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Posts from the ‘Medieval Saints’ Category

Apr 10

david-patron-saint-of-wales

Welsh Saints

A new research project: The Cult of Saints in Wales aims to study and publish a neglected series of Medieval Welsh-language sources and their transmission.

Recently the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies received AHRC a huge grant – £774,582 – for a joint research project. The grant will support a 4-year research project taking place at CAWCS, in collaboration with King’s College London, the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David (UW:TSD) and the National Library of Wales. The research will focus on medieval Welsh-language literature devoted to the veneration of saints.

Speaking about receiving the grant, Professor Dafydd Johnston, Director of CAWCS, said: “There is fierce competition for Research Council funding, and the Centre’s success in gaining a grant of this magnitude demonstrates its strong international reputation and outstanding track-record in running collaborative research projects. The funding will enable us to make a substantial contribution to the understanding of Wales’s cultural heritage.”

Welsh Saints
Saints, holy men and women who offered believers a direct link between heaven and earth, were central to the culture of Christian societies in pre-Reformation Europe and beyond, and study of the origins, nature and development of saints’ cults is flourishing internationally. The Welsh sources, however, are at best partially known – some texts have never been edited, others languish in inaccessible publications, and many are available only to Welsh-speakers. The research project therefore aims to raise awareness of the interest and importance of these Welsh sources both inside and outside Wales by producing a freely available online digital resource for both the general public, and for comparative study.

Led by Principal Investigator (Project Leader) Dr David Parsons at CAWCS , with Co-Investigators Dr Barry Lewis (CAWCS) and Dr Jane Cartwright (UW:TSD) , this digital resource will take the form of a number of online editions of the gathered texts, with extensive bilingual notes and full translations into English (and also, in the case of the verse, into modern Welsh). There will be digital images of many of the manuscripts and separate discussions of the more important codices.

Dr David Parsons says of the collaborative project: “The work builds on the Centre’s extensive experience in editing medieval Welsh texts, and recent successful digital editions. Jane Cartwright, at UW:TSD, brings great expertise in the prose Saints’ lives, while the research and development work provided by King’s College London and the National Library of Wales will ensure a professional and effective presentation. One of the most exciting aspects of the project is that Saints’ cults in Wales tend to be local or regional phenomena, and there will be many opportunities to engage, not only with academic researchers, but also with local audiences, such as local historians or school and church groups.”

The Department of Digital Humanities at King’s College London, led by Co-Investigator Miguel Vieira, will be responsible for creating the digital platform for the online editions. Speaking about their involvement in the project, he says: “This project provides us with an exciting opportunity to extend our sophisticated digital editing and publishing platform.  Developed over ten years by the Department of Digital Humanities, Kiln is an Open Source and standards-compliant tool. It has been used to create more than fifty online digital editions, each based on very different source materials and demanding customised functionality.  In addition to contributing to an innovative online resource for this project, our aim is also to provide the National Library Wales with a framework for developing further sustainable digital publications in the future, whilst making Kiln more accessible for anyone to use.”

The National Library of Wales involvement with the project will not only be to provide digitised images of original manuscripts, but it will also host the online edition on their website. It is envisaged that the website will hold a range of related material (such as medieval and modern images of the saints and maps that show dedications and place-name patterns) designed to be of interest to a wide range of audiences.

The work will be further advertised by a programme of conferences, open days around the country and an exhibition at the National Library of Wales.

READ OR SEE MORE:

Video at BBC with interview med Prof. Dafydd Johnston, the director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. Prof. Johnston is author of The Literature of Wales (University of Wales Press 1999) and a contributor to the handbook: The Celts: History, Life, and Culture Edited by John T. Koch, Antone Minard. ‪ABC-CLIO, ‪ 2012, 898 pages

Read the full press release 

 

Mar 18

franziskus_skaaret

What’s in a Name?

March 2013 a jesuit was elected Pope and chose the name of Francis. Here Pope Francis explains why…

“Some people wanted to know why the Bishop of Rome wished to be called Francis. Some thought of Francis Xavier, Francis De Sales, and also Francis of Assisi. I will tell you the story. During the election, I was seated next to the Archbishop Emeritus of São Paolo and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes: a good friend, a good friend! When things were looking dangerous, he encouraged me. And when the votes reached two thirds, there was the usual applause, because the Pope had been elected. And he gave me a hug and a kiss, and said: “Don’t forget the poor!” And those words came to me: the poor, the poor. Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of all the wars, as the votes were still being counted, till the end. Francis is also the man of peace. That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation; these days we do not have a very good relationship with creation, do we? He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man … How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor! Afterwards, people were joking with me. “But you should call yourself Hadrian, because Hadrian VI was the reformer, we need a reform…” And someone else said to me: “No, no: your name should be Clement”. “But why?” “Clement XV: thus you pay back Clement XIV who suppressed the Society of Jesus!” These were jokes.”

