medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (7. April) is the feast day of:
Aphraates of Antioch (d. c. 345) Born to an illustrious family, Aphraates
gave up all his possessions and became a hermit, first in Mesopotamia and
then associated with a monastery in Antioch. He was famed both as a
miracle worker and as an opponent of Arianism. The latter activity almost
forced Aphraates into exile, but according to tradition Emperor Valens
refused to consider exiling the hermit after some imperial attendants who
had plotted A's death dropped dead themselves.
Ceallach (Celsus) of Armagh (d. 1129) In 1105 at the age of 26 Ceallach
succeeded to the hereditary abbacy of Armagh (Ireland), and in 1106 was
consecrated as bishop of Armagh. Ceallach was the first major proponent of
ecclesiastical reform in Ireland, among other activities presiding over the
synod of Rath Bresail in 1111 (jointly with a papal legate), which created
a diocesan and metropolitan framework for Ireland. Ceallach ended the
hereditary succession to Armagh by naming the future saint Malachy as his
successor.
Hermann Joseph of Steinfeld (d. 1241) Hermann was born in c. 1155 in
Cologne, and began having numerous mystical experiences in his youth. At
about the age of twelve he entered the Praemonstratensian monastery of
Steinfeld. Tradition reports that after a mystical marriage with the
Virgin Mary he took the second name "Joseph." He composed a body of hymns
in honor of the BVM. His tomb attracted pilgrims over the centuries,
although venerating Hermann as a saint has only "officially" been approved
since 1958.
Ursulina Venerii (blessed) (d. 1410) Ursulina was born in Parma (Italy) in
1375. She began a rich mystical life as a child, and while still a girl
was moved by visions to try to end the western schism---by visiting the
Avignon pope and begging him to abdicate, and also visiting the Roman pope
several times. She was caught up in a civil war in her native city and
nearly burned as a sorceress, after which she ended her life in exile.
Nilus of Sora (d. 1508) Of peasant origin, Nilus became a monk of
Belizersk (Russia). He went to Greece and lived for a long time on Mt.
Athos, after which he returned to Russia to spread Greek ascetic and
mystical practices. Nilus founded a colony of semi-hermits near his
original monastery. Nilus became best known for his opposition to
monasteries owning material possessions, taking leadership of the party of
"non-possessors" that made this a major issue in sixteenth-century Russia.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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