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.

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You Mean They Didn't Eat Flavorless Gruel?

No, people in the middle ages did not just eat gruel. Nor did they use spice as a way to cover the stench of spoiled meat. Their diet was more broad and varied than that! The food they ate was normally based on economics, religion, geographical location, social status, and personal taste. Interestingly enough, there were no tomatoes, potatoes, or corn in this time period. Pasta wasn't even introduced until the 13th century! It's so weird to think of italian food without tomatoes or even for awhile without pasta.

They did have fruits and vegetables such as: grapes, plums, apples, pears, blueberries (no bananas or pineapples though) and onions, peas, beans, cauliflower and many more! Commonly eaten meats were beef, veal, mutton, lamb, pork, and goat while game meat was considered boar, stag, deer, rabbit, and bear. They also ate seafood like lobster, crab, mackerel, eel, oysters, etc.

All in all, they may have ate more variety than some people today!

Medieval Bestseller

The image on the cover of The Letters of Abelard and Heloise is an image by an artist known as The Master of the Prayer Books c. 1500. It depicts Abelard and Heloise debating love and marriage, as described by Jean de Meun in the Roman de la Rose. This translates to "The Story of the Rose" and was one of medieval literature's biggest best sellers; 250 manuscripts of the poem are known to have survived from medieval times (British Library). Guillame de Lorris began writing this in the 1230s, right at the height of chivalry and courtly love in France. His aim was to expound the whole art of love. He died before its completion, but Jean de Meun finished his work about 40 years later. While Guillame de Lorris gave love a dreamlike quality, Jean de Meun gave a more rational and cynical stance on relationships.
In the image, Abelard is a cleric and a master in the schools, yet is dressed in fine clothes of a layman. Heloise is in nun attire, during the time when Abelard removed her to the convent of Argenteuil, but still continued to visit and have sexual relations with her (Clanchy). The two red lines above the miniature translates to "How Peter Abelard instructs Heloise," but the hand gestures suggest debate rather than instruction. The two black lines read "Peter Abelard confesses that Sister Heloise the abbess never wished to agree to be his wedded wife."

British Library Online Gallery. "Roman de la Rose." 2009. Web. <http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/remarkmanu/roman/>
Clanchy, Michael. The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. London: Penguin Books, 2003 (pg 1). Print.

Relics on Tour

Some of the relics of St. Anthony of Padua went on tour to Ireland in October.  The tour consisted of six stops in major cities, which were considered places of pilgrimage while they were there. 

St. Anthony lived from 1195-1232.  He was originally an Augustinian monk and later became a Franciscan monk and was a disciple to St. Francis of Assisi.  When he died, it was said that many miracles were performed at his tomb for months afterward.  He was canonized one year after his death as the patron saint of lost things.  So if you lose something, he is the one you ask for help!

                                                       St. Anthony's Basilica in Padua

The tour lasted from the 17th to the 24th of October and hosted a piece of St. Anthony's rib and a slice of his cheek.

                                                    Relic containing St. Anthony's rib

                                              Relic containing the piece of St. Anthony's cheek

Lastly, he was known as a great orator.  When they exhumed his body to move it to its new home, his tongue and throat were still intact.  One of the miracles that was witnessed.

To read more on this tour, go to:
http://pilgrimagemedievalireland.com/2013/10/21/relics-on-tour-st-anthony-of-padua-visits-ireland/

Playing Horse with Phyllis and Aristotle

During the medieval period, philosophers were expected to maintain chastity similar to that of the church men so that their studies could be the main focus of their lives. Abelard writes in "Abelard and Heloise" of the "heave yolk" of marriage advised against by philosophers such as Aristotle and Cicero. Abelard also writes that marriage is "a rival to his study of philosophy," which is a common belief for medieval scholars. One of the most well-known examples of this is the story of Aristotle and Phyllis.
Aristotle was the teacher of Alexander the Great, to whom Phyllis was married. Aristotle influenced Alexander heavily and convinced him to separate from Phyllis so that he could focus on his political duties. Alexander agreed, much to the resentment from Phyllis. A woman scorned is not to be trifled with. She came up with a devious plan to take down Aristotle, as well as gain her husband back. Phyllis "softly sang and danced" outside of Aristotle's window to seduce him. When she was within arm's reach of him, he grabbed her and told her of his desires. She agreed to fulfill his desires if he agreed to get down on his hands and knees and let her ride upon his back like a horse. He did so without hesitation and she signaled for Alexander to come out. When Alexander saw this, Aristotle lost some of his credibility as a philosopher. Alexander forgave Aristotle and reunited with Phyllis.
Because of this story and others, philosophers see romantic relationships with women as a burden and harmful to one's academic career.
Below is a fourteenth century French bronze aquamanile of Phyllis riding Aristotle like a horse.

Learn more at:

http://www.jehsmith.com/1/2013/04/phyllis-rides-aristotle.html

http://iconics.cehd.umn.edu/Aristotle/Lecture/default.html