medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (1. May) is the feast day of:
Isidora the Simple (d. c. 365) Isidora is a very early example of
the "fool for Christ's sake" type of holiness. She was a nun at
Tabennesi, despised by her community. When it became apparent how
holy she was, she fled to the desert to avoid honor.
Brieuc (Brioc) (d. 510) Brieuc was from north Dyfed (Wales). He was
educated in Gaul, apparently under Germanus of Auxerre, then returned
to Wales to be a missionary. After being driven out by invasion B.
went to Brittany and founded two monasteries, Treguier and St Brieuc.
Sigismund of Burgundy (d. 523) Sigismund became king of the
Burgundians in 515. He had recently converted to catholic
Christianity and proved to be a staunch supporter of religion,
founding the great monastery of Agaunun (St. Maurice) in Switzerland.
He was defeated by the Franks, hid in a monastery, but was caught and
killed. He has been venerated as a martyr.
Marculf (d. 558) Marculf was from Bayeux. He founded a monastery of
hermit-monks modeled on the Egyptian practice at Nanteuil. His
relics, enshrined at Corbigny since 898, were the point at which the
"royal touch" was transmitted to kings of France. Surprise,
surprise, the shrine was destroyed at the time of the French
Revolution.
Bertha of Vald'Or and Gombert (10th cent.) A rather complicated
story. Gombert founded a convent at Rheims. He lived chastely with
a woman named Bertha (who was married to somebody else). But B's
husband was murdered, so B. founded the convent of Val d'Or at Avenay
where she became abbess---but relatives of her husband murdered her,
apparently became she was too generous. To keep things even more
complicated, my source also has an entry for a Bertha of Avenay who
supposedly founded the convent of Avenay---but in c. 680.
Benedict of Skalka (d. 1002) Benedict was a hermit on Mt. Zobor near
Nitra (Slovakia), famous for his prayer and asceticism. He was
killed by "marauders" in 1012 and formally canonized in 1083.
Aldebrand (Hildebrand) (d. 1219) Aldebrand, born near Cesena, became
provost of Rimini. In that office he preached so strongly against
licentiousness that he had to flee for his life. In 1170 he became
bishop of Fossombrone.
--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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History Department
University of Southern Mississippi
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