Gerard of Villamagna
| Blessed Gerard of Villamagna T.O.S.F. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Layman | |
| Born |
1174 Villamagna, Republic of Florence |
| Died |
13 May 1242 (aged 68) Villamagna, Republic of Florence |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 18 March 1833, Saint Peter's Basilica, Papal States by Pope Gregory XVI |
| Feast | 13 May |
| Attributes |
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| Patronage |
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Blessed Gerard of Villamagna (1174 - 13 May 1242) - known also as Gerard of Monza - was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member from the Third Order of Saint Francis.[1]
Pope Gregory XVI beatified him on 18 March 1833.[2]
Life
He was born in 1174 in the Republic of Florence to poor parents who died in his childhood.[2]
He was taken in by another family who raised him while a son of that family became part of the Knights of Jerusalem and chose him as his esquire to go with him on a trip to the Holy Land, though the two were taken as prisoners whilst on that crusade.[1][2] That knight died during the trip and he was soon ransomed off. Gerard visited Palestine before he returned to his homeland where he voyaged with another knight to Syria on a ship with 20 others when pirates attacked yet eluded them due to Gerard's prayers.[1] He later became a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis and lived the rest of his life as a hermit while it was alleged that Saint Francis of Assisi himself vested him in the habit.
He died in 1242.[1]
Beatification
His beatification was approved under Pope Gregory XVI on 18 March 1833.
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Blessed Gerard of Villamagna". Saints SQPN. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Blessed Gerard of Villamagna". Roman Catholic Saints. Retrieved 10 October 2016.