/oss/taxonomy/term/5279/all en /oss/article/history-general-science/st-anthonys-fire-salem-witch-trials-and-beatles <p>Gaston of Valloire’s son was afflicted with a violent burning pain in his swollen limbs. There were no doctors the nobleman could to turn to in 1095, but a nearby church had acquired relics of St. Anthony, the third century religious hermit who is regarded as the father of monasticism. Anthony led an ascetic life and through prayer successfully fought the devil’s attempts to lead him astray by afflicting him with boredom, laziness, and phantoms of women. When Gaston’s son, tormented by disease, touched a relic in the church, he was miraculously cured. At least so the story goes.</p> Fri, 12 Mar 2021 17:22:05 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8653 at /oss