Blessed Gerard of Villamagna

Gerard of Villamagna (1174 - 13 May 1242) - known also as Gerard Mecatti and Gerard of Monza - was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member of the Order of Saint John and the Third Order of Saint Francis. Pope Gregory XVI beatified him on 18 March 1833. The Order of St. John maintains his feast in their Missal and Breviary. He was born in 1174 in the Republic of Florence to poor parents who died in his childhood. He was taken in by another family who raised him while a son of that family became part of the Knights Hospitaller (aka: The Order of St. John,) and chose him as his esquire to go with him on a trip to the Holy Land, though the two were taken as prisoners whilst on that crusade. That knight died during the trip and he was soon ransomed off. Gerard visited Palestine before he returned to his homeland where he voyaged with another knight to Syria on a ship with 20 others when pirates attacked yet eluded them due to Gerard's prayers. He later met Francis of Assisi and became a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis and lived the rest of his life as a hermit. All his life he wore on his garments the white cross of the Religion of the Knights Hospitaller. He was content with putting the habits of both religions one over the other, and he added the observances of vows and promises of one order to those of the other. He withdrew into a wretched hovel not far from the place of his birth. There he led the most strict life as an hermit, entirely occupied with contemplation and penance. He wore a hair shirt, scourged himself, fasted, and humiliated himself incessantly. These practices caused his reputation for sanctity to spread; he alas called by no other name than the Antony or Hilarion of his age. Each night, so as not to be seen, he was accustomed to cover on his knees a distance of three miles.