medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. April) is the feast day of:
martyrs of Africa (d. 459) A large number of catholic Christians were
martyred somewhere in North Africa during mass on Easter Sunday, at the
order of the Vandal king Genseric.
Derfel (aka Cadarn, Gdarn) (6th cent.) Derfel is a saint of Wales. After
a distinguished start to his soldierly career, he became the founder and
patron of Llanderfel in Gwynedd. His cult was extremely popular in the
early sixteenth century, and the local people tried to bribe Thomas
Cromwell to protect the large wooden statue of D. on a horse. Derfel's
image, however, met its end in 1538 in London, when it was used to burn the
Franciscan friar John Forest---fulfilling the prophecy that the statue
"should set a whole forest afire."
Ethelburga of Lyminge (d. c. 647) Ethelburga was a daughter of Ethelbert
and Bertha of Kent. She married Edwin of Northumbria, whom she and her
chaplain converted to Christianity. Then she helped further Christianity
in northern England until her husband's death, when a pagan reaction drove
her back to Kent. There E. founded and led the convent of Lyminge.
Gerald of Sauve-Majeure (d. 1095) Gerald was a monk of Corbie. He was
reform-minded, and became abbot of St. Vincent's, Laon, only to resign when
he failed to win over the monks. Then he became abbot of St. Medard's,
Soissons, but was expelled by a usurper. So G. and three companions
finally founded the Benedictine monastery of Sauve-Majeure, which became
the head of a reforming congregation. He was canonized in 1197.
Juliana of Mt. Cornillon (or of Liege) (d. 1258) Juliana was raised by the
Augustinian canonesses of Mt. Cornillon, joined the order, and became
prioress. Once in a position of authority, she began, in response to
visions she had had, to agitate for the institution of a new feast day, a
celebration in honor of the eucharistic sacrament. She annoyed enough
people that she was removed from office and suffered persecution, but when
restored succeeded in introducing the feast, "Corpus Christi," in
Liege---and continued to press for its universal acceptance, which it won
soon after Juliana's death.
Vincent Ferrer (d. 1419) Vincent was the son of an expatriate Englishman
who lived in Spain. He became a Dominican in 1367, and quickly became a
famous philosopher and preacher. He was especially successful at
converting Jews. VF also played an important role in ending the great
schism, by convincing the king of Aragon to foreswear his allegiance to the
Avignon pope. A popular cult sprang up immediately after Vincent's death,
and he was canonized in 1455.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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