A nobleman from Vermandois who became a canon and then an archdeacon, Gilbert was elected Bishop of Meaux in 995. Recognized for his humility and charity, he reformed the administration of his diocese's assets before passing away around 1009. His cult, marked by numerous miracles, has remained vibrant in northern France.
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SAINT GILBERT, BISHOP OF MEAUX
Origins and education
Gilbert was born in Ham into the nobility of the Vermandois and received a careful education from the canons of Saint-Quentin.
A very ancient tradition places the birt h of Saint Gi saint Gilbert Bishop of Meaux in the 11th century, from the nobility of the Vermandois. lbe rt Ham Traditional birthplace of the saint. in Ham.
His father, Fulchard, and his mother, Geila or Gisèle, belonged to the nobility of the Vermandois and lived in the intimacy of Count Albert I. They entrusted the education of their son to the canons of Saint-Quentin Saint-Quentin de Vermand Place of education and Gilbert's first canonry. of Vermand, who were renowned for their learning and holiness. Gilbert made rapid progress in letters and even greater progress in virtue. His eminent qualities, even more than his birth, caused him to be distinguished by Count Albert, who provided him with a canonry at the collegiate church of Saint-Quentin. His regularity and zeal soon attracted the esteem and admiration of all those who knew him. The second son of Albert I, Othon, who, during his father's lifetime, bore the title of Count of Vermandois, often drew him to the court and showed him a lively affection. The pious canon willingly accepted these invitations, and his piety suffered no harm from contact with the world.
Archdeaconry and episcopal election
Noted for his zeal, he became archdeacon of Meaux under Bishop Archanrad before succeeding him in 995.
Archanrad, Bishop of Meaux Meaux Episcopal see of Saint Hildevert. , determined by the reputation of Gilbert, chose him as his archdeacon. One could then appreciate the zeal, prudence, and charity he brought to repressing the violation of rules and ensuring priestly honor. He brought honor to this collegiate church of Saint-Quentin, a fertile nursery that provided subjects to almost all the churches of France, and which saw emerge from its bosom nearly forty bishops, seven chancellors of France, six cardinals, and one pope.
Upon the death of Archanrad (995), all votes turned to Gilbert, who showed as much reluctance to accept this dignity as others showed eagerness to offer it to him. Stephen I, Count of Meaux and Troyes, expressed all his joy to the two clerics who came to Epernay to submit for his approval the choice of the people and the clergy.
An episcopate of virtue and administration
For twenty years, Gilbert governed his diocese with humility, multiplying acts in favor of monasteries and reforming capitular revenues.
Despite his elevation, Gilbert changed nothing in his way of life, remaining always faithful to his exercises of piety, his prayers, his fasts, and his mortifications. Seeing in his new functions an obligatory burden much more than an honor, he drew from the deep sense of his duties the resolution to always be merciful to the poor, severe to the wicked, and indulgent to the good; thus, it was through a truly paternal regime that he governed his flock. During his twenty years of episcopate, he gave the example of all virtues and especially of a perfect humility.
We know only a very small number of the episcopal acts of Saint Gilbert. In 998, we see him subscribe to a charter of King Robert in favor of the monastery of Saint-Denis; in 1003, he a roi Robert King of France, contemporary of Gilbert. ffixed his seal to a charter of the same king, granted to the abbey of Saint-Père de Melun; in 1005, he gave his Chapter the revenues of the small abbey of Saint-Rigomer, located in a suburb of Meaux; in 1008, he attended the Council of Chelles, in the palace of King Robert; finally, we see him giving financial aid to the abbey of Saint-Père-en-Vallée-lès-Chartres, so that it could increase the number of its religious.
Gilbert was one of the first prelates of France who, following the example of Lisiard, Bishop of Paris, divided the revenues of his church into two mensas, one episcopal and the other capitular. This wish had been expressed to him by his Chapter, which desired to be able to use the revenues of its portion without the concurrence of the bishop. Before this division, which dates from March 12, 1004, and was approved by Pope Saint Leo IX, the bishop , as the sole saint Léon IX Pope who visited the saint's sepulchre in 1049. administrator of the goods of his church, made the distribution among the clerics and the canons, allocating the share he saw fit to the service of worship, the needs of the poor, and his personal expenses.
Final moments and burial
Assisted by the bishops of Sens and Chartres, Gilbert died around 1009 and was buried in the cathedral of Meaux.
Gilbert, having fallen gravely ill and feeling his end approaching, requested the final spiritual succor from Léotheric, Archbishop of Sens, and Fulbert Fulbert Bishop of Chartres, a friend of Gilbert who was present at his deathbed. , Bishop of Chartres, who came at his call. "Immortal thanks be rendered to you," he said to them, "O you, lights of the Church of the Gauls, who come to receive the sighs of an old friend; you who, by providing me with the Viaticum of the dying, come to help me struggle against the snares of death and the ruses of the enemy of salvation; you who, with a pious hand, will entrust my mortal remains to a Christian tomb."
After twenty years of wise administration, the holy bishop died on February 13 of the year 1009 or 1010. He was buried in the church dedicated to Our Lady and Saint Stephen, before the altar, under the steps of the apse. Numerous miracles were soon accomplished at his tomb.
Cult and fate of the relics
His relics suffered the ravages of the Huguenots in 1562 and the Revolution, but his cult persists for the healing of certain diseases.
## RELICS AND CULT OF SAINT GILBERT.
Jean l’Heillier, Bishop of Meaux, transferred the body of Saint Gilbert in 1401.
The convent of Saint-André of Clermont gave, in 1645, a relic of Saint Gilbert to the abbey of Saint-André-au-Bois.
On June 25, 1562, the H uguenots Huguenots Event during which the Cathedral of Meaux was devastated. devastated the cathedral of Meaux; only a few bones of Saint Gilbert escaped the disaster. At the time of the Revolution, they were confused with the relics of several other Saints, due to the negligence of the constitutional bishop. They are probably with other unnumbered relics in the main reliquary of the cathedral, designated under the title of Saint-Pierre. In the same church, a cope of the holy bishop was once kept with great respect.
Saint Gilbert was especially invoked for dropsy and Saint Anthony's fire.
The collegiate church of Saint-Quentin, as well as the churches of Meaux and Noyon, celebrated the feast of Saint Gilbert on February 13. In the diocese of Meaux, his translation was also celebrated on October 30. Today, only his patronal feast is observed.
His name is inscribed in the Martyrology of Amiens of 1737, as well as in those of Molanus, Ferrari, Canisius, Du Saussay, Chastelain, etc.; it is marked on February 4 in some ancient calendars.
Saint Gilbert, vested in his episcopal ornaments, holds the third rank among the six figures who illustrated the city of Saint-Quentin in the initial engraving of the *Augusta Viromanduorum* by Hémeré.
Saint Gilbert appeared on the main portal of the cathedral of Meaux, with other prelates of this church. All these statues were mutilated by the Huguenots on June 25, 1562, and have since been removed from the place they occupied.
We have borrowed this life from the *Hagiographie d’Amiens*, by Abbé Corblet.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.