medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Today (25. May) is the feast day of:

Urban I (d. 230)  A Roman by birth, Urban was pope from 222 until his death
in 230.  No more is known of his life, but Urban is highly honored in
viticultural regions, especially Franconia, Baden, Austria, and Alsace,
because good weather on this day predicts a good harvest ("Hat der
Urbanstag schoen Sonnenschein, verspricht er viel und guten Wein").

Dionysius of Milan (d. sometime before 375)  Dionysius became bishop of
Milan in c. 351.  Because of his support of Athanasius in the
Catholic/Arian controversy, Dionysius was deposed in 355 and banished to
Armenia, never to return.  At the end of the fourth century, Ambrose
arranged to have Dionysius' relics restored to Milan.

Dunchadh (d. 717)  Dunchadh was an abbot in Ulster from about the year 700,
and in 710 became abbot of Iona.  During his time in office, Roman customs
were introduced.

Aldhelm (d. 709)  The English Aldhelm, born in c. 640, became a monk and in
673 the first abbot of Malmesbury.  He brought the new monastery to rapid
prominence, and in 705 became bishop of Sherborne.  Aldhelm was also
popular as a poet; some of his poems and letters are still extant.

Gregory VII (d. 1085)  Gregory VII (Hildebrand) was, for better or worse,
one of the most influential popes of the Middle Ages.  He was a Benedictine
monk who at a young age entered papal service.  Probably in 1058 he became
archdeacon of the Roman church.  Despite the recent papal election decree,
Hildebrand was "elected" pope by popular acclamation.  He proved to be a
fierce advocate of church rights, especially famed for his long struggle
with Emperor Henry IV, which led to Gregory's own death in exile in
Salerno.  Protestant reformers sometimes blamed Gregory for creating a
papal "monarchy" (John Foxe says that he was the antichrist); Gregory's
canonization in 1606 may be a reaction to this view.

Jacopo Bertoni (blessed) (d. 1483)  Jacopo was born in Faenza in c. 1444
and is supposed to have entered the Servite monastery in his home town at
the youthful age of nine.  From the day of his ordination until his death,
Jacopo was procurator of the monastery.  A cult arose immediately after his
death, and many miracles were worked at his tomb.  Jacopo was beatified in
1761.

Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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