GHERARDO MALETTA dei BOCCABADATI, blessed. - A most active preacher of the Friars Minor, from Modena, born toward the end of the 12th century. In his youth he studied letters and law. Having become a Friar Minor, from 1232 to 1256 he preached in Venice (1232), Modena (1233), Parma (1233), Ferrara, and throughout all Italy, praedicando et miracula faciendo, pacificando discordie, earning the reputation of magnus concionator, optimus et gratiosus praedicator.
In 1233, while preaching at Parma, he was believed to be inspired by God, acclaimed podestà, and entrusted with reforming the statutes at his discretion. In 1250 he accompanied the blessed Giovanni da Parma to Constantinople and there announced to the people the captivity of s. Luigi, seen in spirit. He then went as visitor to Romania. Having returned to Italy, he fell ill at Ferrara in 1256 and died at Modena in 1257. He was buried in a distinguished tomb in the church of S. Francesco. He is often confused by the chroniclers with the blessed Gherardo Rangone.
bb. Gherardo Rangoni e G. B. di Modena dell'Ordine dei FF. MM. Dissertazione edita per Luigi Masini, ivi 1855; A. Galletti, L'elequenza, Milano 1938, pp. 87, 104, 138-39; Martyrologium Franciscanum, Vicenza 1939, 25 ag. Felice da Mareto