GILBERT OF HOYLAND. – An English Cistercian monk of the 12th century, born probably in the region of Holland in Lincolnshire (Mabillon mistakenly supposed him to be of Irish origin, as did Abbot Grandvaux).
He received the Cistercian habit from St Bernard himself and in 1163 was elected abbot of St Bernard’s in Lincolnshire. He was a disciple and friend of St Bernard. He died at the monastery of Rivoir or Lainow in the diocese of Troyes in France in 1172. He is renowned as the continuator of St Bernard’s great commentary on the *Song of Songs*. He wrote 48 sermons up to verse 9 of chapter 5. J. Mabillon rated him «a man truly in the spirit of Bernard, not much inferior in gravity of speech and piety». Several other writings have been attributed to G., but erroneously.