Getting Medieval in SGF

The last 24 hours have been very medieval in Springfield, MO. But what does this mean? When I got up this morning I opened the newspaper to see a photo of the local bishop blessing the new neo-natal unit at Mercy Hospital, a hospital founded by nuns in the late nineteenth-century. As I pulled the photo for this blog, I saw that in April of 2014 he had also blessed the new $28 million rehab center on Evans road. The idea that a significant building needs a blessing might seem strange to some of you--but I do like the idea that the ritual and power still continues today. [How does this provide security? Will Europe feel same security during the Reformation? Will it have the "power" to drive Devils away?] This is a historical tradition that has survived because of the confidence it inspires (I have even seen horses blessed in Orvieto, Italy, and you can get your animals blessed at the Episcopal church here too).  Yesterday afternoon, I attended a very special celebration of someone retiring--and he related how there had been a message from God to push his tasks in his daily life and live a good life that influenced others. You know what--though I am not very religious and pretty logical, I believed it, and I know he believes it too. Do we overestimate what is medieval (distant past) and what is modern? There are many things that continue into the modern world that have a legacy in the medieval past--and I hope that you see some of these things whether you travel to San Francisco, San Antonio [St. Francis/St. Anthony] or New Orleans [Orleans, Siege, Joan of Arc, fleur-di-lis, New Orleans Saints]. Visiting the art museums in Kansas City or St. Louis will give you a lot of insight into the Middle Ages. If you're from Tulsa, head to the Philbrook Museum of Art which has a outstanding collection. Even a trip, like mine to Washington DC, opened up many new artists and portraits at the National Gallery, which has an outstanding collection of art. But behind art and religion, know that at Drury you are furthering your education in the spirit of the liberal arts, declared by John of Salisbury to be significant enough to "make your free" in that it opens your mind. Keep watching those medieval films--it won't be hard as that's the largest way we come to understand the Middle Ages; however, balance it with more complexity from this class, as films tend to emphasize modern ideas or focus on warfare. When you graduate, look for me in my medieval robe, and of course you'll be in yours. Don't forget to visit the apothecary (Mama Jeans) and get your blood let (Red Cross). . . . I could go on .  . . :))

Our SGF bishop blessing the NICU

Seemed a final place to pause: two popes meet to pray (but as friends).

Columbus's Compass: Slightly Misguided

          The discovery and human history of magnetism is, of course, closely tied to the discovery and use of the compass. The first recorded use of a compass was in 206 BCE in China, during the Han Dynasty, but the observation of magnetism was nearly two hundred years earlier when Wang Xu noted that a mineral "lodestone" attracted iron utensils. However, this mysterious phenomenon was used to orient buildings according to Feng Shui rather than navigation of any sort. Then, in the middle of the 12th century, Chinese magicians used a magnetized, suspended needle to help organize troops the battlefield, and finally as a maritime navigational instrument.

Ancient Chinese Divination "Compass" c. 220 BCE

          Once the Chinese had developed this invaluable maritime technology, it could spread through trade to Europe, which it (most likely) did about the turn of the 14th century. It is speculated that the navigational compass was independently invented in Italy, but neither theory has been proven. The Europeans seemed to have a stronger spirit of exploration than the East, so the development of the compass was encouraged to a much greater degree.

Left; Astrolabe, which would have pointed Columbus to Geographic North
Right; Box-style compass, pointing to Magnetic North

          The dry box-style compass (as opposed to a magnetic needle suspended by a string or in water) began to take shape soon before Columbus set sail in 1492, and through his voyage, he noticed a very peculiar phenomenon. Earth's "Magnetic North" does not quite line up with Earth's "True North," or the geographical north pole. Therefore, as Columbus sailed across the Atlantic, he noticed his compass readings actually gaining accuracy when compared to astronomical calculations. Interestingly, he kept this (certainly terrifying) observation from his crew, fearing it would spook them.

Notice how, along Columbus's path marked in orange, the difference between each north would become less significant.
Look at the prime meridian (through true north) to help illustrate this effect..
Magnetic North in Red
Geographic North in Blue

         Unfortunately, this deviation in measurement didn't lead Columbus far enough astray to save an entire continent's culture and heritage, but nonetheless, the magnetic compass helped fan the flames of European exploration.

                                                                               

http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/museum/chinesecompass.html

http://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/compass2.html

http://theinstitute.ieee.org/technology-focus/technology-history/a-history-of-the-magnetic-compass

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/declination.shtml

San Bernardino alle Ossa

We looked at Bone churches on Wednesday and I thought I would look in to them and try to find one that I liked. After a couple minutes of searching I found this beautiful place. San Bernardino alle Ossa is a bone church in Milan Italy that has a small footprint, but a huge amount of bones. From floor to ceiling there are bones stacked from corpses collected from the nearby hospital. The church was built in the 13th century and is decorated with beautiful paintings by Sebastiano Ricci. One of the coolest features of the church is the giant cross made up of bones on one of the walls of the church. If I ever get a chance to visit Italy this place is most definitely on my to do list!

Here you can see the huge cross on the wall.

For more reading go to:
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/san-bernardino-alle-ossa

Ready, Aim, FIRE!!!!

The Late Middle Ages brought about a great shift in the ways of battle, forever changing the method in which combat occurred. That shift came in the form of gunpowder and cannon. Although gunpowder was developed in China centuries before, it was not until the fourteenth century did European armies begin to fully appreciate the destructive power that gunpowder offered and utilize cannon fire against one another. The English and French likely borrowed the idea to use gunpowder in war from the Moors in Spain, who used artillery against the Christian forces who attempted to expel the Muslims from Iberia.

