DR's Saint of the Day

[Diable Rouge]

For obvious reasons, it will largely follow a chronological order, but occasionally, as in this opening post, any saint that catches my interest will be featured. Today's hagiographic superstar is St Joseph of Cupertino, who, as every Catholic student will have etched indelibly in their memory "was asked the one question in his exam for which he had prepared". He was subject to ecstatic visions throughout his life, which sceptics have attributed to ergot-infected rye bread, and had an unfortunate tendency to levitate during Mass. He is the patron saint of aviators, astronauts, the mentally challenged, test-takers and students, with his feast day celebrated on September 18th.

[Stumpy Pepys]

Obviously St Hubbins is my favourite saint. (Patron saint of quality footwear.)

[Nocturnal Submission]

St Joseph of Cupertino, eh. Patron saint of electronic device innovators too, I suspect.

[Diable Rouge]

As an added bonus, today features one of the Vatican big hitters, with Saint Benedict's feast day. Apparently, the Monte Cassino monastery of WWII fame is the original Benedictine monastery, and when your twin sister Scholastica is also a saint, your holiness credentials are unlikely to be questioned. As any true saint would do, he threw himself into a thorn bush when tempted by a beautiful woman, and faced various trials involving poisoned bread and prostitutes, before dedicating himself to humility and obedience. Among his more unusual dedications are cavers, coppersmiths, heraldry, Italian architects, and servants who have stolen their master's belongings.

[ursus arctos]

Benedict founded a monastery at Subiaco (in Lazio) before Monte Cassino.

It also isn't quite right to call Monte Cassino original Benedictine monastery, as it was founded decades before Benedict wrote the Rule.

[Sits]

The main Aussie Rules stadium in Perth is called Subiaco Oval. Also used for cricket.

As you were.

[Toby Gymshorts]

Obviously St Hubbins is my favourite saint. (Patron saint of quality footwear.)

[Diable Rouge]

Veronica is best known for helping Jesus to wipe his face as he passed along the Via Dolorosa en route to Calvary, the holy impression remaining on the sacred relic. The name is a Latinisation of the Greek Berenike or "bringer of victory", and the legend has inspired the pass made by bullfighters with their cape. Laundry workers and photographers can beseech the saint for assistance.

[hobbes]

My favourite is St Ivel, the patron saint of dairy products.

[Lang Spoon]

Take a bow Hobbes, take a bow.

[Gerontophile]

Mine is St Arter, because it means the main course will be along soon.

[G-Man]

As an added bonus, today features one of the Vatican big hitters, with Saint Benedict's feast day. Apparently, the Monte Cassino monastery of WWII fame is the original Benedictine monastery, and when your twin sister Scholastica is also a saint, your holiness credentials are unlikely to be questioned. As any true saint would do, he threw himself into a thorn bush when tempted by a beautiful woman, and faced various trials involving poisoned bread and prostitutes, before dedicating himself to humility and obedience. Among his more unusual dedications are cavers, coppersmiths, heraldry, Italian architects, and servants who have stolen their master's belongings.

The church built above the place of his and Scholastica's birthplace and adjacent monastery in Norcia was destroyed in the Umbrian earthquake last October, just over a year after I visited Norcia. The Benedictine monks, who had a Billboard Classical #1 album a couple of years ago, brew a couple of very good beers, named Nursia (the town's original name). The brewery wasn't damaged in the earthquake, so now they are using sale of the beer to rebuild the church. Lately they have gone into some kind of partnership with Belgium's Leffe beer to raise funds.

So, the place of his death and burial, Monte Cassino, was destroyed during a traumatic year for Europe. And the place of his birth was destroyed during another annus horribilis for Europe (terrorism, Brexit, election of Trump etc). And he's the patron saint of Europe...

[Gerontophile]

YAY G.

[Diable Rouge]

St Helier was born in Belgium, but moved via Normandy to Jersey, to preach to the local inhabitants. He found a group of fishermen on the site of the eponymous town, settled on Elizabeth Castle, and was executed by pirates who beheaded him with an axe, after which he picked up his head and walked ashore.

[Toby Gymshorts]

As you do.

[ursus arctos]

Cephalophore saints are very popular in France (as well as inspiring a Pixies album).

[Amor de Cosmos]

Must be St Jude. There's the QPR (and Flamengo) connection of course. But who on OTF could resist a patron saint of lost causes, desperate situations and the Chicago Police Department?

[Toby Gymshorts]

I'll probably pass on the last one.

[Sam]

Welcome back, G-Man!

[G-Man]

Thanks, Sam.

[Various Artist]

Cephalophore saints are very popular in France.

The opening spiel of that Wikipedia page conjures a bizarre scenario:

Handling the halo in this circumstance offers a unique challenge for the artist; some put the halo where the head used to be, others have the saint carrying the halo along with the head, and some split the difference.

"Split the difference"? What, do they hang it around the neck? Tuck it under their arm?

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

We've just booked a trip to Vilnius next year and their main man seems to be St Casimir, whose only apparent claim to fame was that he died of TB aged 25.

[ursus arctos]

VA, they mean halos (sometimes of reduced size) in both locations

[ursus arctos]

Casimir inspired some notable art

[Various Artist]

VA, they mean halos (sometimes of reduced size) in both locations

Oh, OK – thanks ursus. That image also raises/answers the associated conundrum of "is a halo a ring or a disc?" – i.e. it's often thought of in popular culture as a ring because it goes 'around' the head, but removing the head from in the way appears to leave a solid disc now visible.