Gaugericus

Saint Gaugericus
Saint-Géry (Hôtel de Ville Brussels)
Born ~550
Died August 11, ~626
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrine Cambrai
Feast August 11; 18 November for the exhumation of his relics; 24 September for the translation of his relics
Attributes bishop, mitre on head, without his crosier, right hand lifted in a gesture of benediction and left folded upon his breast.
Patronage Cambrai; Brussels; Braine-le-Comte

Saint Gaugericus, in French Saint Géry (also known as Gorik, Gau; in Walloon, Djèri) (c. 550 – August 11, 626) was a bishop of Cambrai, France.

Biography

He was born to Roman parents, Gaudentius and Austadiola, at Eposium (present Carignan).[1] Tradition states that Bishop Magnerich of Trier, was so impressed with the piety of the young man ordained deacon, but not before Gaugericus had memorized the entire psalter.[2] Magnerich entrusted Gaugericus with the pastoral care of the city of Cambrai. Gaugericus founded abbeys and churches and abbeys, including a monastery dedicated to St. Medard, to host relics, which contributed powerfully to giving Cambrai both the appearance and functions of a city.

Around the year 580, Gaugericus built a chapel on the largest island in the Senne near Brussels.[3] Saint-Géry Island is named after him.

When the see of Cambrai-Arras fell vacant around 585, Gaudericus was elected bishop with the consent of Childebert II. Gaugericus was consecrated by Egidius, bishop of Reims. Bishop Géry devoted himself to fighting paganism, ransoming captives and visiting rural districts and villae.[1] He paid his respects to King Chlothar II, the new lord of Cambrai after the death of Childebert, and assisted at the Council of Paris in 614. After serving as bishop for thirty-nine years, he died around the year 685 and was buried in the church of Saint Médard, which he had founded at Cambrai.

Veneration

St. Géry church at Cambrai

Veneration commenced immediately after his death. His feast day is mentioned in the martyrology of Rabanus Maurus. His feast day falls on August 11.[1]

The Church of Saint-Géry is one of the oldest in Cambrai, and a listed historical monument since 1919.[4]

Patronage

St-Géry is the patron of Cambrai, and of prisoners.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Van der Essen, Léon. "St. Géry." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 3 June 2018
  2. ↑ Monks of Ramsgate. “Gaugericus”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 11 August 2016
  3. ↑ "Brussels History". City-data.com. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  4. ↑ "Eglise Saint-Géry" Monuments historiques
  5. ↑ Arduino, Fabio. "San Gaugerico di Cambrai", Santi e Beati, May 30, 2006

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Géry". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.

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