jeudi 14 mai 2015

Saint GILLES de SANTAREM, prêtre dominicain

Saint Gilles de Santarem


prêtre dominicain ( 1265)

Jeune abbé d'une abbaye de Coïmbra au Portugal, il ne priait plus, n'allait plus au chœur, sans cesse plongé dans des livres d'alchimie pour y trouver le secret de la nature. Il partit à Paris, espérant que là au moins les savants le lui révèleraient, puisqu'il s'y trouvait une des plus célèbres facultés de médecine. Il n'en fut rien et il se consola dans la débauche qui le conduisit à la tristesse et même au désespoir. Il découvrit que seule la Vierge Marie pouvait le sauver, et il partit rejoindre son monastère. Sur la route, il rencontra un dominicain qui l'agrégea à son Ordre dans le couvent de Valence. Il vécut heureux sans néanmoins connaître le secret de la nature, mais ayant découvert que Dieu est le secret de la paix. Son culte fut reconnu en 1748 par le pape Benoît XIV.


À Santarem au Portugal, en 1265, le bienheureux Gilles de Vouzela, prêtre. Enseignant la médecine à Paris, il abandonna une vie dissolue pour entrer dans l’Ordre des Prêcheurs; il y passa le reste de ses jours dans les larmes, la prière et la pénitence, repoussant toutes les tentations.


Martyrologe romain


Bx Gilles de Santarém (P),

 prêtre o.p. (v. 1190-1265)

Gilles de Santarém (Gil Rodrigues de Valadares), en latin Aegidius Scallabitanus, naît à Vouzela (province de Viseu, Portugal) vers 1190. Troisième fils de Rui Pais de Valadares - gouverneur de Coimbra (alors capitale du Portugal) et conseiller de Sancho 1er -, il fut destiné dès l’enfance à l’Église et étudia à Coimbra la philosophie et la médecine.

Le roi lui donne de gros bénéfices, mais il ne veut pas être ecclésiastique, il veut être médecin. Il partit continuer les études à Paris, la meilleure faculté d’Europe. La légende dit qu’en cours de route, il rencontra un étranger courtois (plus tard, il pensait que c’était le diable), qui proposa de lui enseigner la magie à Tolède, en échange il devait donner son âme au diable. Ensuite, il alla à Paris, y obtint son diplôme de médecin, et pratiqua et enseigna la médecine avec grand succès. Mais au milieu de la richesse et des honneurs, il n’est pas heureux.

N’ayant pas trouvé le secret de la nature, il se consola dans la débauche, qui le conduisit à la tristesse et au désespoir. Il a perdu la foi, mais il a gardé la dévotion à Marie, il pressent qu’elle le délivrera. Une nuit, un rêve lui montre dans quel danger mortel il est, il appelle Marie à l’aide, et au réveil il est délivré. Il brûla ses livres de magie, cassa ses flacons d’onguents, distribua ses biens à ses serviteurs et aux pauvres, et entreprit de rentrer à pied au Portugal. De passage au couvent de Palencia où les dominicains lui donnèrent l’hospitalité, Gil profita de l’occasion pour se confesser, et prit l’habit vers 1221/1224. 

Sous le Bx Jourdain de Saxe, maître de l’Ordre, il fit sa profession.

Autre version : c’est à Paris qu’il fit connaissance de l’Ordre dominicain récemment créé, et où il fut, au noviciat, le compagnon de cellule du Bx Humbert de Romans. En 1229, il est envoyé au couvent de Scallabis (actuel Santarém), au Portugal, où il se consacre à l’enseignement, à la prédication, à la prière et à la pénitence.

Dans les tentations de désespoir, il continue à prier Marie et finalement il est entièrement libéré. Il vécut heureux sans connaître le secret de la nature, mais ayant découvert que Dieu est le secret de la paix. Il est très doué pour toucher par ses prédications les pécheurs endurcis.

Il est élu provincial d’Espagne (Province incluant le Portugal) en 1234, participe au chapitre général de Burgos, où il défend la création d’un couvent à Porto. Au chapitre général de Bologne, en 1238, il vote l’élection de
(saint) Raymond de Peñafort (1175-1275)comme Maître général. En 1245 il participa à la déposition de Sancho II par le pape Innocent IV (Sinibaldo Fieschi, 1243-1254). Il fut réélu provincial en 1257, mais son âge avancé l’obligea à renoncer bientôt à cette charge. Il passa ses dernières années à Santarém.

Extases, prophéties. Dès son vivant il était considéré comme un saint. 

Il mourut à Santarém le 14 mai 1265, octogénaire et sans agonie, consumé par l’amour divin. Sa tombe devint un lieu de pèlerinage. Beaucoup de miracles et de guérisons lui sont attribués. 

