GERARD (or Gerald) of Sauve-Majeure (Silva Maior), Saint, Abbot. - Born at Corbie ca. 1025, died 5 April 1095. He was a Benedictine monk in the monastery of Corbie, his native house, where he wrote a Life of St. Adalard, published in Acta SS. Ianuarii, I, Paris 1863, pp. 111-37.

Though infirm, he made a first pilgrimage to Rome, to Gargano and to Cassino, and a second as far as Jerusalem. On his return he was asked to be abbot by the monks of the monastery of Laon, which however he soon abandoned because of their lack of discipline, founding in 1077 the monastery of Sauve Majerre or de la Grande Selve, near Bordeaux, which became the center of a monastic Congregation that came to have under it 55 priories and 111 parishes, and in 1667 was incorporated into the Congregation of St. Maur.

He was canonized by Celestine III on 27 April 1197. Feast on 5 April.

Bibliography3 works

BIBL.: Two Lives in Acta SS. Aprilis, I, Paris 1865, pp. 407-31; P. Maniquet, Un fondateur de ville au XIe siècle, 1st Gérard, ivi 1895; Cottineau, I, col. 1324 ff.

Alberto Ghinato

@incollection{ec6_gerardo_o_geraldo_di_sauve_maj, author = {Ghinato, Alberto}, title = {Gerardo (O Geraldo) di Sauve-Majerre (Silva Maior), santo, abate}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VI}, pages = {90}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/gerardo-o-geraldo-di-sauve-majerre-silva-maior-santo-abate} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Gerard of Sauve-Majeure, Saint, Abbot

About this entry