He was born Gil Rodrigues de Valadares at the castle of Vouzela. His father, Rui Pais de Valadares, was alcaide of Coimbra and councillor of Sancho I. It was the wish of his parents that Giles should enter the ecclesiastical state, and the king was very lavish in bestowing ecclesiastical benefices upon him: still a boy, he already held prebends at Braga, Coimbra, Idanha, and Santarém.[1] Giles, however, wished to become a physician. After devoting some time to the study of philosophy and medicine at Coimbra he set out for Paris.
According to a popular story, he was accosted on his journey by a courteous stranger who promised to teach the art of magic at Toledo. As payment, so the legend runs, the stranger required that Giles should make over his soul to the devil and sign the compact with his blood. Giles obeyed and after devoting himself seven years to the study of magic under the direction of Satan, went to Paris, easily obtained the degree of doctor of medicine, and performed many wonderful cures. One night while he was locked up in his library a gigantic knight, armed head to foot, appeared to him and, with his sword drawn, demanded that Giles should change his wicked life. The same spectre appeared a second time, and threatened to kill Giles if he would not reform.[1]
Giles returned to Portugal, after taking the habit of St. Dominic in the newly erected monastery at Palencia, about 1221. Shortly after, his superiors sent him to the Dominican house at Santarém. Here he led a life of prayer and penance, and for seven years his mind was tormented by the thought of the compact which was still in the hands of Satan. Finally, his biographer narrates, the devil was compelled to surrender the compact and place it before the altar of the Blessed Virgin.[1]
Giles returned to Paris to study theology and on his return to Portugal became famous for his piety and learning. He was twice elected provincial of his order in Castile. He died at Santarém, Portugal. He was beatified on 9 March 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV.
The story did not appear until 300 years after his death, and is rejected by Dominican historians. It was revived in the mid-nineteenth century is some popular accounts of the lives of Dominican saints.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcOtt, Michael. "Blessed Gil of Santarem." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 6 May 2018
^Gumbley, Walter. “Blessed Giles Of Santarem, Confessor (Died 1765. Feast 14 May).” Life of the Spirit (1946-1964), vol. 13, no. 155, 1959, pp. 513–515. JSTOR
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Bl. Gil of Santarem". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
giles, santarém, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2018, lear. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Giles of Santarem news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message Giles of Santarem Gil about 1185 14 May 1265 was a Portuguese Dominican scholar BlessedGiles of SantaremO P Painting of Giles of Santarem in the Major Seminary of Viseu BornGil Rodrigues de Valadaresc 1185VouzelaDied 1265 05 14 May 14 1265Santarem PortugalBeatifiedMarch 9 1748 Saint Peter s Basilica Papal States by Pope Benedict XIVLife editHe was born Gil Rodrigues de Valadares at the castle of Vouzela His father Rui Pais de Valadares was alcaide of Coimbra and councillor of Sancho I It was the wish of his parents that Giles should enter the ecclesiastical state and the king was very lavish in bestowing ecclesiastical benefices upon him still a boy he already held prebends at Braga Coimbra Idanha and Santarem 1 Giles however wished to become a physician After devoting some time to the study of philosophy and medicine at Coimbra he set out for Paris According to a popular story he was accosted on his journey by a courteous stranger who promised to teach the art of magic at Toledo As payment so the legend runs the stranger required that Giles should make over his soul to the devil and sign the compact with his blood Giles obeyed and after devoting himself seven years to the study of magic under the direction of Satan went to Paris easily obtained the degree of doctor of medicine and performed many wonderful cures One night while he was locked up in his library a gigantic knight armed head to foot appeared to him and with his sword drawn demanded that Giles should change his wicked life The same spectre appeared a second time and threatened to kill Giles if he would not reform 1 Giles returned to Portugal after taking the habit of St Dominic in the newly erected monastery at Palencia about 1221 Shortly after his superiors sent him to the Dominican house at Santarem Here he led a life of prayer and penance and for seven years his mind was tormented by the thought of the compact which was still in the hands of Satan Finally his biographer narrates the devil was compelled to surrender the compact and place it before the altar of the Blessed Virgin 1 Giles returned to Paris to study theology and on his return to Portugal became famous for his piety and learning He was twice elected provincial of his order in Castile He died at Santarem Portugal He was beatified on 9 March 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV The story did not appear until 300 years after his death and is rejected by Dominican historians It was revived in the mid nineteenth century is some popular accounts of the lives of Dominican saints 2 References edit a b c Ott Michael Blessed Gil of Santarem The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 6 New York Robert Appleton Company 1909 6 May 2018 Gumbley Walter Blessed Giles Of Santarem Confessor Died 1765 Feast 14 May Life of the Spirit 1946 1964 vol 13 no 155 1959 pp 513 515 JSTOR Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Bl Gil of Santarem Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company External links editPatron Saints Index page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Giles of Santarem amp oldid 1222318965, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
