New Medieval Books: The Latin Lives of St Laurence of Dublin
Lorcán Ua Tuathail, known in English as Laurence O’Toole, was a 12th-century Archbishop of Dublin. This book presents editions of four texts about his life, two of which are also translated into English
Relics of St. Thomas Aquinas come to Washington D.C.
The major relics of St. Thomas Aquinas, including his skull, will be on display in Washington, D.C., from November 29 to November 30, 2024.
Medieval Saint Eanswythe’s Relics Returned to Rest in England
The relics of Saint Eanswythe, a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon princess and one of England’s earliest saints, have been returned to their original resting place in Folkestone. Hidden for centuries to escape destruction, her remains were rediscovered and studied, shedding new light on the life of this remarkable medieval figure.
Book Review: Sweet Hunter: The Complete Poems of St. Teresa of Ávila
The engaging freshness of the translations collapses much of the distance between this fervent mystic of Ávila and the contemporary reader, making Sweet Hunter a fascinating and moving volume.
Ten Bizarre and Overlooked Saints from Medieval History
Here are ten medieval saints whose stories are worth rediscovering.
New Medieval Books: The Life of St Brendan and His Prayer
St Brendan the Navigator is one of the most famous saints from the Early Middle Ages. This book translates his Vita, which recounts Brendan’s life, and a prayer of protection that he supposedly created.
Becoming a Saint in Byzantium
The model or ideal of human behaviour and achievement in Byzantium was to become a saint.
New Medieval Books: Saints and Sinners on Horseback
A collection of 11 essays dealing with horses and their riders in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. They range from those animals mentioned in saints’ lives to those who were just being stolen in the English countryside.
A Life, a Death, a Legacy: Writing the History of Ritual Murder
The Life and Passion of William of Norwich, written in the twelfth century by Thomas of Monmouth a Benedictine monk, contains the earliest accusation that Jews killed a Christian child for hate of Christians and their beliefs.
How Hercules Became Saint Eadwold
For centuries, the Cerne Giant, an enigmatic chalk figure towering 180 feet tall on an English hillside, has captivated imaginations with its imposing presence and mysterious origins. Was it a tribute to Hercules, Saint Eadwold, or a pagan deity misunderstood through time?
The Huntsman’s Redemption
Given the longstanding vigour of criticisms of participation in the hunt in the 13th century, any saint’s life, which opened with a hunting scene, would have immediately signalled to readers or listeners that the unfolding story would reveal a deeper character flaw.
A Medieval Miracle: The Beer Did Not Spill
Was preventing beer spillage significant enough to be deemed a miracle? Surprisingly, for one seventh-century writer, it was!
Mary of Egypt with Sonia Velazquez
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Sonia Velázquez about St. Mary of Egypt, why she caught the medieval imagination, and how her beauty, age, and holiness spoke to generations of artists and the faithful.
Lost Medieval Saint rediscovered in English manuscript
A previously overlooked entry in a 15th-century manuscript has been uncovered, providing vital new evidence that one of medieval England’s most influential figures was, contrary to belief, a saint.
Dis/ability and Byzantine Hagiography
I will discuss first the differences in the narrative teatments of disability by various hagiographers, and their attempts at explaining its source or reason depending on their religious and moral agendas.
The Medieval Cult of Mary’s Hair
A look at one of the most important relics of the Middle Ages: the hair of the Virgin Mary.
Saints and Feasts of the Holiday Season
In the Middle Ages, December meant a celebration of jolly old St. Nicholas along with a host of other sainted figures and important moments in the Christian story. This week, Danièle presents a quick guide to medieval holiday saints and feasts.
Gender, Transgender and the Middle Ages with Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt
In the past few years, trans and genderqueer issues have come to the forefront both in society and in the way scholars are approaching medieval studies. But what do these terms mean? And how do we apply them responsibly to the past? This week, Danièle speaks with Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt about trans and genderqueer scholarship in medieval studies.
San Clemente: Man, Legend, Church
By Chris Petitt San Clemente is one of the Roman tituli, the twenty-some late antique churches that continue to animate the modern landscape of…
St Olaf: An International Norwegian Saint
Seven papers from the Dublin Festival of History, International Viking Seminar 2023
How Many Medieval Saints Are There?
Even a quick glance at medieval history will reveal that there are a lot of saints from the Middle Ages. How many are there? The short answer is that we don’t know exactly and that the number is still growing.
New Medieval Books: The Life of Saint Enda, Abbot of Aran
This book offers an English translation of a medieval account of Saint Enda of Aran, a significant figure in early Irish Christianity.
The Mighty Cabbage Hurling Saint
What would you call a man who crosses a river by walking on water to throw a cabbage head at his opponent? A fool, for sure, but no ordinary fool. He is a fool of God.
Saint Colette with Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski
Not every saint gets a contemporary biography, let alone two, but fifteenth-century French saint Colette is among them. This week, Danièle speaks with…