medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (16. April) is the feast day of:
Optatus, Encratis, and companions (d. 304) A group of eighteen
Christian martyrs at Saragossa. They are celebrated in a long poem
by Prudentius.
Turibius of Astorga (d. c. 450) Turibius was a bishop of Astorga
(Spain) and a vigorous opponent of Priscillianism. He practically
eliminated the heresy from Spain, and also reformed his diocese.
Paternus (d. 564) This Paternus (or Pair) is a different figure from
the one commemorated on the 15th. This Paternus was a native of
Poitiers who became a monk and then a hermit in the future Normandy.
He organized his disciples into a monastery (St.
Pair) and became bishop of Avranches when he was 70.
Fructuosus of Braga (d. 665) Fructuosus was the son of a
Romano-Iberian general who gave up everything and built a monastery
(Comlutum) when his parents died. When the monastery was finished,
F. left to become a hermit. He attracted a lot of disciples
(including whole families!) and built a monastery and convent for
them with a rule designed for family groups. He was named bishop of
Dumium and in 656 became archbishop of Braga.
Magnus (d. 1116) Magnus was son of a co-governor of the Orkney
Islands. He was taken prisoner when King Magnus of Norway conquered
the Orkneys. St. N. made a name for himself when he refused to pitch
in and help when King Magnus took him along on a raid against the
Scottish and English coasts. Our saint escaped and took refuge at
the Scottish court, returning in time to act as coruler of the
Orkneys along with a cousin. But the cousin murdered M. Although
the reason for the murder was political, M. is regarded as a martyr.
Drogo (d. 1189) The patron saint of shepherds, Drogo (or Druon) was
a noble of Flanders. When he was 18 he became a penitential pilgrim,
settling down after that as a shepherd. He then went back on the
pilgrimage trail, and finally settled as a hermit for the last 40
years of his life.
A modern saint: Bernadette Soubirous (d. 1879) Bernadette was born
at Lourdes, the daughter of a miller. When, at the age of 14, she
was out collecting firewood, she had a vision of the Virgin Mary.
She kept seeing her daily and soon attracted large crowds, especially
when a spring started flowing miraculously. The visionary figure
ordered B. to built a chapel on the site. BS became a nun, and
Lourdes became one of the greatest pilgrimage centers of all time.
Bernadette was canonized in 1933.
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