medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (29. September) is the feast day of:
Michael and all angels. The archangel Michael's name means "Who is like
unto God?" He appears in the biblical books of Daniel and Revelation; in
the latter he is the heavenly champion in battle against the devil (or
dragon); he also appears in Jude. The Christian cult of Michael appears to
have begun in the East; Constantine dedicated a church in his honor. His
cult spread to the West especially thanks to an apparition at Monte Gargano
(SE Italy) in the late fifth century.
Hripsime and companions (d. c. 330) Legend makes this improbable saint the
granddaughter, niece, or wife of Emperor Claudian. She was raised in a
Roman convent. But Diocletian fell in lust at the sight of her beauty and
wanted to marry her (how many women is Diocletian supposed to have chased,
anyway?); Hripsime, accompanied by a chorus of seventy other nuns, fled.
They visited the Holy Places, then Edessa, then finally Armenia. This
woman really ought to have worn a veil, though. The king of Armenia
spotted Hripsime, fell in lust, wanted to marry her, and killed her and her
companions when she refused.
Conrad of Zahringen (d. 1227) The son of a count of Urach (Germany),
Conrad became a Cistercian and abbot in succession of several Cistercian
monasteries, culminating in the mother house of Citeaux from 1217 on. He
was an advisor of Pope Honorius III, who made him a cardinal. Conrad was
very active against the Cathars, encouraging not just the crusade but a
reorganization of the clergy of southern France. According to legend, the
fingers of Conrad's left hand glowed in the dark so he could see to write
at night.
John of Dukla (blessed) (d. 1484) The Pole John was blind from birth. He
became a Franciscan friar and a famous confessor and popular preacher. He
was beatified in 1753, but the canonization process was interrupted by the
partition of Poland. Apparently it is now active again (unless it is
already complete? I can't keep up with recent processes).
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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