Gil de Santarém a été béatifié le 09 mars 1748 par le pape Benoît XIV (Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, 1740-1758).

Source principale : docteurangelique.forumactif.com/(« Rév. x gpm »).

©Evangelizo.org 2001-2015



 Blessed Gil of Santarem

A Portuguese Dominican: b. at Vaozela, diocese of Viseu, about 1185; d. at Santarem, 14 May, 1265. His father, Rodrigo Pelayo Valladaris, was governor of Coimbra and councillor of Sancho I. It was the wish of his parents that Gil should enter the ecclesiastical state, and the king was very lavish in best caving ecclesiastical benefices upon him. When he was still a boy, he already held prebends at Braga, Coimbra, Idanha, and Santarem. Gil, however, held no desire to be an ecclesiastic; his ambition was to become a famous physician. After devoting some time to the study of philosophy and medicine at Coimbra he set out for Paris, with the intention of perfecting himself in the science of medicine and obtaining the doctor's degree. If we may give credence to his unknown contemporaneous biographer, he was accosted on his journey by a courteous stranger who promised to teach the art of magic at Toledo. As payment, so the legend runs, the stranger required that Gil should make over his soul to the devil and sign the compact with his blood. Gil obeyed and after devoting himself seven years to the study of magic under the direction of Satan, went to Paris, easily obtained the degree of doctor of medicine, and performed many wonderful cures. One night while he was locked up in his library a gigantic knight, armed head to foot, appeared to him and, with his sword drawn, demanded that Gil should change his wicked life. The same spectre appeared a second time, and threatened to kill Gil if he would not reform. Gil now repented of his evil ways, burnt his books of magic and returned to Portugal, where he took the habit of St. Dominic in the newly-erected monastery at Palencia, about 1221. Shortly after, his superiors sent him to the Dominican house at Scallabis, the present Santarem. Here he led a life of prayer and penance, and for seven years his mind was tormented by the thought of the compact which was still in the hands of Satan. Finally, his biographer narrates, the devil was compelled to surrender the compact and place it before the altar of the Blessed Virgin. Gil returned to Paris to study theology and on his return to Portugal became famous for his piety and learning. He was twice elected provincial of his order in Spain. Benedict XIV ratified his cult on 9 March, 1748.

Ott, Michael. "Blessed Gil of Santarem." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 14 May 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06561b.htm>.

Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Joseph P. Thomas.


Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.



Blessed Giles of Portugal, C.O.P.

Memorial Day: May 14th


    So many romantic legends intertwine themselves with the story of Blessed Giles that it is difficult to see the man himself. His life, even stripped of its legend, however, is the story of the triumph of grace in the human soul.

    He was the son of Rodrigues de Vagliaditos, governor of Coimbra under King Sancho the Great. From his childhood, Giles was destined for the priesthood for which he studied at Coimbra. He was ordained at an early age, but with no good intention, for he saw in the priesthood only a chance to wield power. His father's influence gained for him a number of rich benefices, which he used sinfully for power and pleasure.

    Being a brilliant student, he advanced rapidly in his chosen field of medicine, an art that was at the time often linked with necromancy or black magic. He neglected his priestly duties and seemed bent only on the pleasures of life.

   Thoroughly irreligious and pleasure-seeking young man, set out for Paris to work for higher degrees in medicine. On the advice of a stranger he met on the way, he went to Toledo instead and became a student of the black arts. According to one story, he met the devil and signed a contract with him, in which he promised his soul in return for a universal knowledge of medicine. Thereupon he spent seven years in bondage to his evil master, learning all his arts.

    Having gained the highest degrees in medicine, Giles went to Paris and became a successful physician. At the peak of worldly success, he began to have horrible visions. He saw himself in a cemetery of a monastery of which he enjoyed the revenues. There he saw a specter who carried a skull and an hourglass. The specter knocked at one and then another of the tombs, calling out, "Arise, faithful monk!" At each summons another fearful specter appeared, until at one tomb there was no answer.

    "Giles," he called. "What--not there?" He poised the hourglass and murmured, "There are yet a few sands to run!" After this fearful vision, says the legend, Giles repented of his misspent life, destroyed his magic books and potions, and set out in haste for Coimbra on foot.

    At Palencia he met the friars of the newly founded Order of Preachers. He was still troubled by diabolical attacks, but they helped him to make his peace with God. Joining them, he spent seven years in terrible penance, after which Our Lady returned to him the fateful scroll he had signed with Satan.

    It is known that Giles had spent his youth badly, and that after entering the Dominicans he did fervent penance. By nature he was witty and charming, and he found the silence hard to keep. Actual violence to his natural disposition was necessary to make him into the humble and reserved religious he later became.

