the feast day of:
Pacianus (d. c. 390) Pacianus was born in c. 300 in Spain (perhaps
Barcelona). He became bishop of Barcelona in c. 360/365, and became noted
for his great care for his flock. He was one of the finest writers of his
time; extant letters refute the Novatian heresy.
Gregory of Nyssa (d. c. 395) Gregory was the younger brother of Basil. He
was born in Caesarea (Cappadocia) in c. 339. After marrying, Gregory
became a professor of rhetoric, but gave this up to become a priest. In
372 Gregory became bishop of Nyssa, but was deposed in 374. Gregory's
writings were and are very highly regarded; with his brother and Gregory of
Nazianzus, this Gregory is one of the "three Cappadocian fathers," of
central importance to the development of Orthodox Christianity.
Constantine of Cornwall (d. 576?) According to legend, Constantine was a
king of Cornwall in the sixth century. After a highly worldly life, he
converted and devoted himself to penitence. Constantine became a
missionary in Scotland, where he is supposed to have been killed by
pirates.
Bruno of Querfurt (d. 1009?) Bruno's life and beliefs are surprisingly
clear, thanks to the two partly-autobiographical saints' lives that he
wrote. He was a noble Saxon, born in c. 974. After some time in the
imperial chapel, he became a monk at S. Alessio in Rome in 998, but then
joined Romuald of Ravenna. Bruno and several companions planned to go
convert the Slavs, but Bruno, who was to be consecrated apparently as a
missionary bishop, was delayed in Italy---and his companions were murdered
by thieves before Bruno arrived (see Bruno's Life of the Five Brothers).
Eventually Bruno made it to the mission field, spending time in Hungary and
Poland. Finally he set out to convert the Prussians, who martyred him
along with 18 companions.
Francesca Romana (d. 1440) Francesca was born in Rome in 1384. She
married and bore several children. Later Francesca founded a female branch
of the Olivetan order in Rome, taking over leadership of the community
after her husband's death. Francesca organized care of the poor and sick,
and was also noted as a mystic. She was canonized in 1608.
Katherine of Bologna (d. 1463) Katherine was a famous painter of
miniatures and poet, writing both Latin and Italian hymns. She was born in
1413 in Bologna. After a time as a lady in waiting to Margareta d'Este,
Katherine entered the Clarissan order in 1432, becoming abbess in 1456 in
Bologna. In her work "The Seven Spiritual Weapons" (14380, she described
her mystical experiences. Katherine is another non-decomposing late
medieval Italian female saint (there seems to be a disproportionate number
of them); her intact body is preserved in the chapel of her convent in
Bologna. She was canonized in 1712.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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