Random Theology Stuff...

Firstly, my weird theologian trivia quiz is still ongoing. All but one of the questions have been answered:


2. Which Father of the Church suffered from haemorrhoids?

St Augustine - Correct answer from Lauren, with Quantitative Metathesis providing the reference in his epistles.

As for my spirit, I am well, through the Lord's good pleasure, and the strength which He condescends to impart; but as for my body, I am confined to bed. I can neither walk, nor stand, nor sit, because of the pain and swelling of a boil or tumour. But even in such a case, since this is the will of the Lord, what else can I say than that I am well?

Thank you QM! I'd remembered reading it in a biography of Augustine, but didn't fancy trying to track down exactly where.

3. Which figure in the Early Church was prevented from handing himself over for martyrdom by his mother? How did she stop him?

This was Origen and the correct answer came from Gengulphus

In 202, Origen's father was killed in the outbreak of the persecution during the reign of Septimius Severus. Origen wished to follow in martyrdom, but was prevented only by his mother hiding his clothes.

4. Which medieval spiritual writer was prominent in the court of the Scottish King before becoming a monk?

Aelred of Rieveaulx - well done to Bill7tx.

5. Which Doctor of the Church craved fish on his deathbed?

St Thomas Aquinas - answered correctly by StMichael.

This means that there's one outstanding question, and I'm not at all surprised that it's taking a long time to answer.

1. Which famous theologian introduced Henri de Lubac to shark-fin soup in a Parisian Chinese restaurant?
We've had plenty of sensible, but incorrect, guesses so far: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Jean Danielou, Hugo Rahner, Karl Rahner, Yves Congar, and Angelo Cardinal Scola. Also mentioned were Avery Cardinal Dulles and Karol Józef Wojtyla. None of these are correct.

Yesterday I added a clue - the theologian in question was neither French nor German.
I'll post another clue before the end of the week if no one gets the correct answer.

Finally, is it my imagination, or does Church history just become exceedingly weird when the Monophysite controversy broke out. Take this (not-quite) random paragraph from Chadwick's The Church in Ancient Society:

Timothy Salofakiolos (Wobblecap) against Peter Mongos (Stammerer)
In 477 Timothy the Weasel died peacefully in Alexandria; a decision to exile him again, already taken at court, arrived just after his death. News of his impending demise may have reached the capital since control by the government ensured that a Monophysite successor, Peter Mongos, could be consecrated only in secret at midnight and then by a solitary bishop (Theodore of Antinoe) before Timothy Salofakiolos returned from his refuge making baskets in the Pachomian monastery at Canopus. The dead hand of Timothy the Weasel was laid on Peter Mongos' head - by old Alexandrian custom, otherwise attested, and older than the Nicen canon requiring three bishops for a canonical consecration.

Almost like something you'd read ever at the Shrine of the Holy Whapping.
Edited to add: One wonders whether future Church historians will be using the nicknames of Revs John 'Zed' Zuhlsdorf and Hermeneuity Finigan when speaking of the Westminster Succession of 2009.