(From the first Press Meeting in the Vatican after the election. Full text at the Vatican press Office. )

Read also some stories from the rich heritage of the hagiography of St. Frances:

What’s in a name 1?

What’s in a name 2?

What’s in a name 3?

What’s in a name 4?

Read some biographies of St. Francis:

Mar 18

Crocifisso di San Damiano nella Basilica di Santa Chiara

What’s in a name 1?

St. Francis was a rebuilder of churches…

“A few days after this, while he was walking near the church of San Damiano, an inner voice bade him go in and pray. He obeyed, and kneeling before an image of the crucified Savior, he began to pray most devoutly. A tender, compassionate voice then spoke to him: “Francis, do you not see that my house is falling into ruin? Go, and repair it for me.” Trembling and amazed Francis replied: “Gladly I will do so, O Lord.” He had understood that the Lord was speaking of that very church which, on account of its age, was indeed falling into ruin.

These words filled him with the greatest joy and inner light because in spirit he knew that it was indeed Jesus Christ who had spoken to him. On leaving the church he found the priest who had charge of it sitting outside, and taking a handful of money from his purse, he said: “I beg you, Sir, to buy oil and keep the lamp before this image of Christ constantly alight. When this is spent I will give you as much as you need.” (Legend of the Three Companions: Chapter three, 13. From: Francis of Assisi – The Founder: Early Documents, vol. 2 (Francis of Assisi: Early Documents) Ed. by Regis J. Armstrong. New City Press 2000)

Photo: The Cross which hung in San Damiano and spoke to St. Francis, but which now hangs in the Basilica of St. Clare.

Mar 18

Cimabue-st-francis

What’s in a name 2?

St. Francis was a master in humility

“Suppose a messenger comes and tells me that all the Masters in the University of Paris have come to join the order: that is not true happiness. Suppose that all the prelates beyond the Alps, all the archbishops and bishops have come to join the order, suppose that the kings of France and of England have come too: that is not true happiness. Suppose that my brethren have gone to the unbelievers and converted them all to the faith; suppose that I have such grace from God that I heal the sick and work many miracles: I tell you that in all of these true happiness does not reside.

So what is true happiness? I am on my way back from Perugia and I arrive here late at night, and it is the muddy time of winter and so cold that there are icicles hanging from the bottom of my tunic, which keep striking my legs so that they are wounded and bleeding. All muddy and cold and covered in ice, I arrive at the door and when I have knocked at the door and shouted for a long time, at last the brother comes and asks, ‘Who is it?’ I reply, It’s brother Francis.’ He says, ‘Go away, this is no time for travelling. You can’t come in.’ I plead with him, but he repeats, ‘Go away; you’re an ignorant simpleton. You are certainly not going to come in here with us; we have quite enough people here and they are quite good enough, we do not need you.’ Once more I stand at the door, saying ‘For the love of God, take me in just for this night.’ But he says, I won’t. Go to the Crutched Friars and ask there.’ I tell you, if I have patience and am not upset, this is where true happiness lies and true virtue and the salvation of my soul.” (From: Kajetan Esse: Die Opuscula des Hl. Franziskus von Assisi: Neuetextkritische Edition. Gtottsferrata: Collegii S. Bonaventura ad Claras Aquas, 1976. pp. 459 – 461)

Mar 18

Giovanni_Bellini_St_Francis_in_Ecstasy-small

What’s in a name 3?

St. Francis was a Lover of Nature…St. Francis was a Lover of Nature…

“For who could ever give expression to the very great affection he bore for all things that are God’s? Who would be able to narrate the sweetness he enjoyed while contemplating in creatures the wisdom of their Creator, his power and his goodness?

How great a gladness do you think the beauty of the flowers brought to his mind when he saw the shape of their beauty and perceived the odor of their sweetness? …When he found an abundance of flowers, he preached to them and invited them to praise the Lord as though they were endowed with reason.  In the same way he exhorted with the sincerest purity cornfields and vineyards, stones and forests and all the beautiful things of the fields, fountains of water and the green things of the gardens, earth and fire, air and wind, to love God and serve him willingly.  Finally, he called all creatures brother, and in a most extraordinary manner never experienced by others, he discerned the hidden things of nature with his sensitive heart, as one who had already escaped into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God. ” (Thomas De Celano: First Life of St. Francis, chapter 29)

Mar 18

Giotto-St_Francis_before_the_Sultan

What’s in a Name 4?

St. Francis was a charismatic crusader

“ Lord Rayner, Prior of St. Michael, has entered the Order of the Lesser Brothers. This Order is multiplying rapidly throughout the world, because it expressly imitates the pattern of the primitive church and the life of the apostles in everything. Nevertheless, this Order seems very dangerous to us, because it sends out Two by two throughout the world, not only formed religious, but also immature young men who should first be tested and subjected to conventual discipline for a time.

