Meron, Philippe Van

Meron, PHILIPPE VAN

a Dutch visionary and doctor of theology, was born at Goude in 1435. He was a member of the Brethren of the Conference, and distinguished himself by his eloquence. He was sent as a missionary to Sweden, and died in 1506.' His works are of a mystical character. The most important of them is Historie van den Heiligen Patriach Joseph, bruydegom der Mcegh Maria, ende opvoeder Ons Heeren Jesu Christi (Goude, 1496, 8vo). In this work Meron narrates a revelation which he claims to have had in Sweden when he ascertained by divine intuition that Joseph "became the foster-father of Jesus Christ on the 19th of January." In consequence of this revelation he exhorted all good Christians to fast on that day, and to keep the festival of St. Joseph. But this alleged revelation did not in any way alter the custom of the Church to honor the memory of Joseph on the 19th of March. See Walvis, Beschr. v. Goude, 2:144; Prosper Marchand. Dictionnaire, p. 106.