medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (7. April) is the feast day of:
Hegesippus (d. c. 180) Hegesippus was a Jewish convert to Christianity
from Jerusalem. He traveled widely, visiting most of the important
Christian communities, including a 20-year stay in Rome, before returning
to Jerusalem. He is considered the father of Church history for his five
books that tell the history of Christianity from the death of Jesus to his
own day (only a few chapters survive); in this work, he was the first to
trace the succession of bishops of Rome from Peter.
Aphraates of Antioch (d. c. 345) Aphraates was born to a wealthy family on
the Syrian/Persian border, but gave up all his goods to become a hermit
(first at Edessa, then Antioch). He publicly opposed the Arians, who
responded by trying to have him exiled. But Emperor Valens refused to
cooperate, since some of his attendants who had threatened to murder A. had
died suddenly, and Valens clearly thought it prudent not to mess with
Aphraates. A. may have been the same person as the bishop of Mar Mattai
(near Mosul) who was the author of 23 treatises and was perhaps persecuted
by Shapur II.
Eberhardt of Schaffhausen (blessed) (d. 1078) Eberhardt was a count of
Nellenburg, a relative of Pope Leo IX and Emperor Henry II. He and his
wife Itta protected monasteries and built several in their territory,
including Schaffhausen (modern Switzerland), to which E. eventually
retired.
Celsus (Cellach Mac Aodh) (d. 1129) Celsus was the last of the hereditary
archbishops of Armagh. He was an important reformer, and co-presided over
the reforming synod of Rath Bresail in 1111. C. also rebuilt rmagh
cathedral and often worked as a peacemaker between Irish kings. His
dedication to reform was so strong that he nominated Malachy as his
successor, ending the lineage of archbishops of Armagh.
Aibert of Crespin (d. 1140) Aibert was born in the diocese of Tournai. He
seems to have been a disgustingly pious child, hiding in the stable to
pray, praying all night long, etc. At a very young age he became a
recluse. His habit of reciting the Ave Maria fifty times at a sitting is
said to have played a role in the creation of the rosary.
Hermann Joseph (d. 1241) HJ was "equivalently canonized" (whatever that
means) by John XXIII in 1960, but his fame as a holy person spread
throughout Germany during his lifetime, and there were medieval attempts at
canonization. HJ was a native of Cologne. He became a Praemonstratensian,
living a life of extreme asceticism that was marked especially by his
devotion to the Virgin Mary, including many visions. He is also the first
known devotee of the Sacred Heart.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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