St. Gerlac of Valkenburg

  Posted on January 3, 2024  by admin  No comments

Born: c.1100 at Valkenburg, Netherlands

Died: 1172 – 1177 at Houthem, the Netherlands of natural causes

Patronage: against cattle disease, against plague, domestic animals

Also known as Gerlac von Houthem, Gerlac of Maastricht, Gerlach, Gerlache, Gerlacus, Gerlachus, Gerlak

Born the nobility, he served as a soldier in the imperial German army. Led a wild and licentious life, part as a highwayman, until the death of his wife, after which he experienced a conversion. Did penance the rest of his life, first by caring for the sick in Jerusalem for seven years, then giving away his property, living as a hermit in a hollow tree near his own estate. Each week he travelled to Maastricht to venerate the relics of Saint Gervase, to Aachen, Germany to venerate Our Lady. Much slandered because of his early life and his austerities. Late in life he developed a dispute with some local monks who wanted him to join their monastery. Friend of, and correspondent with Saint Hildegard of Bingen. Had a vision of Saint Gervase on 5 January 1170.