    Blessed Giles occupied several positions of authority in the order, including provincial of Portugal, and his medical skill proved to be a blessing in the care of his sick brethren. He made a practice of going about the dormitories, cleaning up the students' rooms while they were at class. His heroic penance did much to undo the scandal he had caused in his early years.

    Giles was sent back to Portugal after his early training, and his preaching was noteworthy, even in that age of renowned preachers. He founded a number of monasteries and did much to establish the Dominicans in Portugal. His last years were filled with visions and ecstasies. He lived to be very old, regarded by all but himself as a very great saint (Benedictines, Dorcy).

Born: Born 1185 at Vaozela

Died: 1265 of natural causes

Beatified: May 9, 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV (cultus confirmed)

Commemorations

First Vespers:

Ant.  Come, O daughters of Jerusalem, and behold a Martyr with a crown wherewith the Lord crowned him on the day of solemnity and rejoicing, alleluia, alleluia

V. Pray for us, Blessed Giles alleluia

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, alleluia.

Lauds:

Ant. Perpetual light will shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord, alleluia, and an eternity of ages, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

V. The just man shall blossom like the lily, alleluia.

R. And shall flourish forever before the Lord, alleluia

Second Vespers:

Ant. In the city of the Lord the music of the Saints incessantly resounds: there the angels and archangels sing a canticle before the throne of God, alleluia.

V. Pray for us, Blessed Giles, alleluia

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. alleluia

Prayer:
Let us Pray: We humbly implore Thy mercy, O God, that as through its promptings Thou didst cause Blessed Giles to return to the way of holiness and justice, so Thou wouldst transfer us from the slavery and death of sin into life and perfect liberty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SOURCE : http://www.willingshepherds.org/Dominican%20Saints%20May.html#Giles of Portugal


Blessed Giles of Santarem, OP (AC)


Born at Vaozela near Coimbra, Portugal, c. 1185-1190; died at Santarem, Portugal, 1265; cultus approved in 1748.


So many romantic legends intertwine themselves with the story of Blessed Giles that it is difficult to see the man himself. His life, even stripped of its legend, however, is the story of the triumph of grace in the human soul.

He was the son of Rodrigues de Vagliaditos, governor of Coimbra under King Sancho the Great. From his childhood, Giles was destined for the priesthood for which he studied at Coimbra. He was ordained at an early age, but with no good intention, for he saw in the priesthood only a chance to wield power. His father's influence gained for him a number of rich benefices, which he used sinfully for power and pleasure.

Being a brilliant student, he advanced rapidly in his chosen field of medicine, an art that was at the time often linked with necromancy or black magic. He neglected his priestly duties and seemed bent only on the pleasures of life.

Legend takes up the story from here and relates that Giles, a thoroughly irreligious and pleasure-seeking young man, set out for Paris to work for higher degrees in medicine. On the advice of a stranger he met on the way, he went to Toledo instead and became a student of the black arts. According to one legend, he met the devil and signed a contract with him, in which he promised his soul in return for a universal knowledge of medicine. Thereupon he spent seven years in bondage to his evil master, learning all his arts.

Having gained the highest degrees in medicine, Giles went to Paris and became a successful physician. At the peak of worldly success, he began to have horrible visions. He saw himself in a cemetery of a monastery of which he enjoyed the revenues. There he saw a specter who carried a skull and an hourglass. The specter knocked at one and then another of the tombs, calling out, "Arise, faithful monk!" At each summons another fearful specter appeared, until at one tomb there was no answer.

"Giles," he called. "What--not there?" He poised the hourglass and murmured, "There are yet a few sands to run!" After this fearful vision, says the legend, Giles repented of his misspent life, destroyed his magic books and potions, and set out in haste for Coimbra on foot.

At Palencia he met the friars of the newly founded Order of Preachers. He was still troubled by diabolical attacks, but they helped him to make his peace with God. Joining them, he spent seven years in terrible penance, after which Our Lady returned to him the fateful scroll he had signed with Satan.

Such a legend adds color to the calendar of saints, but it would be hard to tell how much of it is true. It is known that Giles had spent his youth badly, and that after entering the Dominicans he did fervent penance. By nature he was witty and charming, and he found the silence hard to keep. Actual violence to his natural disposition was necessary to make him into the humble and reserved religious he later became.

Blessed Giles occupied several positions of authority in the order, including provincial of Portugal, and his medical skill proved to be a blessing in the care of his sick brethren. He made a practice of going about the dormitories, cleaning up the students' rooms while they were at class. His heroic penance did much to undo the scandal he had caused in his early years.

Giles was sent back to Portugal after his early training, and his preaching was noteworthy, even in that age of renowned preachers. He founded a number of monasteries and did much to establish the Dominicans in Portugal. His last years were filled with visions and ecstasies. He lived to be very old, regarded by all but himself as a very great saint (Benedictines, Dorcy).