Gerald was born into the Gallo-Roman nobility, counting Cesarius of Arles among his forebears,[2] though the title "Count of Aurillac" was not held by his father, to whose estates he succeeded, and was assumed by him in later life.[3] The details of his life known today come primarily from The Life of St. Gerald of Aurillac (c. 930–931) written by Odo of Cluny.[4] Writing twenty years after the event, Abbot Odo of Cluny described how William, duke of Aquitaine, had entreated Gerald to abandon the militia regia, the feudal service performed directly to the king and pay homage to himself, "for the sake of love".[5] Gerald resisted, having recently assumed the title of comes and doubtless preferring to owe his fealty to the more distant liege, the king at Paris.[6]
According to Odo, Gerald suffered an illness as a child, sufficient in duration to advance his reading, and may have been disfigured by acne.[7] In later life he was to suffer blindness. He seriously considered joining a religious order, but was persuaded against it by his friend Geusbert, Bishop of Rodez, on the grounds that with his social position he could do more good by remaining in the world as a layman. Nevertheless, secretly tonsured under his habitual cap, he consecrated his life in service to God, gave away his possessions, took a personal vow of chastity and prayed the breviary each day.[8]
He founded a church and abbey on his estate of Aurillac, where he was buried after dying at Cezeinac/Cézerniac,[9] name of an unclearly identified locality —possibly Cézens or Saint-Cirgues today—, on a Friday 13 October, probably in 909. His memorial feast day is October 13. The validation of his local cult by Odo of Cluny served to establish his wider veneration. Saint Gerald, considered by his Church and his followers as a great example of a celibate Christian aristocrat, is the patron saint of counts and bachelors. Because of his poor health and blindness, more emphasized in his developing cult than in Odo's Life, he is also the patron saint of the disabled, handicapped, and physically challenged. He also became the patron saint of Upper Auvergne.[10]
^According to Odo of Cluny, (Sitwell 1958:90) noted in Derek Baker, "'Vir dei'", in G. J. Cuming and Derek Baker, eds. Popular Belief and Practice: papers read at the ninth summer meeting (Ecclesiastical History Society) 1972:43 note 8.
^Sitwell points out there was no count of Aurillac before or after him. (Sitwell 1958:122); Odo's favore comitis nuper usurpato "could bear a stronger translation", Baker notes (Baker 1972:44 note 3).
^G. Sitwell, tr. in St Odo of Cluny, 1958:90–180; there are two Latin versions of Odo's Life: A. Poncelet, "La plus ancienne 'Vie de Saint Géraud", Ann. Bolandist,14 (1895:83–105).
^Georges Duby, France in the Middle Ages 987–1460, 1993:28, notes that this sheds light on the process by which political institutions, at the low point of the monarchy, were locally reinvigorated.
^"And for a long time he was covered with small pimples that it was not thought that he could be cured. For this reason his father and mother decided that he should be put more closely to the study of letters, so that if he should prove unsuited for worldly pursuits he might be fitted for the ecclesiastical state." (Odo, tr, Sitwell, quoted in Baker 1972:45).
^Saint of the Day, October 13 2017-02-19 at the Wayback MachineSaintPatrickDC.org. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
gerald, aurillac, saint, gerald, french, saint, roman, catholic, church, also, recognized, other, religious, denominations, christianity, saint, saint, confessorbornc, 855aurillacdiedc, 909cenezacvenerated, incatholic, churcheastern, orthodox, churchmajor, shr. Gerald of Aurillac or Saint Gerald c 855 c 909 1 is a French saint of the Roman Catholic Church also recognized by other religious denominations of Christianity Saint Gerald of AurillacSaint Gerald of AurillacConfessorBornc 855AurillacDiedc 909CenezacVenerated inCatholic ChurchEastern Orthodox ChurchMajor shrineAurillacFeastOctober 13Patronagebachelors counts disabled people Upper AuvergneGerald was born into the Gallo Roman nobility counting Cesarius of Arles among his forebears 2 though the title Count of Aurillac was not held by his father to whose estates he succeeded and was assumed by him in later life 3 The details of his life known today come primarily from The Life of St Gerald of Aurillac c 930 931 written by Odo of Cluny 4 Writing twenty years after the event Abbot Odo of Cluny described how William duke of Aquitaine had entreated Gerald to abandon the militia regia the feudal service performed directly to the king and pay homage to himself for the sake of love 5 Gerald resisted having recently assumed the title of comes and doubtless preferring to owe his fealty to the more distant liege the king at Paris 6 According to Odo Gerald suffered an illness as a child sufficient in duration to advance his reading and may have been disfigured by acne 7 In later life he was to suffer blindness He seriously considered joining a religious order but was persuaded against it by his friend Geusbert Bishop of Rodez on the grounds that with his social position he could do more good by remaining in the world as a layman Nevertheless secretly tonsured under his habitual cap he consecrated his life in service to God gave away his possessions took a personal vow of chastity and prayed the breviary each day 8 He founded a church and abbey on his estate of Aurillac where he was buried after dying at Cezeinac Cezerniac 9 name of an unclearly identified locality possibly Cezens or Saint Cirgues today on a Friday 13 October probably in 909 His memorial feast day is October 13 The validation of his local cult by Odo of Cluny served to establish his wider veneration Saint Gerald considered by his Church and his followers as a great example of a celibate Christian aristocrat is the patron saint of counts and bachelors Because of his poor health and blindness more emphasized in his developing cult than in Odo s Life he is also the patron saint of the disabled handicapped and physically challenged He also became the patron saint of Upper Auvergne 10 References edit Dates in Sitwell 1958 94 note 2 According to Odo of Cluny Sitwell 1958 90 noted in Derek Baker Vir dei in G J Cuming and Derek Baker eds Popular Belief and Practice papers read at the ninth summer meeting Ecclesiastical History Society 1972 43 note 8 Sitwell points out there was no count of Aurillac before or after him Sitwell 1958 122 Odo s favore comitis nuper usurpato could bear a stronger translation Baker notes Baker 1972 44 note 3 G Sitwell tr in St Odo of Cluny 1958 90 180 there are two Latin versions of Odo s Life A Poncelet La plus ancienne Vie de Saint Geraud Ann Bolandist 14 1895 83 105 Georges Duby France in the Middle Ages 987 1460 1993 28 notes that this sheds light on the process by which political institutions at the low point of the monarchy were locally reinvigorated Charles the Simple was the king at Paris but not far beyond And for a long time he was covered with small pimples that it was not thought that he could be cured For this reason his father and mother decided that he should be put more closely to the study of letters so that if he should prove unsuited for worldly pursuits he might be fitted for the ecclesiastical state Odo tr Sitwell quoted in Baker 1972 45 Saint of the Day October 13 Archived 2017 02 19 at the Wayback Machine SaintPatrickDC org Retrieved 2012 03 08 Saint Geraud d Aurillac nominis cef fr Retrieved 2020 11 09 Saint Gerald of Aurillac Archived 2008 07 02 at the Wayback Machine at Patron Saints IndexExternal links editUniversity of Kansas Lecture on Gerald of Aurillac Archived 2005 04 08 at the Wayback Machine The Life of Saint Gerald of Aurillac by Odo of Cluny trans Gerald Sitwell O S B Google Books Portals nbsp Saints nbsp Biography nbsp Catholicism nbsp France Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerald of Aurillac amp oldid 1213070567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