Unlike later wheeled versions, the early cannon were mounted on stands and consisted of a “bulbous bottle” which served as the barrel. An illuminated manuscript from 1327 shows the first depiction of a European cannon, a pot-de-fer, being fired by a gunner who stands well back from the barrel while he lights the charge with a hot iron. The manuscript shows the cannon firing a bolt toward the wall of a besieged castle.

A 1327 English manuscript showing the first recorded European cannon. See the vase-like shape, the four-legged stand, as well as the pot-fire used by the gunner to ignite the powder charge.

According to Judith Bennett only ten years after the 1327 manuscript , the Hundred Years’ War began, pitting France against England. The conflict was a contest between the two countries as to who the rightful ruler of the lands that make up modern-day France truly was. As with all wars, there was effort given to utilize the most up-to-date weaponry. A Florentine account of the battle at Crécy tells of the English uses cannon against their enemy: “The English guns cast iron balls by means of fire… They made a noise like thunder and caused much loss in men and horses… The Genoese were continually hit by the archers and the gunners… [until] the whole plain was covered by men struck down by arrows and cannon balls.” Not only were cannon used in open battle, but they reached their full medieval potential when armies would lay siege to fortifications. Records and manuscripts recount the use of artillery during the 1429 siege of Orleans.

A 1493 depiction of the 1429 Siege of Orleans. Note the wheeled field cannon in the center of the picture.The gunner working the front cannon holds an ax-headed spear, called a halberd, as well as his pot-fire.

Although these ‘new’ weapons offered much to their owners, there were many problems that accompanied them. Mobility was a big issue, with many of the large guns requiring teams of oxen or horses to move them. The addition of wheels in the later fourteenth century allowed for easier transportation and better fire efficiency.

Massive siege cannon similar to the ones used by the Ottomans during the 1453 Siege of Constantinople

In addition to large siege cannon and mobile field artillery, the

development of smaller handheld cannon allowed individual soldiers to fire projectiles at enemy soldiers. These first handguns were the ancestors of modern-day rifles and pistols.

Illustration from the Bellifortis, a fully illustrated manuscript
on medieval military technology from the 15th century,
showing the use of a personal hand cannon.

Throughout the remainder of the war, cannon designs were changed and improved. Following the medieval period there was still more improvements that were made that made modern artillery even more powerful than the medieval models. Although outdated compared to later designs, the cannon of the middle ages, especially during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries contributed greatly to the developments of battle tactics and procedures.

My sources and for more interesting information on cannon in the medieval world see:

Judith Bennett’s Medieval Europe: A Short History p.323-327 (Hundred Years’ War)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_artillery_in_the_Middle_Ages (Gunpowder Artillery in the Middle Ages)

http://traveltoeat.com/guns-gunpowder-and-longbows-during-the-hundred-years-war/      (Very interesting and informative reading on Guns and Gunpowder during the Hundred Years’ War)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellifortis    (Interesting wiki on the Bellifortis)

Preaching to the Birds

     Have you ever been so moved by empathy for Christ's suffering that you wept yourself to blindness? St. Francis did. St. Francis started one of the most influential and long-lasting monastic orders in history and still has a heavy influence on present-day Catholic clergy. He is known not only for shaping a new and emotional connection with Jesus Christ and completely changing the christian life, but he also heavily influenced the beginning of realism in art. Correct proportions, realistic emotions, and action became focus of artwork.
     One of the most famous events that took place in St. Francis's life is his sermon to a flock of birds. While traveling with some of his companions, he saw a flock of birds of many different species. Upon seeing the birds, St. Francis felt moved to share with them his love of God. Stopping to speak to the birds, he said "My brother and sister birds, you should praise your Creator and always love him: He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things that you need. It is God who made you noble among all creatures, making your home in thin, pure air. Without sowing or reaping, you receive God's guidance and protection"(Catholicism Pure).
     After this event, St. Francis began to call upon all animals to sing praise to their Creator.
     This first sermon that he preached to birds is portrayed in the realistic style of painting displayed below.

To learn more: https://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/francis-of-assisi-preaching-to-birds/

St. Patrick and Me in WashDC

It's inspiring to be in a new city, but my mind never wanders far from the Middle Ages. Although Washington D.C. was inspired by the ancient republics, and many classical-style buildings, there are some medieval links. For this blog I want to concentrate on a lovely church where I connected with the spiritual side of the city: St. Patrick's parish church founded in 1792. Since we studied St. Patrick and early Christian Ireland within the European context, it's interesting to know that as immigrants came to America they used many of the symbols and connections to their homeland. I've attached some photos which show the outside (complete with Rose window), and the inside (beautiful stained glass windows, one of Mary receiving the Holy Spirit directly, in the form of a Dove's rays, with angel's heads behind her). Inside the apse there are images of the American Saints (not too many because there have not been too many), the majority canonized by Pope John Paul II. I've also attached some photos of some items inside the church that emerged in Middle Ages as church structures matured: collections for the poor, the emphasis on the celibate priesthood, the stations of the cross to meditate (I love that one is about Jesus and women), and the tabernacle for the consecrated host. I was also privileged to enter the church as a  baptism was being held.

With cries from the baby, I heard the priest ask as the no. 1 question: do you renounce Satan, and the group replied in unison, yes! Then on to no. 2 question: do you believe in the Trinity . . .These moments help build the relevance of history and make me feel like the past is sometimes more in the present than we think.

T