(ABOUT 1170.)
[Mentioned in the Cologne, German, and Gallo-Belgic Martyrologies.
Two lives of this Saint exist, one written during the life of those
who remembered him, and were able to describe his personal
appearance; the other written by Wilhelm Cripius, son of the
Chancellor of Gueldres, by command of the bishop, Henry Cuyck, of
Roermund.]
Saint Gerlach sprang from a noble family, in the neighbourhood of
Maestricht. He was a knight, and lived a somewhat disorderly life; but
one day, as he was about to engage in a tournament, the news reached
him of the sudden death of his wife, whom he loved passionately.
Casting aside lance and shield, he hastened to his castle, and in
grief over her loss, formed the resolution of renouncing the world. He
visited Rome, and confessed the sins of his life to Pope Eugenius III.,
who bade him, as a penance, go to Jerusalem, and for seven years nurse
the sick in its hospitals. He obeyed, and on his return to Rome, at the
expiration of seven years, found Adrian IV. on the throne. Adrian bade
him live a retired life. Accordingly, Gerlach returned to his estates,
and distributed all his possessions among the poor, reserving for
himself only sufficient for his support. He then took up his abode in
a hollow oak; but some envious persons having complained to the Bishop
of Liege that he offered idolatrous worship to the tree, the bishop
ordered it to be cut down; but afterwards, recognizing the virtue of
the penitent knight, he became his protector. He wore sack-cloth next
his skin, and over that a battered suit of mail. He spent his nights
in prayer, in the church of S. Servais, Maestricht.