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Stories

  • In pictures

The smell of saintliness

It’s the tenth century and your local ascetic has died. Remarkably, his body emits a sweet, pleasant smell, and fragrant oils instead of foul liquids and odours. Read on to find out how this could be.

  • In pictures

The fast and the spurious

Extreme fasting has captured the public imagination for centuries. What pushes people to claim to go without food for improbable lengths of time?

  • In pictures

A short history of Christian martyrs and miracles

Join Ben Gazur as he explores the origins, relics and power of Christian martyrs, and their continuing relevance for Catholics in the 21st century.

  • Article

Revelations of blindness in the Middle Ages

Medieval texts, from Islamic medical treatises to Christian books of miracles, reveal surprisingly varied and complex experiences of blindness. But when medieval scholar Jude Seal experienced visual impairment themselves, they gained an even deeper understanding of the lives they were studying.

All stories (21)

Images

  • Scene from the lives of Saints Cosmas and Saints Damian.
  • Martyrdom of Saints Cosmas and Damian.
  • A verger's dream; Saints Cosmas and Damian, 1495
  • Saints Cosmas and Damian, from altar piece, by Huget.
  • Saints Cosmas and Damian, from altar piece, by Huget.
  • A Mousterian burial place at La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France
  • Contents of a Breverl, showing the emblems of various Saints.
  • Martyrdom of Saints Andochius (?) and Thyrsus (?). Coloured etching.
  • Painting of Saints Cosmas and Damian. In possession of Senor Lazaro, Madrid.
  • Sixteen Christian saints. Woodcut.
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