medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (16. April) is the feast day of:
18 Martyrs of Saragossa (d. c. 304) Executed in Diocletian's persecution.
Prudentius described their deaths, but their relics were lost in obscurity
until they were found in 1389.
Fructuosus of Braga (d. 665) Fructuosus studied theology, then gave away
his inheritance to the poor and to found monasteries. He himself became a
monk, then a hermit---but he attracted so many disciples that he ended up
forming them into monasteries. Two of his monastic rules are extant. F.
went on to become bishop of Dumium and archbishop of Braga.
Paternus of Avranches (d. 564) Paternus was a native of Poitiers. He
became a monk, a hermit,a monastic founder and abbot, and then bishop of
Avranches at the age of 70.
Magnus (d. 1116) An interesting case of a political saint, Magnus was a
song of Earl Erling of Orkney, born in c. 1075. He became a pirate, but
changed his ways when he converted to Christianity, living as a penitent.
Then he went to share the government of the Orkneys with his cousin Haakon,
but the partnership worked out so badly that Haakon and followers murdered
Magnus. Clearly M. was killed for political reasons, but legend of course
proclaims that he accepted his death as a sacrifice and prayed for his
murderers. He was soon venerated as a martyr, miracles resulted, and M
became the principle saint of Orkney, Shetland, and northern Scotland. He
was an active saint, appearing to Robert Bruce to promise him victory on
the eve of the battle of Bannockburn. His relics were discovered in
Kirkwall cathedral in 1919.
Drogo of Sebourg (d. c. 1186-9) A Flemish nobleman, Drogo was orphaned at
a young age and when 18 gave up all his property to become a penitential
pilgrim. He then hired himself out as a shepherd for some years, but
attracted so much attention that he left on the pilgrimage circuit again,
including nine visits to Rome. Unable to travel any more because of a
disfiguring illness, he then walled himself up as a recluse for the last 40
years of his life.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
[log in to unmask]
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|