Today, 17 April, is the feast of ...
Anicetus, pope and martyr (165)
Mappalicus and his Companions, martyrs (250)
Innocent, Bishop of Tortona (350)
Donnan and his Companions, martyrs (618):Donnan was one of the many
Irishmen who followed Columba to Iona. Afterwards, with fifty-two
companions, he founded a monastery on the island of Eigg in the Inner
Hebrides. They were all slaughtered by robbers who descended on them
while Donnan celebrated Mass on the night of Easter. A story says that
the raid was instigated by a woman who had formerly pastured sheep on
the island and resented the loss of it to the monks.
Robert of Chaise-Dieu, abbot (1067): Founder and first abbot of the
monastery of Chaise-Dieu in Auvergne.
Stephen Harding, abbot of Citeaux, co-founder of the Cistercians (1134):
While abbot of Citeaux, a mysterious disease appeared amongst the monks
which depleted their numbers greatly. Stephen then began to wonder if he
were really doing the will of God. Addressing a dying monk the abbot
asked him to bring back word from beyond the grave to let him know the
divine will. Soon after his death the monk appeared to Stephen and said
that his way of life was pleasing to God and recruits would soon come
who "like bees swarming in haste and overflowing the hive, would fly
away and spread themselves through many parts of the world." Soon
afterwards, at the monastery gates appeared a troop of thirty men who
announced to the porter that they had come to offer themselves to the
religious life. They were all of noble lineage, mostly in their early
prime, and they had as their leader a young man of singular beauty whose
name was Bernard.
Eberhard of Marchthal, abbot (1178)
James of Cerqueto, Hermit of St Augustine (1367): During his open-air
preaching it was noticed that the frogs would cease their croaking at
his bidding to allow his words to be heard. (Preaching and hermits are
once again associated!)
Clare of Pisa, Dominican (1419): Was married at twelve. After her
husband's death when she was fifteen, to avoid a second marriage she ran
away and sought admission to the Poor Clares. The following day her
brothers appeared at the gates to demand her return, the terrified nuns
let her down over the wall and into the hands of her brothers. Although
she was kept prisoner in her father's house for five months, neither
threats nor starvation could shake her determination. At last
her father relented and not only allowed her to enter the Dominican
priory of Holy Cross, but promised to build another house of which she
eventually became prioress.
BACKLOG OF FEASTS IS NOW OVER!
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Dr Carolyn Muessig
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Bristol
Bristol BS8 1TB
UK
phone: +44(0)117-928-8168
fax: +44(0)117-929-7850
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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