Born in the Reims region, Gervin was Abbot of Saint-Riquier in the 11th century after having been a monk at Verdun. A great traveler and scholar, he enriched his abbey's library and traveled throughout Europe to preach and hear confessions. He died in holiness in 1075 after enduring leprosy with patience.
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SAINT GERVIN, ABBOT OF SAINT-RIQUIER (1075).
Youth and formation in Reims
Gervin was born in the Reims region and studied at the episcopal school of Reims, where he overcame temptations linked to his profane readings.
Gervin Gervin Abbot of Saint-Riquier in the 11th century, known for his erudition and travels. was born at the beginning of the 14th century, in the Reims region. It is believed that his family was related to Bruno, who, after occupying the see of Toul, became pope under t he name Léon IX Pope who visited the saint's sepulchre in 1049. Leo IX. He pursued his studies in the episcopal school attached to the metropolis of Reims. Seduced by the reading of the poets of antiquity, he allowed his imagination to become so inflamed that he was not far from putting into practice the licentious maxims with which he had filled his mind. The grace of God, however, caused him to triumph over these temptations and to renounce these bad readings completely.
Monastic life and pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Initially a canon at Reims and then a monk at Verdun, he undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Places in 1027, passing through Hungary.
Initially a canon of the church of Reims, then a religious at Saint-Vannes of Verdun, he distinguished himself in the world as in the cloister by the abundance of his knowledge, the sweet eloquence of his words, his obedience, his devotion, and his humility. In 1027, he went with the blessed Richar bienheureux Richard Abbot of Saint-Vannes in Verdun and pilgrimage companion. d, abbot of Saint-Vannes, and six hundred other pilgrims, to visit the Holy Places. The pious caravan passed through Hungary. It received a cordial welcome from the king , Saint Steph saint Étienne King of Hungary who welcomed Gervin during his pilgrimage. en.
Abbot of Saint-Riquier
Appointed abbot of Saint-Riquier in 1045, he developed the abbey through construction and the enrichment of its library.
In 1045, Henry I, King of England, appointed him abbot of Saint-Riqu Saint-Riquier Monastery of which Gervin was the abbot and builder. ier and gave him as successor to the venera ble Engue Enguerran Predecessor of Gervin as head of the Abbey of Saint-Riquier. rran, who had become infirm. The monk of Verdun would only accept this charge provided he was invested with it by the suffrages of the religious.
He marked his administration by the construction of several chapels and sanctuaries, by a management that was both dignified and careful of the abbey's temporal goods, and above all by the zeal he put into enriching the library with a large number of Greek and Latin manuscripts.
Missions and travels in Europe
Gervin traveled through many regions of Europe to preach and hear confessions, notably visiting Rome and England.
Pilgrims flocked to the monastery church: Gervin spent entire days receiving their confessions. Driven by his zeal, he went to preach and hear confessions not only throughout Picardy, but in Normandy, Flanders, Aquitaine, and as far as Thuringia and Hungary.
In 1050, he made the journey to Rome in the company of Saint Leo IX, who had come to Reims saint Léon IX Pope who visited the saint's sepulchre in 1049. to consecrate the church of Saint-Remi and preside over a council. He also went several times to England, where the ab bey of Sai Angleterre Country of origin of Blessed Ralph. nt-Riquier possessed considerable property. Each time he sanctified his journey by visiting renowned shrines and sowing the word of God everywhere. On one of these journeys, he calmed a horrible storm which, for fifteen days in a row, prevented the passengers from embarking.
Ascetic virtues and miracles
Recognized for his austerity and devotion, he performed miracles of healing and mastery over the elements.
His virtues earned him, even before his death, the name of holy abbot. While his monks, after the night office, went to complete the time reserved for sleep, he would resume his meditations. He took great care to hide his extraordinary devotions from the eyes of all. During Lent, he redoubled his austerities. Business, travel, indispositions, nothing could provide him with a pretext to shorten the recitation of the psalms and canons. He abstained from all food and sang the entire Gradual on the eve of great feasts.
God rewarded such great religious fervor with miracles. One day, a poor sick woman was healed by drinking the water in which the monk who accompanied him had dipped his crozier.
The Trial of Leprosy and Passing
Afflicted with leprosy at the end of his life, he died in 1075 after announcing his imminent end following a vision.
During the last four years of his life, Gervin was prey to a horrible leprosy. Blessing God for having sent him this trial, he nonetheless fulfilled all the duties of monastic life.
On February 2, in the year 1075, he said his last mass in the underground chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Voûte, wh ich he had caused to b Notre-Dame-de-la-Voûte Underground chapel built by Gervin where he celebrated his last mass. e built. He could barely finish the holy mysteries; when he had been transported to his cell, he said to his dismayed religious: "Know, my children, that the Blessed Virgin has, today, given me leave from life." Then he wished, following the example of Saint Germanus of Auxerre , to make a public confes saint Germain l'Auxerrois Saint cited as a model of public confession for Gervin. sion of his faults.
Feeling the approach of his agony, he had himself transported to the church, where he expired, lying on his hairshirt, before the altar of Saint John the Baptist, to whom he had always had a great devotion. This was on March 3, 1075.
Cult and posterity
His body was found purified of leprosy after his death, and a cult was quickly rendered to him despite the subsequent loss of his relics.
When, according to monastic custom, the body of the deceased was washed, no trace of leprosy was found on it. A sweet odor exhaled from his pure and polished limbs. The burial took place in the crypt of Notre-Dame.
The trace of Saint Gervin's relics has been lost: he was honored with the cult of the Saints shor tly after his dea M. l'abbé Corblat Author of the Hagiographie d'Amiens, source of the text. th.
M. l'abbé Corblat, *Hagiographie d'Amiens*.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Studies at the episcopal school of Reims
- Canon of Reims then monk at Saint-Vannes in Verdun
- Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1027
- Appointed Abbot of Saint-Riquier in 1045
- Journey to Rome with Leo IX in 1050
- Afflicted with leprosy during the last four years of his life
- Died before the altar of Saint John the Baptist on March 3, 1075
Miracles
- Calming of a fifteen-day storm that was preventing navigation to England
- Healing of a sick woman by water that had touched his crozier
- Disappearance of leprosy marks and sweet odor of the body after his death
Quotes
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Learn, my children, that the Blessed Virgin has, today, given me leave from life
Words reported during his last mass