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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture St Wilgefortis prayed to be made ugly, not to join a religious community but to escape an unwanted marriage to a pagan prince. Her prayers were answered and she grew a long beard. Cult is late medieval. -- See newadvent or Mark Philpott's homepage: http://senior.keble.ox.ac.uk/fellows/homepage.php?fellow=philpottm hth, Christof (x-posting [log in to unmask]) Ms Brenda M. Cook wrote: > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture > > > >> i remember reading about a woman who mutilated her face to join the >> beguines because they refused her because she was too beautiful. >> > > > I am wondering if this is one of those folk tales .... > > The story I heard was set during the Elizabethan period (does this count as > "Mediaeval ?" ) when members of recusant (= Roman Catholic) wishing to go > abroad to study or to enter Religious Houses had to apply to their local > Justice of the Peace for permission. A certain young woman who believed she > had a vocation duly made application with her family's approval. The JP took > one look at her, said no, you are far too pretty. You should marry and have > children. To which the girl replied, if it is only my looks that stand > between me and my vocation, then I will pray God to take them away. > > A year later the girl returned and repeated her request. This time the JP > had no hesitation in granting her permission. During the intervening year > she had contracted smallpox and her face was hideously disfigured with > pockmarks. > > Anyone else know this one ? Is it true ? > > Brenda M.C. > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.1 - Release Date: 19/01/05 > > ********************************************************************** > To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME > to: [log in to unmask] > To send a message to the list, address it to: > [log in to unmask] > To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion > to: [log in to unmask] > In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: > [log in to unmask] > For further information, visit our web site: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html > > > Christof Rolker <[log in to unmask]> -- ____________________________ Christof J. Rolker Kappelersgutweg 2c D-78462 Konstanz 0049(0)7531-916647 [log in to unmask] ____________________________ 10 GB Mailbox, 100 FreeSMS http://www.gmx.net/de/go/topmail +++ GMX - die erste Adresse für Mail, Message, More +++ ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html