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Today, 17 November, is the feast of ... * Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria (265) - in opposition to the schism of Novatian, he ordered that no one should be refused communion as long as it was requested in the right disposition; late in his life, it was so dangerous in his see that he had to write letters to his flock, since he said it was easier to go from East to West than from Alexandria to Alexandria * Gregory the Wonderworker, bishop of Neocaesarea (268) - it was he who, according to Gregory's *Dialogues*, had such faith that he moved a mountain; invoked in times of earthquakes and floods * Alphaeus and Zachaeus, martyrs (303) - in Palestine, after having their flesh ripped with iron hooks and combs, then stretched in the stocks, they were beheaded * Acisclus and Victoria, martyrs (fourth century) - brother and sister, they were put to death in the amphitheatre of Cordova * Anianus or Aignan, bishop of Orleans (c. 453) - helped defend his city against Attila and his Huns * Gregory, bishop of Tours (594) - he attributed all miracles associated with himself to Martin of Tours and other saints, whose relics he always carried * Hilda, virgin (680) - she was head of double monastery of monks and nuns at Streaneshalch, also known as Whitby: there, the great synod of 664 was held; her name appears in the calendar of St Willibrord, written at the beginning of the eighth century Two years ago Julia Barrow posed these queries about Hild/Hilda: Bede's dating of Hild's career poses several problems - is there anything recent in print about them? Bede's dating for her birth and death don't necessarily seem to be problematic - obviously her father must have died before Edwin was able to return from exile and become king in 616, and presumably Hild did die in 680. This means that Hild could, as Bede says, have been 66 (a double perfect age) at death. What is trickier is when she decided to become a nun. Bede says this was half way through her life, at 33 (perfect age), which would be in about 647. But he says that at this point she spent time in E. Anglia wondering about whether to go to Chelles to become a nun there. But Chelles was surely founded by Balthild - and since it was on Merovingian royal property it could only have been founded once Balthild married Clovis II - and the marriage apparently happened soon after 648. Presumably Balthild didn't found her nunnery immediately after she became queen, but slightly later. Does anyone have any ideas? and is there any information to help with dating for the foundation of Chelles? And when was Streaneshealh founded? AND Arlene Hilfer replied: My English Heritage guide to Whitby notes that Hilda brought a community to the site in 657 to resettle the site of "what may have been, in the twilight empire, a Roman coastal fort or signal sation." * Hugh, bishop of Lincoln (1200) - Carthusian bishop, but not the only one; in pictures, he is portrayed with a swan, recalling his pet wild swan which guarded him so zealously that no one could 'approach the bishop without being attacked by it' (*Magna Vita*, by Adam of Eynsham, Hugh's chaplain) Four years ago Donald Mowbray added this interesting tidbit about Hugh: He is also famous for having 'translated' part of the relic of Mary Magdalen's arm to Lincoln by biting a chunk out of it and bringing it home (according to Adam of Eynsham). * Salome, widow (1268) - a member of Polish royalty, she lived as a Franciscan tertiary before retiring to a Franciscan convent, where she eventually was elected abbess * Gertrude the Great, virgin (1302) - noted mystic, she had visions such as one in which Christ told her: 'You have licked the dust with my enemies and sucked honey from thorns; now come back to me, and my divine delights shall be as wine to you'; took communion frequently, and had devotions to St Joseph and the Sacred Heart * Giovanna da Signa, virgin (1307) - lived as a solitary for forty years on the banks of the Arno * Elizabeth the Good, virgin (1420) - one of the last great medieval mystics, she once fasted for three years, to have it ended only by the devil disguised as her confessor 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] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%