From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

July 12th - St. John Gualbert, Abbot

Born in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, c. 993; died at Passignano (near
Florence) in 1073; canonized in 1193. Because of his birth into the
noble Visdomini family, John Gualbert had no more thought of following
a life of austerity and humility than did his noble Florentine friends
and companions. Bred to be a soldier, he spent his time in worldly
amusements. Indeed, so far from intending to follow the precepts of
Our Lord, his one over-riding ambition was to avenge the murder of his
elder brother, Hugh. To him this was a matter of justice and, more
importantly, a matter of honor. It happened that one Good Friday as he
was riding through a narrow pass on his way to Florence, Gualbert came
face to face with the man he had been seeking. The man was alone and
there was no means of escape. Gualbert drew his sword and moved
forward, but at his approach the murderer, in a gesture not so much of supplication as of despair, fell to his knees, threw out his arms and
commended his soul to God.

Gualbert hesitated, and as he looked down on his victim he was
suddenly reminded of the image of Christ suffering on the Cross and of
the forgiveness which Our Lord had asked for those who murdered him.
Sheathing his sword, he embraced and forgave the man. Having pardoned
his brother's murderer, he saw the image of the crucifix miraculously
bow its head in acknowledgment of Gualbert's good action and they
separated in peace.

Continuing his journey, Gualbert went to the monastery of San Miniato
del Monte in Florence where, as he prayed before the crucifix, he was
filled with divine grace. He asked the abbot for permission to be
admitted. But the abbot delayed, fearing the anger and resentment of
Gualbert's parents. To demonstrate the seriousness of his call,
Gualbert shaved his head himself and put on a habit that he had
borrowed.

For the next few years he remained at San Miniato, leading the life of
a penitent and hoping to end his days there; but when the abbot died
and the new one bribed his way to office, he left in disgust. (Other
sources say that he left with a companion to find solitude when it
looked likely that he would be appointed abbot.) He wanted to find a
life untouched by the current abuses in the Church: clerical
concubinage, nepotism, and simony. For a while he stayed with the
Camaldolesi at Saint Romuald's abbey, but then decided to make an
entirely new foundation.

The abbess of Sant'Ellero gave him some land in the Vallis Umbrosa (Vallombrosa), about 20 miles east of Florence near Fiesole; and
there, with the help of a few companions, he built a small and
unpretentious monastery of timber. The monks followed the austere rule
of Saint Benedict to the letter, except for a special provision
admitting conversi, or lay-brothers who could take on the manual labor
and free the choir monks for contemplation and more prayer.

He was dedicated to poverty and humility. He never became a priest, in
fact, he declined even to receive minor orders. Vallombrosa inspired
other communities with its hospices for the poor and sick. These
became part of his new order under John's rule, in spite of rival
claims to jurisdiction. In this and other ways John became involved in
the reform movement in the Church, for which he was commended by
popes.

Other monasteries were established, but in all cases Gualbert insisted
that the buildings should be constructed as modestly and cheaply as
possible and that the money saved should be given to the poor. Indeed,
his zeal for charity was such that he often gave away all the
monastery's supplies to the poor who came to its gates. The area in
which the first monastery was located was wild and barren, but the
monks planted fir and pine trees and transformed it into a parkland.

Gualbert was known for his wisdom, miracles, and prophecies. Pope
Saint Leo IX, traveled specially to Passignano to speak with him, as
did Stephen X. Pope Alexander II attributed the eradication of simony
in his country to him. Though respected and visited by popes, Gualbert
retained his humility. He died aged about 80. The congregation of
Vallombrosan Benedictines that he founded spread chiefly throughout
Tuscany and Lombardy, but it still exists today and includes more than
six monasteries (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia,
Farmer, White).

John Gualbert is the patron on foresters and park keepers (White).


Saint Quote:
Earthly riches are like the reed. Its roots are sunk in the swamp, and
its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man
leans on such a reed, it will snap off and pierce his soul.
--St. Anthony of Padua

Bible Quote:
I speak of Thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed. I
meditated also on Thy commandments, which I loved exceedingly.=C2 [Ps. 118:46,47]

<><><><>
God alone is enough.

Let nothing upset you,
let nothing startle you.
All things pass;
God does not change.
Patience wins
all it seeks.
Whoever has God
lacks nothing:
God alone is enough
--St Teresa Avila

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