medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (4. January) is the feast day of:
Gregory of Langres (d. 539) Gregory was a count, who ruled well for
40 years until his wife died. Then he turned to a religious life,
and was soon elected bishop of Langres. His biography was written by
Gregory of Tours, his great-grandson.
Pharaildis (d. c. 740) Pharaildis (or Verelde) was a Flemish woman.
She was married off against her will, and her husband abused her when
she refused him his conjugal rights (she had made a secret vow of
virginity). She was a noted miracle worker.
Rigobert of Rheims (d. c. 745) Rigobert was abbot of Orbais before
becoming archbishop of Rheims. He was banished when he disagreed
with Charles Martel, and Charles gave the see to somebody else. When
their dispute was settled, R. returned to Rheims but got his
supplanter to remain as bishop so R. himself could go off and become
a hermit.
Angela of Foligno (blessed) (d. 1309) Angela was married, had
several children, and was apparently was pretty wild, including
indulging in a spot of adultery. She reformed her life after having
a vision in 1285. When her mother, husband, and children died, she
took up a life of intense penitence as a Franciscan tertiary. She
was one of the great medieval mystics. Her cult was confirmed in
1693.
A modern saint: Elizabeth Seton (d. 1821) Elizabeth Ann was born in
New York city, the daughter of an anatomy professor. She married
William Seton and devoted herself to social work. After she was
widowed she became a Catholic (and was ostracized by her family for
it) and in a few years founded a religious community near
Baltimore--that ran a school for poor children. This was the
beginning of the U.S. parochial school system. She was canonized in
1975, the first American-born saint.
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