The head of these brothers, who also founded the order, came into our camp. He was so inflamed with zeal for the faith that he did not fear to cross the lines to the army of our enemy. For several days he preached the Word of God to the Saracens and made little progress. The Sultan, King of Egypt, privately asked him to pray to the Lord for him, so that he might be inspired by g

God. Colin the Englishemen, our clerk, also has joined this Order, as well as two more of our company, namely Master Michael and Lord Matthew, to whom I had committed the care of the church of the Holy Cross. I am having a difficult time holding on to the cantor and Henry and several others… (Jaques de Vitry, Letter 6: February March 1220, quoted in: Tolan, John: Saint Francis and the Sultan. The Curious History of a Christian-Muslim Encounter. Oxford University Press 2009, p. 19)

 
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Feb 12

celestino-V

Pope Resigns

In 2009 Benedict XVI visited the cathedral in l’Aquila as a follow-up on the horrid earthquake in April, which devastated not only the whole city, but also the cathedral. While there, he took his time to pray at the open glass coffin of one of his forebears, Celestine V, famous for having abdicated as Pope in 1294. At this occasion Benedict left the pallium, which he wore at his coronation, at the grave.

The event was memorable. By honouring Celestine, Benedict anticipated the events yesterday, when he followed in his footsteps and told a congregation of cardinals that he was resigning his office end of February. Hopefully his successor will abstain from incarcerating him, as is what happened to his unfortunate predecessor.

Celestine V was a most curious figure. He was born in 1215. His parents were peasants. Nevertheless, at the age of 17 he became a Benedictine monk. Eventually he was ordained a priest in Rome. His whole life was marked by a distinct love of solitude, which led him to a life in the wilderness of Monte Morone in the Abruzzi. As most hermits, rumours spread and during his active life he gathered a multitude of kindred spirits around him. Before his death there were 36 monasteries following the harsh edition of the Benedictine rule, which he had authored.

The real occasion for his fame was however, that he was elected pope in 1294 at the age of 79 when he became a pawn in the stalemate in the so-called sacred college of cardinals, who may have believed that they acquired a meek and controllable stooge. However, the less worldly parts of the church, the so-called spirituals, warmly welcomed the election. During his very short reign, Pietro di Murone, who took the name Celestino V, it is believed that the pope continued his ascetic lifestyle as well as strove to force it upon his surrounding. At the same time he granted extensive privileges to these circles in the church.

la prigione di celestino 199x300 Pope Resigns

The cell of Celestine V at Castello di Fumone

In the end, nothing more than a pawn in the complicated Italian politics at that time, he decided to abdicate, thus pawing the way for Benedict to do the same in 2013.

What happened to Celestine was pitiful. After his abdication, the new Pope Bonifacius VIII, took him into custody. At some point he managed to escape trying to hide himself in the mountainous region of the Abbruzzi. In the end he was captured at Monte Gargano and later confined in a narrow room in the tower of the Castello di Fumone near Agnani. After 9 months Celestine died there. In 1313 his remains were transferred from Ferentiono to Aquila, where he lies in a splendid glass coffin.

Whether Benedict will meet with the same fate as his predecessor is of course highly unlikely. But it remains to be seen what will be done with a resigned Pope. And not least what will be the lasting reputation.

READ MORE:

Coelestin V (1294) Peter vom Morrone: Der Engelpapst
By Peter Herde
Stuttgart 1981

Die ältesten Viten Papst Cölestins V. (Peters vom Morrone).
Ed. by Peter Herde.
In: Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Scriptores rerum Germanicarum, Nova series 23.
Hannover 2008.
ISBN 978-3-7752-0223-7

The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation
By Jon M. Sweeney
Image Books, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-385-53189-4

 

Oct 9

hildegard-vision

Visionary Work

Hildegard of Bingen was a visionary person. An exhibition in Mainz showcases the visions of the mystic   

Hildegard von Bingen had her first vision in 1141. A voice told her to “Say and write, what you see and hear”. Out of this grew her first theological writing “Scivias”, in which she presented or described 26 visions of the divine creations. 1158 – 1163 she wrote her second treatise – Liber Vitae Meritorum – which expounded the fight between the virtues and the vices. Finally from 1163 – 70 she wrote her third treatise of the works of God.

the Plan of God for Redemption 242x300 Visionary WorkThese visions – or rather the graphic and artistic illustrations of them in her works – are at the center of an exhibition at the Cathedral of Mainz, celebrating her new status as Doctor of the Church.

The exhibition is not so much meant as a historical introduction to her visionary work, but aims rather to open of for a spiritual experience.

Bischöfliches Dom- und Diözesanmuseum
Domstraße 3, 55116 Mainz
18.09.2012-18.11.2012

Hildegard Herbst
Each autumn a festival – Hildegard Herbst – is celebrated in Bingen with lecture, excursions, concerts and much more. Download the programme

Read more about the recent sanctification of Hildegard of Bingen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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