St. Philomena was born on January 10th, 291 in Greece. St. Philomena’s name in latin is Filialuminis which means daughter of light. St. Philomena’s parents were both royal from a small state in Greece. St. Philomena did not have any siblings. When she was thirteen years old, Philomena was forced in marriage with Emperor Diocletian. “My virginity, which I have vowed to God, comes before everything, before you, before my country. My kingdom is Heaven.” St. Philomena rejected the emperor because she made a promise to herself that her virginity belonged to God. Because St. Philomena would not accept his hand in marriage, he forced guards to unclothe her and whip her. Thinking her wounds were irreparable, the guards chained her up in a dungeon, assuming she would slowly die. Philomena recovered with the help of an angel. When the emperor tried threatening her, she still refused to marry him. This time, the emperor instructed the guards to wrap a chain attached to an anchor around her neck and drown her in the Tiber River. Two angels were sent to rescue St. Philomena. When she rose from the river, she was dry and unharmed, however, she was accused of using mysterious non-verisimilitude powers. After this incident, people who watched were astonished and began accepting Christianity. The emperor then ordered his men to shoot arrows at her. Instead of Philomena being killed, the bowmen were killed because the arrows shot right back to them. She was once again accused of using magical powers. Since the emperor was exhausted from his multiple false attempts of killing her, she was beheaded. She was killed at three in the afternoon, the same time as Jesus. The day of her death was August 10, 304 at the age of thirteen in Rome, Italy. St. Phil...
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...r God, without wanting anything in return.
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For the author, the fact that Perpetua is a woman strengthens her sacrifice for her faith. This is due to the societal norms and customs she disobeys and overcomes to become a martyr. In ancient Rome, they lived in a patriarchal society. This will make her disobedience of her father more noteworthy as it violates the cultural custom. In her writing, Perpetua talks of her father coming to her in the prison. She says “He came up to me to cast down my faith saying: Have pity, daughter, on my grey hairs; have pity on your father, if I am worthy to be called father by you” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). Multiple times, her father comes to her in prison, begging that she say she is not a Christian so she may live. Through this interaction with her father, we can see his fatherly love as he tries to prevent her death. We also see a sort of disgrace that comes from a daughter’s disobedience, she writes that her father says “give me not over to the reproach of men” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). This show of direct disobedience of her father portrays Perpetua as a stronger martyr. She is not only giving her life for her faith, but going against society and customs, saying her beliefs are more important than both. This is a strong example to encourage conversion to Christianity. When Perpetua is in prison, her father tells her to “look upon your son, who will not endure to live after you” (The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas 5). This leads to another point concerning Perpetua as a woman. If she dies for her faith, she will abandon her child and give up being a mother. In ancient times, much of a women’s identity was in her ability to be a good mother. With her martyrdom, Perpetua will choose faith over this key part of her life and legacy. This, yet again, shows why, by being a woman, Perpetua is a strong example in the author’s purpose to convert
The depiction of Madonna and Christ is among the most ancient and common in Christian iconography and has an extensive number of variations because apart from its symbolic religious functions, it allows one to interpret the link between mother and child in many aspects. (8)
How would a woman achieve the role of Saint during medieval times when their visionary legitimacy is questioned? For Margery Kempe, trying to prove herself as a viable candidate through martyrdom is a difficult task. Throughout her story, she is constantly having to prove herself to her community and to the church hierarchy, but it always comes at a cost. Consequently, Margery is ridiculed, taunted, and accused of many negative things, yet she stands firm in her belief that her gifts are real. The physical threats she receives, such as being burned, are all part of her performance. Although these gifts of visions and miracles are questionable, she is able to mold them in order to achieve her spiritual goals. In The Book of Margery Kempe, translated and edited by Lynn Staley, Margery gives the performance of a lifetime by using her visionary gift to spiritually manipulate her community and the church
St. Francis of Assisi was born in Umbria in the year 1182. He was a child every father hoped for, he was filled with life, a determined and courageous individual. He was gifted with rather good looks, qualities that attracted friends and a gift of leadership. His father was an extremely wealthy merchant in Assisi. But this son, his favourite, was the one who broke Peter Bernardone’s heart. The boy turned on his father, and in a vicious event that eventually resulted into a public scene. St. Francis of Assisi stepped away from his father, his business and left his father in a state of immense emotional suffering.
She found out about this saint when her sister told her one day: “keep praying to Saint Peregrine”. She was not aware of whom this person was, but nevertheless, she took her sister’s word and continued to pray to him. Then suddenly one day, she received a small book with a picture of Saint Peregrine on the front, from my cousin Jonalyn. Inside was the story of Saint Peregrine’s upbringing and the miraculous tale of how his cancer was cured. Ever since then, my mother continued to learn about the saint and she acquired many pictures, statuettes and other little memorabilia that had any relation to this particular saint. She adored Saint Peregrine and what the stood for. My mom was able to turn to him whenever she was in need of help and eventually, her state became better. She is currently almost completely cancer-free, but until that day, she says she will continue to pray to Saint
Blessed Raymond of Capua. The Life of Saint Catherine of Siena . Trans. George Lamb. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1960.
King, Karen L. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle. Santa Rosa, California: Polebridge Press, 2003.
...nd she was condemned. the judges believed that he visions were from the devil and she was burned at the stake in Rouen in the marketplace on May 30, 1431 at the age of nineteen.
Mary Magdalene was a woman who was a mystery to many people for centuries. She was mentioned only a handful of times in the New Testament. Even though she was only mentioned a few times she carried a lot of character. To this day there is not an extended amount of information to help support people’s thoughts and ideas about this woman.
St. Francis of Assisi was considered to be a magnificent man. He had a very appealing way of life that people now know and talk about everyday. When learning many new items and discoveries about St. Francis, I accomplished better knowledge about him. This paper will describe the life of St. Francis in depth talking about his early life, his imprisonment and turning towards God, and his works and teachings.
“Saint Joan” is filled with many religious characters but the only one who truly believes they are doing God's work is Joan. Even though there is no proof that Joan is hearing these voices...
The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved February 21, 2010 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org
... she wore a coral rosary with large green beads for the paternosters, from which hung a brightly shining golden brooch. And on this brooch was first inscribed a capital A, surmounted by a crown, and after that Amor vincit omnia” (Chaucer 4). She made her image likeable by others even though it did not follow the vows of being Catholic. “So carefully did she wipe her lips that no trace of grease could be seen in her cup when she had drunk from it. She reached for her food daintily, and truly she was very merry, with a pleasant disposition and an amiable manner” (Chaucer 4). The Prioress was also very sensitive, “if one of her dogs died, or if someone beat it with a stick, she cried bitterly” (Chaucer 4). Though she was very kind and soft. “Her wimple was very neatly pleated, her nose shapely, her eyes blue, and her mouth very small, soft, and red” (Chaucer 4).
Spoto, D. (2002). The Reluctant Saint: The life of Francis of Assisi. New York: Penguin Group.
Bainvel, Jean. The New Catholic Encyclopedia. New York City: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15006b.htm (accessed September 23, 2011).