Blessed Gerard of Lunel, also known as Gerio, Gerius, Gery, Girio, or Roger, was a Franciscan tertiary. He was born in 1275 AD in Lunel, Southern France and died in 1298 AD in Potenza Picena (Monte Santo), Italy. We celebrate his feast day on May 25 every year in the Catholic Church.
| Blessed Gerard of Lunel Biography | |
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| Date of Birth | 1275 AD |
| Place of Birth | Lunel, Southern France |
| Profession | Franciscan tertiary and Hermit |
| Place of Work | Italy |
| Date of Death | 1298 AD |
| Place of Death | Potenza Picena (Monte Santo), Italy |
| Feast Day | May 25 |
| Beatification | By Pope Benedict XIV on August 1 1742 |
| Patron Saint of |
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Blessed Gerard of Lunel Life History
Blessed Gerard of Lunel received great wealth and territory from Raymond Guasselin his maternal grandfather. When his grandfather died he received more inheritance which was administered by his father because he was still a minor.
However, when Gerard was 18 years of age, he wished to live in solitude rather than being a public figure. Therefore, he and his brother Effrenaud (Effrendo) lived as hermits for two years in caves.
One legend has it that it rained one time so much that the rivers swelled and the two brothers risked starvation but two snaked used to supply them with bread. When the rains subsided, Gerard and Effrenaud left the caves and sought refuge at a castle a distance away.
When that miracle came to be known by people, they got many visitors to their residence and as a result, they wished to seek more solitude. They, therefore, decided to go to Rome for pilgrimage.
In 1298, after two years in Rome, Gerard wished to visit a Holy man in Ancona, Italy called Liberius. The two brothers left Rome for Ancona but along the way, Gerard developed a severe headache at Monte Santo (present-day Potenza Picena). His brother left him there and went to seek help but on returning, he met that Gerard had died.
Many people have been healed of their headaches or epilepsy at his tomb.
Patron Saint of
- Potenza Picena (previously Monte Santo)
- Invoked against epilepsy and headaches
- Epileptics
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