John Gualbert
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| John Gualbert | |
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2.jpg/250px-Santa_Trinita,_Neri_di_bicci,_San_giovanni_gualberto_(dettaglio)2.jpg) |
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| Born | 985 |
| Died | 1073 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | 1193 by Pope Celestine III |
| Feast | 12 July |
| Patronage | forest workers; foresters; park services; parks |
 Saints Portal |
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John Gualbert, also known as Giovanni Gualberto or John Gualberto (985 or 995 - 12 July 1073) was a Roman Catholic saint, the founder of the Vallumbrosan Order. He was a member of the Visdomini family of Florentine nobility. OneGood Friday he was entering Florence accompanied by armed followers, when in a narrow lane he came upon a man who had killed his brother. He was about to kill the man in revenge, when the other fell upon his knees with arms outstretched in the form of a cross and begged for mercy in the name of Christ, who had been crucified on that day. John forgave him. He entered the Benedictine Church at San Miniato to pray, and the figure on the crucifix bowed its head to him in recognition of his generosity. This story forms the subject of Burne-Jones's picture "The Merciful Knight", and has been adapted by Shorthouse in "John Inglesant".
John Gualbert became a Benedictine monk at San Miniato. He fought actively against simony, of which both his abbot, Oberto, and the Bishop of Florence, Pietro Mezzabarba, were guilty. Unwilling to compromise with them, he left the monastery to lead a more perfect life. His attraction was for the cenobitic, and not eremitic life, so after staying for some time with the monks at Camaldoli, he settled at Vallombrosa, where he founded his monastery. Mabillon estimates its foundation at a little before 1038.
He was canonized in 1193.
He was not included in the Tridentine Calendar, but he was added in 1595 to the Roman Catholic calendar of saints whose celebration was obligatory wherever the Roman Rite was used. Because of the limited worldwide importance, his feast was removed from that calendar in 1969.[1] 12 July continues to be his feast day, as indicated in the Roman Martyrology.[2]
He is the patron of foresters, park rangers, and parks.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 129
- ^ Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7)
[edit] See also
- Vallombrosian Order
